A Summer That Changes Everything

I'll always have fond memories of the missions’ trips our family took because those trips changed everything about the way we viewed what we had, and what we may not have had. It's a culture shock to see how other people live who are not afforded the conveniences, the comfort and the many blessings we encounter daily, and take for granted.

So, to see my grandchildren, Payton Wallace and Alexia Wallace, packing and getting all geared up for their Guatemala trip with over 50 from their church, and to be so excited about the opportunity they'll have to impact people there, was so inspiring to this Nana. Payton amused me with all his “must haves” for the trip: first aid kit, Allen wrench, small “Barbie” fishing pole and tackle (he’s caught some whoppers with that little pole), Papa’s walking stick, lots of snacks and his waterproof “Outdoor Bible”! Alexia carried Papa’s snake skin coin purse. I loved that Papa is getting to go with them (in their hearts, as missions was his passion).

My hat’s off to the youth leaders that are taking these kids – no doubt, it’s a work-out to orchestrate the journey, making sure these kids’ own personal needs are met, and to keep up with each and every one. You know that they know the rewards will far exceed whatever work-out they’ll have. They are having a huge part of giving these kids – not a trip to Disney World for their own pleasure – but to a country where they can be a bright light to darkness, and seeing how these kids’ lives are changed as they are used by God to bring change to others.

Honestly, if you or your children haven’t had the opportunity to go on a missions trip, I urge you to consider taking one. It causes a new perspective of the blessings we have and helps us have compassion and sincere desire to bring change to someone else’s world. It's not about "What's in it for me?", but about "making a difference in other people's lives".

I'll never forget taking a busload of college students to Mexico where we were going to be "Jesus personified" to them. And, as it turned out, we left there being far more inspired and blessed to have encountered people who not only were radically transformed by God's love and light coming from us, but to see how little they had, yet were so joy-filled with the greatest gift they could ever receive -- coming to know Christ as their Savior. Their love for God was so much more than what they could get from Him -- it was about loving God with all their hearts -- because, basically, He was all they had. It certainly altered our consciences from "needing more" to "thankful for what I have".

Though we may not be going on a missions trip this summer, it doesn't mean that we, daily, don't have a mission to fulfill. In fact, when we leave our homes and when we walk through our doors, we are entering our mission field. Missions: an important assignment carried out for going out into the world and spreading faith and good news. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." And I love St. Francis' words "Preach the Gospel at all times, and sometimes use words".

What is our mission field? I believe it is to everyone that we encounter on a daily basis. The clerk at the store, little children, the homebound, the family next door, the yard man, our own families & friends, our neighbors -- just anyone we have the opportunity to BE A BLESSING to and share the LIGHT of Christ with.

Perhaps, we need to develop a Mission Statement for our lives that keeps us focused on our calling to missions. In Genesis 12, where God makes His covenant with Abram. God tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation and that He will bless him. And then, what God says to him in the last part of verse 2 just may be our Mission Statement, too. "You will be a blessing."

That's it -- whatever we do, wherever we go, whoever we encounter -- our mission is "TO BE A BLESSING". Isn't that a great way to live? On purpose, outside of us 4, and no more -- TO BE A BLESSING in our communities or our school or office building or gym -- BE A BLESSING, and in doing that.....we will be IN OUR MISSION FIELD!!! If we do that....then this will be a summer that changes everything!

Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow

My heart was very tender toward God, even as a young child -- so much so, that whenever a missionary came to our church and talked about the missions work they were doing, I wanted to join them. At the end of the service, when a plea would go out to those who would be willing to go and serve in the foreign fields of ministry, I would raise my hand high and pray "Lord, send me!"

While I never joined a missions team, besides our local ministry involvements and being my daughter's travel companion during her "traveling" ministry days reaching out as far as South Africa, my passion was pacified when my husband and I did missions work in Mexico, Trinidad and Belize. It was such a privilege. We sang an old gospel song that represented my surrendered heart as a child, and our hearts to be used by God in however He chose. This was the chorus:

"Not what I wish to be, nor where I wish to go.
For who am I, that I should choose my way?
The Lord will choose for me, 'tis better far I know.
So let Him bid me go, or stay."

I've endeavored to put down solid roots since my move to Frisco. Yes, I purchased a lovely home to come home to, and I'm so thankful for it. But I received a clear message from God last week about "settling". I was in Austin, and since I'm an early riser, it was quiet in the Wuerch household. I took my devotion books and sat on their back patio and found myself being utterly romanced by my Heavenly Father. Of course, He knows my innermost thoughts and desires, so I didn't even have to express myself, except that as I was "delighting in Him" (Psalm 37:4), I began to sing that old gospel song (above) that I had not sung in years and years. And, when I sang those words, I could hear my Lord saying "Let me choose for you. Listen to my voice....when and where to go and when and where to stay!" I began to weep at the clarity of His message to me. My ways were to find a fixed spot and settle, but His ways are for me to "leave the plans and places to Him".

I went into the house and found my son sitting at his kitchen table having his morning devotion and, in tears, I shared with him about my "romance-time" with my Father. It resonated with him AND me. I'm going to answer the call of God that I heard as a child, and unless He tells me otherwise, I'm going to be "on call" to respond to His call. I know of family members that I'm supposed to visit, friends that God is directing me to encourage. I said to my son, "And even if this is 'my farewell' tour, so be it, but if not....I'm going to be on a mission to fulfill assignments He has for me -- to "go, when He says go".

I thank God that, throughout my life, He has been so evident in every season. My new proclamation is this: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Be on the lookout.....Donna Wuerch may be coming to a city near you! Where He leads. I will follow. This weekend -- it's Tulsa, OK!

