Go & Love

Last week as I watched the beautiful life of Rev. Billy Graham celebrated, I was moved to tears. He allowed the urgency of spreading the Gospel be what led his every step. As Spring approaches and new blooms begin to burst open with such color and beauty I am reminded that many of you are desperate for change and new blooms to come within your own lives.

Today we are kicking off a new series all about dreaming. I want you to look through a different lens this month. I am all for dreaming big but y’all… if I’m honest, the moment my heart and passion shifted off of the dream and onto the dream giver –  everything changed.

This month we will hear from a few people that are so special to me. Their stories of what it looks like to dream beyond their circumstances, dream in a new way, or the loss of a dream will challenge you and inspire you greatly.

One of my life verses is Ephesians 3:20 and today I hope you will allow God to begin stirring something new in you!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

This morning my friend Christy is kicking this series off because her heart was rocked for Jesus in a village on top of a hill in Haiti. I know you are going to be so encouraged.

– Holly

Ready. I had my bags packed. Passport secured. My first mission trip was really about to happen. I was feeling all of the normal travel jitters. I couldn’t wait to get there and get my feet on the ground and do WHATEVER The Lord called me to do in a new country. I was confident that I was going to “help” them in whatever capacity I humanly could.  I was ready….

Feet on the ground in a new country. Everyone is rushing around. New people, unfamiliar language. It was so exhilarating and unnerving at the same time. Right out of the airport we were to get on the back of a cattle truck and ride to the village we would be at for the next week. So many people were in the streets.  So many smells. So much to take in. So much beauty and so much brokenness here. Set your heart to see how Jesus sees. This reminder kept coming to me. These are His children too. Set your heart…..

Go. Bright and early Sunday morning we were going to church at a village named Moab upstairs. On the back of the truck, we went again. The splendid beauty is so great I couldn’t peel my eyes away from it all. To the left were these spectacular mountains and to the right was the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Majestic beauty. GODS landscape. When we reached the village we were greeted like royalty. We were given the best seats in the house. There were few seats left when we arrived and soon after it was standing room only. Still, they came. It was hot and dusty. The walls were banana leaves that had been woven together. Still, they worshiped. And prayed. And gave an offering from the little they have. And then they worshiped even more. Go out into the nations. Go and make disciples. Go….

I had wondered often how I would be able to converse with a group of people when I didn’t speak their language, nor they mine. My only answer is LOVE. GODS LOVE. There was a time I didn’t understand how you could love people you had only just met. Thankful the Lord opened my eyes to see how this type of love can change your life. I sometimes feel like we have on rose-colored glasses when it comes to love. We only love the ones who love us back or the ones we ‘have” to love. But what a great feeling it is to love people who honestly only have love to give. During our week there we were shown love through smiles, hugs, games (specifically Jump The Brook), tears, words of encouragement, food (oh em gee, it was so good), handshakes, and unending laughter. There were no conditions on our love. We just LOVED. Just like The Lord loves us. So I want to challenge you… Love your friends. Love your family. Love someone who can do nothing for you in return. Love someone that seems unlovable to others. And last but not least LOVE yourself. No tinted glasses, just LOVE…….

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but does not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:1-6