Catch The Vision

I cannot believe I have been home for two months as of February 2nd. What an adventure I have been on! Since coming back to Boise, God placed a common theme in my life. The pastor of my church set a theme of living out the vision God placed in your life for 2015. He is encouraging everyone to use our talents and gifts to make a difference for Christ in our world – to run the race of faith, and not allow this world to stomp out our passion of Christ. I am also reading Unstoppable by Christine Caine, which goes along the same theme. I will read a chapter of the book, and then head to church. More than once, Pastor Donald speaks on the same topic of the chapter I just read. He will use the same scriptures and the same concepts from the book. After asking him, I found out he is not reading Unstoppable. Obviously, God is talking to me!
While I was in Uganda, God gave me a passion for families. I want to see families stick together. I want to see children stay with family, and see these families thrive the way God intended for them. Through this theme God placed in my life, I began picturing how this could play out in my future of missions. My heart beats for children. I am passionate about seeing children succeed. When I am with kids, I feel the most alive – like I am who I was made to be. My heart is overwhelmed any time little hands grab onto mine. My soul smiles with every hug around my waist. I absolutely love working with children. This is a God given gift I have received, and I know God will use it in my future. I just need to make sure my eyes are open to His calling so I do not miss something grand.
Since coming home, I began working with children once again. I get the pleasure of spending my days with newborns up to five year olds, and I cannot think of a better way to get paid! I love what I do, and I am excited every day I walk through the doors. As I pray over the future, God continues to confirm this job is more than just a paycheck. He will use my time here to train me for something greater. I began to imagine the work I would do in Africa. I picture myself doing something along the same lines in Africa. A place for children to come, grow, learn, and be encouraged to follow their dreams. I would love to partner with another ministry that gives parents the tools they need to succeed in caring for their children, while I care for their children. I cannot even begin to explain how any of this would work, but this is the dream God placed deep in my heart.
One of the things I am most passionate about is for children to realize they are not victim to their circumstances. Their past does not dictate who they are, and if they want to make a change in their community, then they need to rise above and make the change. I want to give that dream to children in East Africa – to wherever God calls me. I believe if children are taught this at a young age, they will be unstoppable. They will be able to change their communities, even with nothing to offer. This is the heart God has placed within me. I want to see this happen.
I do not know what my future holds, but I am embracing the work God intends for me to accomplish. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is my current prayer. I cannot list my current steps on how I am getting back to the mission field, and at this point in time, that is right. People ask, and all I can answer is this passage in Hebrews. I am running my race with my eyes fixed on Jesus. He is using my passions to teach me who I am in His eyes, and what I am made to accomplish. This season of my life, I am embracing the chance to dream and cast visions for my future – just to yield them back to God, who placed them in my life.
I plan to continue to run this race of faith throughout 2015 and the rest of my life. I am seeking the chance to run for my life in the things God places in my path, whether that be in America or Africa. I won't let this world stomp out this fire, because the burning deep inside me is the best feeling I could ever imagine!