Short-Term Missions

Short-term missions is not a bad thing at all. That is exactly how God placed the desire and passion of missions in my heart. I've shared with many individuals about this issue of being comfortable in our North American setting. I really hope and pray that you will consider sacrificing 1-2 months of your years on earth to give God the glory in another country, especially to somewhere outside North America, where there are people living in the slums and eating less than one meal a day. Trust me, God opened my heart, and He definitely will do that with you. It's just a matter of you opening the door for Him to come in.

If Jesus Christ be God And Died For Me, No Sacrifice Can Be Too Great For Me To Make For Him.
--C.T. Studd

Hebrews 10:14
Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

5 Months ago...

Wow.
Time sure does fly...
Those were the exact words I used when I first blogged 5 months ago. Many things were on my mind at that time, but one thing for sure that stuck out was 'I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I AM BLOGGING, NEVER WOULD'VE THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME.'
I honestly would have never thought that, what was once a small interest of mine would lead into something that can possibly one day be a lifetime commitment.

Four years is definitely a long commitment, and a lot of individuals that hear me share are shocked at how long I've decided to dedicate my time, especially at such a young age and at the country that I am going to. One thing that I have not mentioned was that four years can simply turn into fourteen years or even forty years, because of the love I have for missions: the love of working with the vulnerable; the love of working with the youth; the love of working with those living in poverty; but most importantly, the love of bringing honor, glory and praise to God and seeing others worship Him because of His great beauty and love for them.

As the time of my departure gets closer and closer, I think to myself of how many challenges, trials, temptations, struggles, difficulties and hardships I will go through, whether they are spiritual, emotional, physical or even mental, one thing I need to remind myself is that, though my family isn't there with me, God is there with me, along with hundreds and possibly even thousands of prayer warriors.

I came across this passage today and I would like to share it with you:

Psalm 116:1-2
"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."

Heart & Passion

Are mission trips all about you? Are mission trips all about your task? Are mission trips all about where you serve? Are mission trips all about the people you serve? Answer: NO. It is not about you, or your task, or the place you travel to, or the people you serve. It is ultimately about God. It is He that deserves the glory, He that deserves worship and praise from the people we serve. Our mentality of going to the mission field can sometimes be about the people, but it should be about God first, and then the people second.

Isaiah 48:9-11
For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

Malachi 1:11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations, " says the LORD Almighty.

War

Are you advancing the Kingdom? Are you living a passionate life and fighting for Him? Are you living in comfort and ease?
I sometimes believe that there is absolutely no excuse when it comes to living passionately and living out your purpose. This purpose is not for yourself, but for God.