1 down, a thousand to go.

Wow. Hey guys. 

This posts marks the start of a series of posts about a trip I was on for 11 days in the heart of India. There is so much to say, I just need to figure out how to say it. I’m still trying to gather, understand, and analyze my feelings about it all, so bear with me. My goal is to explain the incredible, unpack the hard, as well as discover the beauty in each circumstance. 

I feel like I’ve been on the fastest, bumpiest, ricketiest roller coaster ride ever. And all I wanted to do the whole time was get off. But I was told that there was some sort of prize at the end. And here I am, I’ve finally reached the end. But I’m still trying to find the prize. 

I think what I’m gonna do is share some thoughts I jotted down along the trip, as well as try to retrace some of the actual experiences and try to put them into words for ya. :]

So some of you may not know this (not sure why you wouldn’t :P) but I am super passionate about Jesus. Super. 

I’m also incredibly passionate about worship. Incredibly. 

I am also passionate about missions. And I haven’t really (deep down) understood why. Until a few months ago. 

Interestingly enough, I just became interested in music (and essentially worship) right before we moved, so late 2015. I’ve always enjoyed music but we weren’t invested in a church before we moved so I wasn’t worshipping at a church every week, I just occasionally put on some CCM if and when I listened. So when we moved I was like mannn, I like this. (And Praise the Lord for our church family; I found my passion through you all :]) 

And when I say I’m passionate about worship, I mean like I  L O V E I T. It’s the last thing that I listen to before I close my eyes & it’s the only thing that plays on my phone if and when music is on. Hah funny enough, I was at a party last night for the super bowl, and the halftime show came on (like it normally does at most houses) but I haven’t ever watched it because I just don’t prefer to spend that time watching something that isn’t honoring Christ. My mom has reminded me for as long as I can remember, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) Y’all there’s no other option. We should think, watch, listen to, and say things that are pure and lovely only. Trust me, I have lots more to say on this topic but I will save it for another post. :]

But anyway so it was playing, which is fine, I can’t control that (I just chose to let the Lord deal with that one. :])  So I just chatted with the folks who weren’t watching it. I’m not scared of it, nor am I careless about how insanely talented those women are, but they are clearly not glorifying God in those circumstances. Know what I mean?

Anyyyway, I came home last night and was sincerely sad for the women, and more so for the sixty five T H O U S A N D people (men, women, and children. c h i l d r e n) who were there watching in person, and get T H I S > According to google, 102 million people watched the Super Bowl this year on tv. 102 M I L L I O N. I’m not surprised, but think about that. When I got home I told my parents that it just makes me S I C K. So sick. I feel a burden. It needs to change.

So this morning, I was listening to one of Bethel’s “moments” as they call them, https://youtu.be/jTre4C9nj3k (honestly you just have to watch the first 3:27 minutes and then you’ll get the idea.) But I came down and I said “mom, it would be so cool one day to see THAT ^ during a halftime show with 65,000 (in person) along with 102+ M I L L I O N people worshipping Jesus.” I mean right?!

A L L this being said, back to my original realization: I know why I have a heart for missions. Here it goes: missions exist because worship doesn’t.

When that little realization was presented to me, it was like a thousand lightbulbs flipped on in my head. I was like Oh My Goodness. Missions exist because W O R S H I P doesn’t!!

Missions exist because worship doesn’t.

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So I think I found the last piece to the puzzle. And remember the prize I said I was trying to find? I found it. I just have to look up. He’s right there. 

So here we go. 1 post down, about a thousand to go. Until next time. . .