John 3:30 "He must increase, and I must decrease."
So my Colombia mission trip has finally arrived! I’m thrilled to be back in Barranquilla, Colombia, and our big team all arrived without incident. Every piece of luggage arrived with us, and that in itself is a huge miracle already.
Whenever I travel, I always use the same carry-on bag. It’s about the max size for a carry on, but it definitely fits in the sample “Your bag must fit in here” unit. Yes, it definitely fits, except when you fill the outside pockets with extra last minute things. You see, I was one of the last to board in Dallas, and when I went to get on the plane, they stopped me and made me prove my bag would fit in that sample unit. Sure, no problem. Well, except for one. I jammed it in there so hard I couldn’t get it all the way out…nor could I get it in there laying on its side, which was the requirement. Yes, I had too much baggage, and I couldn’t carry it on the plane. I was forced to make them gate check my bag all the way to Colombia. Luckily, I had enough sense to grab my passport and money out of the bag, but not enough sense to grab my Dramamine. Plus, the gate agent seemed as though he had completely lost his patience with all the passengers and their bags, and I didn’t want to push my luck. So bonvoyage I said to my bag, with a smile and my best attempt at a good attitude, and I prayed it would make it. And praise God, it did.
I thought about that as I sat on the airplane, frustrated to say the least. Too much stuff. If I had time, I could have simply just moved the junk from the outer pockets to the inside, and all would have been well. I would have showed that gate agent. But I didn’t have time, and I didn’t plan well enough. Then I started to wonder…how many pockets in my life are filled with too much stuff, causing me to miss what God’s real plan is for me? Have I spiritually planned well enough so that I’m emptied of ME so HE can have His way?
As you pray for us in Colombia today, please pray for empty pockets, ready to be flexible. Ready to be emptied. Ready to be filled with whatever new plans God has for us.