Sunday, October 22, 2006

 

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Ezekiel 36. We read today in church verses 25-27. It was about having a kingdom heart.

At least since I have been at UC, all I have heard about is missions. It seems like everything is about that this year. I can’t get away from it! Focus was all about the Great Awakening and missions. (focus is a 3-day conference for college kids offering many ways to serve others) Many convo sessions and Celebration days have been spent talking about missions. (convo is something we were required to go to as a student at UC that usually included different speakers, something that many students resented because of how ridiculously boring it was. Celebration days happened once a week on campus and were a time for worship and usually a student speaker from the school) I went home and went to church on Wednesday – missions. On Sunday morning, a guest preacher came, and he talked about missions. Not only did he, but the entire service was about. (I believe that Sunday a couple people from the church shared their own stories of mission trips they had recently been on) Is it coincidence?

My family group spent an entire section on missions. (family groups were a group of on-campus small groups that met on different days of the week where different Bible studies were held) I know it’s on purpose this is happening. It’s so crazy how it keeps coming and keeps coming, never going away.

Today at church I went to the alter. I asked God to send me where he wants me to go, when he wants to. I told him to be in control, to take over. To send me wherever it may be according to his will.

Over the next several months, I started a process with North American Mission Board that included interviews, application forms and meetings. I had to choose 3 different locations, out of several hundred, where I would be a summer missionary that following summer. I ended up at not my first choice of places, but the second. Rapid City, South Dakota. I had to look the city up on the map because I had no clue where it was located in the state or any idea what it looked like. 

When my plane took off, it was surrounded by expressways, hotels, other buildings, and many many planes on the ground. When I saw where I was landing, I was surrounded by grass, dirt, and more grass and dirt. I was sure I was in the middle of nowhere, wondering what I had got myself into going out west for the summer. There was a lot of culture shock and things I had to get used to, but it was the best experience I could have hoped for. I instantly became friends with a girl from Oklahoma who would be working with me with the church’s children’s ministry. We literally spent every day together, whether if we were working or not. Shawna eventually would be a bridesmaid in my wedding as a married a wonderful man from the church I was working at. He always reminds me that I don’t remember meeting him on that first Sunday as he introduced himself as Joel MacDonald, the pastor’s son. That is because, for once, my heart was not focused on finding my future boyfriend or husband, but was focused on serving God and that church, city, and state. 

I cannot wait to one day share the story of how Joel and I met with our children, and the many many stories and memories I gained that particular summer of 2007 spent  in Rapid City, South Dakota. What if I wouldn’t have listened to God? Or not noticed the signs he was throwing at me over, and over, and over again? What if I wouldn’t have prayed to let God be in control of where I go, rather than me choosing the city I wanted to be? My life would be so different than it is this day. I wouldn’t trade my current life for anything, even with the trials and struggles it contains.

What's Really Important

Being in debt, I believe, is one of the most stressful things a person can go through. Always knowing in the back of your mind that you owe someone is a constant reminder that you are not truly free. You will always have to answer to that person when it comes to the particular item you still owe, not own as the world wants you to think of it. The bible even describes it as being a slave. 

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. 

Oh, how true this statement feels when the constant reminder of bills come through the mail, or the occasional phone that reminds us of yet another payment we must make. To be debt free would be one of the most freeing feelings to have. I constantly wish that I could go back in time and do things differently. Go to a cheaper college, buy a less expensive car, not have such a large engagement ring, go on a lower-scale honeymoon. So many things I want to change. Unfortunately, it is impossible for us to go back in time and do things over again. What we must do now is to change what our future will look like. To change it now, and not wait another 20 years. Yes, we could sit around and constantly mope about the the debt we are in, or we can do something about it. That's just what we plan on doing. 

Joel and I are going to attempt, again, to sell my car that we just bought 1 1/2 years ago. We had to ask ourselves what's more important, having the comfort and luxury of 2 cars, or sacrificing for a short time and learning to work together to only have one car. Not only will that take away a car payment, but also a very expensive insurance payment. It's one less car we have to buy tags for every year and will probably save us money in gas. Some people couldn't even handle the thought of only having one car in their family, while others dream about owning some sort of transportation that is their own.

Our goal is to one day own enough land to build a camp as our ministry for several different things and as our source of income. The land is not just going to plop in our lap and be given to us, (although that would be an awesome blessing) but unless that happens, we will have to work hard towards that goal. Selling a car moves us in the right direction. We will be able to work on paying off the other car and other debt and save up money to eventually be able to have that land. Our goal is not to have the best things or the perfect house. As a Christian, I feel like my ambition should be set to a higher level than just owning certain things, but should be about finding ways to share God's love. To share it with my family by both parents being home to invest in our future children's lives and by spending time with my husband. We also want to be able to share God's love with those in need. To give parents a special place to spend time with their children, or to give parents some time alone in order to keep their relationship strong. To allow inner-city kids a chance to be kids for a few days, worrying about if they want to go hiking or canoeing, rather than worrying about gun shots way too close to their homes. To allow others in ministry a chance to get away and to remember the basics of life and for family to come together for a reunion. We want to help with all of this and so much more, but we have to work for it.

 This may not be what the world sees as important, and that's okay. We don't want to be like the world. Just think how different it would be if everyone, including other countries, were living debt free. I cannot wait for the day when I can say we are debt free.