Who Has The Time?

Why Do I do it? 

Why do I invite God into my life...ask him to give me a grand purpose in this world? Ask him for an important role, the assurance that I am essential in his kingdom calendar? Why do I beg God for such an adventure...

Why do I ask all these things only to turn HIM down or at the very least be paralyzed by the fear of the unknown!  Why do I do that?

Several months ago Chip and I both felt a calling to go to Europe.  At first I thought it was just my own desire to go on vacation and visit our friends that live in Portugal!

Clearly this is not a photo of our friends...I don't have a current one!  But who knew there were castles in Portugal?  In fact,Portugal has a little bit of everything...beaches, big cities, small cities, ancient ruins...something for everyone! (thank you to some guy named danheller for the picture) 

Again, I say "who knew Portugal was so beautiful!

But over the next few weeks it became clear that this "calling" to go to Europe might be on a more permanent basis.As in...pack up and move half-way across the world amazing!

So just for "kicks" we started asking around, did a little research and quickly came into contact with a mission organization called GEM (Greater European Mission) that we felt would be a good match for our vision. They have staff in every country in Europe (just about) and they have been around since WWI and come highly recommended!
Applying to go into missions?  Selling our house?  Leaving our friends? Moving half-way across the country? Wondering if we are "qualified" to do this? Seeking God's heart?  All of these questions represent the unknowns or what-ifs of  the story God is telling through me...this very moment!

Nothing is wrong with wanting to know the details.  It is usually my job to know the details.  People pay me to prepare for every what-if out there so that no time is wasted on the important day!

But as my good friend Kelley said to me last week, "Perhaps God wants to be the God of details for you." Don't you just hate it when friends speak truth to you?  I don't have time for the truth.  I am too busy being scared, being overwhelmed and trying to "plan" my way out of it! Who has time for the truth?

(she is so going to hate me for using this picture (she has her own website HERE)

I am glad my friend Kelley talked some sense into me.  God wants to be in charge of all the details of my life. I am only a good event planner myself because it is one of HIS traits that he gave to me.  And my event planning skills come in handy when planning a fundraiser or a party...but not so much with my own life.

SO BRING IT ON God!  Show me how, show me where, show me when and show me why!  But can you do it this week?  We have a call with staff people in Greece and another one in Portugal.  AND We have the start of candidate training in a month.  So if you could wrap this up in a pretty little package (and maybe a bow on top) and present it to me ASAP, that would be great.  I really don't have time to waste!

BTW - don't be thinking that just cause' we are looking into going on the mission field that we are going to turn into total dorks..irrelevant in society!  You know what I am talking about...remember the missionaries that came to your church when you were little?  The ones telling stories of a land far away, asking for money and showing off their long locks in tightly wound buns?  Yep, those people. 

We aren't those people. Not going to happen.  This is about as long as my hair is going to get.  And really, who goes over to Europe and ends up a fashion disaster?  I can only assume it will help my cause not hurt it.  At least I can wear black every day and be completely in style!