Show up

Every year that I go to OMP (Ozark Mission Project) God shouts at me. Not in a bad way but in a humbling moving way. Every year it's something different.

I've always heard and even used the saying "God showed up and showed off!". One of the speakers this week pointed out that God is always here. He is already there and been there and knows the outcome. It is us that has to show up in order for God to use us in a way that shows Him off...It is us that has to be open to His word and His greatness to be moved in and by the Spirit.

This really has been working on me. I have been living my life waiting for moments that God will show up and show off. Sure He does some times...but it's the times that I let myself go and am open to let Him work in and through me that it actually happens. Stupid Sarah....He's right here just waiting on you to actually show up every moment of every day.

This past week our group at OMP did almost 40 projects. I may not have been a driver working directly with the neighbors but I got to see a little piece of several of the projects and neighbors. It was enough to leave a mark on my heart. Mrs Jumper praising God constantly even though she had a huge hole in her roof from a fallen tree. Little Terry who could not even speak but was more concerned about us workers getting enough water than he was about himself basting in the heat of the sun. Another lady thankful to have a place to live after theft, fire, and flood only to praise God that this is only our temporary home. These people even with hardly anything to their name, living in rough conditions, and some with severe illnesses praise God for all that they have.
How many times do I myself cry and weep and whine about my situation in this life when really it's not that bad. It's actually pretty darn good.

God is really working on me to quit being selfish in my wants and desires and to put it all I have, all I want, and all I desire back into glorifying and exalting Him. He continues to use people and things in my life whether it be through a speaker at OMP or a friend just giving wise advise or a book that gives a detailed observation of the trinity or maybe a song or a devotional booklet or whatever it may be. God is there working and each day from here on out I refuse to sit in the shadows and watch as God moves around me. I chose to Show Up and let Him move in me and through me each and every day!

i dont want to go

You changed my world when you came to me. You drove passion in my soul down deep. Lord, to follow You in everything. I don't want to go somewhere if i know that You're not there 'cause I know that me without You is a lie. And I don't want to walk that road and be a million miles from home 'cause my heart needs to be where You are! So I don't want to go. So come whatever I'll stick with You. I'll walk You'll lead me. Call me crazy or a fool for forever I promise You that without Your touch without Your love filling me like an ocean for Your grace is enough. Enough for me to never want to go somewhere if I know that You're not there.
- I don't want to go by Avalon

This song really speaks to me. Because i personally have stopped walking down some roads because I know that He won't be glorified there but rather condemned. Sometimes that means distancing friendships to almost an end.
It's not that I don't care because I do. It's just that I need to stop trying to force my love on people who don't want it. I would give it to them in 10 years if they asked for it even though they have forsaken me. I'd still give it to them. I would!
I'd rather walk closer to Him than go down a path away from Him just to be someone's friend.

I've been reading Radical by David Platt. He encourages us to lead a life pursuing and growing God's kingdom and not to live our lives wanting to fit into the American Dream. The American dream is selfish always wanting more for yourself and to be comfortable. David Platt points out that Jesus' life was not comfortable. He did not have everything. If we are all called to be like Him then why do we so strongly desire all these worldly things.

I know this blog is titled i don't want to go....but the song that it's referring to says "I don't want to go somewhere if you're not there". The more I think about it...we don't go anywhere that He is not already there. He is always with us. Of course steering away from people and things that ask us to leave God behind and pursue sin first is probably smart. However, isn't that what God is asking of us...to take Him to those places...the dangerous places...the lost people...if they do not know Him then they will always be dangerous and lost and He is calling us to ALL nations, tribes and tongues.

As easy as it is to stay at home and to take the easy road of the American dream...what will we get from that? Will God be satisfied that we just bathed in His creation but didn't share it with others? Maybe you are...maybe you don't feel called (like me) to go to the nations. What about just with love? There is always a way to share God's love even if our gift isn't teaching or preaching. How about sharing God's love by simply loving others....down the street....in the next town....in the next state...in another country. Love on others by sharing the gospel...by sharing the American wealth..by simply caring enough to show up when God calls.

I'm not saying God is calling me to sell everything and move to a different country. But He may one day. I'm just making a point that we have to at least care enough for those around us who are less fortunate than us or lost to love them the way that God has called us to. Love on your neighbors!

I don't want to go...without You, Oh Lord!