'Following Where God Leads"

June 22, 2010

 

“Following Where God Leads!”

 

Bright and early in the morning I leave for Belize.  I am joining 3 lay people from our church on a fact finding mission to explore a partnership with the Methodist Church of the Caribbean to possibly adopt a village in Belize.  It is difficult to realize I will be there in another 12 hours.  I am unsure of what this may mean for my life or the life of the church I serve.  I have sensed God leading me and us in this direction and I don’t know what else to do but to go and see.  I know before I get there that God will be in that place because I truly believe that God is everywhere.  What God has for us there I am unsure.  That seems to be the way it is with God.  Never really being sure but going on anyway trusting somehow that God will let you know all along the way.  In a culture consumed with knowing it seems somewhat irresponsible to go to such a place without much of a plan.  Oh we will meet with representatives from the Methodist Church there and they will guide us throughout our stay.  In terms of what all of that means I just don’t have much of a clue.  I remember not long ago as our church was studying the book by Richard Stearns, “A Holy in the Gospel,” someone asked me where is this leading us Pastor Travis.  I had to admit I did not have any idea.  All I knew was that God was at work in that study.  Part of what happened in that study is one reason I am going.  I believe God calls us to respond to the needs of a hurting world.  I suspect that once I get there God will show me whatever God wants me to see and to experience and to know.  That is my hope.  That is my prayer.

 

I have been reading the Africa blog authored by those persons from our church that followed God’s lead there.  I wonder if any of them really knew why they were going to Africa.  I suspicion they too went because they sensed God leading them there.  I dare say they nor I will be disappointed with all God will do with us in those places, among those people.  Following God’s lead is not always easy work.  As matter of fact it is rather hard work when you stop to think about it.  I remember Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his death as he prayed for God’s direction.  He followed God’s lead that night and it led him to a place that was difficult and burden laden.  I hope that tomorrow I have such courage and faith.  Going where God leads oftentimes takes us to places we otherwise would probably never go to do things we probably didn’t think we were capable of doing!  But then I must remember the going and the doing are not about me at all.  It is about God and what and where God leads and does.  All I need to do is to trust that and God will give to me whatever I need in order to do what is needed to be done. 

 

Tomorrow I leave for a place that I have never been before.  I am nervous and excited all at the same time!  All I need to remember as I go is that I am not alone, that God is with me, praise be to God!  When you know that, when you trust that what really is there to fear!!!

 

I will see you on  the road,

 

Travis