Walking through a refugee camp. Stepping through a pile of trash next to impoverished children looking for food. Riding through a polluted town in a tuk-tuk and waving at the broken, lost people you pass by. Holding hands with children who have seen more brokenness in their short lives than you ever will, or building a church in a third-world country with giant hunks of sun-baked mud. What else do you think of when you hear the word “missions”? While embarking on a mission trip overseas, God allows you to take the adventure of a lifetime to reach the unreached. He gives you the courage and strength and skills only He can provide to equip you with the tools you need to bring the light of the Gospel to those who thirst. Despite missions being focused on sharing the Gospel with others, your walk with Him also becomes stronger. The joys and difficulties missions brings strengthens your relationship with your Saviour, and draw you closer to Him as you learn to cling to Him through this life. 1. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTSGod has given each and every one of us spiritual gifts so that we would magnify Him. On the mission field, and even in your everyday life, you have a special opportunity to bring Him glory. God has purposefully and thoughtfully created you with these gifts to be used in a time like this - in missions, and wherever He leads you. 2. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD Missions, like every other part of life, doesn’t come without trials. No doubt about it. It’s the reality of our broken, sinful, messy world. But despite the peril of a whirlwind that threatens to swallow you up, God is always there. It’s in hurricanes that we trust in the Creator of the atmosphere. In the sorrow we hold onto the One who will wipe away every tear. In the conflict we have hope in He who will set all things right. But it’s also in the joy that we rejoice in the One who put beauty in these ashes. When difficulty whirls in, we have more trust in our God. We come to lean on Him, not our desires, what we think is best, what we want in life. We stop thinking about what we think is the best happy ending, but instead have faith in Him, because He has the ultimate plan for our lives. 3. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GAIN A HEART FOR THE NATIONS Global missions is the hope that we might touch every nation of the world, every unreached person with the life-changing, hope-giving, joy-filling message of the Gospel. We marvel at the wondrous world God created and grieve the brokenness that covers it, but we hope for spiritual multiplication to take place across the nations. Because of how Jesus changes every aspect of our lives and shatters the darkness into a brilliant multitude of colours, we hope to take it to the ends of the Earth, rejoicing. Today, let’s gain a heart for the world. Let’s let hope split the sky as we reach the ends of the Earth with the glorious message of the Gospel. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "A midnight feast!" Her eyes light up in delight and joy as her beautiful imagination runs wild. I think my heart just might explode. Her tiny arms wrap around my legs as her big, beautiful eyes meet mine. I think my heart might explode. They gaze above at the clouds stretching overhead. "Look, over there!" I think my heart might explode. Her wee hands clutch mine, as her tiny legs take their first steps. I think my heart might explode. Little ones are constantly teaching me such beautiful lessons. Lessons on why empathy matters; why loving others matters; to keep smiling even when storms arise; why hugs and love are better than bandaids; why living instead of just breathing is better, the list could go on. But there is one thing i've learned from spending time with these lovely people. And that one thing, is this. Find beauty in the small, simple things of life. Yes, find beauty in little things. Find beauty in midnight feasts, tiny hugs, small smiles and jubilant laughter. Find beauty in first baby steps, in imagination, in starry, doe-eyed little ones. Find beauty in the little things. BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITYEven as He created rolling waves, and great canyons and forests dispersed around the world, He also created the small, intricate details of this universe. He created the heart that beats beneath each and every one's chest. He created flying squirrels and million and millions of ants. He created each and every snowflake that falls toward the Earth, every millimetre of every twig. He created warm scarves we love that double as blankets, and the twinkle in the Christmas lights. Everything. I'm learning from the beautiful little ones that have been brought into my life, that we should enjoy these little blessings God has so graciously given us; like the lovely music that fills my eardrums, the sunshine that streams through my window, sweaters that keep me warm during cold Canadian winters. These little hidden blessings God has graciously given me, i'm learning to see them; to enjoy them. The lovely little things that we can find gratitude for, i'm learning that there is beauty in them. The little things that make my lips smile and my heart explode; it's in those things. The little things. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Love is one of the most complicated and yet so simple parts of this life. But, love above all is what allows us to have life. It's what Jesus showed us on the Cross. It's what each of our hearts yearns for. It's what God teaches us to do. It's what the Gospel is. It's who God is (1 John 4:8). C.S. Lewis writes this out simply, To love is to be vulnerable. What Jesus showed us on the Cross was vulnerability. Was Him coming down to Earth and making himself a Servant because He loved us. When Jesus entered the World, He was born a humble baby, to the poorest people, in the lowliest way. Loving vulnerably is saying, "I'm going to put my needs before yours. I'm going to love you because I get to. I'm going to love you because Christ loved me. I'm going to be humble and small and put you before me." Put others needs before yours. Love like Christ. And, even though He is the only one who can love like this, keep asking Him to help you keep loving. Keep praying. Trust Him. HAPPY 2018, READERS! HERE'S TO THE FIRST OF MANY POSTS THIS YEAR. |
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MEET HANNAHWelcome to this wee corner of the internet! I'm Hannah; snail mail aficionado, paper enthusiast and child of God. Join me on this adventure! ARCHIVES
April 2018
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