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.
백링크 작업
Use Promoting Is Great To Obtain Quality Hyperlinks And
Organic Visitors! 백링크 작업
orgonit eshop
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where
u got this from. thank you
Commercial Cleaning Services
I want to to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it.
I have you bookmarked to look at new things you post…
Also visit my site Commercial Cleaning Services
온라인카지노사이트 추천
Paragraph writing is aleo a fun, if you know
after that you can write otherwise it is complicated to write.
온라인카지노사이트 추천
penipu
Hi, its fastidious paragraph about media print, we all understand
media is a wonderful source of facts.
futureglow.site
Its such as you learn my thoughts! You appear to understand so much approximately this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something.
I feel that you just could do with a few p.c.
to drive the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is magnificent
blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
porn xnxx
Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and
we are looking to exchange techniques with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.
infiniterise.site
Simply desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your publish is simply
excellent and i can assume you’re a professional in this subject.
Well together with your permission allow me to take hold of your feed
to keep up to date with approaching post. Thank you a million and please continue the gratifying work.
pussy888 apk
Terrific work! This is the type of information that are meant to be shared across the net.
Disgrace on the search engines for now not positioning this publish upper!
Come on over and visit my website . Thank you =)
belgian loafers
What’s up everyone, it’s my first visit at this site, and post is truly fruitful in support of me, keep up posting such articles
or reviews.
Also visit my webpage – belgian loafers
film porno
Hello, I enjoy reading through your post. I wanted to write a little comment to
support you.
apply for vietnam visa from usa
Howdy this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get guidance
from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Post Construction Cleaning
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha
plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Here is my homepage: Post Construction Cleaning
문화상품권 현금화
hello!,I really like your writing very a lot! proportion we keep in touch more approximately your article on AOL?
I require aan expert on this house to resolve my problem.
Maybe that is you! Takming a look ahsad to look you.
문화상품권 현금화
bokep jepang
I got this website from my buddy who told me on the topic of
this site and at the moment this time I am visiting this website and reading very
informative articles or reviews here.
businessmirror.info
Much appreciated! I value the update on the latest vape law news!
carbon offset programs
Remarkable issues here. I’m very happy to peer
your post. Thanks a lot and I am having a look forward to contact
you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
vietnam e visa australia cost
This piece of writing is truly a fastidious one
it helps new web viewers, who are wishing for blogging.
エクスネスログイン
Luisa McAbee is with an outdoor oven call her although it is far from her birth name.
What her family and her love is fishing but she’s been taking on new
things lately. I used to be unemployed however I
am an interviewer and the salary is really potentially
bountiful. District of Columbia is the place I love most.
mitsubishi outlander key Fob replacement
See What Mitsubishi Outlander Key Fob Replacement Tricks The
Celebs Are Making Use Of mitsubishi outlander key Fob replacement
IPTV subscription
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I
am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know
such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!
Here is my homepage … IPTV subscription
Keto Pharma
Introduction http://shinhwaspodium.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=2108356 Supplement has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential health benefits, particularly in terms of weight loss and improved energy levels.
vietnam e visa official website
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!
lexus Replacement key programming
10 Tell-Tale Signals You Should Know To Know Before You Buy Lost Lexus Key Fob lexus Replacement key programming
superbrowser multiple Amazon seller accounts
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
My blog is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my users would
really benefit from some of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Cheers! superbrowser multiple Amazon seller accounts 多店铺 superbrowser multiple seller accounts 紫鸟浏览器
multiple Amazon seller accounts
Places suitable for honeymoons
It’s amazing in support of me to have a web site, which is useful for my experience.
thanks admin
my web site Places suitable for honeymoons
PLASTIC FILM EMBOSSING ROLLER
fantastic issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader.
What could you recommend about your publish that
you made a few days ago? Any positive?
revo128
At this time I am going to do my breakfast, once having my
breakfast coming yet again to read other news.
coaching services
Wonderful, what a web site it is! This web site provides valuable facts to us, keep it up.
bokep indonesia
Why viewers still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe all is available on net?
construction tools
Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from.
Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity,
Guess I’ll just bookmark this site.
ผู้ติดตาม YouTube
I just like the helpful info you provide on your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently.
I am somewhat sure I’ll bbe informed many new stuff right
here! Best of luxk for thee following!
ผู้ติดตาม YouTube
belgian loafers
With havin so much content and articles do you
ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright
violation? My blog has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is
popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do you know
any solutions to help protect against content from
being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
Stop by my web-site; belgian loafers
double glazed Window Repairs
What’s The Current Job Market For Double Glazed Window Repairs Professionals Like?
double glazed Window Repairs
truffes noires en tranches et huile de truffe blanche
It’s fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well as from our argument made here.
free sex
Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I have truly loved browsing your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
carbon offset projects
Hello, constantly i used to check webpage posts here early in the morning, since
i like to learn more and more.
bokep indo
Very nice article. I definitely love this website. Keep writing!
สล็อตเว็บตรง k9win
https://megawin55.com/
With thanks, Awesome stuff.
belgian loafers
Hi there I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by
mistake, while I was researching on Aol
for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thanks
for a incredible post and a all round exciting blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time
to read through it all at the moment but I have saved 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 awesome job.
Also visit my website – belgian loafers
color wow spray
Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility
issues. When I look at your blog in Chrome, it
looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some
overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!
Here is my web site color wow spray
bokep indo
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s
truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels.
I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future.
A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
L Shaped outdoor sofa
Where Can You Get The Most Effective Small Couch L Shape Information? L Shaped outdoor sofa
bokep indo
Great blog here! Also your site loads up very fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Ozempic Cross-Border
Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems
locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve
got some recommendations for your blog you might be
interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.
Stop by my blog – Ozempic Cross-Border
백링크 작업
Keyword Searching And Your Most Important Product 백링크 작업
bokep hd
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard
on. Any recommendations?
index
I have read so many articles or reviews on the topic
of the blogger lovers except this piece of writing is truly a fastidious post, keep
it up.
phenq reviews
I just could not leave your website before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the
standard info an individual supply for your guests? Is gonna be back
frequently in order to check up on new posts
Here is my web blog :: phenq reviews
중고 트럭 가격
It’s very simple to find out any topic on net ass compared to textbooks,as I found this paragraph at this web site.
중고 트럭 가격