CHINA KAT

It is truly hard to believe that another year has passed and 2010 is upon us. What a year! What an adventure God has taken me on.  I don’t even think I have stopped to take it all in or ponder it enough. One of my good friends the other day commented, “What a difference 365 days makes, huh?” Yes, indeed.

China was only a small blip on my radar a year ago, but not on God’s.  He told me to be patient and His plans would unfold, called me to trust in Him and just “be”. Interesting that the first two letters of Beijing are “be”.  Some of you might think that is looking into it too much, but I don’t believe there are coincidences with God and that He has ordained it all. I think…no, I know He knew what He was doing when he asked me to “be”, and then called me to Beijing!

It is hard to say this when you are in the midst of it; but I am thankful for the hard, difficult times because it makes you stronger and makes you all the more appreciate during the beautiful times. It makes you more aware of your blessings and the small things you may have overlooked or taken for granted before.  Everything is sweeter, more precious, more meaningful. Each relationship…opportunity…moment is more valuable than ever and is to be fully embraced.

I feel closer to God than ever before, yet I know I am not listening as much or spending as much time learning from Him as I need to be.  I plan on being more disciplined about that this year. It should not even be an area that needs discipline, for the most precious gift we have been given is the ability to approach the throne of our Father with grace and confidence & have a relationship with Him.  That is why I have HOPE.  That is why I am in China…because EVERYone needs to hear that incredible and amazing message of love, grace, & hope…and they are hungry for the Good News we have.

Every day is a new day.  Every moment is a chance for me, for you…to glorify God in our words, our actions, our love.  We have been given new life in Christ and are commissioned to take His message to the masses. We are ALLl ambassadors of Christ, and I pray that we will be His hands and His feet to the world…that we will not be complacent, get too comfortable in the pew, or argue over petty differences while there are still so many who don’t know Jesus.

May you be richly blessed in the year to come; overpowered by the amazing love and grace of our Father; seek ways to break through and advance His Kingdom, shine His light, share His love, and BE His Church.

I can’t wait to see what this year holds, what God will continue to do in China and throughout the world, and what adventure lies in store…it is most definitely quite an adventure of faith when you ask, “Here am I, send me!” You better be ready for what comes next!! ;)

Therefore, if you are in Christ, you are a new creation!! The old has gone, the NEW has come!! ~2 Corinthians 5:17 (with a few changes)