Twenty-Five Percent!

Today I find myself blessed beyond words! Just heard that I am 25% funded for my trip. The $14,000 I need to serve is a HUGE number, but I am continually reminded that I serve a God who is BIGGER!
  
Want to give, but don't know how?

Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church

Africa Missions

316 West Main Street

Sanford, NC 27332

 

Or, click here!

 

Thank you to those who have answered the call to give: I couldn't do it without you.

 

 

Learning by Leading

     This weekend, I had the joy and pleasure of leading a group of youth during a Bible study retreat. The theme: "Called 2 Follow". How fitting! The event I was leading was one I had been a part of myself for years when I was in youth, so I was excited to come back as a leader. The weekend consisted of games, snacks, worship, bonfires, hayrides, Bible studies, and not nearly enough sleep! My intent in participating in the weekend was to teach, but what I never expected is that I would be the one learning...

 

     I was continually reminded of God's call in my life as each and every lesson touched the depths of my heart. We looked at story after story of God calling people in the Bible to put down what they were doing to follow Him--the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John is one in particular that stood out to me.  





As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-22

 

      There are a number of things that really stood out to me. The first being the time frame in which they were called. Jesus' call was for them to come immediately and follow, not a few weeks later once they had wrapped things up with their job, not a few days later once they told their families what they were doing, not even a few hours later when they had time to wrap their minds around the calling. Jesus called them to be obedient then and there. Here, the men are being called to do something beyond their comfort zone, something new. They did not know how to fish for men, and yet that didn't stop Jesus from calling. All Jesus asked was for them to come at once... He would show them what they needed to know--His call was for obedience.

 

The reality is that we are called to follow Jesus before we know it all. We are called to come as imperfect people. We can only learn to follow Jesus BY following Jesus. Period. Jesus did not call the disciples because they had already accomplished something or have previously prepared themselves. In the same way, God is making us disciples in showing us how to follow, as we follow.  

 

 

        We all have a purpose in life, something God has placed us on this earth to do. I am overjoyed in what I feel like my purpose is, as my purpose and dreams so closely align. Yet, I often sit back and ask myself, am I really able to do this? I find myself floored that the Lord of the universe would even consider calling little me for such a big job. When God started placing this passion in my heart, I was in middle school. When He began nudging me I was nowhere near qualified for the opportunity He had called me to, many years away from responding to the call, and yet He still chose me.

 

        There are days when I wonder if I can leave my family for a full year. I ask myself whether or not I can really adjust to a culture so vastly different from mine. I ask myself if I can raise the $14,000 necessary to follow this call. I wonder if I can really get up in front of another congregation of people to share what God has called me to do. I wonder if I can get together all the details and brave all the shots necessary to travel to Ethiopia. I wonder if I can come home after developing relationships and attachments to the beautiful people of Africa. I wonder if I can make it until August when with each passing day I am about ready to burst with excitement in following through with God's purpose for my life.

 

       The answer to these questions is quite simple. NO. No, I cannot leave my family, adjust to the culture, raise the money, get in front of people to share, get together all the details, come home confident in the difference the year had brought, and make it until August. I cannot do any of this, but I know the One who can!

 

      If I have learned anything this weekend it is that on my own I am nothing. On my own I can make nothing of the mission that the One who holds the earth in His hands has placed before me. I have a purpose, but I am not qualified. I have spent roughly six years preparing for this mission trip, and yet the only reason I can is because He can. He teaches me each and every day as I respond. The call is to act and respond, not be perfectly prepared from day one.

 

 

Are you allowing God teach you how to follow, as you follow?