3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 41,731

I am always amazed at the excitement and nervousness from those going on their first short-term mission trip, most of the time they don’t know enough to know what they need to be nervous about. There is an excitement in their eyes as they head into the unknown. They prepare testimonies and lessons, not knowing how God will use them or if they will be effective. They pack what is recommended and wonder if it will be enough. They comfort their parents and loved ones, and try to reassure them everything is going to be alright, while at the same time not knowing what the future holds. But through leading and prayer, the journey begins.

 

A lot of mission team members, especially those who have never been on mission before usually become broken spiritually sometime during the week of the trip. They discover a new outlook on sharing, faith, trust, and God. Why is this? It is simple, during the week they are constantly hearing the word of God either from others sharing or through the preaching or their own study. They also see the word of God come to life. That doesn’t mean that the bible gets up and starts walking around. But they see the Spirit of God begin to work in the lives of the people they come in contact with. They walk the streets with a single purpose, to find the person of peace with whom they can share the good news of the gospel. Some are hit with the hard truth that not all will accept the gospel, so they plant a seed not knowing the condition of the soil. Other times they begin to pour out water onto unknown soil, unaware that a seed exist and has been waiting for the moisture that God will use to bring it to life. They get excited and don’t know what to do when out of the ground springs forth life. A miracle, they get to see cold dead bones come to life. After that experience, they have a drive to share and no longer need to be pushed in front of people to share with. Oh what it would have been like in Acts to walk the streets and see God work, bringing people to life through the proclamation of the Gospel. But wait, could that still happen? And could it happen here?

After returning home and a couple weeks of rest, life returns to normal. The mission was accomplished, people were saved and now we are back comfortable, safe, fed, and loved. Or are we? There is always a sense of completion at the end of a mission trip. Not that that would be wrong in the short term, but there is a since of that was where we were on mission at, but now we are back and we have things to get done. Real stuff, school, work, friends, problems, and you know life. Right?

One of the greatest tragedies we have is short-term missions. I know you saw a bunch of people get saved, and God really “showed up”, but stay with me. There is a since of awe and wonder during the week of a mission trip. And we look forward to the next year when we can go and feel that same since of awe and wonder. But let’s compare it to a race shall we. Anyone who runs foot races understands that you have different splits. These are markers throughout the race to gauge your progress, and to ensure you are on pace. A short-term mission trip is sort of like a split. It is a time to see if you are where you need to be in your spiritual life, in your reading and study of the word, apologetics, doctrines, and if you can articulate them to the world around you. The shortness of the week gives you the opportunity to push yourself hard and to evaluate yourself. The tragedy is that the short-term is looked at, as the race itself. We return with a sense that we ran and will rest up to run again next year.

The race however is not over. In fact it is just beginning. When you return home, it is like passing the first mile marker. The street is no longer filled with cheering fans, the road narrows, and the reality of the race sets in. Here is where we must work our hardest. This is where we must pull from prayer and scripture, the strength to press on. Where most might sit and rest, we must run to win. We don’t just return to normal life, we return with a renewed sense of awe for what God has been doing and we must now trust even more so that He will continue His work. We saw on foreign soil God work in others lives. Now we must trust that He will work in ours for His glory and to reach those around us. We are home; this is where we must turn from our sins, where we must love God more than mother and father, more than friends and things. This is where we live out what we preach, if we believe that which we have taught. Did we believe it? Do we believe it? If so, then are we disciplined for the miles ahead? Paul tells the church at Corinth “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”. Are we disqualified or are we still in the race?

There are no short-term missionaries; there are only missionaries in different context. When we return to our Jerusalem, let us seek the hope that is only found in Christ. Let us not lean on our own understanding, our own wisdom, which is foolishness. Let us not fall victim to busyness and the lure of shiny objects that promise fulfillment. Let our knees be worn out for those nearest to us. Let our time be determined by the cross and His call, trusting that He will provide the time for work, family, fun, and ministry, as we continue the race. We have found our greatest joy in walking by faith; let us not check our faith with Homeland Security as we return home. But let us be reminded daily where our ultimate security is found and where our joy is greatest. Wherever you woke up at, wherever you find yourself, wherever you stand today, then that is your mission field. Time to get running.

