O Canada?

Risks can be daunting. Pray one time for a chance to serve anywhere at anytime or say one time to God Here am I, send me and see what happens. Last week I mentioned that I was on the verge of something great. I also stated a lot of questions that have been burning inside of me. I said that Lord willing I would go next fall....what about January?

I have been debating on an extended out of the country mission trip for a while now and had a few people in my life that wanted me to apply for this spring just to see what happens. My response? I'm going next fall so that way I can prepare for it.

At this point I would like to stop and let you re-read my response to what people were asking me to do. I would also like to stop and say that at this point in my life you think I would have stopped trying to plan out what I will do with my life. College baseball? Failed. Trying to pursue a profession in Special Education? Failed. Answering a ministry calling the first time? Failed. Moving to Louisville within the first 2 years of Seminary? Failed. You see a trend here with the plans I've made for myself?!?

Continuing on, Going on a Hands On trip next fall? On the verge of failing. The past 2 or 3 days have been interesting to say the least. After watching a video about Hands On my heart began to pound. I was feeling so many emotions and knew that the calling was clear that at some point I would go away. Fast forward to Sunday while out to lunch with my parents I get a text message from a friend who is going to Canada in January. The only reason I said I would go is if Canada was an option because it just stuck out to me on the project list. Just so happens that the text message I received said they need 2 more people to go to Canada. My heart immediately began to pound again and it would not quit unless I did something about it.

My prayer as I was walking to my car after lunch went a little something like this;

"God my human mind cannot comprehend

what is going on I know that nothing

 is impossible or bigger than you. If

you want me to apply and be accepted

Then I know you will make it happen.

I know that if I'm suppose to be on

a plan to Canada in January then

you will make it happen. Blow my mind."

So the application has been sent in. I have already received an e-mail telling me that this close to the deadline that it may not even be possible to get a spot on any trip for the spring. I'm reminded of one of my favorite movies called "Facing The Giants" It is a football movie with many plots in it but towards the end when this little school wins the State Championship against a 2 or 3 time defending champion, the coach looks at his players in the locker room and says, "You tell me what's impossible with God? God can do whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it and he chooses to work in our lives because he loves us, because he's good."

What's impossible with God you ask? Nothing...absolutely nothing. God takes ordinary people in ordinary situations and does extraordinary things. Why? Because he is God and can do whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it...for our good and his glory. I'm just an ordinary person who could possibly get to be a part of something extraordinary.

The beginning of something great?

The road leading to ministry was a long and winding road, one filled with many side tracks. I ran from it to the extent I tried to do it my way and when you try and fight God about your ways...well...you lose 100% of the time.

The past couple years have tought me that it is necessary to be in tune with God. At one moment you could be in one place and then in another moment be somewhere else. The side roads of life can be painful ones but graciously we have a God who can steer us back on track. The reason I write this tonight is because I could be on another journey. After taking an eye opening mission trip to Seville, Spain three months ago, I have felt a calling to go back overseas. At first I believed these feelings were more of an emotional high out of the fact I had an amazing time while gone. A new place, new people and a new opportunity.

Over the past three months since returning I have had feelings come and go and they re-surfaced last week when a former missionary to South Africa came to Beaver Dam to speak to the high school students. He was speaking because our church is sending a team of high school and college students to South Africa next summer! Was I ready to jump on that ship? You bet! But while this guy was talking questions began forming in my mind that would cause me to be hesitate;
Do I continue to take short term trips to discover where I feel lead to?
Do I take a long term trip so that I endure the lonely days when no one close is around?
What happens if the first time I experience one of those days it's with a family?
After having the opportunity to speak one on one with this missionary, I again felt the same intense feelings of going back overseas as I had felt once I came home from Spain.

So the next question is this, when and where God? Lord willing the answer to the first part of that question will be next fall. The second part is yet to be determined but after some wise counseling I have decided to do this, just do something! One thing I've learned is that God will not just give you all the answers. Sometimes you have to get up, make a move and trust God will get you where you were intended to go in the first place.

So here I am and here it goes....is this the beginning of something great? How can I best serve with what I have? My prayer as I continue to decipher the thoughts in my heart and mind is that I will ultimately be open to the Lord's word. A quote that I hold close says this, "Taking risks can be daunting. But most often the most rewarding journeys begin with uneasy and faultering first steps." Something great? Absolutely! The worst thing I could do with the desires I have is to not do anything at all.

The Reason For This Blog

Welcome everyone! After a lot of thought and debating I've finally given in. The purpose in this blog is to share the experiences of, not only Seminary, but life. Part of ministry is being able to share the experiences we encounter and to encourage others with those experiences and that is the goal in mind with this blog. I want to share the experiences in both the classroom as well as out in the world.

The idea behind the title of the blog, Walking Towards Home, came from a very inspiring book called Same Kind of Different As Me. It is a story about two men, Ron Hall and Denver Moore, how they met and the friendship they developed. Denver was a man who grew up being a slave in the south then ended up in Fort Worth, Texas as a homeless man when he met Ron. To get to the point, as Denver lived life in search of a home, once a person is saved, "The truth is, whether we are rich or poor or something in between, the earth isn't a final resting place. So in a way we are all homeless - just working our way toward home."

These are stories and encounters of the journey that was created for me by God. I'm just walking towards home.