Foundation
What do I stand for? If I don’t stand for something, I will fall for anything.
In my life I have tried to fill my cup with my many things…. comfort, routine, wealth, etc. While reading John 2:1-12, it speaks of the wedding of Cana, in which Jesus was invited. It speaks of a lack of whine that then Jesus then manifests water into wine for the servants to feed to the master. The master in this story says to the servants, “Everyone serves the good whine first, and when people have drank freely, then the poor whine. But you have kept the good whine until now” John 2:10.
Whilst reading this I found myself realizing that I always try to drink from what I think is the “good” whine, but how it eventually always runs out. This passage really allowed for me to understand that in Jesus I will always be served the “best whine, and it will never run out. That being said, what is the best whine taste like?
In all of this, I have come to realize that I have really made this journey about myself. Where in reality it has nothing to do with me at all. How am I to ever taste His whine if all I want to drink is my own? The reality is I am here on purpose, and the sooner I let go of control and let God control the easier it will be for me to rise, taste His” whine and in this allow Him to manifest His will and not my own.
This past month has been a lot better than last month. In fact, refreshingly, my anxieties and emotions have not been what’s driving me. I have started working and getting into my day-to-day schedule, and just being surrounded and able to work with such amazing people that have such a passion for God and His word is life changing. Never have I walked into a work place where the day starts with prayer and thanking God for all that He has provided and done. It is so encouraging to see individuals come alongside one another, pray for one another, and know one another on such a level that the second you walk into a room they can tell if you are ok or not. God has truly blessed me with an amazing family of individuals to work, grow and serve with.
Speaking of our daily prayer meetings, the other day I was able to hear a story from one of our staff members, Preston, about an event that I had worked at. Our CEO from Manchester had just arrived and was speaking at a church about community transformation, revival, discipleship, and the importance of living on purpose. During this time we launched our promo video for the Message South Africa (which you can see on my facebook page). In this video, a man by the name of Clint spoke about our Message Entrepreneurship Program and how it has really allowed him to transform his life through the word of God and the knowledge and hands on training he was getting to enable him to have a fighting chance to make a better life for himself. Little to anyone’s knowledge, Clint’s uncle was sitting in the audience. Not only has Clint not had any contact with his family since being sentence 15 years ago, but that past Thursday Clint was talking to Preston about how he was nervous about his relationship with his family and really needed prayer for there to be a reconciliation.
See Clint’s family refused to visit him in prison and only knew him as the criminal he once was, but that day Clint’s uncle was able to see him as a new creation, washed and clean. I listened as Preston spoke of his uncle coming up to him teary eyed and whispering, “That is my nephew….that is my brothers son in your video.” That evening we had a second service where Preston spoke and Clint’s entire family came to the service. The video was shown and afterwards Preston was holding a weeping father in his arms. This is what it is all about. Hope. Grace. Love.
Through Christ we all have hope, grace and love; and being able to watch God faithfully answer the prayers of His children, even of those we are so quick to judge for past crimes or events, is such a beautiful testimony of his grace and resolution. We are one family united under God, and His kingdom and its perfect vision allows for bodies of people to be restored, loved, and united after heartbreak and separation.
These months may be difficult and uncomfortable because I am not in Beth Ann terms “home”, but anywhere and everywhere is God’s kingdom and therefore I have a purpose and community anywhere I am in the world. What an amazing gift it is to be able to witness God work on a daily basis and wake up everyday knowing I am not serving myself or some other mans earthly desires, but the desires of the Lord. How in the world have I taken this for granted for so long? I now know what the “good whine” tastes like and I cannot wait to taste the finest and perfect whine on the day that has been promised to us all.
Again thank you everyone for your support and prayers. There is so much more to share with you all in this busy time of life, but as I sit here writing this as 3:16 am I am just humbled and thankful that I am able to serve such an amazing, unfailing and loving God. Let’s be less selfish and instead of making our days about our agendas and how we think things should be going; lets make it about how we are blessed with the opportunity to praise and worship an amazing God who loves us, and now we have the privilege to share this love by loving others. Tell me….what is selfish about that?