41731 Responses

  1. eyelash terbaik di Semarang
    | Reply

    Eyelash extensions telah menjadi tren kecantikan yang diketahui dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, memberikan rupa bulu mata yang lebih panjang, tebal, serta lentik tanpa perlu mempergunakan maskara di tiap hari. Tapi, banyak masyarakat yang bertanya-tanya berapa lama sebenarnya https://sustainabilipedia.org/index.php/Cara_Memperpanjang_Usia_Eyelash_Extensions extensions ini bisa bertahan sebelum musti dilakukan perawatan ulang maupun penggantian. Durasi bertahan eyelash extensions dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor, termasuk mutu material yang digunakan, metode aplikasi, perawatan harian, & langkah natural peningkatan bulu mata.

    Pertama-tama, krusial kepada paham bahwa siklus hidup wajar bulu mata manusia berkisar antara 60 capai 90 hari. Di tiap bulu mata individu melewati tiga periode mendasar: anagen (peningkatan), catagen (transisi), dan telogen (istirahat). Ketika bulu mata wajar rontok buat akhir tahapan telogen, bulu mata ekstensi yang ditempelkan kepada bulu mata itu pula bakal ikut rontok. Oleh sebab itu, keawetan eyelash extensions sepenggal besar bersandar untuk siklus hidup wajar bulu mata tiap individu.

    Material yang digunakan guna bikin eyelash extensions juga memainkan kontribusi kritis dalam menentukan berapa lama mereka hendak bertahan. Bulu mata sintetis, sutra, serta mink ialah beberapa material yang lazim digunakan. Bulu mata mink sering lebih mahal tetapi dianggap lebih tahan lama serta tampak lebih alami dibandingkan bulu mata sintetis. Kualitas perekat yang digunakan untuk menempelkan ekstensi pula begitu penting. Perekat berbobot tinggi yang dirancang khusus guna eyelash extensions dapat bertahan lebih lama dan mengurangi risiko iritasi bagi mata.

    Teknik aplikasi yang digunakan oleh teknisi juga mempengaruhi keawetan eyelash extensions. Seorang teknisi yang profesional akan mengetahui cara mengaplikasikan ekstensi dengan tepat, meyakinkan bahwasannya tiap ekstensi terpasang dengan kuat dan bagi posisi yang tepat sasaran. Mereka pula bermaksud mengukuhkan bahwasannya ekstensi tidak terlalu berat guna bulu mata natural, yang mampu menyebabkan kerontokan prematur. Seleksi kapasitas, ketebalan, & panjang ekstensi yang tepat sasaran dengan bulu mata natural klien pula krusial bagi mencegah tekanan berlebih yang mampu merusak bulu mata alami.

    Selain faktor-faktor di atas, perawatan harian pula begitu mempengaruhi keawetan eyelash extensions. Menghindari air selama 24 sampai 48 jam pertama setelah pemasangan sangat krusial pada menegaskan perekat mengering dengan sempurna. Sesudah periode ini, penting bagi menghindari produk berbasis minyak di sekitar mata, sebab minyak bisa melarutkan perekat & menyebabkan ekstensi rontok lebih cepat. Menghindari menggosok mata, tidur dengan posisi wajah menempel bantal, & rutin menyikat bulu mata dengan spoolie brush dapat membantu mempertahankan tampilan ekstensi lebih lama.

    Rata-rata, eyelash extensions mampu bertahan antara 2 mencapai 4 minggu sebelum mulai terlihat penipisan. Beberapa orang mungkin membutuhkan pengisian ulang (refill) di tiap 2 minggu, sementara lain sebagainya dapat bertahan hingga 4 minggu sebelum diperlukan pengisian ulang. Pengisian ulang ini bertujuan guna menggantikan bulu mata ekstensi yang telah rontok & memproteksi penampilan terus-terusan penuh & rapi.

    Dalam beberapa kasus, reaksi alergi ataupun iritasi mampu mempengaruhi keawetan eyelash extensions. Beberapa orang mungkin memiliki kulit yang sensitif terhadap perekat yang digunakan, jadi menyebabkan iritasi atau kerontokan prematur. Esensi kepada melakukan tes patch sebelum pemasangan penuh pada menghindari reaksi yang tidak diinginkan. Apabila iritasi ataupun reaksi alergi berproses, segera konsultasikan dengan teknisi ataupun mahir medis bagi penanganan lebih lanjut.

    Secara keseluruhan, keawetan eyelash extensions begitu bermacam tergantung untuk bermacam-macam faktor yang sudah disebutkan. Dengan menyortir teknisi yang profesional, mempergunakan material berharga tinggi, dan menggarap perawatan yang tepat, Anda dapat memperpanjang masa pakai eyelash extensions dan menikmati tampak yang cantik serta alami lebih lama. Selain itu, merawat kebersihan dan kesehatan bulu mata natural juga hendak berkontribusi pada penghasilan yang optimal serta tahan lama.

