"There is no REAL sacrifice in TRUE Love." - Keith Collins
I am only 20 years old, and in those short 20 years, I have always viewed sacrifice as an action of love. In most perspectives for one reason or another this statement can make logical sense. However, it wasn't until a couple weeks ago, I heard the opposite (quote above). At first, i couldn't really wrap my human logic around it but now, I'm living it.
My name is Jaemen Martinez. In about 2 and a half weeks from now I will be headed to an airport where i will say goodbye to my home, the only country I've ever known and hello to Tanzania, Africa. I am leaving on a six month missions trip, a discipleship training school BECAUSE i fell in love with Jesus.
Growing up in church, i learned Jesus, but now....i LOVE him more than anything and that makes a huge difference. This is the time now where i could talk all about myself and all Ive learned and gone through, but in leaning on the Spirit, i feel to skip that for now and instead inform you LOVE is alive. JESUS is alive.
a year ago i had no idea id be heading to Africa BUT once again, i fell in love with Jesus. I always thought by serving someone even when you really didn't want to expressed true love, but honestly the Lord has revealed so much more to lately through my love for him, our sacred love we hold together.
In fact when you love someone, so deeply and so truly, THERE'S NOTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO FOR THEM! Isn't so true that when you're in high school crushing on that dude or that girl....letting them borrow your favorite pen ain't no thang? or paying for their lunch or even giving up the best seat on the bus? So why is it that I, for so long have cheerfully given up that seat or that lunch or that pen...but then painfully, slowly dropped that 20 bucks in the offering plate on Sunday morning? WHY IS IT that my joy for "sacrificing" for the Lord has been a dreaded thing in my life? it's simple...it's because though i understood the principle of impressing someone, I had no idea the power of true love and intimacy.
Grace has never interrupted my life, so abruptly and so passionately as the past few months. In those months, in these weeks, though i haven't always known it, I have joyfully served the Lord for the first time. I have served him in meetings of confession, in meetings of counsel, in a choice to forgive, in a choice to lead, in a choice to follow, in a choice to LOVE. It has NOT always been pleasant, nor painless in fact much the opposite...but it has been my joy. In James chapter 1, James boldly writes, "consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials" and to be quite honest i never liked this scripture until now because i was always the person to ask the WHY question. I am not a theologists, or some biblical scholar, or a licensed pastor...but i am a life that has been radically changed by love himself and because of that i can say that TO SUFFER AT ANY EXTENT FOR JESUS CHRIST IS MY PURE JOY. I don't have all the answers, i don't have all wisdom and knowledge, i don't have the slightest clue what i am doing most the time, but i do know LOVE and i am choosing to know him more and more each day.
Ultimately, I say all this to say, that Africa...doesn't have the American food i enjoy...there's no cheeseburgers in a drive thru or pizzas being delivered. There is no glass of ice water or "excuse me while i go enjoy my comfortable bathroom". Africa is a new place, it is different and definitely not what i am used to. I'm positive there will be times where i crave a juicy steak..or even a cozy toilet seat. Emotionally, i bet there will be moments where i am overwhelmed with the heart of the Father and hurt for others. And heaven forbid but if i ever see a spider as big as my hand you bet ill be clicking my heels together saying theres no place like home. BUT...it is my joy. It is my joy to take on this new adventure, this step of faith where i truly don't have a plan other than Jesus. it is my joy to not see a cheeseburger or golden McDonald's arch for the next six months. It is my joy to go where there is sickness, where there is poverty, where there is need. It is my joy to step away from my friends and family and my awesome cat, it is my joy to leave all that i have known behind, it is my joy to not go to college right now, it is my joy to walk in obedience. It is all my joy because of this solemn reason...I am in love with Jesus Christ. I am in love with him therefore there isn't a sacrifice that i don't want to give, in fact my heart longs to live in full surrender.
