My God is Everywhere

On the seventh day, when God had finished making the world, He looked out on His creation and said, It is very good. We serve a God who makes no mistakes and leaves nothing to chance. He has thought of everything from the biggest mountain to the finest detail of changing a caterpillar into a butterfly. He made it all and it is very good.

I have learned that no matter where I go it is all a part of God’s plan, way beyond me. I find myself in Jesus and the rest does not matter. The last five months of 2015 was spent outside of Canada and I realized that all of these experiences and opportunities happened because it is not about me.

Traveling and seeing the world has become my favourite adventure as it has taught me things that no book or person can. I had the opportunities to walk the places of William and Catherine Booth, to see history as what it truly is, to see the breathtaking coast of Northern Ireland, walk along the shores of the Mediterranean, experience different cultures and to truly understand that God is the Creator of it all.

The most exhilarating experience was when my family and I hiked up one of the highest peaks of Wales. It took us three hours but once we got to the top I saw the glory of our Creator. I will never forget the powerful winds as we got closer and closer to the top. Standing on this peak gave me a new perspective; we are all small strings a part of God’s grand masterpiece.

I remember the beautiful streets of Spain, how they curved and crossed, each with its own characteristic. What struck me the most was when I came across a homeless man. I had seen many homeless men in my life but nothing like this before. This man had no knee bones. His legs were bent behind, not allowing him to walk or sit. I wondered to myself, how could I enjoy my life when a man a few blocks away could not even sit let alone walk?

In Southern France I met a beautiful Spanish lady. Every day she was dressed like royalty but her best quality was her kindness and love for her elderly mother. As we shared our stories she told me that one of life’s most precious gifts is our mothers. She also taught me to appreciate the small things in life.

I stepped into another world when I reached Italy. Portofino was a dream and the sights were unreal. In Rome I became more aware of how we are so quick to label people instead of embracing the person as who they truly are. Venice is the place where imagination and creativity are born. The fact that a group of men came to escape the war and made their foundation with seven million trees reminded me that impossible is not a word. And I will never forget the countless hours of riding my bike along the canals of Amsterdam; a place that knows how to express kindness, gratitude and acceptance.

There is no end to His amazing grace.

You see, there is no place that I go that God has not already been.

And He leaves nothing to chance.

By the time September came around it was time for me to venture out of my comfort zone to beautiful San Diego, California. As I stepped into the unknown with questions and doubts it was clear that there was no other place God needed me.

Did you know that you can touch the whole world by telling one person about Jesus?

At El Cajon, one of the major ways they worship is that they truly understand that there is power in the name of Jesus. Whether we were serving, singing or dancing they know that the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives within us.

Diversity is a beautiful thing. I have learned that no culture, broken past or mental illness defines us. We are defined by our Creator Himself and we have more in common with each other than differences. We are to empower and uplift one another so we can be better equipped to serve Him.

Children change lives. I had the privilege to work with many children. Scripture tell us that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven we must become like a child. We love to tell children to be quiet and to sit still. Yet there is so much inside of them waiting to come out. Every time we “shhh” a child we could be damaging their dreams and desires. Instead, they need people to believe in them, speak life to them and help direct them in the way to go so they become the leaders and world changers.

Do I care about others or do I care about what others think? Am I doing things for Christ or for people’s approval? Am I living for the kingdom of me or for the Kingdom of God? These are all questions that I kept asking myself as I came home. The truth is most days I did not have it all together and questioned my purpose for it all. If there is one thing I can take away from all of this is that surrender and trust in Jesus Christ is the key. It is through daily surrender that it all starts to make sense.

The reality is that all of this was not about me, but for His glory. When we truly follow Christ, He gives us all what we need to live to serve Him. I do not want to sugar-coat or make excuses. It is time to be real. I have been told that this world is very big, but I’m beginning to think that is the biggest lie.

God taught me that true beauty lies within imperfections and in the unknown. He taught me that its better to be kind than right, some rules are meant to be broken, to appreciate the small things and to always let compassion lead.

As Christ followers our future just keeps getting better, even through the hard-aches. This life is just a preparation for the next. There is joy, challenges and laughter along the way. God is the focus. He is the aim. He is the goal. And He is making this life so beautiful.

My God is everywhere.

And we are all united together in Him, that which the world can never divide.