The Mission Field.....

This past July 13th was the one year anniversary of the death of one of my best friends.  She told me once that before she married, she had always thought she would be a missionary.  I remember telling her then that God had a different idea than she did of what her mission field was. Besides the death of close family members, including my Daddy, the death of my friend, Teresa, really had an impact on me.  It wasn't so much her death, which was devastating because of the suffering she went through due to pancreatic cancer.  It was her  testimony during her diagnosis (she received on her 50th birthday) and chemo.  I remember her saying that God was going to answer her prayer and heal her, either here on earth, or by calling her home.  

My friend's "mission field" spread far and wide when she received her diagnosis and went through her treatments.  She was able to have an impact on so many just from how she continued to glorify God through the pain and suffering she endured.

Our church sends out a mission team each year to Guatemala and I'm always a bit envious when they return and share with the church the things they witnessed while there serving the Lord.  But, I've come to realize that even if I never take a trip out of the United States to a foreign country on a "mission trip", God has still called me to the mission field.  Mine just looks very much different than the typical definition of a missionary!

If you're taking care of a loved one, raising young children, or even grandchildren, serving in your church, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry for your family, helping a friend out when she's had surgery, mowing a neighbor's lawn, being a prayer warrior for others.....
no matter how you're letting your LIGHT shine for the Lord's honor and glory, you're serving in "the mission field" right where you are!

(I can't seem to get children's songs out of my head.....;-)

Breathing in Grace,