One year ago this month I was in route to India for a two week during the Thanksgiving with a non-profit company from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was in route to get my world rocked. I knew about the issues in developing countries, helped with missions organizations and even knew the stats about the issues that plagued these areas and could rattle them off at the drop of a hat, but again my world was about to be rocked. I didn't go with a prideful spirit but one as my mentor and friend challenged me with, saying "go ready to receive and experience, not give". I was confused at first by this but my friend sumeet said this with great love and care for me and his home country of India. He challenged me to go and experience the great people of India who need the light of the gospel of Jesus.
So I prayed that the Lord would give me that ability and heart to do so. He gave me one of the greatest gifts he has given me in years. I was able to look at a people and just walk with them for about 2 weeks with the greatest love and compassion and mercy I've ever been able to have towards a people that I don't even know and probably will never see again. As we flew over to a country I'd never been to I was looking forward to see the work that the Lord was doing in Kalkata and Darjeeling. Not only did I get to experience a people that we extremely grateful for what little they had but also the little they had they wanted to give what they had. They gave like the woman with two coins saying "she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" (Luke 21:4). Granted money to food is different but the giving out of poverty is just the same.
This lady that Y'shua talks about was in a position to be selfish but was not. So the people of India have the right in my opinion have the right to be selfish in ways that I already am. I looked into a nation and saw great wealth and joy. This wealth and joy was not in cash or abundance but in gratitude of what they have. I sit even a year later and see my lack of gratitude. Wow, this must change. My wonderful girlfriend Danielle, talks about gratitude as being the pathway to joy. She has also been to India but for a period of 4 months, living and breathing the nature of India herself. My visit to India was a much needed start to seeing and understanding gratitude.
Now I'm having to revisit India and the outlook and pressure that I feel to live simply but also blessed by my Father in Heaven who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17). Learning to be a good steward of what I have but also to be one that lives with a spirit (attitude) of helping others knowing that my Father will provide for me and my family. I definitely do not have it all together but am daily with the help and encouragement of friends, Danielle and the Holy Spirit I am pressing forward to live a life in a manner worthy of the gospel (Philippians1:27).
I am learning daily what this means....
So I prayed that the Lord would give me that ability and heart to do so. He gave me one of the greatest gifts he has given me in years. I was able to look at a people and just walk with them for about 2 weeks with the greatest love and compassion and mercy I've ever been able to have towards a people that I don't even know and probably will never see again. As we flew over to a country I'd never been to I was looking forward to see the work that the Lord was doing in Kalkata and Darjeeling. Not only did I get to experience a people that we extremely grateful for what little they had but also the little they had they wanted to give what they had. They gave like the woman with two coins saying "she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" (Luke 21:4). Granted money to food is different but the giving out of poverty is just the same.
This lady that Y'shua talks about was in a position to be selfish but was not. So the people of India have the right in my opinion have the right to be selfish in ways that I already am. I looked into a nation and saw great wealth and joy. This wealth and joy was not in cash or abundance but in gratitude of what they have. I sit even a year later and see my lack of gratitude. Wow, this must change. My wonderful girlfriend Danielle, talks about gratitude as being the pathway to joy. She has also been to India but for a period of 4 months, living and breathing the nature of India herself. My visit to India was a much needed start to seeing and understanding gratitude.
Now I'm having to revisit India and the outlook and pressure that I feel to live simply but also blessed by my Father in Heaven who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17). Learning to be a good steward of what I have but also to be one that lives with a spirit (attitude) of helping others knowing that my Father will provide for me and my family. I definitely do not have it all together but am daily with the help and encouragement of friends, Danielle and the Holy Spirit I am pressing forward to live a life in a manner worthy of the gospel (Philippians1:27).
I am learning daily what this means....
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