Trailblazer~

Matthew 5:7 "You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for."

 

There are so many applications to this verse, and as we continue with Pam's story, we will be blessed--I promise :)

 

So there she is on that plane, literally flying into the jungle, and she is overwhelmed with one pervasive thought: "I could never do what I am doing if not for those who paved the way."

 

Who paved the way for her? Have you ever seen a movie called, The End of the Spear?   It's a true story based on five missionaries who lost their lives reaching out to a savage tribe in Ecuador. The part that always gets me is how the widow of one of those men stays put--determined to reach out to these souls. I won't spoil it for you, so rent it for yourselves!

 

They, specifically, did not literally make it possible for Pam to do what she did. But people like that--who risked life and limb because they had a burden for the souls of those who have never heard about Jesus--and countless other deeply-burdened Christ followers with a heart bigger than I can imagine who relentlessly researched and fundraised and pestered and persisted until everything was in order--those are the ones that made it possible for Pam and the others on her team to take that two-week journey.

 

I am not saying that Pam's part was the easy one; she still had to get up and go and endure separation from her family not to mention running water and telephones. I am saying, however, that even in our own lives there are blessings we enjoy because someone ahead of us paved the way, and that, dear friends, is something to be grateful for.

 

You wouldn't be here if not for your parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. Where would I be right now if my mother and grandparents had not had the courage to leave Cuba in 1966 for a chance at better opportunities in America? Would I even be married to Jorge? Have the kids I have? Live where I live?

 

More importantly, back in 1957 if my mom had not attended a rally of Presbyterians would I be on the current faith trajectory that I am on? It was no small thing to leave the traditions of her childhood, but there was something appealing about the Presbyterian way, so she joined.

 

Odds are that if you are currently praying for your family, someone came ahead of you and taught you, inspired you, or provided the example. And even if you are the very first one in your family who has taken a step of faith and become a prayer warrior, then you are the trailblazer. You are leaving a legacy of eternal significance.

 

That is what Pam did. She piggybacked on the efforts of others but made a tremendous impact herself that will endure forever. She went way out of her way to care for others--at great personal cost. But guess what?

 

Tomorrow:)

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, There's a reason You encourage us to store up treasures in heaven. Those are the kind that will bless us forever. Help us to have the right priorities. Help us to forgo some of the stuff that is really unimportant in the long haul for the kind of things that are eternally impacting. In Jesus' name, AMEN~