Getting Challenged by God

This weekend was spent with my church at a retreat (by a lake) designed to join us together in community and hear God's voice for our lives. It was all that I could have hoped for.

For background on this, I believe that God has called me to make money and give it away in support of his kingdom in radical ways. If I'm going to do that I can't be tied up with materialism otherwise I'll just make the money and use it myself. So God likes to send tests my way every so often to test my obedience and insure that he is still first in my life. Here is an example from this weekend.

So a game of soccer breaks out on the basketball court and despite wearing rolled up jeans and my brand new boat shoes I can't resist and I play anyway. In minutes I tear an ugly snag in my shoes. Not going to lie. I was a bit bothered by that. I bought them a week ago roughly. The next day, I'm still annoyed by it and God's like "HEY RYAN, they're shoes. You know they're really not at all important. You shouldn't let your day be affected by that! oh... and btw (that's how God speaks to me) remember those awesome khaki's you wanted to grab from H&M? you don't really need those. Don't get them." So that was it. God had taken his place again in front of the material again. I put the shoes aside as unimportant. It's a pity though, because I was going to get the pants on the drive up to Rochester but mom suggested I wait till next weekend. Now it's too late...

So the early theme was, don't hold on to the material too tightly. That was accented when the speaker said, "if a plan fits into your timeline, skill set, and resources, then it's probably not God. He requires us to step out in faith." Not a hard and fast rule but a good thing to consider.

So then later I'm talking with Pastor Don and some folks and he mentions that he's going to Peru to teach at a DTS with YWAM in Peru with Brent (the same school I did in Argentina but a different location). "Ryan, you want to come?"

Well from a resources/timeline perspective the answer is no. The trip is right when I get back from Germany. Not the greatest time to buy a plane ticket. I have class coming up and I'm supposed to go boating through the jungle to preach to tribes...

I'm thinking it might be one of those God things. There are still some details to look into, but at this point it's getting pretty well considered. I'm excited for what God will do if that trip happens. It'll be a challenge. I've not really ever stepped out into something that didn't sound like a good idea. There will be lot's of praying this month. God's challenges are always the scariest but most peaceful and satisfying. I love living this adventure with God!

Also for some sweet scenery from the trip see the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=222726&id=597026300&ref=mf