So, what’s next? (Part 2, My Heart)

For Part 1 of this blog, click here.

http://stephaniebernotas.theworldrace.org/?filename=so-whats-next-beautiful-things.

Part 3, Coming Soon.

Land in America on June 9th at 6:52 P.M.

Get Passport stamped, hear Customs Officer say the words, “Welcome Home.”

Fly to Philadelphia.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Prov. 16:9

“Sovereign Father, O, the immeasurable peace, humility, and joy this one verse brings me! No more paralysis of analysis. Goodbye to obsessing and second guessing every decision. So long to the faith denying fear of being outside of your will. To know that you’re vitally engaged in directing every one of our steps, as your children, is incredibly freeing.”

“O, the freedom and peace this brings! You are the Lord who “opens doors no one can shut” (Rev. 3:8). And the converse is just as true; you also shut doors no one can open. Our future is not tied to making the right decisions but to trusting the right Lord. That would be you, Jesus!”

Jesus, write a better story for my life than I would ever DARE to pen.

So until that Day, we will seek to make our plans in keeping with your Word and the gospel of grace; trusting you to be the God who opens doors we cannot shut, and the One who shuts doors we cannot open (Rev. 3:7-8). Oh, the blessed peace and confidence this brings. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and majestic name.

(The above are excerpts from Heavenward, a blog by Scotty W. Smith)

I give it all to You Lord, trusting that You’ll make something beautiful out of me.

So, basically, I’ve really been wrestling. There’s honestly a ton of unintentional pressure to go do something wild and crazy for Jesus after the Race. Go start and orphanage in the Philippines. Go work at a clinic in Botswana. Work for International Justice Mission. I began this Race not having a clue where I’d end up afterwards. So many people investing so much time and money in my spiritual growth, the people I meet, and the ministries and countries I visited.

I mean, I can’t let them down. I have to go change the world!

In the article “We Need Boring Christians” (which is a really good article, by the way–you should read the whole thing), Andrew Byers offers some wise words:

But radical discipleship is not adventure tourism.  

Following Jesus is not to be romanticized through impressive Facebook status updates or photos of exotic places on our blog. Discipleship is often ugly, messy and painful. Faithful service will regularly lead us into dull labors and bewildering struggles that would make unexciting press. To romanticize social justice or cross-cultural evangelism is to promote an idealism that will be inevitably vaporized on the field, inadvertently leading to burnout and cynicism.”

 Ouch.

I’m a World Racer. The above is what I do! Radical is my resume.

On paper, I’m one of the crazy ones. This Race thing is absolutely insane. We live out of a backpack. Camp in crazy heat. Hang out with orphans. Can navigate an airport with our eyes closed. Climb up waterfalls. Eat bugs. Hello, adventure for Jesus!

Let me be clear.

Going on The World Race is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. One of the greatest gifts from God in my life. I would recommend it to anyone. It is NOT just adventure tourism under the guise of missions. The World Race and Adventures in missions seek the Lord and seek to bring His Kingdom like no other organization I’ve ever been a part of. They are incredible and I am incredibly blessed to be a part of their family.

But, at least for the next phase of life, I’m called to the familiar, compared to traveling 360 degrees around the world like a maniac. And what God has taught me this year GREATLY affects what living at home will look like. Because you see, He makes beautiful things.

“Scripture calls us into radical service-but that does not allow others to eviscerate tedious, less “spiritually” glamorous tasks of their meaning in God’s Kingdom. Scripture also calls us to embrace the mundane and ordinary as holy and beautiful: “… aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). 

So, all that said. I’m called home.

I am certainly not calling anything in the States boring or mundane. I simply mean in comparison to this crazy live I’m currently living. In fact, I think that God is moving and will continue to move in CRAZY ways back home. He is not a boring God, and therefore His work is never boring. I mean this all as an encouragement, especially to you back home, that what you are doing is MEANINGFUL and can bring the Kingdom, JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE than being on something like The World Race. So be encouraged. I’ll join you soon 🙂

(or, in my case, “home” without walls.)

In my first blog, in case you didn’t notice, there was a dandelion theme. So stay tuned for the ACTUAL “plan,” and how bringing God’s Kingdom has to do with dandelions, and how He makes beautiful things.

So, what’s next?

Part 3, Coming Soon.

(Don’t worry, that’s the last one!)