"Don't let mental lions keep you from experiencing everything God has to offer. The greatest breakthroughs in your life will happen when you push through the fear. The defining moments will double as the scariest decisions."When John came back from Uganda last year he was so in love with the people, so at home in Uganda, so passionate for the ministry that he asked me to go on the next trip. Flippantly I said "yes" . Wanting to come alongside and understand this ministry and be his helper in what God was calling him to do. Also thinking it was such a long ways away that I had time to prepare myself and work through my fears. Well God has prepared me this year! Every book I have read, every study I have gone through, every conversation I have seemed to have had has in some way prepared me for this trip!
This trip is a HUGE RISK for me and I am not a risk taker usually. I am a cautious, over thinking cub scout (alway prepared). I like to prepare myself for every possible disaster so that Im not caught off guard. I tend to assume the worst and fear things like flying, illness, my kids being injured and I am too far to be there. I make excuses as to why I can't or shouldn't take a risk! But by Gods grace He has revealed some pretty amazing things this last year. He has reminded me time and time again that a life that TRULY LIVES for CHRIST is RISKY!! Every character in Gods Word took a risk...stepped outside their comfort zone and did something truly outrageous! Fought a Giant, confronted the King, gave birth to the son of God, denied the Queen, battled a lion and won, refused to worship an idol, stoned, beaten, thrown into prison!
I dont take enough Risks for Christ. I don't display my absolute, unconditional, unending Faith and devotion to my True King like I should. I don't tell Him "It's you and nothing else!" "All else aside Im in this for YOU! For your Glory, Your Honor, Your Kingdom!" " No more Excuses God...Im willing to risk it all!"
So here I am boys.....taking the biggest risk I have taken in my 27 years (i know seems lame but true)...packing up my bags, saying goodbye to my beautiful babies (scared), flying way too long (scared), taking pills to prevent illness (risk), speaking Gods Word in a dangerous part of the world(risk), ALL FOR CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE (WORTH IT)!
I do not write this to say "hey, Look at me, Look at me! Look what I am doing!" But to confess that I have been too safe, too cautious, too unfaithful.
and it may seem strange to some cause this isn't risky enough for them....I mean lets be honest so many have gone before me...so many do not fear trips like this but see it as a fun filled adventure full of uncertainties and excitement!
I write this so that I , my boys and others may know that this trip is my Lion, it feels dangerous, uncertain, uncomfortable and risky to me. To be honest not a trip I have been looking forward to. But for no other reason than to proclaim....."You alone are Worthy! I risk all my silly fears, my anxious thoughts, my life for the sake of Christ! Be GLORIFIED!"
In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy day
by: Mark Batterson
"You have to face your fears or they will hold you back forever"
"Courage is doing what is right regardless of circumstance or consequence""I think our greatest regrets will be the God-ordained risks we didn't take""Our ultimate destiny is determined by whether or not we seize the God-ordained opportunities presented to us, if we seize those opportunities, the dominos continue to fall and create a chain reaction.""I want to seize the opportunity the first time it is presented""Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning"
