Purpose- It's more than you can handle

Last week, I shared with a group of mothers at a MOPS meeting. I shared with them about my calling to missions and our purpose for ministering in Spain. I shared with the mom's about how I, as a child raised in the church, felt that I had no purpose. I was normal, ordinary, average. I didn't have anything special to offer. I continued with this feeling of inadequacy until just a couple of months ago.

Jeremy and I arrived at cross-training and received our chapel schedule. And guess who was first in line to share testimonies? We were. I went back to our apartment that night not very happy. I don't like sharing I my "testimony."
I don't even have one.
I am Ordinary. 

In those moments of panic and gut wrenching frustration with whoever thought this was a good idea- God reminded me. He reminded me that while I am the plainest of the plain- He is the EXTRA to my ordinary. 

When I was 15, God took my life and gave it purpose. He placed a calling on my life that has given me confidence for each step I take. I didn't realize at that time where this calling would take me- but I took each opportunity I could find. The Lord has given me faith to trust Him as He leads. 
He has provided for my every need- including my need for a companion for the journey.
He provided me with a husband- a husband who has stepped up to the plate in so many ways along this path. Jeremy heard the Lord's calling and responded immediately. 

There has never been a time when God has not provided just what we needed. 
My journey to the mission field looks nothing like what I had expected. Instead it has been just what I needed. It has been much longer and much more exhausting than I hoped. It has brought me to my sobbing, frantic and painful wit's end more times than I would like to admit.

But the truth I have found is this: God ALWAYS gives you more than you can handle. Even when I felt that I had no purpose- I couldn't handle it. I could not muster up my own purpose. God had to give it to me. If our lives are not more than we can handle, then our lives will never bring God glory.

If you are not stepping out in faith, then you are coasting along on your own strength. Your own strength will ultimately fail you. Your own planning will fail you. Your own purpose will fail you. 
God's strength, God's planning and God's purpose will not fail you. It will bring Him glory. 

Take a step of faith. Put your foot into the rushing waters of life and allow God to part it for you. 

"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'
...So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." 
-Joshua 3:5,14-17

Acting According to His Faithfulness

Jeremy and I are in a season of life where we are constantly asking and asking a lot. We are asking a lot of our family, friends, supporters and asking a lot of God. However, as we are constantly asking, I am trying not to neglect being thankful. I am trying to reflect on God's faithfulness to us in the past as we look forward to His faithfulness in the future.
"I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." Psalm 89:1

We are thankful for how God has not only saved us but also how He has given us a purpose. It is an amazing thing to know that God has saved you. It is even more amazing to realize that even before you asked for His salvation He had a purpose for you. I am thankful that God has given my life purpose.

"I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. "Psalm 40:10 

I am thankful that as we have taken steps of faith in order to obey His calling, He has provided. Before we even knew this season of our lives was coming, God orchestrated our lives according to His timing. His calling and subsequently His provision came, and will continue to come, at just the right time-whether we realize it or not.

 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2

As we continue to ask for support, I will continue to be reminded of God's faithfulness thus far. I will reflect on where we have  been and look forward to where He is calling us. I pray that my actions will always be in response to the faithfulness I have experienced.  Never doubting, always trusting. Never looking back, always looking to Him. Never acting in fear, always acting in His peace. 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24