Lured by the promise of an ice cream social to follow, I joined a pretty big crowd who showed up at church last night for an evening of testimonies by members of our short-term missions teams recently returned from Haiti, China, Kentucky, and Slovakia. These folks had given up vacation time and the comforts of home to minister to the needs of people living under very different circumstances--in some cases, devastation, poverty and squalor--and couldn't wait to do it again.
All the testimonies were awesome, but what touched me the most were the the teens who shared how they went expecting one thing, and came home with a whole different outlook on life. How their perspectives were transformed as the Lord opened up their eyes and hearts to see things in ways they had never considered before.
One of the teens who had gone to Haiti shared her amazement at how people who had nothing could still be happy and uncomplaining. It convicted her of the things she finds fault with back home and gave her an overwhelming gratitude for the blessings taken for granted. Another teen choked up as he shared some of the words in a song by Matthew West, entitled My Own Little World.
When I got home I looked up the song so I could hear the rest of the words. As I listened, I thought of the many things I too take for granted, and felt convicted by some of the stuff I tend to focus on or be offended by. In the face of the bigger picture, it all seems so petty. It really is not about me at all.
My Own Little World (Slideshow With Lyrics)
matthew west | MySpace Video
8/3/10
JAMES 3: A STORY
This is a video clip I took from Mrs. Parunak's blog -- Pursuing Titus 2. The message created an ouch moment for me too.
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