Missionary in your own town

As I wrote in my last blog, I've really been struggling with our future ministry plans. Scripture says "Go unto the world and make disciples of all the nations." Growing up in the church, you were made to believe the elitest Christians went overseas to be missionaries and still to this day in the back of mine I still feel this way. As our friends are talking about going overseas I feel like were not as "spiritual" as them because we haven't been called overseas.

But today JD helped to remind me that we are all uniquely made and as well we all have unique calls. The Lord has called each of us to have a mission focus and to use our God-given talents and skills to further His kingdom. Did you know that 80% of the the countries in the world are closed to missionaries but are open to businessman, educators, artists, etc? We are to use our talents to spread the Gospel where we are. God uses us as His tools to spread the Gospel within our vocations. We don't have to be working in a church or overseas to be doing the Lord's work. We are to be a demonstration of how the world should be and what the kingdom of God looks like.

As I think about his sermon today, I also think about what am I doing to further the kingdom here in US? Why do I think it's so much easier to cross the ocean and tell other countries of Christ's love but I can't tell those that I work with what He has done in my life and how He has changed me. I think I need to change my focus now; I need to realize that I have a mission field right here and the Lord has called me to be a teacher and He is using me to further His kingdom.

I praise the Lord for His patience with me. I realize that like a child, it takes many repetitions for me to finally learn it. He never gives up and He pursues me even when I put up a barrier between us. Friends who read this, I pray that you know the Lord. I pray that you know that He loves you and desires to know you and to be known by you. He sent His only son to die for you and your sin. We are all sinners and are all in need of a Savior. I pray that you have found him. If you haven't, let's talk please.

Have a great night friends!

Everybody has a plan..

but us I feel like. As our time here in seminary continue to dwindle now, people are looking towards the next step. Many are being lead to the mission field or towards a certain region of the US. So you may be asking, "So Shannon, what are you guys planning on doing?" and I would say, "Great question, got any ideas?"

I, being a planner, want to know and have it all planned out, but the Lord doesn't want me to have it all planned out. He is teaching me to be patient and realize that His plan for us is great and He is going to use us in a mighty way.

Still it's hard for me to see friends (especially one I have gotten really close to) planning to leave the country. JD has been preaching these last few weeks on our global vision and reaching the ends of the earth with the gospel. He really challenged us to say, "Lord, I'm going to go unless you stop me" instead of "Lord, I'll go if you call me." I been thinking if I can really say that. I know also that I am part of team and that I don't make decisions just for myself. Jeremy and I have been praying about where the Lord is leading us and he doesn't feel like we are called to go overseas but sometimes I do. I would love for the Lord to give us a giant neon sign. I have to learn to be patient!