Co-mmitment

COMMITMENT = NO OTHER OPTION

I've been pondering this the past week or so. When we were at the whanau hui (family gathering) this grandpa of YWAM stood up and said this. He has been married almost 50 years and he is 84. He said when you see something or when you are called to something you need to commit to it. Hence his definition of the word. I was looking at the word and breaking it down. Co means a coop, two people a cooperation of two people. So therefore in this ministry or really in my life with YWAM it is a commitment to the Lord. I know this word can really scare some people. But it's co meaning you're not alone. I was a bit worried a few years ago when the Lord asked me to come to New Zealand. I was worried because I knew I would be here for a while. So in my worry while I was still home before I came I was making plans for after to work or do something in the states just to secure my spot. Ha, I laugh now but at the time "Are you serious!" was going through my head. So I paid the price and dealt with the consequences. But honestly it was the best decision he made for me. I was afraid of commitment because I couldn't see how it was going to work out. I guess that's the beauty of faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 says:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

 I guess this verse says it all. It's hard to believe when you can't see the near future. It is sweet though to not really have to worry about the future or what will happen. Because we can plan every aspect of our lives down to a T but in the end things can happen that are unexpected, and our lives are made up of choices. 


I've been spending a lot of time in Hebrews 11 this week. I'll highlight the verses that have been speaking to me:


v.9b - Like a stranger in a foreign country.
v.10 - For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
v.13 - And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth
v.15 - If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
v.34b - Whose weakness was turned to strength


These verses are pretty sweet because I've been thinking about my time here and the opportunities I've had in this country along with feeling at home here.  As well in Luke 9:58 - Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 
Being a missionary is not an easy task. Whether you're in your home country or in a foreign one. Being a stranger to people that are in your home town feeling like a foreigner in your home country. It's fun because after a while people don't really know where you come from and guess something crazy like South American (I get that a lot). But on a more serious note, I never wanted to be a missionary because I would have to give up my comforts of home and living the "American Dream". But now my life is lived out of a suitcase and building relationships wherever I am. Everyone is a missionary in my opinion. It's just your choice to build relationship or not. No matter where you are. sometimes you're called to a place, people group or just one person. Whatever it is or whoever it is just do your best to reach out. 


So back to commitment, I realize I got kinda side tracked.... Committing to this country or even to be a missionary has been a bit of a struggle just because I say yes God I'll go where you want to whoever you want, but with that it's a lot of unknown. Which can be fun but also scary. I guess in this season and what I'm trying to live for is to dive into the unknown, but having the faith that it will all work out.....

Commitment = no other option