Do you Dare??

For all of those who are in long term Missions, have been in Missions, and are thinking about Missions!

“Missions” What a term!! What a calling! What a life!! On the front lines some say. Still others think that it is an easy way out to what they call “real life”.
Following dreams, visions, and desires that one believes has been put in them buy God him self. The sticky point is not following those things but to stay before the Lord when those things start to become reality. When they begin to grow and take shape before your eyes.
Do you dare to dream?
Do you dare to let me place my vision and desires inside you?
Do you dare to follow?
Do you dare to stay before me?
These are questions that the Lord has asked me! They are questions that I believe he asks every one that will say here I am Lord send me.
I said yes, yes, of course, yes to all those questions. Then the dreams came. The Visions started, and the desires became so heavy on my heart.
He reminds me often that they are his and not mine. Then he follows up with more questions.

How vulnerable will you be?
How far will you go?
Will you stay before me?
Will you trust me?
These are cutting questions!!! Not easy to answer!!! But I will, I will go all the way. I will stay before you. I will….. (GULP) trust you.

I see people falling left, right, and center around me. Being chewed up and spit out so to speak. My eyes always filled with tears. With a lump in my throat, I ask Lord are you there???
He says “Travis I am here!” I say “Lord???” His responses “I didn’t say it would be easy. Travis this is war. Do you trust me? Will you stay before me? I AM HERE!! Are you with me?"............. I am here, I am with you Lord….. Okay I trust you. Now we walk on!

I write this with tears streaming down my face, as I know many of those who have been beaten down chewed up and spit out by the enemy, giving up on God, the church and his people. Because of what they have seen in the war or have experienced. (I was one of them at one time.) I know others who have left the war zone only to pick up the fight some where else.

The truth is Missions can hurt. It can be filled with joy but also with tears. There can be pain in the offering!Blood and even death are many times close by. It is not an easy life! It is a war! It is reality! Fighting for people, and their eternity.

The questions remain hard, sobering questions!
Do you Dare?
How far will you go?
How vulnerable will you be?
Will you stay before me?
Will you trust me?

It hurts but I say yes I will go and yes I Dare to trust you with my life.