My mind goes a mile a minute when I hear something that clicks Truth in my spirit. The other morning I was on the stamina treadmill from h-e-double-toothpick, walking away listening to Annie F. Downs podcast “That Sounds Fun,” I cannot remember who was on with her but I’ll guess, Kelleigh Banner – there were so many great points Annie and Kelleigh were making and I can’t even think about writing and walking on that beast so I tried to remember this one point. [Note: longest running sentence I’ve ever written.]
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD…
Jesus, when You said that to Your eleven – how exactly did You mean it for US?
Now, don’t get religious on me – the Lord and I talk like this all day long.
I grew up in church – from the time I understood the red words in the Bible were spoken by Jesus Himself I was convinced I’d be a missionary. I didn’t know where or how or when but I knew I would be. Then around 12 I decided I’d be a teacher instead. Then at 16 I decided to chuck it all and rebel. Then at 17 + 2 months I got married to my was-band who had just returned from VietNam. My world got small and eighteen months later my world began filling with little feet!
THEN after about 12 years my world got turned upside-down. Never mind going off and being a missionary, I was downright angry at God for letting my world get so messed up. I was so mad that I did a 180 degree turn and almost destroyed my world.
But, God…amen?
Fast forward to 1999 – the Lord and I were best friends again because He is all about mercy and grace and I found myself packing for a mission trip to Cuba. Back then, Cuba was closed tighter than a drum to Americans but there I was, with a team of about 12 others landing in Havana praying that God would hide the stuff in our suitcases from the Customs agents like fleas on a dog. He did. What did that mission trip teach me? I didn’t want to be a missionary any longer. I didn’t even want to go on another mission trip. So, now what, Lord?
The Lord kept telling me to write. Just write.
And, you know what? I discovered my go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. My world is writing! And, my mission field is every place my blog link lands. I have these awesome vehicles at my disposal called Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email. The fields are ripe for harvest and I am blessed to be a planter! John 4.35-38
So, you see when the Lord said to His eleven go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, He meant exactly that – and then in His extremely creative way He gave us each a world and a mission field custom made for us! So here’s today’s question…
Are we being faithful to the field He has given us?
xo
This week I’ll be linking up with Inspire Me Monday, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Tea and Word, Porch Stories, Coffee for Your Heart, Tune In Thursday, Dance With Jesus, Fresh Market Friday, Glimpses of His Beauty, Salt and Light, Warriors of the Word, Heart Encouragement, Thought-Provoking Thursday, Grace and Truth, Faith-Filled Friday, Seeking God, Glimpses of His Beauty.
This is yet another in several messages that He has used to relay that my mission field is the internet. Whether I am writing, coaching, encouraging or praying, this is my @world.” Thanks , Sus, for sharing and for your message being HIS. Love you.
Shelby, we confirm one another often eh?
Susan, every time you tell your story, I rejoice with you!
I have had similar conversations with God over the years, and here’s the one that I’ve been having lately. Maybe you can join in and give insight:
Most of my readers are believers. Maybe all.
I teach in my church. Again — all believers.
My kids are homeschooled and their friends — all good little GUBA’s (grown-up born again).
One of my goals is to make room in my life for outreach to people who are not already drowning in truth that they aren’t listening to.
GUBA’S – love that, better than goobers! Seriously, I pray for lost souls to wander in these doors by way of IG or FB or Twitter – and sometimes they do. My world is small because I work from home M-F like you we need to pray the Lord brings the wandering sheep into our pen!!!
I think this blog ties very well into your other blog, “What’s in your box?” Because God has given each and every one of us passions and skills that are very innate to us. He gives us these tugs to the heart and He grants us each a calling. Which then is up to us to decide to follow His path and listen. But, the big picture is furthering the kingdom which we can all do right in our backyard, at the store or down the street… Good blog Mimz!
BETTER COMMENT, hannnerhead!!!!!!!!!!
Love, love this! Being somewhat homebound this was a struggle for me, and then He called me to write….
XO
Tammy
See, same HERE!!!
Love love love! My words reach farther than my feet ever could! Thanks for this encouraging word! Blessings!
YES, LORD and Liz!!!
I believe God brings or places at our feet our individual mission fields. We must be open to work the field He puts us in. Right now He has me ministering to several persons.
Some by phone, some at church, and some through my walk with Him. He uses me to identify and then empower those whom are struggling with life, marriage, children, etc. What a blessing it is to not need to have all the answers, but to walk with the one who does.
Amen, brother, and thank you Mr. Friendly!
Susie, I always appreciate your openness in sharing your life experiences.
For me, GO INTO THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS To EVERYONE is more about how we LIVE our lives -much of our “preaching” may show up in the way we walk rather than what we talk. If I love and care about all of humanity as Christ must, not only those who look, think and believe like me. Not always easy to do, but am working on it!
Aren’t we all!!! Works in process!!!
