As I settled back into my routine here at home, it was easy to get discouraged. It was easy to focus on work, the final papers I have due, the dogs, the house, and the kids. It was easy to forget to prioritize time with the Lord. It was easy to let an entire week of living on mission for Jesus slip into my long term memory bank, as my mind began to think of all the "what's next" things that I need to take care of now that I'm back.
I was praying to the Lord about returning to the world and what He wanted that to look like. He spoke a simple reminder to my spirit "It's not a return to the world, Ash. It's a return to sender."
With this being my 4th trip, I've noticed that during missions you're never really prepared for what going home from mission looks and feels like. Sometimes it can feel like anger at our own entitlement. We don't realize how spoiled we are as Americans with our clean running water, our silverware and our thermostats. Sometimes it can look like grief and sadness. Spending a time with kingdom family, sharing meals, laughter, trips to the bathroom and hours of heartfelt worship all week; then coming home to our jobs, families, responsibilities and being surrounded by folks that don't necessarily share the same passion and fire for the things of the Lord can be a swift kick in the pants. Don't fall for the emotional traps the enemy tries to set in our minds. He will have a field day if we let him.
"Return to Sender, Ash" the Lord spoke again. Reminding me that it's not about returning to the place that you're from. It's not about returning to your family, your job, your church, or your responsibilities. It's about returning to the one who SENT you on that mission. It's returning to His feet, to His presence, to His will and to His ways. It's returning to your love for Jesus, and not letting that rekindled passion fade away.
It's returning to continue the mission that is the call of God on your life. Your mission is not just a week long experience in another country, it's literally the call of God on your life. Your mission doesn't end when you return, it continues every day as you seek the Lord, hear His voice and follow His lead.
Your mission hasn't ended. It's just begun.
Mark 16:15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned
1 Chronicles 16:24 - Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Isaiah 52:7 - How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Isaiah 6:8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me
John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Matthew 22:37 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
1 John 2:15-16 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Philippians 3:20 ESV But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
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