I am only 20 years old, and in those short 20 years, I have always viewed sacrifice as an action of love. In most perspectives for one reason or another this statement can make logical sense. However, it wasn't until a couple weeks ago, I heard the opposite (quote above). At first, i couldn't really wrap my human logic around it but now, I'm living it.
My name is Jaemen Martinez. In about 2 and a half weeks from now I will be headed to an airport where i will say goodbye to my home, the only country I've ever known and hello to Tanzania, Africa. I am leaving on a six month missions trip, a discipleship training school BECAUSE i fell in love with Jesus.
Growing up in church, i learned Jesus, but now....i LOVE him more than anything and that makes a huge difference. This is the time now where i could talk all about myself and all Ive learned and gone through, but in leaning on the Spirit, i feel to skip that for now and instead inform you LOVE is alive. JESUS is alive.
a year ago i had no idea id be heading to Africa BUT once again, i fell in love with Jesus. I always thought by serving someone even when you really didn't want to expressed true love, but honestly the Lord has revealed so much more to lately through my love for him, our sacred love we hold together.
In fact when you love someone, so deeply and so truly, THERE'S NOTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO FOR THEM! Isn't so true that when you're in high school crushing on that dude or that girl....letting them borrow your favorite pen ain't no thang? or paying for their lunch or even giving up the best seat on the bus? So why is it that I, for so long have cheerfully given up that seat or that lunch or that pen...but then painfully, slowly dropped that 20 bucks in the offering plate on Sunday morning? WHY IS IT that my joy for "sacrificing" for the Lord has been a dreaded thing in my life? it's simple...it's because though i understood the principle of impressing someone, I had no idea the power of true love and intimacy.
Grace has never interrupted my life, so abruptly and so passionately as the past few months. In those months, in these weeks, though i haven't always known it, I have joyfully served the Lord for the first time. I have served him in meetings of confession, in meetings of counsel, in a choice to forgive, in a choice to lead, in a choice to follow, in a choice to LOVE. It has NOT always been pleasant, nor painless in fact much the opposite...but it has been my joy. In James chapter 1, James boldly writes, "consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials" and to be quite honest i never liked this scripture until now because i was always the person to ask the WHY question. I am not a theologists, or some biblical scholar, or a licensed pastor...but i am a life that has been radically changed by love himself and because of that i can say that TO SUFFER AT ANY EXTENT FOR JESUS CHRIST IS MY PURE JOY. I don't have all the answers, i don't have all wisdom and knowledge, i don't have the slightest clue what i am doing most the time, but i do know LOVE and i am choosing to know him more and more each day.
Ultimately, I say all this to say, that Africa...doesn't have the American food i enjoy...there's no cheeseburgers in a drive thru or pizzas being delivered. There is no glass of ice water or "excuse me while i go enjoy my comfortable bathroom". Africa is a new place, it is different and definitely not what i am used to. I'm positive there will be times where i crave a juicy steak..or even a cozy toilet seat. Emotionally, i bet there will be moments where i am overwhelmed with the heart of the Father and hurt for others. And heaven forbid but if i ever see a spider as big as my hand you bet ill be clicking my heels together saying theres no place like home. BUT...it is my joy. It is my joy to take on this new adventure, this step of faith where i truly don't have a plan other than Jesus. it is my joy to not see a cheeseburger or golden McDonald's arch for the next six months. It is my joy to go where there is sickness, where there is poverty, where there is need. It is my joy to step away from my friends and family and my awesome cat, it is my joy to leave all that i have known behind, it is my joy to not go to college right now, it is my joy to walk in obedience. It is all my joy because of this solemn reason...I am in love with Jesus Christ. I am in love with him therefore there isn't a sacrifice that i don't want to give, in fact my heart longs to live in full surrender.
Therefore...Africa, Here we come..Joyfully!
... and that's all i got. I am so honored and excited for this journey! I promise to write whenever possible and tell of all that i can. If you're staying updated, please please please pray for me, pray for this ministry (YWAM) and for my two best friends going with me but above all for an OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in all nations and in every heart as i do the same! thank you so much, i am so excited to share this journey with you!
