This past weekend GCM sent four GCM Trainers to Dallas to have a little Follow-Up Conference for several new GCM missionaries in Texas that are still in the process of building up a Ministry Team and raising support. 

To be completely honest I had a really bad attitude going into it. There was nothing in me that wanted to spend my Friday and Saturday listening to what I assumed would be the same things I heard for 8 days at training back in October.  Yet I knew it was my heart that was in the wrong place and that the Lord was in the middle of teaching me something.  I prayed a lot about it and it slowly seemed easier to muster up the strength to go, although I still didn’t want to. 

Once I was there I was surprised by the approach they took. 

First thing that they started talking about that hit me were “lies.” What lies have I been believing about this process?  About going to Guatemala?  About my life, my relationship with God, God’s character?  I realized that the biggest thing that I had to voice to myself and to God was that even though I was fully aware and believed that God COULD do anything He wanted to do, I didn’t consistently walk in the faith that He is WILLING to work in my life and in the process I’m in.  I knew that He had called me and He worked out the steps hat I must take to follow Him to Guatemala, but I lacked the faith that He would go with me there. 

Then, for the rest of the weekend, I found myself continually coming back to 1 Peter 5:6-11.  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  casting all your anxieties on him, because  he cares for you.  Be sober-minded;  be watchful. Your  adversary the devil  prowls around  like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,  confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

Saturday, I had a great opportunity to sit and talk with one of the Trainers and pray.  It was extremely refreshing.  Even though we walked through and talked about the financial steps needed to get me to Guatemala, and figured out that most of the goal is very much a goal that God will need to meet because I am completely unable to meet it in my own strength I do play an active role in pressing on toward all that God has called me to.  So I play my part and pray for the strength to do it well for His glory.  Please join me in praying that God would show Himself mighty as we draw near to Him and seek Him first in all that we do. 

Tomorrow, I’m going to practice Sabbath.  A day to wait upon and remember the Lord.  A day to rest in His goodness and holiness, and disconnect from the world.  It’s a day I’m going to do my best to disconnect and press into Him.  Disconnecting is something that I have always struggled with.  I feel a responsiblity to work, be available and respond to those around me.  However, in doing so I lose sight of who He is and what He is calling me to…. Himself.