Before you rush into the new year and create a set of resolutions or goals, take the time to reflect on this past year as well as celebrate what you’ve learned and accomplished. Here are 5 things that God has either shown us or reminded us of this past year…
1. God is a provider.
Leaving the workforce where we were paid for our time worked was and still remains an adjustment for us. It feels way different to rely on partners and donors rather than an employer. But God is reminding us that He is our provider regardless of where the money comes from.
Each month we’ve been here God has provided the funds we’ve needed for life and ministry- either through a recurring monthly gift or through a surprise donation when we least expected it.
We are so grateful for each of you who has generously given of the money that God has given you so that we can further advance His Kingdom and impact lives here in South Africa.
Also, we finally moved into our new home this month. He provided us with the perfect short-term housing situations throughout the year and has now provided us with a place to call our own for this next season.
God has just reminded us again and again this year that He is our trusted provider.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
2. God is faithful.
God has recently directed us to partner with an amazing local church here that is doing great things both in South Africa and globally.
It’s a huge answered prayer, as we came here with a very small team trusting that God would align us with local leaders that shared our vision for equipping, discipleship, and life transformation.
We’ve been invited to join in with their eldership and leadership teams to learn from each other and see how God wants to use us in 2019.
We took our step of faith to go when he said go, and he has now faithfully positioned us to make a significant impact for His Kingdom. It’s super humbling and super exciting all at the same time.
Our vision as we enter 2019 remains the same – to create a movement of thousands of souls on fire for Christ who are building up leaders and bringing love and hope to the hurting and broken people around them.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21
3. Some things are better “caught” than taught.
One of the things that drew us into this new church was the love that the elders (pastors) and church members clearly have for each other as well as for Christ.
Every time we walked into the church, different people would stop and ask if we are new, and then welcome us.
We received dinner invitations. People offered us furniture. We were invited to life groups. People helped us move. We had meals brought to us after we moved.
Honestly, it became a bit overwhelming. Even though I know it clearly reflects God’s steadfast and abundant love for us, it’s so rare to experience it so practically and personally.
It’s one thing for a pastor to teach that we should love God and love others. It’s another thing to see a church body of believers actually living it out so well.
It wasn’t until I personally experienced the way this group of believers actually lives their lives devoted to Christ that I was given a new vision of what church should look like (which actually reflects what we see in the bible.)
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35
4. It’s all for God’s glory.
This world can so easily draw you into what YOU should have and what YOUR rights are and what YOU are entitled to.
We quickly think that the whole world revolves around us – our thoughts, our preferences, and our comfort – rather than living a life that truly has God at the center of it where we live the way He wants us to live and we love the way He wants us to love.
God saves us by His grace, but not so we can just live our lives any way we choose while we are still here on Earth.
He saves us so that we can bring Him glory through our lives by the way that we live.
Regardless of whether you are on the mission field, in the workplace, or at home raising your children, the way you live your life (in reality and on social media) should point people to God and bring Him glory for who He is.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
5. Discipleship requires commitment and sacrifice.
It’s clear that we are commanded to make disciples. It takes intentionality, commitment and sacrifice to obediently do so.
Jesus modeled discipleship by spending a lot of time doing life with His disciples.
Realizing that more is caught than taught, we have to rearrange our lives to prioritize discipling others by spending time with them.
We have to invite others into our lives, and we have to be willing to sometimes sacrifice our agendas to enter their lives.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” – Matthew 28:19-20
Comment below and share a lesson that you learned in 2018.
God bless you!