Tea Bag

Yesterday I was volunteering at the coffee shop and I met this super strong believer, Charles. Wow you could see his light shining for miles. We began to talk and then talk, and talk! Charles almost died from cancer and is going through Chemo now. He has lived in Germany as a missionary all his life but moved here to have a family, now his children are going off to college. He meets with his sons and their friends every saturday morning at the coffee shop when I work . I had never talked to him before but God was pushing me to step up and talk to him. Boy am I glad I listened to him. I told him that God is guiding me into the missionary field. He and I ended up talking for a very long time here is the bases of the conversation.
 When he was dieing of cancer and finally began to live fully in God seeing his end near brought him joy he wanted to be alongside God because he has lived a wonderful life and was ready to end his pain .This guy had a smile like nothing else.he was so happy I had a heart for missions and told me to never stop following God's wishes for my life and to never worry about the steps to get there because God will guide me. He said to never take God's blessing for granite. We reminisced how missions have change us and how we yearn to go back. See when you go to a country riddled with corruption you meet people hungry for truth, love, and change. That is where the kindest and most caring people are. I talked to him about the challenges of pursuing my dream then he said something that will stick for me forever. We are like Tea Bags, full of nourishment, flavor, and possibility but until God adds heat we will not begin to pour out all the good things we are. We need to be tested and pushed in order to become all we are meant to be in God.  WOW!
I needed to hear that. Guess what guys trials are good just look at the disciples when they were being persecuted they pushed God's message and pursued life with glory. So can we. Charles is an incredible man he told me to read David Livingstones' books.I sure will!
So if you are reading this and going through a hard time or know someone who is (which I am sure is most of you) start to think of how God can use your trials for his good. If you let him he will. He has done it multiple times for me. Maybe I will share some of them one of these days.
"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1: 2-4