4 Days Away

It has flown by!! I leave Monday for a whole new adventure!! God is sooo good, in the good times and bad. Its crazy to think how good He is to us and sometimes how self focused we are. Im not trying to be all negative, but i would just like to think for a moment on the faithfulness of God. He is faithful when we are unfaithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. Wow!! It is good news to hear of the love of God!! In my final four days in the U.S. for a while, i pray God would continue to bring up how faithful He is.

I was watching something the other day and a quote came up that i havent forgotten yet. "A life lived in fear is a life half lived." Those are some powerful words. They hit me right in the gut. I have lived a life where fear has controlled alot of my decisions. I can look back and see how much fear had a hold on me. I praise God for allowing me to do this because fear has taken a back seat. This doesnt mean it tries to rear its head up every now and then but it sure doesnt have a grip like it used to.

Well i know that alot of this probably seems like rambling, but its just what has come out of my heart today. I pray God would use it all to speak to your hearts if that is His will.

Odessa, Tx

You know there is something about going home that is refreshing for me. I am from Odessa, Tx. Go Bronchos!! Hehehehe, just had to throw that in there. Anyways, most people when they go to Odessa or see pictures of it, say its ugly and the armpit of the universe. I however love Odessa. Its my hometown, where i grew up, where i built lasting friendships, and where i began to learn about life.

I was there this last weekend and had a fundraiser dinner for my Africa mission. It was a huge blessing!! I saw people i hadnt seen in years. My junior high choir teacher Mrs. Love came out, as well as my high school choir teacher Mrs. Medlin. There were people there i didn't even know very well, but they all had a common bond and that was knowing me or my family.

God has blessed me and my family tremendously. I was told countless times,"Ross your dad would be so proud of you!!" You know my stepdad told me those exact words, but added "and I'm proud of you!!" Wow!! Words have a lasting impact!!

The joy in all of this has been for me to see peoples lives change and grow. Im not even in Africa, but i have received much satisfaction from seeing what God is doing in the lives of those around me. In my stepping out in faith to follow what God is leading me to do, people are doing the same. Its not about me, but it is all about HIM!! I do not write these things to say look at me, but i do write these things to encourage you and say look at God!! I never dreamed that i would impact some of the people i have.

"God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him"
-John Piper

Why not me?

Wow!! It has gone by so fast. I have been thinking alot this week about how a little over 4 months ago i was given this huge passion and vision for missions. I was looking through my emails and found my itinerary for my trip there and back. Every time i look through it, i get so excited and cant hold it in. I thank God for this opportunity. This is ultimately for His glory.

You know up to a few weeks ago, i thought i was going to rescue Africa, but actually i am just a small part of what God wants to do through all of us. There is a line in a song by Casting Crowns that goes like this, "how refreshing to know You don't need me, but how amazing to find that You want me." Wow that line has truly transformed my passion and desire to go to the nations. God does not need me, but yet He wants to use me.

In my video i say, "here am i, why not me?" I pray that everyone would begin to say that. "God, why not me?" God desires to use us, but He is not waiting on us to make sure His plans follow through. Life is short. It is not about us but it is all about Him!! My life phrase is to live life with no regrets. Too many times i hear people say,"i wish i would of done this or that, or if i could do it all over i would have done this or that." Those words make me cringe. I feel so bad that people live in regret. The truth is we don't have to. God gives us opportunities all the time. Most of the time we wait around for a "word from God." A famous Christian speaker once said,"just do something!!"

Please don't hear me wrong in thinking that sometimes God wants us to wait. I totally understand that!! But sometimes i think we wait when God is asking us to step out in faith. Just a thought.

The Body Of Christ

It is so amazing to me how we can meet other Christians for the first time and they can hear our story and then want to help us in some way. Well this happened to me last night at our Community Service. I was able to share with our Church my passion for Africa. I was able to show them the video that my buddy rick helped me produce, along with telling them what i will be doing, where i will be going, and future plans for missions.

I love sharing this passion that God has given me. I find myself not wanting to shut up about it. One of the main reasons i am writing this is because there was a girl in town from Florida. This was her first time here and she was in town visiting friends. I met her after the service, but came to find out that before i had met her she had given me money for my trip to Africa. All she had heard was my story and passion.

I was totally blown away. The Body of Christ has been amazing to me in this time of my life. I have never had so many people pray for me, encourage me, love me, and give to me unselfishly. I have truly seen the Body of Christ come together like never before. I do not say this for my benefit, but i say it because this gives great GLORY to my Father in heaven. To see people come together and pray and give whatever to those in need, is a huge testimony of Biblical Community. I love you all. I thank you all for your prayers and support. And to the girl i just met last night, your giving without knowing me is a huge testimony to what the Body of Christ is all about.