Sunday, May 29, 2016

Missionary Life - I said Yes!



  A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be, sitting down to tell everyone that I’ve made the choice to become a Full Time Missionary with LifeTeen.  God has been on a constant pursuit of my heart, since before I was born and throughout my childhood I’m sure, but even surer am I that he has been pursuing me these last 7 years.  A lot has changed, I hit rock bottom, went to grad school (ECU), taught PE for a year (Northern VA), got a certificate in youth ministry, been a full time Youth Minister for the Catholic Church (High Point, NC) for the past 3 years while coaching Crossfit for the last year.  I realize that every day is different, yet the same and God is more concerned about the conversion of my heart than he is about using me to convert the heart of others.  Everyone has a story, but not everyone can see how God is a part of their story. 

In the fall, I will be leaving High Point, NC to become a missionary with LifeTeen in the mountains of Georgia.  I will leave my job, friends, and family to pursue Christ; to pursue his heart in hopes that he will continue to overflow my heart with his love.  I couldn’t be more ecstatic that I have been chosen to continue to impact the lives of teens through prayer and service, leading retreats and living in community.  I went on a Come-and-See weekend in April and on the last day in the chapel God asked me; will you let me love you?  In true Jessie fashion, I simply giggled and said you already do.  I could feel him shaking his head at me and say I’m going to ask you again, will you let me love you?  Yes, of course Lord.  He replied, this is how I want to show you the depths of my love, full time missions. 

You see for me, receiving love is one of the hardest things to do.  I believe with every ounce of my being that we are called to love, but how can we give something we can't receive?   A gift isn't a gift until it is given away.  God gave us his only Son in the Eucharist; today on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we celebrate this fact.  In the Eucharist we receive Christ's love, nourishment, encouragement, strength, and grace to carry us on our journey.  The ultimate sacrifice is to lay down one's life for his friends, Christ does that and leaves his body/blood so that we may always be with him until it time for us to go to heaven.  Praise God!  My word for the year is abundance.  God has shown me nothing but abundance since this year has begun; an abundance of healing, abundance of love, abundance of travel, and he is asking me to continue to trust his abundance, how can I say no? 

St. Stephen's Chapel 
Covecrest, GA

"See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the wilderness, I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers." Isaiah 43:19

--Live Love--


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