Thankful

    Over Thanksgiving break I was able to have some much needed time of reflection. Fortunately I was able to go to the National Missionary Convention right before the holidays. I have to admit that the day before the convention started I had a really foul attitude and perspective on my life and feeling overwhelmed with daily responsibilities.
        At the convention I had the opportunity to go to lunch with my parents and a man from Myanmar. Over the course of this lunch I began to learn a little more about this man's story.  His home village was kicked off of their land by the local government. He appealed to IDES to help out his people.  He was a recipient of HOT money and has continued to help out local villages and has also started a boarding school for children. As I listened to this humble man I was blown away by his continued service in the midst of hardships and trials.  At the end of the convention this man was up on stage singing a hymn with a choir. The camera focused on him when the verse said," Well done my good and faithful servant." This brought tears to my eyes as a reflected on how selflessly this man has served and how he has handled this responsibility of caring for his people.
     He taught me an important lesson without even knowing it.  He realized that it wasn't his mission. It is God's mission of bringing people back to Him. He also realized that he doesn't have to tackle this mission alone. He appealed to the global church to come alongside of him. Through this act of humility, look at all that God has done! It reminded me of the parable in Matthew 25 of the bags of gold. God has given each of us talents and if we are willing to use them to glorify Him, He will bless and multiply those gifts.
      I often times get so caught up in the daily tasks that I forget that I have so much to be thankful for. Everything that I  love and enjoy is a gift of grace from God. It is nothing that I deserve or have earned. Along with those great blessings, I feel a great responsibility. However that responsibility is not my own, we are in this together. God has equipped each of us with different gifts and talents to use for His glory. He will do the work if we are willing to take the step of faith.  Harvest of Talents in East TN is a huge step of faith, however it is exciting to think of all the ways that God will use this to bring people closer to Him.

- Rachel