Countdown Zacapa - 6 Days

Less than a week to go until Jamie and I will be Guatemala bound—18 young adults in tow! We are so seriously excited! It is always such a privilege to travel to another country and help a long term missionary. This year we have the opportunity to partner with Greg Miller Ministries. I had a chance to meet Greg last fall and he is an awesome guy with a huge heart for the nation God has called him to.

This morning I recieved word that Guatemala experienced an earthquake today. A lot of thoughts immediately went through my head, first among those the well-being of Greg, his loved-ones, and a close family friend who's family lives in the mountains of Guatemala.

The good news is that everyone we are connected to there is ok. The bad news, however is that not everyone is ok.

All of this only serves to point out a very real truth when you're taking about investing in short-term missions. Things can change on a dime. You have to be ready to be flexible and fluid. Plans can change.

Ultimately, the goal remains the same. We're headed to Guatemala in just a few days to serve the Church by serving Greg and his team. If the finer details change along the way, that will be ok. We will still go. We will still serve. Thankful for the privilege this opportunity brings.

June 30 - From That Day On

Read: John 11:45-57

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (John 11:53 ESV)

An undeniable miracle had occurred in full sight and knowledge of many people. A dead man was no longer dead. Witnesses confirmed it. Critics acknowledged it. The religious leaders didn't know what to do with it.

Jesus was obviously beyond them. He was shaking up the status quo and the bureaucratic religious establishment was terrified. They were afraid of their Roman conquerors. They were afraid of losing their hold over the people. They were afraid they would lose their lucrative system of religious robbery. They did what fearful people do. They made plans.

According to their twisted minds the only way to solve the problem was to remove Jesus from the scene. So the formation of the plan to have Jesus murdered began. The men entrusted to lead the people to God ignored God's Son, schemed to murder him, and felt right about doing it.

From that day on the fear of men compelled them toward great evil. From that day on the willful stubbornness of a select few plotted the death of innocence. From that day on men planning to kill God were unknowingly ushering in the promised salvation of mankind.

January 31 - Out of Egypt

Read: Hosea 11 & Matthew 2:13-25

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (Hosea 11:1 ESV)

In 700 B.C. the prophet Hosea wrote that Jesus' family would flee to Egypt as refugees. It was a courageous and faithful act on the part of Jesus' adopted father Joseph that saved the young Messiah's life. But to further fulfill prophecy, and ultimately the mission of God for mankind, Jesus had to leave Egypt.

I really believe that along the way God sometimes directs us to places that are more like pit stops than they are destinations. We can, and should, do whatever good we can at these stops, but ultimately they are small parts of our journey. Whatever reason God has for sending us to those places, it is usually more about protecting us, helping us learn and grow, or helping someone there, than anything else. Sometimes you have to flee to your own personal Egypt to become who you are supposed to be, but you almost always have to leave it behind to step into your destiny.

Jesus didn't spend an incredibly long time in Egypt. Joseph only kept him there until the danger had passed and it was time to return to Nazareth. It would still be many years before Jesus would begin his public ministry. Sometimes God takes us from one season of preparation to another. These seasons look different, are often at different locations, and come with a plethora of diverse learning experiences. Don't be in a hurry to speed through these times. God can still use us in times of growth and learning. He will call us out of it when we're ready for the fullness of His plan.

January 25 - The Given Name

Read: Luke 2:21-24

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21 ESV)

Eight days after he was born Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to be circumcised. It was during this event when he was named.

Imagine bringing a child into the world without any power over his or her destiny, or even something as simple as their name. Yet, that is exactly what the young Jewish couple did. The son which they would provide for, shelter, educate, and love was more important than even they could comprehend. So important that God sent a holy messenger to hand deliver the news of his birth and even a detail like his name.

Names are important things. They were even more important in the days of Jesus. In those days names were given based on meaning. Maybe you like your name. Maybe not. Perhaps your parents spent a great deal of time contemplating your name including its meaning. Or perhaps not.

I believe that, like Jesus, God intends for each of us to find purpose and mission in relationship with Him. I believe that God has chosen for you a given name. Maybe not literary in the sense that you should go and change your name or ask people to start calling you something different entirely, but I think you were made for a higher purpose than your parents, teachers, family, coworkers, friends, or yourself can truly grasp. Spend time today asking Jesus about your true given name.

January 24 - With Haste

Read: Luke 2:8-20

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:7, 16 ESV)

One night long ago some lowly shepherds were hanging out in the pasture doing whatever it is that shepherds do when an angel appeared. The angel shared the news of Jesus' birth, proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, and a full blown angelic musical broke out. There is a great life principle to be found in how the shepherds responded. The bible says, "they went with haste."

Their response is something for us all to learn from. For hundreds of years the Jews had been waiting for the promised king. When the angel announced his arrival the shepherds believed it was true. They didn't dawdle or waste time. They went with haste. They responded to the Good News with an immediacy we should all aspire to.

How often do we feel like God has promised something to us only to react lethargically, with hesitation, or doubt when He delivers? The shepherds went with a haste born of their faith in the Father. They embraced God's plan and promise. They believed in Jesus, worshipped Jesus, and immediately began to share the Good News about the arrival of Jesus.

Believe God has a plan for your life. Share God's plan for your life. Run to God's plan for your life.