"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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."
Matthew 28:18-20
This morning I attended two different church services. I felt the need to try a new church out, of course I spent the entire morning attempting to talk myself out of going and just attend the service I regularly attend. But what do you know I actually went through and tried something new! Wahoo :) Although I was not super impressed and impacted by the church, the service did touch me in a way I wasn't expecting. Now remember, it's been a while since I've been to church due to my strike (which I humbly stepped down from a few days ago), so I went in praying for God to clear my mind of any distractions, open my ears to what He wanted me to hear and most importantly open my heart for what ever God wanted me to learn and apply to my life.
The service was on the church's missionary groups that are placed around the world. Huge strides have been made for these countries and the peoples of these nations in hearing the gospel and learning about Jesus. As they streamed videos from current church members that have been placed across seas I kept thinking of those that I personally know preaching God's Word all over the world this summer. Those who have taken time from their lives, their comfort zones and family to reach the unreached, to love on the hopeless and to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. I left with a feeling of excitement for those experiencing a life that is so different from what we as American's are used to. I am proud of my friends, just like a parent who watched their child score a goal or graduate. I was proud of them for doing something that is scary, uncertain and exhausting on every level. The faith and trust missionaries put in Christ is unbelievable and leaves me in awe of the love of Christ they have in their heart.
I headed over to Stone after, praying the same things I did for the first service. I was prepared for God to teach me something I could apply for myself and my life situations. Well, God had other plans (of course). Stone streamed a video of a missional community from UT reaching out to the internationals on the campus. As it was stated in the video, 'the nations have come to Austin'. Tears filled my eyes and I wanted nothing more than to run to the bathroom, fall to my knees and pray for every person who is being missional this summer, who has been missional in the past and who lives each day with the intention to love on people as Jesus does. I am so thankful that God opened my eyes and heart up to others today, rather myself. He opened my eyes up to my friends who are working at summer camps all over Texas and even out of state. My friends who will be gone until August across seas and on continents they have never stepped foot on. He opened my eyes to those who are being missional right here in Austin and surrounding cities as well as those who are graduated and instead of applying for a high paying job they are serving communities all over, spreading the word on missions and Jesus Christ.
I have not had such a burning desire to pray for missionaries than I do today. I don't only want to pray for those I know specifically but for those that I don't know as well as the people they are reaching out to. I was humbled today by God, through people being obedient to Christ and going when Jesus said to go. I want to thank each and every missionary, no matter where you were or how long you were there, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are in my prayers and respected and loved by me more than you will ever know.
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