Comfort zone.... What's that?

In January Matthew and I will be going to the Dominican Republic with the short term missions team from Grace Bible Church.  We are really looking forward to the opportunity to serve God in a way we haven't before yet maybe we have.   

Our family has been involved in reaching boys and girls for Christ through teaching Sunday School, Awana, and being involved within our community and school activities.  Just by being involved and open to listening to the kids has created opportunities for us to share God's love and gospel that we may not have otherwise had.  While we are in the Dominican we will either be helping on the medical side or construction side showing God's love through our actions, reactions, and conversations.  We may not see immediately the fruits of our labor but we will be happy to plant the seeds for growth.  

A menu of rice and beans sounds okay and the restroom facilities may lack a sink, mirror, lights or toilet....  may be a bit out of our usual routine and comfort zone but loving to be challenged in new ways, camping, and loving kids will help us stay focused on the mission and on God.  

Today's lesson is on 1 Peter 1:17-21 "You call out to God for help and he helps-he's a good Father that way.  But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.  Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.  It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in.  He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know.  He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb.  And this was no afterthought.  Even though is has only lately- at the end of the ages- become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you.  It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God."  (Message paraphrase)   What a beautiful reminder!