I once read that by spending 2% of our time out of our normal context, out in the world, out of our normal sphere of comfort for the purpose of ministry, God begins to expand our horizons. This 2% out, then has effects on our 98% in to the point of irreversible inner change. We start to live our home lives differently, with new perspective. God takes our out-of-the-box experiences and changes our in-the-box life…sometimes so much so that we find ourselves compelled to spend 98% out and 2% in!
January 2011...Seeking information on adoption, I "mistakenly" filled out the personal information page on the Missions tab rather than the Adoption tab on All God's Children International's website. I still can't remember doing it or how that happened, but God most certainly knows. Days later we received the phone call that would open new doors unexpectedly. I was seeking information on adoption, but apparently I had signed us up for a mission trip to China instead. Oops.
Being the types who are always on the lookout for God's next adventure in our lives, we decided this must have been an intervention from the Lord and so we signed up! I still laugh thinking back on that phone call. "Let's get you and your family to China!" she said with excitement. My husband's face said bewilderment...but...OK! Let's do it!!
God does have a sense of humor, I suppose. And so they went. My eldest daughter and he journeyed to China and they were changed. God took this funny "mistake" of mine and turned it into His sovereign plan to ignite a passion for ministry to the least of these in my husband's heart, my daughter's too...and years of prayer were answered.
I love that the story takes yet another turn...Brodie has recently joined a leadership team for AGCI to be able to lead future short term trips. He is SO excited! Again, I have to laugh as I think of how God knew what He was doing when I clicked the "wrong tab" and He sees what is even yet to come. What a relief to follow Him, hands off the wheel, trusting a great God with great plans.
98%, 2%
It's the 2% that really gets you. How much of life is in the monotonous, the preparation? Undeniably, the preparation seasons of life are invaluable, but it's those out-of-the-box experiences that have a way of really changing our in-the-box world...sometimes so much so that we feel compelled to leave the box behind and follow Jesus into the unknown.
I thank God for the tab I didn't select that day and I'm more convinced than ever that apart from us, His will WILL be accomplished. We cannot thwart God's plans.
Why not spend 2% of the next year of your life on a mission trip or in an act of service that's out of the norm? You never know how God will use that 2% to transform the rest of the 98%.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
