My feet are glued... when I should be running

July 20th  

I’m disappointed in myself. July was a month I’d looked forward to with anticipation and expectation - and if I’m honest a little of anxiety. I was coming to find adventure and revival, yet here I sit, on a comfortable recliner, lounging in front of the TV. Music jamming in the back ground. Even though a week ago, I arrived a little bit out of my comfort zone, it isn’t that way anymore –this could be home. Looking back on my week, I realize I’ve missed opportunities for adventure, and I’ve chosen to settle and chill instead of getting out and reviving myself. All week I’ve put off anything too intense. I’ve expected God to meet me where I am, instead of getting out and meeting Him.

At home, it didn’t seem like I’d had opportunities for anything extremely radical, but now I’m away and it hits me that I have a huge habit to chill.

It’s my fault. It’s my fault that I don’t sacrifice my Saturday morning sleep to get up before the sun rises and get into the Word. Until now I didn’t realize that I’ve missed the unusual occasion to let God move not because He isn’t ready to move, but because I’m still standing still. I always wait for God to initiate our interaction, when I should be providing and offering my time and worship. God stands at my door and knocks, but my music is much too loud to hear Him, and on certain days where I’m buried in a good book, I have that door locked up tighter than a bank. My feet are glued to the ground, when I should be running the race.

All through Jesus’ life the things He did challenged us. He fasted for forty days! He healed people. He brought people back from the dead! He got up before the sun rose. He prayed so hard that His sweat was blood. He died the worst death possible. It seems to me that Jesus lived one day even better than the last.

So I ask myself one hard question: Is today going to be even better than yesterday? (Will it be hard to make it better? Ha.) Today will be better, because I’m rising to the challenge! Now that I’ve realized what I am (lazy), I’m going to fight this, because I don’t want to be content. I don’t want to be content, or disappointed in myself, or anxious. I want to be radical and Christ-like and running.

Will you rise to the challenge that Jesus set before you?

Heavenly companion

Last week, for nine days I went to the South Texas Children's Home in Beevill

July 20^th

I met a girl today at the pool. She was the newest girl to come to the home –just arrived this afternoon. She seemed lost. That was a good way to explain the look in her eyes. Overwhelmed –there’s another good word. Her eyes were curious, as if she didn’t understand why I was being so friendly. While we were swimming, slowly she opened up to me. Through a series of events, she told a few of the other STCH Kids and me why she had come to live at the children’s home. “I had a lot of trouble with school,” she told us with a shrug. “So my parents just sent me here.” Now, I’m not sure if she had trouble academically or socially, but as she spoke the words “my parents just sent me here” you could hear the hurt and confusion. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her “God wants you. He won’t send you away and He will never leave you or forsake you. You’ll always have God.” I will pray that someone does tell her that.

I slowly got to know this girl for the next few days. On Sunday as I was saying goodbye, it was her I went to last. I didn’t want to say goodbye to her. I was ready to come home, but if I could have brought this girl with me, I would have. I had only known this girl a total of three days, and had only spent a few hours with her, but I already loved her as my sister. When I told her I had to go home, that I was leaving, she felt the same as I did –regretful that there wasn’t more time. She would have been a great friend. Pray with me that she will get in a relationship with Jesus, because then she will not only be my sister, and friend, but also a Heavenly companion for eternity.

This is a hard one for me to write, that’s why it’s taken so long and why it’s so short. The words did not come easy for me, but it was a story worth telling.