waiting

"There is a love that's expressed in waiting. There is a trust expressed in waiting.

Love doesn't always know what's coming around the corner; love doesn't always know exactly why this particular thing is happening, but love trusts, love is patient to wait."

.David Platt

longing to live a visionary life

About a week ago I was on a plane somewhere in between Newark and Hong Kong. And today I found myself on a ferry crossing the Hong Kong harbor:

This first week couldn't have been completed on a better note than attending Island ECC this evening. Brett did a great job of directing us back towards the truth that we need vision and guidelines in and over our lives. We all long for them. As children, that need showed up in not-so-subtle temper tantrums and over time has presented itself as the incessant repetition of the question, "Why?". During the first part of the message my brain reeled back through classes at Auburn when we learned the importance of teaching children boundaries early and the benefits it has for the family over time. In pure form, guidelines are made with our best interest at heart. They are not meant to be experienced as something that restricts us from experiencing life, but as direction for us to experience true life and a Love we don't deserve. The message tonight wrapped around what it means to live a visionary life, based on Micah 6:8. This particular verse talks about three things that the Lord requires of us; to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. The end of the teaching did not lead us to merely stare at the surface of those three charges. But to look deeper into what living those things out in our lives really means. A visionary life is one that is counter-cultural. A visionary life does not function out of guilt, but rather from a heart changed by grace. A visionary life is evidenced by a response to injustice. Our response can not merely be a membership to a facebook group about ending world hunger, but bringing light to the darkness that exists within our eyesight. Our sensitivity to these things is felt in the condition of our hearts and our response to our environment. A visionary life is responding humbly to an invitation extended to us by the Almighty. The God who spoke creation into being has invited us to walk alongside him. My little brain can not fully understand the weight of the invitation. And I must confess that I do not daily live in recognition of that precious invitation but I long for it. I pray that we come to recognize this gift more with each day we're given.

new song

we have seen and heard and experienced so much this week and i have honestly loved being submerged into the city. but this morning i was so thankful to wake up and not have an agenda for the day. the transition can be tiring, so having a day to get little things done and read and drink a cup of coffee slowly has been refreshing already. as i sit and think about the people in this city i am just humbled to be a tiny part in the Lord awakening Hong Kong to the glory of his name. and as new life awakens hearts, i am anxious to hear a new song rise over this city.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

.psalm 96: 1-3

He is already doing great things here, and the continuation of that is going to be incredible.

familiar thoughts in unfamiliar walls

these were taped to my door frame in auburn and have relocated around the world with me.

what saying yes means

around 7:45 p.m., the pilot's muffled voice came rushing through the speakers asking us to buckle our seat belts and prepare for landing. all i could think was, "am i really here?". but before the question even had time to repeat itself over in my head, this familiar stirring in my soul welled up all over again. my mind began to race through

moments of assurance and confirmation over the last 8 months. i think the first little reality check was seeing the first sign in view as we stepped into the terminal which read, "welcome to hong kong". we were greeted by the most amazing team on the planet. and of course they were accompanied by bright yellow posters.

it's here, and i'm sustained by peace that passes all understanding.

"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with him"

.psalm 126:6

before venturing out into the city, Katie read from a book that has a little encouragement for each day of the year. today's (august 25th) could not have been more perfect. it was titled "what saying yes means" and the verse above was the verse for the day. God has been so evident in the details of this journey for our team individually and collectively; and this passage today was just another tangible example of how intimately involved he is in our everyday. my first day here in hk was no exception. we were encouraged by the stories of a local professor and student; learned how to use our octopus card on the mtr & bus; given incredible insight by a new friend named Sam; exposed to the bustling streets of mong kok; enjoyed pizza at new town plaza; and laughed alongside great friends. i absolutely love it here and as the process of adjusting to living life on the other side of the world has started, i am learning what it means to lean fully into his strength and provision.

here is my first day in hk, snapshot form:

[matt, april, jason, scott, cat, katie, maik: thank you for all you have done/are doing to make this transition easier. thank you for teaching me new things and planning ahead for me. thank you for praying for me. thank you for loving me well. i'm honored to serve alongside you]

i love ya tomorrow

it's finally here. my family is scurring around the house packing bags to go to atlanta and i snuck away to write for just a second. i am so excited that i start my journey to hong kong tomorrow! as difficult as it is sometimes to say goodbye to family and friends and familiarity, i am convinced it is worth it. this time of preparation has been so rich and i look forward for what the Lord has in store in the very near future. for those of you who have walked along side me in this journey through prayer, tears, financial support, laughter, and wisdom: thank you. you will never know how much God has used each word of encouragement and wisdom you've shared. i appreciate you and look forward to telling you about hong kong. may you see Him in the details today.

source

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 19:8