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Wholeness and Belonging By Beth Guckenberger

Only Wholeness and Belonging

Wholeness and belonging are part of God’s vision for us.

Todd and I are always being asked how many cities we’d like to be doing ministry in ten years from now. I could strike a visionary pose and say,”I hope we’ll be in ten new cities, serving ten thousand orphans with a staff of a thousand.”

People might shake their heads and sigh, “Wow, what a vision she has…”

But that’s crazy.

I have no idea if God will multiple this ministry or raise up another minister to orphans. I have no idea if He will call us to go miles deeper where we are, or miles wider where we aren’t. I do know He rarely reveals the whole story, which we whole-to-parters find so unsatisfying. He’s much more interested in the development of my dependence on Him and my relationship with Him than He is impressing me with His plans. I already know He has big plans. He has an incredible track record. So how much longer will we do this work? I don’t know. When I give my usual answer, “Until we’re called otherwise,.”

People smile because it sounds so spiritual.

The truth is there are days (like today) when things don’t get wrapped up in a bow, when there are more disappointments than victories, when I want to pack up and go “home.” But for now, this is my home. No place on earth is really supposed to be home anyway; we are to be uncomfortable and restless until we are called to our eternal home.

What’s Vision

Vision is tonight I will continue to listen to the Lord and to feel His passion for the orphaned child run through my heart.

Vision is a place today that I have done all He created me to do.

Vision believe I will wake up tomorrow and be used by Him again. It is seeing every person’s God-given potential and birthright.

Vision is waiting and watching and knowing God will repay the years the locusts have eaten.

Vision is crying out for solutions to problems that are bigger than I can solve and knowing He will answer.

Vision is investing myself in lives that will blossom long after I’ve left the scene.

Vision is hope and faith in a God I cannot see, but Who I believe has ordained my days and is working out all things according to His good purpose and will.

So how is vision accomplished? Not by doing or seeing, which always gets so much credit. It’s by listening to His voice and obeying.

God’s Vision

I think it is remarkably fitting the Lord ends His sixty-six-chapter book of education for us with vision. It has been a source of conflict in the church, but Revelation is just that, a revelation of a time when God’s vision will come to pass. I’m looking forward to that day when I am out of work, for we who know God will be adopted into His kingdom. There will be no orphans – only wholeness and belonging. Until that day, we trust in God and in His mercy and extravagant love.

May He continue to show up and show off for His children.

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Beth Guckenberger is the Co-Executive Director for Back2Back Ministries, an international orphan care organization. She is an author and speaker. This post in an excerpt from her latest book release, Reckless Faith: a 40-day journey to saying yes (Field Books 2019)

 

Christian Leadership Alliance is honored to present Beth Guckenberger as educational faculty and the speaker for The Outcomes Conference 2020 Women’s Luncheon on April 9.  If you have not yet registered for the Outcomes Conference 2020, we encourage you to do it now and specifically reserve your seat for this very special gathering of Christian women in leadership!

www.OutcomesConference.org

 

 

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