Answering the "WHY?"

What drives people to do what they do? If you examine those who have accomplished extraordinary things in their lifetime people often wonder what drives them to do it all? Growing up in a Pastor's home, ministry is all I know. I've never been anywhere else. I was the kid, along with so many of my friends, that grew up sleeping underneath the benches, waking up in the middle of the night for sunrise service, getting home at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning from church and having to get right back up at 7am for school... so many memories I can run thru but my point is that I know nothing else but sacrifice. It was birthed in me since I was a kid. I've seen 1st hand the many many sacrifices my parents made and still make to this day to serve God's children. I've seen 1st hand how they've put aside their desires and needs to help the desires and needs of others...they gave up so much to answer the call that God placed on their lives. And with this I've also been able to see the very hand of God walk with us every step of the way providing every single need. Growing up in a selfless home, I find myself as a young adult willing to give up everything I have to make a difference in this world. I remember as a teenager I would pray to God saying "even if I make a difference in just one person's life, I just want you to use me!" I was desperate for God to make me a world changer. I didn't care what I had to do, I just wanted to be drenched in God's will for my life. I wanted to make a difference. Years have passed and I've been able to discover just some of the plans God has for my life. It seems that He has much bigger plans than I thought which always amazes me. However, a price must be paid. I have to be honest and say that there are many times when the life I have chosen can be quite overwhelming. Like in every ministry, there is much brokenness that goes on in secret and our human bodies get tired, our hearts get weary. When your constantly pouring yourself out, you find yourself getting tired real quick! But you see, the truth is that very few understand this calling. This calling to completely give yourself. To eat, sleep and breathe this lifestyle. Where your only desire in the world is to impact the lives of others thru the love of Christ. To know that God has to break every part of the "me-syndrome" in you in order for Him to be the focus. To be willing to see your world shaken and shattered into a million pieces so that God can put it back together again. To be able throw away all the dreams you once hoped for and allow God to give you bigger dreams to look forward to. To be able not to have control of your life, not knowing what is going to happen tomorrow, not knowing if you'll actually make it to see tomorrow but allowing your heart to trust in a God that can do anything. So why do we do it? Why do live a life that to many people would seem "crazy"? Why am I here at 1 o'clock in the morning writing when I could be sleeping? Well... it's in those moments when my human body gets tired and my heart gets weary that I go back to my 12yr old self praying to God, "if you could just let me make a difference in one person's life, I will be happy." If everything I have gone through and everything I will go through as I grow in you will be for the sake of reaching out to ONE person... it would be worth it all. God always has a way of taking us back to the reason we started this journey. Never forget. I will never forget that everything I endure is so that God would be glorified through that ONE person God has allowed me touch... whoever you are.

VC