Saturday, November 06, 2004
Wait On the Lord. These couple days, I attended ACMC Conference (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment). The workshops were great and it was exciting to be in an environment where everyone is so passionate about serving the Lord. But the highlight for me was meeting Jim Cummings... Don't let his non-asian face fool you, he is fluent in both Mandarin and Taiwanese. It turns out that he is a missionary kid born in Taiwan. In fact, he has lived in Taiwan longer than I have. And it's amazing how God brought us together at the dinner table, he will be going to Xiamen for a 2 year term starting next year. Praise the Lord.
As he gave me his missionary contact info with picture of him, his beautiful wife and 3 cute little kids, I said to myself, "This, is the model I want to strive for." And it's not only because they have a picture perfect family, I want to imitate them because of their faith in God. Being out in the field and having a deep desire to change people's life with the Word of God. Indeed, "how beautiful are the feet of those that carry good news." How beautiful are the lives of those living for God.
Every time I meet God's co-laborers, my passion to serve Him in the field grows stronger. There is nothing else that could give me more meaning. I become more frustrated that I am not there, not living out to the fullest of my God given purpose. Yes, I could scale down from a townhouse to a condo so that I could go on short term mission trips every year. But it is NOT enough. There is so much more about being out there with the harvest and working for God full time.
Yet, I wonder... Do I really understand the cost? Do I really know what it takes? Is this my desire or the Lord's? Am I just full of nice thoughts? I cry out to the Lord with this yearning in me. "Father God, help me not to be led by my feelings and remove anything that's not from you. Make a clear path for me. Use me. If it is your call, affirm me, approve me, send me."
Jim encouraged me with these words:
"Wait on the Lord for His timing."
As he gave me his missionary contact info with picture of him, his beautiful wife and 3 cute little kids, I said to myself, "This, is the model I want to strive for." And it's not only because they have a picture perfect family, I want to imitate them because of their faith in God. Being out in the field and having a deep desire to change people's life with the Word of God. Indeed, "how beautiful are the feet of those that carry good news." How beautiful are the lives of those living for God.
Every time I meet God's co-laborers, my passion to serve Him in the field grows stronger. There is nothing else that could give me more meaning. I become more frustrated that I am not there, not living out to the fullest of my God given purpose. Yes, I could scale down from a townhouse to a condo so that I could go on short term mission trips every year. But it is NOT enough. There is so much more about being out there with the harvest and working for God full time.
Yet, I wonder... Do I really understand the cost? Do I really know what it takes? Is this my desire or the Lord's? Am I just full of nice thoughts? I cry out to the Lord with this yearning in me. "Father God, help me not to be led by my feelings and remove anything that's not from you. Make a clear path for me. Use me. If it is your call, affirm me, approve me, send me."
Jim encouraged me with these words:
"Wait on the Lord for His timing."
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Important day. Today is election day. I keep on hearing that today is a very important day. Yes, I did my duty this morning as a good citizen and voted. But in the grander scheme of things, everyday is an important day in which we can make a difference to the world around us.
