The Wow Factor

Just a lazy Saturday night, watching some playoff football with my roommate Jordan.  We are both from Seattle so of course we were sitting in our living room all afternoon cheering on the Hawks, who pulled off a huge upset earlier.  It's no big deal, thats what the Northwest is all about!!  Near the end of the game we witnessed what was possibly one of the greatest touchdown runs in postseason history, by Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.  As the play developed we sat in amazement by the effort that was put forth by Lynch, to get the ball in the end zone to seal the W for the Hawks!  The only thing to say was....Wow, as we were sitting in both shock and amazement.

As I approach a trip to Uganda, Africa on Monday afternoon, I am so excited to see what God will do through this trip.  My heart is prepared to experience something that is beyond belief, and know I will once again be wowed by the power of Jesus.  Although I wait in anticipation and prayer to see what God will do, it should come as no surprise to me, when His power and love once again blows my mind.  We are talking about the same revolutionary God who "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, was made in human likeness, and obedient to death on a cross (Phil 2:6-7), all because He simply loves us.  It is this love that in my life, is the "wow factor."  Just like Marshawn Lynch carried our Hawks to victory, Jesus quite literally took our lives, and carried them with him on the cross, to seal the W for those who follow him.  Wow!  This wow factor quickly reminded me why I feel a call on my life to serve others, and be part of God's mission.  As believes we should serve not out of our own compassion, not because of the great feeling that helping someone brings, not because it puts our life into perspective, and not to make much of ourselves.  We serve and sacrifice ourselves, out of a genuine understanding of the love, service and sacrifice that has been granted to us through grace.  "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8)  Wow.  I am thankful to enjoy grace, and have the opportunity to share Christ's love with others in a global environment, and I am pumped to see God once again at work in Uganda in the coming weeks.  Please join me in prayer as we approach this journey, and please join me in serving, no matter where God has you.  "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)  If His unbelievable love has wowed you, take that understanding, love someone else, and see a generation that has experienced Christ's love, and will truly be left with nothing to say but....Wow.