As I look forward to flying out on Saturday. Yes, SATURDAY! I can't help but look back. Take, for instance, the title of this blog. You may look at it as appropriate because of it being an Irish blessing, but before it was an Irish blessing (to me), it was lyrics in a song that my sister, mom, and I wore down and sang while listening to the song on a cassette tape (yea, rocking it old school!)
Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Looking back in hope of what's ahead, it is easy to see where I have worked out a way my life would go or a direction it would head yet God set the steps, turns, and detours I would take in order to get there, to accomplish what I felt He was calling me to do.
It began with a simple explanation from my first youth minister of how he viewed his job as our youth minister. He explained to us that the Bible says that we do not get to take what we have in this life, such as our work, with us into heaven, but one thing he loved so dearly about his job (ministry) is the fact that he gets to take his work with him because he knew he would see many of us in the Kingdom. At that time, I wanted to go into the military after training in college to be a veterinary technician because I wanted to save animals (preferably wildlife) and travel (you'll see how God intertwines His will with our desires). At that moment God gripped my heart with the question, Why save animals' lives when you could be a part of saving souls? Don't get me wrong, I know that God is the only one that can save, and only after we choose to accept what Christ did for us on the cross, but I was thinking so small in comparison with what God had in mind for my life and our journey in this world.
One of the biggest encouragers of my decision to choose youth ministry over veterinary work was my mother. Because of her encouragement I was persistent in sticking with becoming a youth minister. Then came another youth minister who took me under his wing, along with several other students, deepening our understanding of the Bible, discipleship, and service. From there came another youth minister who, while on a retreat with our youth group as his first big shindig with us, saw in me the potential of a youth minister. He brought me alongside him in his work, his journey through the Bible and what it really looked like to be a youth minister to give me a better understanding of what I would be getting into. He also helped me find the best college for me where I ended up at Cincinnati Christian University.
Then came the events from the previous post of my friend Jenna, a college mission trip, deep friendships with solid counsel and encouragement revealing to me what I was blind to in myself, an internship, and opportunity. Yet after all of that, it brings me all the way back to a song I use to listen to with my mom on cassette. Don't ever doubt what God can do through you. We are weak, small, insignificant, but it is when we come to grips with this that God in all his strength, glory, and power can fully work through us without us getting in the way (too much).
"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."--2 Corinthians 12:9
Don't underestimate God and what He can do with the little you have to offer in comparison, it's the perfect combination. Take it from a weakling who has experienced it.
Update on the ministry in Northern Ireland:
As I head out on Saturday I will be living with a host family for 3 months (the longest I can do so without a visa). While there I will be helping to lead a young women's Bible study for new Christians as well as a Bible study with many girls that were in a small group I worked with while on my internship. Also, after contacting a few of the ministries I had worked alongside during my internship, I was encouraged by the response from two different people that believe my coming over and having a desire to help serve in any way possible, especially with the young women of the Kairos Centre (drop-in centre within walking distance of the host family) is an answer to a prayer they have been praying for a while now. Once I get there I will have more details of exactly what my services will consist of and I will update you as soon as I am given information.
Thank you, more than I could ever express, for praying with me through this journey Christ has brought me to and will see me through. Your support gives me encouragement daily.
No comments:
Post a Comment