  3. masterslot69 situs gacor terbaru
    | Reply

    Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will
    come back in the future. I want to encourage you continue your great posts, have a nice afternoon!

  5. 대화동출장마사지
    | Reply

    Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came
    to take a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to
    my followers! Outstanding blog and great style and design.

  12. fitspresso reviews
    | Reply

    My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s to be exactly
    what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to
    write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write about here.
    Again, awesome site!

    Also visit my webpage :: fitspresso reviews

  20. donde arreglan lamparas
    | Reply

    Desde 1974, se venía explotando petróleo comercialmente en las
    cercanías de la FTN a raíz de los descubrimientos realizados por las petroleras
    Basic Resources y Shennadoah Oil, que operaban conjuntamente en el
    campo petrolero de Rubelsanto, Alta Verapaz. Los materiales que
    se usaron para construir este edificio son: concreto
    armado y vidrio. Por último, los guerrilleros nunca tuvieron un ejército numeroso, y sus ataques a
    comandos del ejército daban como resultado que este se desquitara con poblaciones civiles, al no poder perseguir directamente a los
    insurgentes. El ejército informó que los policías militares ambulantes fueron atacados por los campesinos, lo que dejó seis policías y once campesinos
    muertos. Varios campesinos hirieron con machetes
    a varios soldados. Hacia el 24 o 25 de mayo de 1978,
    un contingente militar de unos 30 soldados se trasladó de Quinich a Panzós, municipio de
    Alta Verapaz que colinda con El Estor, en donde la minera EXMIBAL tenía
    su planta de extracción de níquel. Panzós quedó ocupada por el Ejército, registrándose un aumento considerable del número de soldados destacados en el
    pueblo. El jefe del Estado Mayor del Ejército, general Efraín Ríos Montt sobrevoló la zona del
    disturbio y pudo comprobar que los ánimos se habían calmado y que se estaba ya en la tarea de
    identificar los muertos.

  21. memek cantik
    | Reply

    Ahaa, its nice discussion regarding this article here at this blog,
    I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.

  22. electric fence Malaysia
    | Reply

    My partner and I stumbled over here different page
    and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.

    Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.

  23. เข้าสู่ระบบUFABALL
    | Reply

    Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Safari.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d
    post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Kudos

  28. DonaldTiela
    | Reply

    Профессиональные seo https://seo-optimizaciya-kazan.ru услуги для максимизации онлайн-видимости вашего бизнеса. Наши эксперты проведут глубокий анализ сайта, оптимизируют контент и структуру, улучшат технические аспекты и разработают индивидуальные стратегии продвижения.

  29. situs bokep
    | Reply

    Hi there friends, how is the whole thing, and what you desire to say concerning
    this article, in my view its genuinely amazing designed for me.

  32. SEO Package
    | Reply

    I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and engaging, and without
    a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is
    an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently
    about. I’m very happy I stumbled across this during my search for something regarding this.

  34. Jonnie
    | Reply

    Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my
    own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
    Any help would be really appreciated!

  37. وان ایکس بت
    | Reply

    Hello there I am so excited I found your site, I really found you by error, while
    I was researching on Askjeeve for something else,
    Regardless I am here now and would just like to say cheers
    for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also
    love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I
    have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up
    the excellent job.

  38. Buy
    | Reply

    This could be what it would like if John had place the charm back on in the 70’s or 80’s …

    Also visit my web site Buy

  39. bokep indo
    | Reply

    Useful info. Lucky me I found your website unintentionally, and I’m surprised why this coincidence did not took place earlier!

    I bookmarked it.

  41. baskili poset
    | Reply

    Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else may just anybody get that kind of info
    in such an ideal approach of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the look for such information.

  43. link bokep
    | Reply

    Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues
    with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked
    and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup.

    Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?

  44. 상품권 매입
    | Reply

    Hi there, I found your website by means of Google whilst searching for a similar
    matter, your site ggot hefe up, it appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

    Hi there, just became alert to your weblog via Google, and
    located that it is truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
    I wiill appreciate if you proceed this in future. Numerous folks will liikely be benefited out off your writing.
    Cheers!
    상품권 매입

  47. Youtuber Celebs
    | Reply

    Hi there, everything is going nicely here and ofcourse every one is sharing data, that’s genuinely excellent,
    keep up writing.

  48. bokep smp
    | Reply

    I don’t even understand how I stopped up here, but I believed this publish was good.
    I do not recognize who you might be however certainly you’re
    going to a well-known blogger when you are not
    already. Cheers!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *