Tired of Being Comfortable

Im going to Nigeria.  Im going to Nigeria because Im tired of sitting around feeling sorry for all the hurting people, and doing nothing about it.  Im going to Nigeria to share God's radical love, and I am terrified.

The amount of terror I had a week ago is an ocean compared to the stream of nervous thoughts going through my mind now though.  It seems like every time I sit through chapel or a church service the sermon is directed towards me.  First it was my decision to apply, then my decision to accept, now it's on to staying focused, handling stress, and relying on God and people around me.  Is God putting the notes on the podiums for the preachers?!?

Recently I read an article about how people need to give more money to the poor.  It frustrated me so much that by the time I finished reading it, I threw the paper away.  It went on and on about "entertaining angels" and how the homeless people holding the signs could be Jesus in disguise.  Well honestly, if that is Jesus I want to give Him so much more than a couple bucks.  I know the homeless people will gladly accept money, but working at The Refuge on Saturdays has taught me some things.

1. Having a real, God-centered conversation with a person who has nothing does something for them even $1,000 couldn't do.

2. God doesn't want us to toss a dime in the coffee cup He's holding, He wants us to offer some hope, and maybe, just maybe a little love.  

3. Being radical doesn't mean crossing the line, or stepping beyond the limits.  It means pushing the limits and stepping closer to God, and the people around you.

Learning those things has made me so much more willing to step beyond my comfortable home and grab the hands reaching out for love.  

I didn't start out writing this blog with intentions of going off on a tangent, but like the rest of my generation, I guess Im a little bit frustrated with everyone wanting change and no one wanting to do anything to get the change started.  :)

Enough from the complaint department of my head though, God is good....so very good, and I am so ready to take the love and the hope He has thrown at me across the world to a country that is lacking.  

Keep checking back for more posts.....they'll be more optimistic, I promise!

On an end note:

"The love we give away is the only love we keep."

-Elbert Hubbard