Cannonball!

Well we are to that seemingly mythical point in the future where Cathy and I are jumping in the deep end of long term missions. We head out in the end of Sept. (less than a week!). Sold the house, found a home for the dog, sold/gave away most of our possession, left our careers, and have struck out in faith into the foggy future of long term missions. Still after giving up what may seem like alot, we only realize now that all that was nothing. God is everything, bigger than all the "stuff" we plug into our lives replacing Him. A veil has been lifted for us. We now see how much these possessions, these trinkets are so not worth the value we place on them. Sometimes it seems that we are paying exorbitant amounts of money on things that will actually place us farther from God.

I really realize the depth of this by the things that I hear God asking from us now. In comparision giving up a nice house, cable tv, high speed internet, your favorite fur face or that "perfect" dining room table (sorry Cathy) pales in comparison when God asks you for your life, your future, and yourself. The sadest realization is that He was always asking for only this, I just could never hear it. Too much was always going on. Too much distracting me. My heart sinks to the bottom of my kiddie pool of sacrifice when I figure out that Jesus compels us to be lost under the humble waves of an ocean of Him.

Christ did not becon us to this level of sacrifice because of some "greater" call to be missionaries. It was His standard call to all who want to part take in His blessings, His salvation, and His resurrection.

Gal. 2:20 - ESV

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

From the youngest to the oldest, the lifetime Christian to the death bed convert, the pastor to the lay person, this becon call is broadcast on all channels when we accept Jesus as our propitiation for our sins. It wasn't a one sided deal. We don't have a chance encounter with Christ, he forgives our sins and is on his way yelling over his shoulder "See ya in heaven, holla back now!". When we accept Him into our lives a relationship is forged. The deal is straight up. All of us for all of Him. Our sins, our death, our wretchness for His holiness, eternal life, and forgiveness. That is the start but not the whole deal it is also all of our finances, our relationships, our future, our familes, our friends, our dining room tables, and everything else that we are for His unexhaustable provision, communion with Him, a future in His will, His glory, and everything He is. Put that way, why do we fear abandoning ourselves to Him? What can I have or possess that can outshine the very Son of God? If you are brave enough that really want to know the answer, just look at your hands. What is it that is keeping you from grabbing Him with both hands and seeing where it takes you? What are you keeping a death grip on instead of embracing His abundant life? That "thing" or most likely those "things" are your answer.

We are learning everyday about new things that we are holding on to instead of God. I am doing my best to let go of everything. God, I let go and you must fill my hands and heart with you! Holy Spirit empty me of me and fill me with you! Now watch out as we take a running jump off the high dive to cannonball into the deep end! I just hope in the middle it doesn't become a belly buster... :)