I just got back from a short term mission trip in Gallaway TN. It was mind blowing, to say the least. Not only did I get to see Ally Backus, who is one of my best friends, but I had the opportunity to spend the entire week helping teach summer camp to about 35 children. It was overwhelming, terrifying and magnificent all at the same time. :)
Even though I went to Gallaway to teach, while I was there I found that many things that week were taught to me! There is one thing that I learned this past week that God really pressed upon me to share on my blog. So here it is. :)
The Great Commission. This has been something that has been floating around in the back of my head for a while. It sometimes comes to my serious thoughts but then is somehow always pushed back down into the back of my brain. The week I was in Gallaway all of talks that the pastor gave were about the great commission, so I was forced to hear it. :)
Matthew 28:18-20 says, And Jesus came and said to them, “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This verse was read a talked about this past week and it really started making me think more about what my job as a Christian is.
Is simply being saved enough? Sure, I will be going to Heaven, but is that all I am responsible for? just myself? Not according to the passage above. What about all the people out there who have never heard the gospel? What if the person that shared the gospel with me would have decided to keep all the info that they knew about Christ to themselves. I wouldn't know anything and I would still be wondering out in the wilderness like so many people are.
I was convicted while I was in Gallway that my job as a Christian is to help lead others to Christ. It is that simple. You might be thinking, "I already know that, everyone does!" That is the problem! All Christian know what the great commission is and that Christians are supposed to follow it, but do they?! I know I haven't!
I guess this is pretty much a reality check for me, but I'm sharing it with you too. :)
So My decision that I have made this week is that for the rest of my life I am going to strive to serve and tell others more about the God that lives in my heart. I want to act like it's a big amazing secret. Secret? Yes secret. Because everyone knows that no one can keep a secret that's just too amazing. They always want to spill the beans to everyone because it's just too awesome to keep in the down low. :) I want Gods Love to be bubbling out of me. I want every person that sees me to wonder what's different about me, then come ask why I act the way I do. The way I live, talk, dress and everything else I do make impressions on people that will last, whether it be a good or bad one. I was every second to count. As Jim Elliott says " I want to live to the hilt in every situation, you believe to be the will of God." That is how I want to live my life.
How do you want to live yours? Please tell me! :)
I will now stop rambling and leave you with the lyrics to this song. It's called asleep in the Light, by Keith Green. It is amazing. (The song is also on my blog music playlist. :)
Do you see, do you see All the people sinking down
Don't you care, don't you care Are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb,Not to care if they come.
You close your eyes And pretend the job's done
"Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord" You know it's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts, No one even sheds one tear
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds And He cares for your needs
And you just lay back And keep soaking it in,Oh, can't you see it's such a sin?
Cause He brings people to your door, And you turn them away
As you smile and say,"God bless you, be at peace"And all heaven just weeps
Cause Jesus came to your door, You've left him out on the streets.
Open up open up And give yourself away You see the need, you hear the cries
So how can you delay? God's calling and you're the one But like Jonah you run
He's told you to speak But you keep holding it in, Oh can't you see it's such a sin?
The world is sleeping in the dark, That the church just can't fight, Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead, When you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave, And you, you can't even get out of bed
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, Come on, get out of your bed
How can you be so numb, Not to care if they come.
You close your eyes And pretend the job's done, You close your eyes And pretend the job's done
Don't close your eyes, Don't pretend the jobs done.
Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.
Our group had a baaalast :)
On the trip back we were all exausted. :P
The entire Gallaway students and staff.
Baylie, Beka and Tigger >.<
Kate and..I think this is Latisha...someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Nemo, me and...oh.i can't remember her name..she was Ah-dorable though. :)