When I married my Sweetheart way back in ’68, we attended his church. A small, rural Baptist church. During that time we women were invited to start a WMU (women’s missionary union). In fear, trembling and stumbling, we did. As I read the stories of missionaries, saved change to give to our mission efforts (money was very tight in those early days), as we prayed as a group and as individuals for the brave souls called out to serve in un-godly place, my heart longed to be one of them. It was not to be. Instead God sent me into a world I didn’t know existed for someone such as I. Unprepared and unexpectant, I had an audience. As I look back over that time on this tiny “world” stage as it were, I wonder did I serve Him as I should, did I hold up for His truth, His decency, His goodness? Missionary fields take many different looks. If we long to serve the LORD of glory, He provides a place of service. That field may not look at all like we thought it would but if it’s HIM than it’s His choice and it is good.
If it’s HIM? It’s always good. Yes, Lord.
Whenever I read the great commission, Jesus (yes, we talk like you do) emphasizes, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Not the going. The discipling so there’s growth. Over the last few years, He’s commissioned me to go into the homes and hospital rooms of the sick and to minister to the grieving. He brings people to me. How He gives opportunity for me to obey His call amazes me. Praising God for how He works in us all.
Debbie, thank you for sharing this and I’m glad you talk to Him like ‘that’.
Its so easy to assume what God wants us to do without ever bothering to simply ask… and then LISTEN. Thanks for the reminder that we’re always better to do life God’s way!
HIS way is always best!!!
Hi Susan,
I think it’s so interesting the way God reroutes us as we journey the meandering paths of our lives, wondering (and wandering!) what to do and which way to go. Over and over again he shows us grace and brings life to us, inspiring us anew. I love the way you talk to God and your trip to Cuba must have been quite enlightening! xo
Valerie, the trip to Cuba was sad, very sad.
Yes! We are missionaries right here on the internet. Like Michele, I feel like my words go out to Christians – but we never really know, do we? An unbeliever can stumble across our humble blogs at any time.
And then there is the discipling part of being a missionary. I personally feel, and I’m sure you feel this, too, that being an encourager and an exhorter among the brethren and the sistren is an important part of what we do.
By the way, I’ve never forgotten your piece about being a shepherd with a pen!
Shepherds with pens! YES, Jerralea!
It is encouraging how God can use our words to reach people at the other side of the world. One of the verses that prompted me to start blogging was Matthew 10:27 “What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!”
Your post reminds me of that and encourages me to keep going.
Yes Lesley – and I love Matthew 10.27!!!
I just finished listening to Jolene’s talk on FB from this morning, and it is amazing how God joined your blog & her Devotional together! All for His Glory, wherever our words are shared, written or verbally. Loved this!
I know, right?
Yep! 🙂
😉
Love, Love this! I’ve believe my mission field is teaching our grandchildren and my sheep at work. Oh how they must hate me always telling them to watch the words they speak, are they Blessings or cursing , and the importance of being Pure before marriage
Keep on keeping on. THAT IS YOUR WORLD.
Love your blog! Also love Helenmarie’s words about teaching grandchildren. I try to set a good examlple and hope they notice. Also, recently had accepted an invite with friends to see a theater presentation. My ticket was purchased by the friend. When I realized the content I had to be truthful. It was a dis-respect to my husband and not something Jesus would want me to attend. I was hesitate to hurt feelings but I told them the truth and offered to still pay for the ticket. I stood up for what God would have wanted me to do and it felt right. Setting examples is the right thing to do. Happy hump day friend. Thanks to all your friends that prayed for me. Doing well n little affect from the recent stroke. God was with me all the way.
YAY. You had the courage of your convictions. YES, LORD.
Dear Susan, God sure does have a way of turning our worlds upside down and inside out, doesn’t He. Just when we think we have ourselves figured out, He flips the script! Like you, I’m so excited when I hear from folks from all over the world. We are blessed women to be able to write what God puts on our hearts, trusting Him to take it into all the world.
Alice, that is it exactly.
Loved hearing more of your loved-story!
Been noodling on this very passage so had to read even though I wasn’t “Next” to you on the LINK up’s this week. I know – I’m such a rebel.
I don’t want to settle for only writing or only speaking or only whatever IF God wants me elsewhere or doing something else. His command is clear, and I want to clearly hear and obey. whether it’s to invite a newlywed across the street to do a bs (we begin next Monday at 7 inc a friend of hers) or visit a neighbor in jail (Now that was a stretch) or keep my mouth shut around my daughter (maybe the biggest stretch) – so we do as God leads. the lesson: do. listen. and then do again. We can hide behide our computers. I’m trying to pray like Paul that God would give me boldness – Col. 4. but I forget. (:
I’m going to go read Colossians 4.
be careful…vs. 3, 4, I believe. just put those in the 2018 Hospitality Calendar.
Isn’t it amazing that God can take our words into all the world? “Write.” Every time I ask God what I’m doing here in this place where the hubs and I can’t do the type of ministry we used to do, that is exactly what He says to me. And there is no “just” about it. Words have power. His words speaking through us are LIFE! Hallelujah!
Love you friend,
Patti
Let’s omit the “just.”