The Planet of Cham

     God has really been "unlearning" me on some things. They may not make sense, so let me explain. In "learning" 50% of it is "unlearning". That means that you are taking away an old idea or habit, and replacing it with a new one...that is more beneficial. So in saying that, God is unlearning me on some things. As you know (hopefully), I am heading to Seattle on Jan 5, 2009. God has called me out there to serve with a church plant. The crazy thing is that I have to raise my own support to be able to serve out there. I have never done this before. I am a rookie, 1st timer in raising support, helping plant a church, etc. In the midst of this, I would like to share what God is doing with me personally. 

     God is teaching me that "Unknown is the new comfortability". I usually enjoy the adventure of the unknown, it livens things up. This new journey is a little different though. In the past, I always had a "fall back plan" just in case the "unknown" failed or got weird. Well....God has me at this point not having that "plan". In fact, I have been taught that my plan is actually a lack of faith in Him. OUCH! Yes, I have to agree with Him on that. Use to when push came to shove, I would take the wheel if I got uncomfortable or if the risk was too high. Can I just go ahead and say, THIS WAS WRONG! Why? I never gave God an opportunity to show up and show off who He is. Yes, He doesn't need me to "ok" Him to move, but I think a lot of times He chooses not to because we(I) would say that I pulled it out (if not verbally..then in my heart). So...God has been unlearning me on this while I am on this journey to head to Seattle. 

     Since I have started sharing the vision of God's mission for me in Seattle, God has given me some commands to follow. Check it out along with my response:

1) Share the Vision - Plant Seeds with everybody

    My response: No problem

2) Do not take control of this.

    My response: I promise I will not. I know how I use to be, and I don't want to be that now.

3) Do not market, overly advertise, or use smooth slick talking to raise money.

    My response: Uh..so don't function in how I normally communicate a need? What am I      

    suppose to do? Tap dance? (I asked this..God can handle sarcasm). Ok...I promise I won't, but

    how am I suppose to go about this?

4) Spread the word & just ask people to "Pray & Obey"

     My response: Hmmmm....but how am I suppose to explain the details of the needs, how I     

     am going to need certain things to being this ministry...? What if they don't obey...or pray? 

     What if that is to vague and they say "are you kidding?"

5) I told you...share the vision and then tell them "Pray and Obey". Do you trust me?

     My response: Yes, I trust you, but this is way out of my comfort zone. Meeting new people 

     easy. Doing some thing new and in a new area...great! Sitting back, when most people 

     suggest being super active when it comes to raising funds...SO UNCOMFORTABLE! This 

     unknown challenges my comfortability. Did I mention not a huge time frame to get    

     the word out?

6) I gave you a word: Eccl 11:5-6

     My response: Ok..I trust you, but this still freaks me out. I haven't heard much from nobody.

7) Trust me. I want you & others to know and experience ME at work.

     My response: Ok..You know I will struggle with this..but I trust You. I am comfortable in 

     who You are in my life. You are my Provider. You spoke the world and all the laws of nature 

     in to existence, so this is a cakewalk for You.

8) My grace is sufficient. Trust Me, Follow Me, and let Me walk you through.

     My response: Ok Lord...I am comfortable with this unknown..because I am comfortable     

     in You.

I share all this in transparency. This situation will come one day for every believer...probably multiple times in our lifetime. I just want to say that the unknown is comfortable...because God is there. We only get freaked out when we loose sight of how Great and Big He really is. I can't really describe the feeling, but the ones who have walked this situation (speaking about the unknown) know what I am talking about. God is unlearning me. I am confident in my future, because my future is in His hands. He will provide. He will lay out the adventure. I just need to make sure that my comfortability is in Him while I am in the unknown. 

So I Pray & Obey as well. Then I enjoy the journey instead of letting worry and doubt ruin it. 

Trust Him...He has you covered in every situation. 

Much love - Cham

It's late..so this is a rough draft and probably grammatically crazy...oh well.