I'm Back! Some thoughts... :)

So....it's been awhile! Since I've been on here, I started dating, got engaged to, and am preparing to marry my Prince Philip Neighbour! He is more than a dream come true. The naysayers say, "yeah yeah, but things won't be like that later...that will wear off.  In sense, certain things may. But that's why love and marriage HAVE to be based on a commitment. But anyways, that's not even what this is about in this blog! I will have to start sharing more about the "getting ready for a wedding" journey and being in a relationship in future blogs...but for now:here's what I'm going to share my thoughts on..

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles Mark 6:7-13

⁷ And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— ⁹ but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.^[a] 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. ¹¹ And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

When I read this this evening, something jumped out at me. Think about the task Jesus was sending the disciples out to do. He wasn't just sending them to the "grocery store" on an errand; He was sending them to bring truth to people, and yes, to even tell them to repent. "Oh, that's mean! That's judgmental!" That is what I hear our current culture saying. I'm not saying we walk around pointing fingers, but I do believe scripture points out on numerous occasions that there are times and places God empowers us to boldly speak truth and speak against the lies of the enemy people believe, one being: "I'm fine. I don't need God or His forgiveness." 

That being said, I noticed He charged them to take NOTHING. No food. No purse. No backpack. NO MONEY, nothing to trade with...He said to go ahead and put shoes on, but don't worry about a coat. Just go do what you were called to do and what I am instructing. That's basically what He told them. He didn't just say don't worry about what you will need, He specifically instructed them to NOT bring it. Made me think about it. Why? Isn't it good planning to think ahead and take things with you? As I wondered more about this, I thought of some possibilities that I'd like to think God dropped in my heart. 

Could it be, that He wanted to make sure they knew He was their provider? For everything? Including little details? Could it be He only had them worry about shoes because He wanted them to realize the most important part of their mission was to GO? Could it be He wanted their minds free of clutter, and their arms free to hug people? Maybe He wanted to remove distractions early on...

As Philip and I pray and ready for the future and what God has in store for us in the realm of missions, I can't help but be encouraged as I'm reminded that we don't need to collect everything we think we need beforehand to do what God calls us to do: We need only to go when He says Go and obey Him. HE is our Provider. Does that mean we are lazy and complacent? No, of course not. We do the things He calls us to do as we get ready, without crossing that line of being self-sufficient; self-reliant. "But God, I NEED my coat. What if it gets cold? What do you mean no money? I will need that too...and it's only smart to have my purse with me..." He always has reasons for His timing and what He tells us to do. Stay focused on the mission He calls you to do. He will orchestrate the how and when-just obey and do what He tells you to, when He tells you. 

Easier said than done, but well worth the pay-off! :)