God speaks...

I’ve been waiting on God for my next step for months. I’ve been anxious for guidance from God for a while. And as I’ve sought, experienced and gotten to know God more- all I’ve heard is “Wait. Be patient. And trust me.”

And so I decided to.

The past two weeks I’ve felt like God has told me to listen up. My initial thought was that God was going to help me figure out my role in our college ministry. I’ve felt ineffective lately and have wrestled with God to try to figure out my role there. I disciple six girls…. but out of 10,000 students at FGCU- it’s nothing. It’s been a weird transition from a college student to an adult that helps lead the ministry. When did I become the grown up that shows up on a Tuesday night? YUCK.

This weekend I got to hang out with a bunch of college students and I didn’t feel terribly old. They were great to serve and hang out with. We spent the weekend at Give Kids the World. It’s a place for children with life threatening diseases to come with their family and enjoy a week at some of the most magical places on earth! This place is phenomenal. They serve these families like you can’t even imagine. Everything is free from transportation, to Disney, to snacks. It’s all free and at their fingertips.

We did everything from putting on princess make-up and running a carousel to serving lunch to 150landscapers. It was fun to get to interact with the families though. Before I got there I thought it would be an emotional experience and that I would be consumed with tears at most points of the day. But instead of feeling sad I felt charged. Instead of crying I would bend down and look those little kids in the eyes and engage them in conversation. I’d spend my time just talking to them about silly things like Disney.

I asked one little girl if she had been to Disney yet. She quickly informed me she was going the next day. So of course I asked her what she was most excited to see. Her response was, “Well I don’t know. I’ve never been there so I don’t know what they have.” I told her she would probably see all the princesses. She instantly smiled and told me that Cinderella was her favorite. When I told her that Cinderella’s castle was at Disney her mouth dropped open. It was as if I had just given her the best news she had ever heard. I had so many things I could talk to her about because I had been to Disney and experienced it for myself. We talked for a long time while I made her hot chocolate.

I left Give Kids the World realizing something. I went out of my comfort zone to engage those kids because they were sick. Because I knew they needed to feel loved and special. And the honest truth is- because I knew most of them were dying. It caused me to respond differently. God reminded me that every day I’m surrounded by ‘sick’ people. They might not have a physical disease but spiritually they are dying. And I’m called to walk out of my comfort zone and engage them the same way I engaged those little kids. I’ve experienced Jesus Christ. I’ve got stories to tell that would make people stand in awe just like that little girl did when I talked about Cinderella’s castle. So what am I doing? How am I engaging the world?

And that’s when God began to speak a little vision into my next few steps. But that’s for tomorrow’s blog.

Dare I blog two days in a row?!