I've been on this kick lately where I keep looking up the
definitions of words. Not because I don't know the word, but because I want to
see if I can add to or sharpen the definition already in my head. To me, a greater
understanding of a word is incredibly empowering.
Last week the word was commission. Click here to read my roommate's
blog for more of the story. The word this week is marinate.
Since I don't own a dictionary, I decided once again that the Internet
would give me the answer that I want. Merriam-Webster says that marinate means,
“to steep in a marinade.” Cool. This is a very nondescript definition in my
opinion. My next step was to check out Dictionary.com. Same answer. Hmmm…
I decided to look up the definition of steep. I picked my favorite
definition: “to immerse in or saturate or imbue with some pervading,
absorbing, or stupefying influence or agency.” This definition resonates with
me. It's transformational even - if you let it marinate. Even Urban Dictionary says, “letting something soak in, leaving time for reflection.”
When the Lord is cultivating something
in me, I tend to get excited easily and want to share and process this with my
friends and/or family. I'm learning to let the thoughts, ideas and revelations from
the Lord marinate in my spirit. God is taking me deeper into a quiet place with
him. He's defining things in my heart and mind that Merriam-Webster can't begin
to express.
What is God marinating in you? Go to
that quiet place with Him. Don't miss the opportunity to let His presence
saturate, pervade or even stupefy you.
You may remember that when I was on the World Race ministering in Romania I wrote a blog called "Full Circle." You can read that story here if you didn't catch it the first go around. I got to meet the people that fanned into the flame of the desire to go to the nations and be Jesus to the world.
Now I'm on the other side of the coin overseeing the coordination of ministry for 300+ missionaries on the field. I had the privilege of setting up the ministry for a couple of teams in Manila, Philippines this last month in the same location that captured my heart. This is where it started...a different full circle, so to speak.
I was reading some blogs from the teams that were ministering in the Tondo community. This is what I found:
I'm sitting here on my balcony at my apartment trying to
work.Let me set the scene for
you.Beautiful clear skies, 73
degrees, quiet (except for the breeze), a bottle of water beside me and my
laptop so cleverly placed on top of my lap.Perfect Friday afternoon.I'm a little distracted, so I'm choosing to blog.Yea, I know.Blog.
I love the Fall.It's like nature is gearing up for something big.All the trees slim down by shedding
their leaves.The sun goes to bed
a little earlier every night to get some extra rest.It's indicative - at least to me - of how our lives are
cyclical as well.Nature knows
that it needs to change; it knows that change is good; it knows that growth
comes after rest.But do you ever
see a tree after shedding it's leaves, pack up it's bags (uh, limbs) and go
plant itself where it's warmer?How ridiculous would it be if trees could do that?I bet that they all would if they
could.Most of the US would be bald
plains or rolling hills and Florida would be so densely packed with trees that
no one could live there!
Well in my crazy brain all this is a reminder to stay put
even when life is not as exciting as you want it to be.Maybe God is sharpening your character
and you're too busy thinking about all the things that you'd rather be doing.
Fall is a reminder that change can happen without physically
moving.I think often times we
feel as if change only means relocating or going on an exciting mission trip just
one more time.
Fall is a great reminder that growth comes after rest.One realization that has been happening
for me over the last several months is how little I rest.Yea, I sleep at night, but how much do
I sit at the Lord's feet and rest?What kind of tree grows if it never stops to rejuvenate?Every tree needs that time in order to
send down deeper roots and grow an ever slightly larger trunk and branches.
I'm not telling you not to want to do and experience
exciting things in your life.I'm
not saying never to move to another city or country or even go on a mission
trip.For real, I work for a
mission organization - how backwards would that be?
What I'm saying is take a cue from nature.Slim down a little.Get rid of that extra emotional baggage
you're carrying around.Don't use
the Lord's voice as an excuse to run off to your dream location or skip out on
your job because it's not fun anymore.Take time and intensely listen to what He is saying.Is He saying rest?Go just a little deeper?Maybe He is saying to quit and move to
Africa.I don't know, but I bet He
does. :)
Sometimes as I sit at my desk I wonder how I'm now working 9-5. I wonder how I'm captivated somehow by a job that pays far less than most. (Support me by clicking here!) I wonder how I'm trapped in a cubicle while others are out there changing the world.
These are the perfect moments for the Lord to sweetly speak up and remind me that I'm here because He's called me here. I'm here because He wants me here. I'm here because He has something to teach me and an awesome way to grow me. I'm here because I'm involved in something that is so much bigger than myself.
