17 Reasons to push you onto the Train:

To the soujourners abroad,

A man spoke to the college group recently and it reminded me of his message that I heard in Mexico 6 monthes ago. This message forever changed my life.

Isaiah 49:6: he says" it is too light of a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob,and to bring back the preserved of Israel; i will make you as a light for the nations,that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth".

Things to say NO to: (I dont remember why he starts out with the no's but here we go)
1. Our friends: they can drone out whatever the spirit says and wants.
2. A relationship: someone who does not share any of your convictions they should not be in your heart (1 Corinthians 7).
3. Media: We live in a culture that causes us to feel shame about us.
4. Busy-ness: We value activity
5. Stuff: we live in a culture that says be all we can buy.
6. debt: school debt is a killer. ADVICE: Do not even think about owning a credit card.
7. Short cuts: Do not look for the fast way out
8. The values of our culture: it has distored everything.

Things to say YES to:
1. the right people: surround yourself with a mentor. latch onto the fellowship of the body and that mentor.
2. A war time lifestyle: We are always at war! The enemy is at hand!
3. Spiritual disciplines: We need to work hard at them and practice them. Meditate and listen to what God says.
4. Knowing the World: For some odd reason believers today think that KNOWING the world makes you APART of the world. wrong-o. We need to be praying for the countries of the world. *See Operation World*
5. Have to be useful: We need to learn to pursue things
6. the local church: Aligns itself with the heart and passion of God. Plug in and get involved!
7. A long haul approach: I totally forgot about this one. But we need to hand over our lives to God. He's got us. Dont doubt it.
8. Following Jesus: We need to live for His passions and not our own. Whatever you end up chosing (Following Him or not) you are still doing something.

The last one is one from a recent message that I heard on sunday, in which God allowed the same man to impact my life once more.

God's will: It is Gods will, His Kingdom and His name. So doesnt it make sense that our lives are about Him? We need to start doing more of the Fathers will than what we think is right, or even what society is telling us.

Take a stand. Say No to your own pursuits and Yes to His. Difficult? Heck Yes. Impossible? No.

Some people have about zero chance of being found (hearing the Gospel) because no one is going after them.

We ALL are called to missions. Deny it all you want, but scripture is clear. (Acts 1:8-But you will recieve power when the Holy spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, AND to the end of the earth").

You may not be called to go abroad, but you are called to share the gospel. You may not be called to go on an organized trip, but you are called to talk to the lost. You may not be in an environment in which you are surrouned by non believers, but you are called then to pray for them and maybe get out of your comfort zone.

Its time for a travel change. You may be scared to board that train but believe it or not your name is still on the ticket. So if the train passes you by then you hop on the next one. You are sure of your destination, but many passengers on that train with you are not. And they are afraid and in denial to ask their conductor for help.

Lets make the travel change. See you on board.

Love always,
Corrine