Serving the Kingdom Together

I have had the privilege of leading quite a variety of mission trips in my life to foreign lands like Azerbaijan, Waco, South Sudan, Southern Illinois, and Brazil but none of them has ever included 4 year old team members. But tomorrow morning, all of that changes. I'll be leading my first ever Family Mission Trip as 7 families from Humble, TX make our way to the only state capital whose claim to fame is being "Weird," Austin, TX.  

When the Father opened the door for me to serve as Family Life Pastor in our church, I knew that one of the most important aspects of what He was calling me to do would be to help families engage in serving the Kingdom of God together around the world.  Although I've served alone and with my bride in various cultures, when it comes to bringing my kids along, I see the opportunities in a different light.  I'll never forget the day last Fall when my own family made the trek over on a vision trip to see what we might be getting into.  With my love at my side, I never thought anything of walking into dangerous slum neighborhoods or of talking with those who appear to have mental illness or whose smell might elicit questions, but as we pulled into the transitioning neighborhood in Austin where Mission Possible has planted themselves.  It's a "be sure and lock your doors" kind of place with interesting characters in abundance roaming the streets and finding their way into the mission center.  When we walked into the cafe, my gut reaction was to hold my little ducklings close under my wing as we were approached by various unique individuals eager to make new friends and enamored with such "cute kids"( if I say so myself).  As my family listened to the disjointed story of a lady who has seen the hard side of life, my heart finally settled into the reality that the presence of my family in this unlikely locale would be life-changing for us all.

The Jesus loving folks down at Mission Possible Austin have laid out a variety of missions service opportunities that our families will engage in over the next 4 days.  I can hardly wait to see families, including mine, serving together side by side as we deliver groceries to shut-ins, lead Kids Bible clubs in low income apartments, and help out at Church Under the Bridge. I believe that all of us learn more by doing than by just talking about helping and as we've prepared for this trip, our youngest members have already amazed us with their child-like faith and their boldness to share the gospel.  One of the most exciting parts of all of this, is that all of us will be bringing our well trained mission teams home with us to continue service in our own communities.

Our theme verse wasn't difficult to choose and it's taken from Joshua 24.  Moses' successor was challenging God's people to decide whether they'd serve the gods they'd learned of in their old life of slavery in Egypt, or whether they'd choose to serve the living God.  Joshua made his declaration and all of our families join the ancient refrain,

                           "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15

Spring Break may never look the same again for my family as we find our joy in serving the Kingdom together. 

If you want to learn more about what God is doing in Austin through this great ministry organization, here's the link: Mission Possible

If you want to follow our adventures over the next four days, we'll be posting pictures and comments on our facebook group: Humble Families to Austin

His planting

There are certain passages of scripture that I am drawn back to again and again.  Reading that verse or verses reminds me that God's Word is truly alive, like an old friend with whom you once shared true fellowship, encouraging and being encouraged, but with whom you've lost touch for awhile. When you reconnect, you remember why you enjoyed their company and what they brought into your life.

Isaiah 61 is an old friend of mine that I sit down with once in a while, sometimes quite often.  I can't seem to get enough of this company and I am captivated by how the Word reads me.  These verses have spoken to me in the valley and on the mountaintops.  They have comforted me, astounded me, altered me, and brought me to tears at the tender mercies of God.  Verse 3 was a promise spoken by a sister in Christ for our future children, which I continue to pray for their lives now that they are here with us.

      "They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

                                                                                                                         Isaiah 61:3

This verse was once only theirs, but it has also become mine. I am His planting.

As I survey the landscape of God's Word, He uses this metaphor more than once.

            "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
             nor stand in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
             but his delight is in the law of the LORD, an on his law he meditates day and night.
             He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, 
             and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers."                                                                                                          

                                                                                                             Psalm 1:1-3

We, the redeemed, are His planting, nourished by the river of Living Water which flows at our feet. No matter where it appears that God has placed us, when our surroundings are difficult or unfamiliar, or when the terrain seems rocky and hard, we have been planted by Him on the riverside and these waters will always feed us.

Let His Word soak into your soul and watch as the good fruit begins to grow to give Him glory.