Pilgrim Footsteps

We ducked our heads and hurried along the village road, red-dirt water running in rivulets as the raindrops fell. I had my sweatshirt on so the hood could keep my head dry, even if it was technically too warm and humid for it. So far not one family had invited us inside their home as our small group walked around the village handing out goody-bags to the children and inviting everyone to our outreach planned for that evening. Then the rain had started and gotten heavier; there also weren't as many houses along this particular road. Suddenly, a house, with a young mother inviting us in. We left our shoes outside on the tiny porch and entered the small home. To the American eye, the possessions seemed a strange array haphazardly organized, but the Thai woman's smile was genuine and her manner sweet. We all sat together on the floor, and before she joined us she turned on a fan and faced it towards us to make a small breeze in the still, humid air. Too shy to say more tha...

It was a normal late Sunday morning in Guatemala. A grandmother took two of her granddaughters to visit relatives in San Miguel los Lotes. A father's motorcycle sat in the repair shop. The rest of his family was at home with him, his wife and boys. In villages all along the mountainside, families were enjoying yet another day, making tortillas for lunch, playing outside with colorful plastic balls, and laughing with family members. An explosion of fire from Fuego's mouth turned a normal day into a nightmare that sent panicked villagers running. While everyone was running away, one man was running closer and closer, desperate to find his daughters. It's as if I am listening to someone describe the plot of a movie they saw, but as I feel the sweat beading on my skin from the baked air within the house of corrugated tin, I feel the heavy reality of a father's incredible story. Seeing two girls laying on their beds, special socks on their feet and one with dres...

What is the vision? The vision that has been taking over my life increasingly from 2012? God’s Kingdom here on earth. Hearts reclaimed. Confidence in Christ. No wasted lives. Freedom to live in callings. Strong foundations that stand. Love that abides in truth. Faith that moves mountains. The gifts functioning with the Gospel. The Church as it was in the beginning. That, my friend, is the vision.

So, to be completely honest, I'm getting tired of my job, as if it's been a long day and with every hour that passes your energy depletes faster and faster. The problem is that I have felt the chastisement of a loving Father that I need to make the most of every opportunity around me, including at work; that if I want to do missions and ministry so badly, I need to start where I am or how can I do more? Sigh. God's version of "common sense" makes so much sense sometimes that it's both frustrating and glorious! And it's always hard. So I made up my mind to try the best that I could, and often before starting work for the day I will pray for opportunities and that I will see them and take full advantage of them. At one time I would've thought that my opportunities would've come with customers, but really, ever since I started working there, they've come in the form of coworkers. My coworkers - both in my department and others - are th...

As you know from my last post, I was in Germany for three weeks.  I had a great time and I couldn't stop thinking about Germany and all the people I met there when I came home.  However, there is also one other thing that I can't stop thinking about: how many opportunities I missed to speak to someone about the things of Christ.  2 Timothy 2:4 says "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."  I am very sad to say that I was not ready out of season.  I had a few very poignant opportunities to respond to some of my travel mates who were not Christians, and I failed to do so as well as I should, taking too long to come up with the "best" answer instead of just starting to talk and letting the Holy Spirit take control.  I came home disappointed in myself and my failure to do as Christ commanded and spread the news of Him.  I am more determined now than ever before that we need to be a...

So...in two days I leave for Germany!  I'm going with fellow German classmates in our German Exchange Program (through GAPP), and I'm so excited! But, I'm not only excited to live in a German home and see the Alps and all this awesome Germany-stuff.....I'm excited to bring the fire of the Gospel with me!  As a Christian, even though it may not be a mission trip, it is my job to make it one, because our entire lives are meant to be a giant missions trip.  So, for my trip to Germany, I am excited to see whose lives I can touch with the Spirit of God that goes with me everywhere I go.  I want to at least touch one person, be it someone in my US group or someone I meet in Germany.  I've been praying over the family that I'm staying with as well as for many opportunities to spread God's love and fire.  I'm sure I'll have awesome stories of how God worked in lives when I return!  God bless!