854 - Liberia, West Africa - wanna go?

This is a post from my ministry partner and one of my most dearest, bestest, kindest, smartest,most generous friends I know - Ginger Moore. You can view this post and more at www.gingermoore.blogspot.com and on Facebook!! Go check her out or friend her - She is incredible!!

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

Zephaniah 3:9

I always get tickled at my ministry partner, Leigh, and say to her – “God gives you verses in the most obscure books of the Bible.” Seriously, when was the last time someone in your small group opened up prayer with a verse from Zephaniah!! This was Leigh’s prayer for our ministry team months ago AND God woke me up early this morning with His words from Zephaniah on my brain.

I just returned home from a mission trip in Liberia, West Africa. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Africa. I’ve ALWAYS had a heart for the “least of these”. I’ve NEVER had any clue as to how God would pull all of that together.

But in perfect God fashion, He used a long line of coincidences to form His plan. Oh how I love to look backwards!! I love to look backwards and see the tiny puzzle pieces of life – pieces that alone did not make any sense, but when connected in the right way and in the right time create a beautiful masterpiece.

In a Beth Moore study recently, I heard her say that in our personal and even in our corporate/professional ministry – we need to have some “along with’s”. She was saying that God effectively uses people together in fulfilling their destiny. We don’t do ministry alone. I loved that!!

I can’t say that I have a gazillion friends with a desire to go to Africa. Nor, do I have a gazillion friends with a heart for the least of these. God has given us unique callings, gifts, passions and circumstances. At times – it would be easy to say that I was alone. But looking back, God has been giving me “along with’s”.

When we are in a crisis (negative) – that piece alone doesn’t make any sense. When we are given a specific passion (positive) – that piece alone doesn’t make any sense. It’s easy to be angry when faced with a crisis or frustrated when given a passion for something and you don’t have a clue as to what to do with it!!!

No matter what you are going through this minute – as a believer, you can look back one day and see God’s fingerprints all over it. You will have names of people (maybe people you’ve not met yet) that will be your “along with’s”. People God set aside to work with you shoulder to shoulder during your crisis or in your ministry. Trust that: 1) He sees the big picture 2) Your life’s puzzle pieces will eventually connect and 3) He will receive glory as you share your testimony of what He has done.