Whew! What a crazy year it has been! And yes, it has been almost a whole year since I've posted on my blog. Haha, most of you aren't used to me being quiet for that long, are you?!
Well, I'm back and a lot has happened! God has done so much over the past year and I could write for days on all that He's doing (don't fear, I won't just now).
As you probably know, exactly one month ago today I returned back to the USA from a six week trip to Guatemala. God worked in my heart so much during that time.
When you're on a missions trip, it is fairly easy to feel like you are in the center of God's will for your life. You have literally left the comforts of home, flown somewhere crazy, and are now living among strangers with the sole purpose of making God's name known to these people.
It's easy to say, this trip is the height of my spiritual existence! I am now officially a "good Christian" having cared so much for God and people that I moved my life around for a week/month/year or two to serve God. And I think coming home there was this temptation to think, "well, I'm done. I've served the Lord. Now back to normal life."
And this is where I had to stop and evaluate what I was thinking.
"Normal life"? What is that? is my work for the Lord confined to a certain place or time? Is my day-to-day life so far different from a mission's trip? Should my life actually look any different in America than it did in Guatemala? Was God any more present with me in Guate than he is with me now?
And simply put, no. My life from the moment I gave it over to Christ when I was eleven has had the sole purpose of making much of God. So no matter where I am, what I am doing, or who I am with- this is my goal. The gospel is not confined to a certain time of the week, a certain place, or only for a certain person to proclaim. When we give our lives over to Christ we are committing to a life that is poured out for His glory.
And I think it comes down to this: Do you love God with every fiber of your being?
Because how much you love God translates into-
How much do you love those who live next door? How much do you love your coworkers? How much do you love your family? Because if you truly love them, then the thought of going a different way than them on Judgment Day should break your heart.
We love because Christ first loved us, and he poured out his life for us. And we should do the same for the brothers.
So I am purposing to lay down my life for the glory of the gospel every day, everywhere.
In the coffee shop, I'll talk to the stranger and show him the love of Christ. And when he asks what I believe I will boldly declare the name of the Lord into his life. At my job, I'll hug on the coworker who has no idea that he is worth God's son dying for. To everyone I come into contact with, I will beam God's light into their lives, because this life is a short term missions trip. Just as in Guatemala I counted the days as they went by and the time flew before it was time to come back to the States, my days here on earth are numbered. So are yours. We are only here for a short time. Every day is another day closer to heaven, but for those who don't know Christ it's another day closer to hell. Don't lose perspective in the mundane, for I believe there is no such thing as mundane. Every action and every word can be purposed for the glory of God.
Do not be afraid to live a life boldly for Christ! Rather, live a life totally devoted to Him. He will not disappoint you- in fact, you will find that this is the only way to truly live~ everything else is just smoke.
