A few months ago a teammate asked me, “When did you completely surrender to God and decide you wanted it His way?” As I thought for a few minutes about this question I couldn’t think of one specific time where I thought, “this is it.”
Starting at the age of 12, I began choosing the Lord. I had many experiences and seasons where I knew God was real and working in my life. However, I did not consistently chose the Lord every time. Then, 12 months ago, I began a journey that was so much more than I even realized. The race, specifically around month 5, is when I fully surrendered to the Lord and committed to choosing him every time… not just occasionally. I now know what true intimacy looks, and feels like, and I don’t want to not choose that again.
Growing up I always heard the phrase “God is with you” and I believe that to be true. The Holy Spirit was something I knew was there, but I was pretty naive to what that meant. In the past 12 months I have heard the whispers of the Holy Spirit and felt the Holy Spirit in me. And that is powerful. He has always been in me, I just wasn’t aware. I have experienced the Gospel more fully because it is found in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For the first time in my life the Holy Spirit became real to me.
The idea of being chosen has become such a beautiful reminder and it has also become a commitment for me.
1. Reminder.. I am chosen by God. He chooses me every time no matter what I do or say. I am worthy of being chosen by others. And if people don’t chose me that in no way lessens my value or changes my identity.
2. Commitment.. I am choosing God and his ways. I am choosing to chase after him no matter what that entails. I don’t want to just chase him though. I want to walk in step with Him because that’s when real intimacy happens.
What does that mean? Choosing God means sometimes I won’t chose my family or friends, and I’ll do things in my life that won’t make sense to others. They might not even make sense to me, but I have a Father that will not take me anywhere that he has not been. He won’t invite me where He has not gone before me. What it does not mean is that I love my family and friends any less.
“Besides, living consistent with Christ’s character; maintaining a value of “Follow me,” means that I don’t get to pick and choose the ways in which my feet chase after him.” I have no say in where He invites me and that’s not for me to decide… I just have to say yes and amen and choose him.
In the Parable of the Great Feast the Lord paints a picture of what that invitation we chose looks like…
“He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!
“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.
“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
The King is God and the son is Jesus. This parable is describing how God invites us to be in relationship with Him through Jesus. We are the guests being invited into the Kingdom. We are being invited to chose God. Everyone is invited to the Kingdom… the good and bad. The outcasts and untouchables are welcome just as the rich. Some people like the man above “accept” the invitation to the Kingdom, but then they want to do things their own way when God clearly shows us his way is always perfect for us. All are called, but few choose in to the Kingdom and choose God to be sovereign over their lives.
I am choosing to follow Jesus to the scary places. I am choosing the Gospel.
What’s next?
When I came home from the race a month ago my plan was to squad lead a group in January. As I prayed more about that I decided that I want to be poured into by others. This year the Lord revealed to me so many gifts and talents that I have and I want to continue to grow in those and learn more. I want more depth and intimacy with my Father. I want a mentor. I want to be challenged. I want to be a better leader.
So I am choosing to accept the invitation to go to a discipleship program called Center for Global Action or CGA in Gainesville, GA.
CGA is an 8-month leadership and discipleship program that equips followers of Christ to recreate biblical community through teachings, scripture, and activation. CGA has five different focuses during the course of the program. I have been accepted to the Field Leadership track, which focuses on teaching how to be Christ-like leaders and how to steward leadership well. I will be living in community with other CGA participants doing bible studies, and being discipled by a mentor. So I will be moving to Georgia on Friday, September 16th. Go to cga.adventures.org for more info or ask me!
A lot of people talk about the World Race and they say I am going to commit one year of my life to the Lord, but he wants more than one year… He wants every year. He wants it all.
As my plan shifted I started thinking about fundraising and what that looks like. I am fundraising $8,650 for the 8 months that I will be in Georgia. This money will cover living and program expenses for my time there. People will gladly give to an overseas trip because that is mission work and that is helping others.
But this is what I experienced this year…“It wasn’t the world you fell in love with, it was the Gospel coming alive in dry bones you found love in. You just happened to witness that act for the first time in different nations.”
I truly believe that everything I experienced in the 11 countries on the World Race I can experience in Gainesville, GA. Because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit go before me and after me and they are the constant in Georgia just like they are in Cambodia (Joshua 1:9).
Please be in prayer for me as I continue this adventure with the Lord. If you would like to partner with me financially, click on the donate tab or if you have questions email me at [email protected]!
We’re still doing the thing in Gainesville, GA!
Much love, Carson