Lately, I've somehow revealed to myself how selfish I can be. Well, I can tell you that working for the World Race is not selfish. It's not glamorous, but it's exactly where I need to be. I'm meeting a need. I'm bringing the Kingdom. There are countless needs and countless ways to meet them, but I help connect a hopeless child to a World Racer that carries the only true hope. I'm not complaining, I like my job. But I do it so men like Mike Perez can go and discover God working around the world. I do it to make men like him great. I do it to advance the Kingdom...
Below is a clip from Mike. I pray it is the encouragement to you that it was to me.
In December of last year I left the
country once again and headed to the South Pacific.In the "Hobbiton" made famous town of Matamata, New Zealand,
along with my co-leader, Kyla, I met 52 zealous young-adults ready to change
the world and let God change theirs.This World Race "M" Squad became my family for the following five
months.
In New Zealand I tramped (Kiwi for
hiked) with a team through the bush for the month.We were able to minister to locals in the small towns we
passed through, those out for a day at the beach and visitors to New Zealand's
beautiful countryside.It was
great to be part of a small team as they learned how to pray and prophesy over
each other - some for the very first time.
In February we hopped on a plane to
Brisbane, Australia.The Lord
showed me His magnificent creation at the Great Barrier Reef and worship in it's
purest form within Aboriginal communities.It was truly amazing to see the tangible ways that the Lord
provided.There were many days in
Australia that I had no idea where I was going to sleep or what I was going to
eat.Graciously, the Lord reminded
me not to worry (Luke 12) and then provided for me in unique ways.
In March I was pumped to return to
Kid's International Ministries in Manila, Philippines.This place is special to me because it's
where I started my first World Race in October 2008.The entire squad stayed at KIM for the month, which enabled
us to have some of my favorite nights of corporate worship.I shared my testimony and spoke on a Holy
Spirit led life and the freedom that comes from that.I reminded them that God didn't call us to a life of
religion and that the Holy Spirit is not a hermit - He wants to spill out over
everyone that we have contact with.
The April rains came and we headed
to the historically war-torn country of Cambodia.Kyla and I traveled with the new leaders we had chosen
because at the beginning of May we would be passing the torch off to them and
returning stateside.April was a hard
month because many of us were sick and the heat and humidity were unbearable at
times.God intervened through all
of this and many lives were impacted for His Kingdom.
We crossed the border in early May
to the "land of smiles" (Thailand) and it was time for me to say goodbye.The men went to do "manistry" while the
women split into three groups - some to work with sex-trafficked women.Once home in South Carolina I realized
on a deeper level that leading a squad has truly been one of the biggest privileges
in my life.Thanks for being a
part of this!
WHAT AM I DOING NOW?
I'm still involved in the lives of
the "M" Squad through email and by reading their blogs.I will get to see them at the AWAKENING
conference in August and also at their final debrief right before Thanksgiving.
I'm excited to be reunited with them very soon!
In the meantime, I have committed to
working with The World Race for the next year.Towards the end of the four months I spent on the field, I
was asked to join the Logistics department of The World Race.After much prayer, I felt peace that
the Lord wanted me to take this position.I will be helping to empower hundreds of young adults while they are
exposed to the mission field by acting as a liaison between them and our
ministry contacts around the world.All of this will mean wearing a much bigger coat (I Samuel 2:18-26) and
taking another huge step of faith.
HOW YOU CAN HELP...
In this new job I am still
considered a missionary, which means I will raise support for my salary.I need to raise $12,000 for the next
year.This money will go towards
my living expenses in Georgia and my flights to visit the "M" Squad this
fall.I also need a vehicle to get
back and forth to work.God has
supplied me with a car in the past and I'm excited to see how He will provide
for all of my needs yet again.
Will you partner with me and commit
to supporting me?Your monthly
donation of $100 is 10% of my needed support!Of course one-time donations are always welcome.Thank-you for your prayers - I greatly
need them in order to continue impacting lives.I trust that God will prompt your heart to sow into His Kingdom.
At launch in New Zealand each team made a video with the prompt "The Kingdom of God is..."
Kyla and I thought of a bunch of different ideas, but never had the time to put together a video. God blessed us with a month of traveling to many of our teams
all around Australia last month. This enabled us to put some life to
the ideas we put together at launch. So, without further ado, here is
what we came up with: