Hello dear friends!
Yes, this is Ashley, coming to you all the way from Hong Kong! I have arrived back from outreach and I must say, it was amazing! The past year has possibly been one of the hardest, challenging and life-changing years of my life.
It has also been the most blessed, as I was front-row to see God's hand at work in my life and those around me. I have changed in more ways than one and have learned new aspects to God's character I had never noticed before. This is the story of how God has impacted my life.
At age six, I accepted Jesus as my best friend and Lord. Nearly seven years ago, He spoke the call into my life to go into Asia. In 2011, I went on my first trip to do a Christmas Outreach and He asked me to lay down my ten year plan I had geniously created. This past January, I participated in a Discipleship Training School and asked for the broken heart of God, which resulted in a passion for rescuing girls out of the Red Light District. Shortly after this, I joined a School of Frontier Missions, which equipped me with the experience to live in a foreign country full time and a revelation of my next step to take.
Sometimes, God leads just one step at a time.
When I began this journey at fifteen, I had no idea where or how or what would happen. I only knew I was to go. As I walked in stumbling obedience, I began to see more and more clearly His love for me. Not only me, though, but for the whole world. I craved to see humanity through His eyes as I yearned for His heart.
Graciously, He has taught me to see through His eyes and to listen to His heart. I am not perfect, (as my outreach people can attest to), but I do have a strong desire to be as close to His heart as I can possibly be. I was blown away this year to experience the broken heart of God for prostitutes, pimps, and johns. I was further touched to also be the vehicle of love to them, and honored when He led me to have a vision for these precious jewels of Christ.
Pushing me past my comfort zone, I learned how to surrender to and trust God in ways I never dreamed I would need to. The need of doing this grows ever deeper the more I dive into His leading and pray for His direction. Walking into Fulltime ministry has proved to be the hardest decision for me to ever make, as the realization of what it really means begins to sink in.
I am afraid yet excited for what the future holds. It took me awhile to put my feelings and thoughts into words for this....and I still can not adequately state what is in my heart. This quote, however, says it all:
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
-Anais Nin
Without a doubt, it is time for me to step into the next chapter of what He is calling me towards. It does not change the fact of a road of difficulty and unknowns. Neither does it shade the possibility of failure and fear. The risk, however, to not take the chance and rather to turn my back on what He is leading me towards, is so much greater. My fear of staying behind when I was meant to move forward, pushes me towards the path where I am destined to be. More than my fear, it is the boldness that God is increasing in my life. Even more than the boldness, it is Him living through me that pushes me towards the right path.
My whole life is about to change. My idea of reality will be shaken.
Prayer and worship will be my constant ally- and God will be my source of strength.
I am afraid. But the risk to not bloom is so much greater, than the pain it takes to bloom.
Peace & Blessings
Ashley
~*~Leave a Legacy That Will Make a Difference in the World Around You.~*~
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