It's A Small World After All

As a teenager my biggest life goal was to travel the world. I loved sitting in world culture classes and learning about all the places in the world and how each place was unique. I don’t think I realized at the time that my dream would one day become reality. I haven’t traveled over the whole world…yet. J But I have had the chance to visit 14 countries outside of the US and live for an extended period of time in 2 different countries.

I have noticed that even after I fly across the ocean to the other side of the globe I find similarities in each place. While the culture may change either drastically or in subtle ways I’ve found that people long for relationship. I’ve experienced both “warm” & “cold” cultures and although the desire is expressed in different ways it is there nonetheless. It’s what we were created for. Just as the Triune God longed to be in relationship with us he created us to long to be in relationship with Him along with the Body of Christ (the church).  We tend to think that each people group is different and therefore we can’t relate with them. But the truth is we are all created in the likeness of God and therefore can relate through our longing for community. Your neighbor (locally and abroad) may have a different culture than you but remember that God has placed in them the same desire for relationship. I challenge you to keep your eyes open for opportunities to be in relationship with those around you, it’s a small world after all.

My Past Does Not Define Me

I’ve experienced a lot of things in my short life. Included are some really awesome things and some really terrible things. I've traveled to a lot of really cool places. I've messed up more than a time or two. I have walked with dear friends who have experienced deep loss and dealt with it personally. I have seen beauty painted in the sky. I let anger & bitterness take over my heart. I justified actions of sin in my own life while judging others in their sin. I took pride in who I portrayed myself as and hid the parts of me I was ashamed of.  I have felt peace, joy and love beyond what words can describe.

None of these things define me. Each one is a small part of me and has helped shape the person I am today. But the one thing I claim as my identity is being a child of God. My father does not care about all of that stuff.  I am his child and am covered in grace. He may choose to use these things to draw me closer to him but they are not the point. The point is that my heart is continually being molded into his. I am thankful for the grace that covers my wickedness and I pray that the things that I take pride in would fade away and I would boast only Christ. 

As the Waters Cover the Sea

There is a day coming when all will declare the glory of the Lord; oh how I long for that day! There is still much to be done before that day comes. I have had the privilege to work with Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) in multiple capacities in the past few years, hoping to bring that day closer. Here in America it is sometimes easy to become jaded by the “daily grind”. There is a whole world out there that is longing to know the glory of God. EMM holds a special place in my heart, as every time I attend a function I feel the love of the family of Christ. Their mission is simple:

The single vision: to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in places of spiritual darkness, especially in places where the church is weak or nonexistent. The multiple expressions: at home and overseas, in verbal witness and acts of service, through prayer and financial support, by sending and going.
(Taken from EMM’s publication ‘As the Waters Cover the Sea’)

I would encourage anyone who desires to live out Jesus’ commission to make disciples of all nations to look into serving with EMM. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”  Habakkuk 2:14