The Danger of Being a Doer

I’ve always attributed a lot of value to the things I do or do not ‘do.’ Did I contribute something worthwhile to the world today? Was it productive, profitable even? 

The danger of being a doer is that we may miss why we began to do anything in the first place if we aren’t careful. We risk placing too much emphasis on the tasks completed and not the purpose behind them. Since I’ve started with World Race, this has been a daily wrestle. Say I sit in a park and braid a little girls hair, talking about her family and Jesus’ love for her and catch her on her way down the slide. Did I technically accomplish anything? By what scale is that measured? 

Life on mission is about intimacy with God and pouring out the joy of our salvation like confetti. Above all, He wants to be with us. It has always been about intimacy. In creating Adam and Eve in the garden, their only to-do list was to rest in His presence and enjoy His creation as their inheritance. It was only after the fall and curse on humanity that labor and striving entered the scene. If He wants to restore us to Garden communion with Him through the free gift of His Son, why is it that we are still striving to earn our spot? That curse broke the moment Jesus chose the cross for our benefit. Don’t get me wrong, doing things for the Kingdom matters, big time. It just simply has to be out of overflow of that intimacy. 

Admittedly, I’ve struggled with my share of procrastination. I believe the source of this is a matter of perfectionism more than it is negligence. In other words, “I won’t start this project until I have the time and personal investment it deserves available to do it to the most perfect of my ability.” Every once in a while though, it’s just negligence. If it’s your birthday, and I’ve forgotten or put off getting you a gift or making you a card, what is more valuable at that point? 1- for me to disappear for the day to curate the perfect present? or 2- spend the day with you and gift you with something we get to do together? 

It is about time spent in relationship. And the more time we spend seeking the Father, the closer we will find ourselves to His people, His heart, and His purposes. 

I’ve been reading a book called ‘Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship’ by Jack Frost. It talks about restoring our orphan hearts inherited as a result of the fall of man to rooted sonship in the Father’s love. The personal revelation of the Great Commandment, to love God and love His people will FUEL the completion of the Great Commission in our lives, which is every Christian’s role to pursue every nation, tribe, tongue, and people for His eternal Kingdom. 

The catalyst of missions and all ministry is receiving His love. We can’t give anything we haven’t received first! This leads to us doing what we were created to do; we were born to be loved and to love others in overflow. And that love isn’t really an action as much as it is a person. The person of Jesus. 

The opportunities I’ve had on the Race to be a part of incredible moves of God have been a dream. I pray that I’ve been a teeny tiny part of changing the world, but nothing compares to the way He’s changed mine. Now, I want to use every part of my life to let others know about what He has in store for them too- abundant and eternal life, love, joy, and peace. He has all that and more. 

January and February were spent in Urraco Pueblo, Honduras with Team Emissary. My team partnered with Zoe Church Honduras and Pastor Rony to help meet the needs of their church and be a part of what God is doing within their community. This included VBS, prayer and church services, street evangelism, church  painting and cleaning projects, team discipleship, community relationships, preaching, translating, and worshipping. 

We then spent two weeks as a full squad in Átami, El Salvador doing Biblical training and house church-style fellowship after debriefing the groups first two months on the mission field. 

My team has now transitioned into Granada, Nicaragua. We are hosted by Reap Granada, a ministry started by Scott and Jenn Esposito, two American missionaries with big hearts for Father God and his next generations of world changers. We are spending our days in sports ministry, women’s studies, jail visits, hospital visits, house church at the local trash dump, and Bible and book studies with their leadership team. 

There’s something really beautiful about being in the position of a disciple. I get to lead my team through their first World Race adventure and teach them the lessons I’ve picked up along the way while daily learning new ones. In about 10 days, we will move to Costa Rica for my last month on the field with this squad of 17. I have the opportunity to lead a new team of women for gender month, where the women of this squad will spend 3 weeks in the same city, learning from Scripture and each other and serving between two different ministries there as we go. 

Please continue to be praying for me as I wrap up my time with this squad and pray about what is next for me after transitioning home. I am also still fundraising to complete this Race with N Squad! If you feel led to be a part of what God is doing in Central America, please prayerfully consider partnering with me financially! 

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 

Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20