Serving in Serbia: Only 330 Miles Later

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Only 330 Miles Later

Proverbs 16:32(KJV)He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

One translation of this reads better to be a patient person than a warrior. I have a bold personality. Quick to take action. Quick to speak. Quick to do. I am a doer.

As you already know, I drove up to JV orientation in Chicago today. It was a smooth travel up, no traffic or weather delays. I was grateful for those of you praying away the snow storm (and/or rain) with me. It gave me a lot of time to think, to pray, and to ask the Lord to show me what He wanted of me.

Those 330 miles were somewhat painful. Not painful in terms of physically or the journey up. Rather, painful in my thoughts. I felt as if I were wasting time traveling. Like I said before, I like to act, to do, I can't sit still. When I have a day off work, I feel like I must be doing something that is productive or results in something. On the trip up, I wanted to plan my spring out, plan who to call next, what small group to share more about Serbia with, how this week would look. Nothing was in my control. All was out of my hands. Rather than thanking the Lord it was in His hands, that He knew what was ahead and relaxing in that knowledge, I let my mind wrestle with all these thoughts.

Just as I thought wow look the Lord has given me a WHOLE week off work, to REST, to learn about JV, and to prepare for the future, this verse was read on a radio station. My entire perspective changed. Why have I spent all my life being a warrior? The Lord has already fought the battle. We walk in VICTORY in His victory!

I must be the most stubborn person when it comes to patience. I waited years in patience for healthy feet to be restored. I am waiting now for the Lord's timing in my departure to Serbia. And today, I waited 330 miles to get to Chicago. If I would just surrender my desire for control and walk in Christ's victory for us, perhaps the Lord wouldn't have to teach me continued lessons in patience.

I pray for you reading this that you would walk in the Victory.

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Our Name's Origin

The name Josiah Venture comes from 2 Chronicles 34. "Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem" (vs. 1). Josiah began to seek the Lord at age sixteen. He instructed his people to clear the land of false idols and to repair the Temple of the Lord. It was then that they rediscovered "the book of the Law in the house of the LORD" (vs. 15). Josiah was cut to the heart when he found out what was written in the Law. He realized that his people were not living how God had instructed them to live, so Josiah set out to make a radical change. "Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers" (vs. 33). By the time he was 26, God had used Josiah to bring revival to the land, rebuild the house of God, and restore the Word of God to its central place. (taken from missionary Joe Brooks in Latvia) ----------------------------------- We want to see God raise up young leaders like Josiah all over Eastern Europe; young people who love the Lord and who will lead their nations back to Him! In Serbia, we are seeking to train and equip young leaders who will be the ones to lead their country back to Him as young Josiah did!