Being a First Class Noticer

One of my resource books during this 4-week retreat with God, is Mark Batterson’s “Draw the Circle”. I’m a fan of this author who also wrote two other books I love, “The Circle Maker” and “In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day”. For me to say these books have changed my life says a lot because, quite frankly, I don’t call myself an avid reader. For me to recommend books of any kind is a big deal, because it means I read it from cover to cover, unlike so many books I tackle and get only a few chapters through and it goes to my library, unfinished.

Yesterday’s reading in “The Circle Maker” really nailed it for me. I like to think of myself as someone who lives in the moments, is a big noticer of little nudges and signs from heaven quite easily, but Mark Batterson put words to it for me. The chapter, yesterday, was “First-Class Noticer” – someone who is watchful; who keeps watch – those who see things others don’t see. Mark says “When we pray, we become noticers. Prayer is the difference between seeing with our physical eyes and seeing with our spiritual eyes. Prayer turns us into “First Class Noticers”. It helps us see what God wants us to notice. The more we pray, the more we notice and the less we pray, the less we notice.”

As I read that, I remembered, specifically, that I NOTICED. Here’s one of the latest cases in point. I was tucked away here in the guest house last week, had been seeking God, praying, reading and all of a sudden there is that noisy, head-bumping cardinal again. This time, somewhat perturbed at him for interrupting my quiet time, I stood at the foot of the stairs and said, “Okay, God and Ron (cardinals often mean a loved one in heaven is reaching out to us – I like to believe that), what are you trying to tell me today?” Immediately, I sensed I needed to go upstairs where there is a sitting area, game table area, plus a desk and credenza. I walked around the room, just in the mindset of being a noticer, and I stopped in front of the credenza when my eyes fell on something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Obviously, it had been a gift to my father-in-law from my husband because this is the inscription on a Trinidad/Tobago $1 bill that had been framed: “DAD, Your prayers are being answered. This represents another missions trip that you have been a part of this year. Because of who you are and what you’ve instilled in me and how you raised and trained me, your ministry continues on. Together we will accomplish much more for God. Happy Father’s Day. Your Son, Ron ‘95

I noticed. Ron and Dad had been on yet another missions trip together. I took it in. I meditated on “What does this mean?” And what seemed like another one of the answers to my prayers for this 4-week “seek and find” time, I took in those words my husband spoke to his Dad: “Because of who you are and what you’ve instilled in me and how you raised and trained me, your ministry continues on. Together we will accomplish much more for God.” Just because Dad and Ron are no longer here on this side of heaven, doesn’t mean their ministry ended. Their footprints, their legacy, their heartbeats for missions and ministry carries on and they both wanted me to remember that during this season. I threw kisses to both of them and I, too, assured them “Indeed your ministry is carrying on, through our children, our grandchildren….. and even ME! Thanks for the reminder!”

As soon as I finished typing this message last night….to post today…..up popped a FB post from my daughter on my timeline about my granddaughter heading to Guatemala on a missions trip in June. How’s that for “my cup is full and overflowing” with God’s affirmations and promptings? Yes, Lord, I noticed!

Would you like to join me in being a First Class Noticer? I assure you, it sure makes the journey so much sweeter and so much on purpose to keep our spiritual eyes wide open. We’ll see God everywhere we look. We’ll see the image of God in others. We’ll see His fingerprints on His creation. We’ll see God-ordained divine encounters and surprises all around us all the time. I know I did today!

But the Greatest of These is Love

Day 303 of Photo Inspirations -- But the Greatest of These is Love
#TBT -- These are photo inspirations from the Belize trip and the missions that my husband and I supported, along with training the pastors there, for many years. Then a year ago, our team headed to Mexico to be a part of the beautiful ministries that are doing so much to restore and help the people there. Such sweet memories!  Missions has been in our DNA for a long time.

Of course, there are so many missions opportunities right here at home in the U.S. and if you can get involved with any of them, I promise you, you will go in with the good intentions to bless them, but in reality, you will be the recipient of so many blessings. Here's just a few of the reasons to reach out to those who are not as fortunate as we are:

1)   It opens our eyes to the blessings we have in our lives.
2)   It opens our eyes to the "little things" we take for granted.
3)   It opens our hearts to the needs of others -- so much so, that we just can't help it....we just HAVE to give.

4)   It causes a "culture" shock that awakens our hearts of compassion.
5)   It causes those hard, crusty, dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that are so easily a part of our lives....to dwindle to softness and appreciation.
6)   It causes blinders being taken off to see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.

7)   It causes us to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for friends and family members that you know will be tossed in a corner or a drawer or even trashed, within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.

8)   It causes the mindset of "Thanksgiving" as truly being thankful for every blessing that God has brought into our lives.
9)   It causes a hunger to help support the precious people and volunteers who do what they do.

10) It causes unmistakable and contagious joy.
11) It causes us to evaluate just WHY we are here on this earth at this time.

As we focus on God and His Great Commission, everything will be radically altered—including our thoughts about the world and those in need -- our prayer life, our eating habits (including what things we’re willing to “try”), our disciplines in health and fitness, our family’s stewardship of faith and finances. A missions mindset will impact -- for eternity — our focus on our future and their future.

Could it possibly be that God's been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference on a daily basis of the lives of others?

There is just nothing that can top -- GIVING. And God just can't help it -- He ALWAYS exceeds the GIVING BACK in so many ways. What we received in our hearts from the beautiful people and children of Belize and Mexico far exceeded anything that we could have given.