A GLORIOUS journey, indeed!
well i am finally home from my five months in africa. and an incredible five months they were! when i left for cape town in february, i didn't expect that i would return home so changed. as i have been reflecting back over my time in africa i am overwhelmed with JOY because of how much the Father did in my heart and how much he has changed me. when i think back on my time one word keeps coming up to describe it: GLORIOUS. looking back all i can see is the Glory of God covering every second of my journey. and the good news is...no matter where our journey with the Lord takes us, he promises us that every step will be filled with his glory (his splendor and bliss), his goodness and his love. and let me tell you; my last five months were not easy. so many hard, hard moments that stretched me and pulled on my every weakness...but all i can say is it was so worth it. and as i look back on my journey, i thank God for every second because he was so near to me and has moved in my heart in ways i could have only have dreamed of! i am so in love with Jesus and i am so expectant of my life's journey with him!
when i created this blog i randomly chose the title "oh what a glorious journey." but little did i know how telling it would be of what the Lord would do in my heart. if i could chose one thing that the Lord solidified in my heart these past five months (and believe me there is an endless list to choose from) i would say that he has grown in me a deep assurance that i am my Beloved's and he is mine, and that i can fully trust him because he is taking me on a glorious journey!
here are some things that i have learned through being in CPx:
1.) i have been equipped. it has been a dream in my heart to be a part of a church planting movement...seeing disciples producing more disciples and simple churches planting more simple churches. a dynamic movement of God sweeping through a community, transforming MANY. a movement that is not dependent on me, but that will keep growing even after i leave. but i had NO idea how to do that. through what i learned in the teaching phase and then implementing it during outreach phase, i feel that tools, strategies and vision has been placed in my hands. i have seen even in just my two months in zim those dreams in my heart coming to pass! Praise the Lord! i can't wait to grow more as i live out what i have been taught!
2.) the strategy is simple. during my time in Zim the Lord taught me about the power in coming alongside people where they are to help them encounter Jesus for themselves and be transformed by relationship with him. the stategy is simple because God is more powerful than we can imagine. when people truly begin walking with him they can not help but be transformed by the love, goodness, kindness and grace of Jesus. Holy Spirit really is the best teacher and God really is the redeemer. if i can get out of people's way and simply point them to relationship with God transformation really does happen! i can trust that God will do all the hard work :) the best part is that i really did learn methods and strategies to help me introduce people to a lasting relationship with God...pretty sweet!
3.) i am secure in Jesus. a verse the Lord gave me to sum up one of the main things he did in my heart is psalms 62:1-2 "my soul finds rest in God alone; he alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress i will never be shaken." i have walked away from my time in africa so confident in who God is and who i am in him. i have never been so sure of the truth that i am important to God. the Lord has taken away all my fears, doubts and confusion and has given me a deep, sweet assurance in his love and goodness! my soul is at rest in Jesus!
4.) Jesus is the best companion. i use to be so dependent on people for their company, for my energy (i am an extreme extravert!), approval, and so much more. i had a deep need for people and a fear that i would be alone. because of my time in zim as the only single girl, i found that Jesus really is my best friend! i learned to take all my thoughts, fears, hurts, joys to him first, to process with holy spirit first and to find my acceptance in him alone! WOW. lets just say this will change a person if you start living like this! my source is in God alone!
5.) i found the key to life. (aren't you excited :) my newly adopted principle for a living a life FULL of joy, victory, and great fruit is: keep your heart alive to God. i call this the Cinderella principle. (ha cinderella is my favorite!) if you look at the story of Cinderella, she lived an oppressive and sad life. she lost everything. YET, she did not shut down her heart. she did not live from a place of bitterness and anger. she lived with great JOY, embracing life, caring for those around her, and she continued to DREAM! this is the key, (in good times and in hard, but especially in the hard times) to keep our hearts ALIVE to what God is doing and saying; choosing joy and choosing to believe God and his promises. continuing to look to him and to DREAM with him! lets choose to ALWAYS keep our hearts alive to what the good, good Father is saying and doing!
well i have said a lot, but there is still SO much more to write about! here are some pictures because they are worth a thousand words, right?!
Chipo's place...one of our favorite bible study groups!
i want to say one more time...
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you to each and every one of you that have journeyed with me these past five months. i am so blessed to have people who carry me with their prayers, financial support, encouraging words and love. none of this would have been possible without all of you... so THANK YOU! may the Lord richly bless you!
MUCH love,
whit
