Really interesting post on Carl Medearis’ blog about what a missionary is. Such a familiar conversation (not with our children, of course). Highlight:
I asked her what she thought we were doing while in Lebanon. Her answer was as shocking as it was insightful. ”We were just living in Lebanon as regular people loving others in Jesus’ name. All our friends were Lebanese. “Missionaries” don’t do that. They don’t hang out with the local people as much as we did. They do projects.”
Whether Carl was a “missionary” or not, I want to be what he was. Click here for the full post.
Mark
The longer I walk with God the more I like Him and the less I feel like I can predict His actions. He is the most surprising, loving, and competent leader! We transitioned out of pastoring a small church plant at the end of December and this week I got to watch with joy as my successor took his place. It’s crazy how you can have two months of discomfort and uncertainty and then all of a sudden, everything changes – sometimes in one week or even one day.
I’ve come to think of it like when you throw a little kid up in the air or pretend to drop them and then catch them. They love it and it creates warmth and connection. Psalm 107:23-32 has become a meaningful passage to us as we step into this new phase of life, and I think it describes this process. We get warmth and connection with the Lord as He leads us through these situations, and I LOVE following Him.
So this is a joyful day for me. I get to see the church I’ve loved and cared for in good hands – I’m SO excited for Danny and Nicole to come down – and I get to see the Lord Jesus leading His Church and caring for us. It gives us hope as we continue to step toward Northern Ireland.
Please pray with us in this time. We feel like this is an important time to ask the Lord to open those doors. Hopefully we’ll have some news soon.
