Day 38: Becoming a World-Class Christian

This was a difficult chapter for me. This Blog is currently the closest I will get to being a missionary outside of my current town. I am working on becoming less self-centered. My prayers usually center around other people's needs. I'm not perfect, and sometimes I do pray selfish prayers even still. But for the most part, I pray for my friends and people from church who are going through difficult times. I do still find it difficult to bring up Jesus in conversations with total strangers, but I more readily speak about Him with friends who I know already have some faith.

I think I can work on praying for other countries, and for missionaries all over the world. I think that it will probably be years before I could actually go on a mission somewhere, my wife has been wanting to, but with three small kids it's been difficult to figure out all the details. I know that if we both prayed more about it, God would share His wisdom about it. God wants us to go on a mission, He wants all of us to go out into the world and all over the world spreading the Good News.

I am definitely thinking more about the future, but the enemy keeps throwing the here and now in my face. I guess I'm still making excuses though, I know the plans God has for me and that some of these things are tests. I know that when my finances are on track and my household is in order, God will be able to do even more wonderful things with me and my wife. So the time to start working on those things is now. I have my purposes; to worship, to fellowship, to grow like Christ, to serve, and to be on a mission. And to shirk one of them is not giving God absolute control of my life. Missions are big scary things, but with the resources in the book, and some prayerful planning, I know they are possible, even for my single income family of five.

The Bible verse comes from the book of Psalms.

Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind.
Ps 67:2 (LB)

What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short term mission experience in the next year? I've got to get all the information, set up a savings fund, and pray daily that God keeps that goal foremost in my mind. And also get a new passport.

Remember: The Great Commission is my Commission