A little peace of Sunday

Aaaaahhhh church! Just what we needed to start off the day. Pastor Trevor's message was about Peace (I will know if you didn't read this post if you start commenting on how I misspelled peace in the title! Ha!). Anyway, I want to share some of the message. For those of you who do not follow Christ, I just ask that you bear with me for a bit as I try to tie it into the elements of the trip.

What characteristics do "people of peace" have? 1. They follow Jesus despite the cost. 2. They follow Jesus despite their "better judgement". 3. They understand that God is good all the time. 4. They don't need answers to all their questions; it doesn't determine the level of their faith.

When we become Christians, we are lavished with the full measure of God, but over time, we tend to develop holes in our peace tank. Peace is lost at the point of sin. Peace is lost when the externals of your life are in disarray. Peace is lost when internal thinking is corrupt. Peace is lost at the point of poor theology. And finally, peace is lost at the point of having a God-given burden.

This last point settled into my head and my heart. Trevor said its the only legitimate reason for having lost your peace. Only, this loss of peace does not come from the holes in your tank, but rather, from the overflow.

I need a God-given burden. It may not be pleasant, it may not be popular, it may not be solvable, it may not be totally peaceful but I need it. It helps me to connect with humanity, it helps me to see the good in others, it helps me to discover the good in me, it helps me experience pure joy, and it forces me to lay down my weapons and simply surrender to God's plan for me. And despite not feeling "at peace" with it all the time, I cannot fully explain how it actually becomes the most peaceful feeling ever. Leaving me free to serve others, free to let go of the crap I hold onto that doesn't even matter, free to step into an adventure, free to love with my whole heart.

I have a God-given burden in Africa. I love Africa. I feel incredibly blessed and surprised beyond belief that God would hand me this burden. I can't imagine if I had never been in a position to hear God's whisper about that. I'm so thankful to be here a second time, and I pray that He continues to send me here!

Have a blessed day, everybody!
Much love,
Brandi