180
Being in Clarkston has been a whirlwind of crazy. It has convicted me, challenged me, and changed me.
Convicting me. I have been convicted time and time again of my lifestyle of complacency. Sure, I go to church. Sure, I serve. Sure, I'll tear up a little at a video of a hurting child. But holy cow, being on the mission field has been a wake-up call. I have SO MUCH. I care SO LITTLE. If I truly loved like Jesus, would I really be sitting around in a comfort-filled life, thinking about how giving a 10% tithe is really taking a dent out of my already small paychecks? NO. I would be living on that 10% and giving the other 90%. I would be giving not just with every paycheck, but with every day. I wouldn't secretly scoff at the homeless person begging for change, thinking that they probably put themselves in that situation. I mean seriously, who do I think I am?
Challenging me. Like I mentioned before, I've gotten to a fairly complacent life. I let Jesus convict me just enough so that I don't have to get too uncomfortable. That has taken a complete 180 since being on the field. I now see that I need constant conviction in my life to give me the challenge to get off of my butt and do something about the dire need for Jesus all around me. I wouldn't be wanting to hold on to just one more party night, just one more little sin, just one more grudge, while there are souls out there being forever separated from Jesus. Now talk about getting uncomfortable. I have been challenged down to the core of my heart, down to every piece of bitterness. God has revealed that all of the ugly in my heart is only holding me back from being totally used for His glory.
Changing me. This is the most exciting part. God has just been hacking away at all of the ugly (and there is a LOT of it) mess in my heart. He is changing and restoring me. I have experienced restoration in my relationships. I have had my eyes unveiled to relationships that need to be pruned or cut back. But more than that, I have been changed to realize that far too much of my time is spent thinking about me. None of this is about me! It's all about Jesus and bringing him glory with every breath I breathe. That has started to completely change how I live life. When, at the end of the day, I'm tired and don't want to go out and play with little refugee kids, I can do it anyways. When I don't want to drink water that has been served to me from a cup that is clearly not clean, poured from a pitcher that I just saw about 5 different people drink out of, I do it anyways. When I don't want to go to events that are outside in Georgia heat, I do it anyways. Know why? Because it isn't about me! If my discomfort (and possible illness) is for the glory of God, then make me uncomfortable. All I want out of my life is for Jesus to be made bigger.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." -Phil. 1:6
Convicting me. I have been convicted time and time again of my lifestyle of complacency. Sure, I go to church. Sure, I serve. Sure, I'll tear up a little at a video of a hurting child. But holy cow, being on the mission field has been a wake-up call. I have SO MUCH. I care SO LITTLE. If I truly loved like Jesus, would I really be sitting around in a comfort-filled life, thinking about how giving a 10% tithe is really taking a dent out of my already small paychecks? NO. I would be living on that 10% and giving the other 90%. I would be giving not just with every paycheck, but with every day. I wouldn't secretly scoff at the homeless person begging for change, thinking that they probably put themselves in that situation. I mean seriously, who do I think I am?
Challenging me. Like I mentioned before, I've gotten to a fairly complacent life. I let Jesus convict me just enough so that I don't have to get too uncomfortable. That has taken a complete 180 since being on the field. I now see that I need constant conviction in my life to give me the challenge to get off of my butt and do something about the dire need for Jesus all around me. I wouldn't be wanting to hold on to just one more party night, just one more little sin, just one more grudge, while there are souls out there being forever separated from Jesus. Now talk about getting uncomfortable. I have been challenged down to the core of my heart, down to every piece of bitterness. God has revealed that all of the ugly in my heart is only holding me back from being totally used for His glory.
Changing me. This is the most exciting part. God has just been hacking away at all of the ugly (and there is a LOT of it) mess in my heart. He is changing and restoring me. I have experienced restoration in my relationships. I have had my eyes unveiled to relationships that need to be pruned or cut back. But more than that, I have been changed to realize that far too much of my time is spent thinking about me. None of this is about me! It's all about Jesus and bringing him glory with every breath I breathe. That has started to completely change how I live life. When, at the end of the day, I'm tired and don't want to go out and play with little refugee kids, I can do it anyways. When I don't want to drink water that has been served to me from a cup that is clearly not clean, poured from a pitcher that I just saw about 5 different people drink out of, I do it anyways. When I don't want to go to events that are outside in Georgia heat, I do it anyways. Know why? Because it isn't about me! If my discomfort (and possible illness) is for the glory of God, then make me uncomfortable. All I want out of my life is for Jesus to be made bigger.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." -Phil. 1:6
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