“Daughter, can’t you see that I’m right here?”...

One day a teacher in my Discipleship Training School (DTS) was talking about The Great Commission. You know, those verses at the end of Matthew, those words we Christians hear so often? “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Those words had always seemed so overwhelming to me.

At the beginning of 2018, a new adventure will begin for many. People from around the world will gather together to do a Discipleship Training School (DTS). Each student arriving will have different goals. Some simply want to know God more because they’re hungry for a deeper walk with Jesus. Others will come with a desire for fresh perspective. They want to experience God in a new way and within a different culture, seeing the beauty of His creation in this world. Then there will be those that need change. Life has beat them up; choices haven’t always been the best; wounds have left them internally bruised. They’re longing for more. No matter the reason, DTS is a great opportunity for fulfilling one’s heart desires. 

 I glanced at the calendar with a curious and excited look on my face. Two and a half months!? That seemed like an age! I sighed and closed my laptop, glancing once more at the calendar hanging on the wall before me. "Lord, if this is you, make a way and provide for it all. I'm going to need finances!" That was April 17th, 2017. 

I look back and see many things that were once important to me are now tiny specs way back somewhere along the road of my life journey.

Taking a Gap Year or even a Gap Semester isn't a new concept, but for some it's daunting and feels downright allusive. I just talked with a sophmore college student recently who said, "I've always wanted to do something like this, but I didn't think I really could." 

Giving thoughtful attention to your life goals and present situation can open unique opportunities you may not have realized. 

Every day, I am reminded of the power of God. Experiencing God's love and grace in my life began when I was born. When I came into the world, my lungs collapsed. I was rushed down to the ICU and given oxygen through tubes in my chest. While my mother was in a hospital room, my father was in the waiting area, hoping everything would be okay. After some time the doctor came out, gave my father a hug, and told him that I didn’t make it. My lungs had stopped working, and there was no sign of life. My father then told the doctor that day, "No matter what happens, God is still good."

In all the talk today of measuring success by numbers, based on how many “hits,” “clicks,” or “likes” we get on our social media, I am often taken back to the memory of my very first Youth With a Mission trip in 1984. We were traveling through the Atlantic Coast of Canada, performing an evangelistic drama known as Toymaker and Son. It was a 52 minute long drama performed in full costume to a soundtrack recorded by a professional orchestra. It was all mime and dance, a real workout for us young people to perform in the hot summer sun, and we performed it anywhere we could. One performance stands out above the rest to me because we performed it on an empty grass lawn, to no audience at all.

"Everybody's got a story. and it's not the one they're telling." Donald Miller

Donald Miller's writings always provoke me to think deeply. Through vulnerably sharing his own personal stories, Donald essentially holds up a mirror and invites all to look inward. God's creation is quite marvelous, but too often we don't marvel at the reflection we see. Instead, we criticize and scrutinize. This type of self-barragement is unhealthy.

My missionary travels have taken me to six different countries and most of the fifty states! There's a misconception that says if someone commits their life to Christ, they'll have to give up having fun in exchange for a boring monotony of endless church services. After twenty-two years of walking with God daily, I can say with all of my heart that nothing could be further from the truth! I've seen things on my missionary journeys with God that were often awe-inspiring, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes terribly heartbreaking, but not a one of them was boring! Here are some examples of things I've seen.....

Ever wonder if the thought forming in your brain was from the Lord? I know I have many times. Eleven years ago, I did my DTS and read this inspirational book by the founder of YWAM. He addressed the very quesions I had about hearing from God through stories that left me wide-eyed and wonder-filled. I honestly couldn't put it down. I hope the poetic synopsis below, which I wrote during my DTS, will wet your appetite to want to read it for yourself! 

Outreach stories always offer the best memories for faith and fun. No two stories are the same, and for good reason. In the journey, we all need to laugh a little and be encouraged with the fact that God cares about the little things and deeply loves us all.