Two Weeks...

     Here marks the two week descent till my journey home...at moments it feels like I have just gotten here, and then at others, it feels as though I have been here for ages (in a wonderful, comfortable, relational way...with a little missing home here and there). I have been wrestling with the two week mark and praying through some challenges I believe the Lord has set before me. With my days in Tsumeb dwindling down, I feel a constant reminder from my Savior to, "Make it count" "Seize the moment". I am continually blown away by the abundant opportunities He has set before me and am confident that, if I am open and willing to be completely led by the Spirit, He will provide many more in my last two weeks. 

     Lord, open my eyes and heart to hold fast to every opportunity that you alone give to boldly share your gospel.

     Yesterday, in preparation to teach the girls the gospel through Acts 8:21-40, God revealed something new, something I had never taken away from this passage before. A challenge for my own life, a challenge that doesn't end when I get on a plane in two weeks but one that should radically transform my everyday life. Maybe it's just me, but when I read and study Acts 8 I focus on verse 35, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." I tend to only focus on how exciting and powerful the Word of God is. How comforting it is to know that God will empower His followers to preach the good news. While all that is true and awe inspiring, I too often skip right over verse 40 and the implications and motivation it should have on the lives of the church. "But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea." He seized every opportunity to share. Philip could have easily thought, "I did my work for the day or even the week, I not only got to lead someone to saving faith in Christ, but I got to baptize him as well." *Pats himself of the back* and moves on with his life. But instead, he "made it count", "he preached the gospel to ALL the town until he came to Caesarea." He didn't let it stop once he checked his sharing box, like so many of us work to do for the sake of a simple check mark on our Christian walk. He was obedient to the task the Lord has set before all who have put their faith in Christ. His overriding life focus was God's mission. 

     I want to have a fire like Philip to never stop sharing. Just because I leave Africa doesn't mean I'm off duty. As believers, we are never off duty. Jesus Christ is both Savior in African and Alabama. When I return home, I desire to continue to follow the Lord's leading and make every opportunity count. 

Lord, guard my heart from complacency. Keep me from falling back into my normal, everyday, routine and thinking that I've done my part for the summer, how sinful that would be. Create in me a new normal. A normal of boldly proclaiming your Word in every conversation. Give me a drive like Philip. One that never gives up, one that lays down it's pride for the sake of the gospel in Africa, Alabama, and everywhere in between.

P.S. The saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" has never been more literal in my life. We squeezed two huge buckets of lemons yesterday. Scott says they should start doing it in prisons as punishment. It might do the trick.