tomorrow

right about this time tomorrow i'll be stepping on a plane in Dallas, Texas headed towards Tokyo, Japan. i'm not quite sure it's all hit me yet, but i do know that with each moment my anticipation to be there grows. i love love love to travel and asia has been a place that has recently captured my heart. i've never stepped foot on their continent but my heart is burdened and full of compassion for these precious people. as God summons the nations to his throne, he has given his children the privilege of being a part of that harvest. the fact is that there are billions [take a moment to think about that: billions of people] who don't know Jesus. if that thought doesn't break your heart, i'm not sure what will. i pray that i will never lose sight of the gravity of separation from God. if we really believe what the Bible says about Jesus, how can we stay silent anymore? how can we continue to love people when it's convenient for us? how can we not speak of salvation? we were not given the gift of salvation to keep it to ourselves. please know, i am asking myself these same questions. i know that He is fully capable of drawing people to himself without us. but what a privilege we have, to live in a love that is so graciously lavished on us, let us not forget our call to share this great Love. may we be a generation and a people that hear the command to go to the nations and make disciples, and go. and as we go, i pray that we learn what it means to trust and what it means to hear and follow the voice of God. let us be a generation that says "yes". a lot is about to change in the coming year, and i can't think of another way i would rather start 2009 than by experiencing God on the other side of the world; in a place that is so unfamiliar, there is a stirring in the depths of me that is beautifully familiar. i don't think i will ever fully comprehend the love and mercy and grace that has been shown to be by the Father. but in view of His greatness and my great need for him, i am compelled by his love.