In life I’m realizing more and more that things don’t always go according to plan. More often than not things that are not planned happen. Couple weeks ago I’ve started having some painful tooth aches (the ones that rob you of sleep), after many painful nights I decided to head to the dentist to get this situation resolved. After the consultation with a dentist, it turns out that the tooth has too come out.
I never planned to have toothaches signing up for this trip. Certainly I never planned to have any teeth removed on this trip. Couple days later Katie (my co leader) and I headed off to Tak Fa to visit the team serving there. Two days into Tak Fa I had an allergic reaction to some mysterious food or bug and ended up breaking out in Hives (I was really close to getting sent to the lepers colony). I also never planned to break out in hives. In life, things unplanned tend to take place of things planned. I had an idea of how this trip was going to look like but God has greater plans.
It’s easy for me to choose let the tooth aches and hives slow me down. I’m coming to understand that the easy things usually are not the best things. Knowing this I’m choosing the hard things. I’m choosing to not be inward but to continue to pour into others. I’m choosing to do ministry despite of all the pain that may come my way. LET THE HARD TIMES COME!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
It is when I’m stretched that I grow. It is in pain that I enter a deeper intimacy with the living God. It’s in my discomfort where I find Jesus to comfort me. This has nothing to do with me but with Him who lives in me. I’m a firm believer that God will not leave me hanging. He promises that He will never leave me or forsake me. So in Him I find my peace and strength.
He holds the whole world in the palm of His hands. He holds me together. He is strong in me. I’m falling more and more in love with Jesus, who chose me before I chose Him. I’m falling more and more in love with Him who continues to shape me to be more like Him. I’m falling more and more in love with Him who continues to lavish His grace on me, with Him who calls me not a stranger, but a son. So in that truth I will seek after Him with every inch of my being.
Thank you my dear supporters for sending me on this amazing adventure with Jesus. I pray that you have an amazing Christmas week with family and friends.
With Love…
Brian
i love your bring it on attitude. …If you want to make God laugh…make plans. keep up the great work you’ve been doing; and remeber,
“by perseverance, the snail made it to the arc.”
so sorry to hear about all of your ailments! i’m praying for you this week as you get your tooth removed. get some good rest and hang out with your friends. it’s okay to go out of leader mode for a minute – you have to take care of yourself!
love your; attitude in the midst of the hard stuff, brian. so proud of you!
Thank you all for your encouragement and all your prayers!