Never Have I Ever

Do you know this game? How you play is you  name something you have never done, in order to make people stand and switch seats, hoping to get a seat and not be “it”. The point of the game is to think of things people have done to get them to stand up. There are many variations of the game but I typically play how I described. It’s crazy to think and also fun to see what people have done. 

 

In my twenty nine years of life, I never thought that I would ever sit across the table from two men that were in prison, in a gang, murdered someone, and now out on parole. Never would I have thought that I would experience that, but clearly the Lord had different plans for my life as He always does.

 

We got the amazing opportunity to work alongside an organization called the Denver DreamCenter. If you are ever in the Denver area go volunteer with them, they are awesome. B Squad was with them for a week and it was my favorite ministry that we have done throughout this entire race. Let me explain why.

 

Two things that really stuck out to me while working with this ministry is who they take in and worked with and how they reached the community. 

 

The DreamCenter takes in anyone. Literally anyone. Doesn’t matter your background, history, what you’ve gone through or still going through. They take you in, work with you, put you to work, don’t let you sit in your past, and help you move forward. They don’t just give a handout to people in the community, they are connected with each and every person they come in contact with. They fight for family. How? That’s so many people. But they do it. They stay connected with those they come in contact with and seeing it first hand just made my heart explode. 

 

I got to experience that connection with a little girl that I met. She is eight years old and I made such a sweet connection with her the first day we met her. I walked around the block with her in her neighborhood and we just talked. When we went to see her again I brought her fingernail polish and a children’s bible and read her a story, and the last day I brought pictures that were taken of her and I and gave them to her for her to keep. And to top it off the next WR America squad that went met that same family and I got a video from my sweet little girl! My experience definitely weighed in my heart; I got to see a tiny taste of what the DreamCenter does every single day and I pray for the people they come in contact with.  

 

We never know the impact we have when we meet someone and the hopeful lasting impact that we will have on the rest of their life. We don’t always see the fruit, but when I walk away, I pray I leave a lasting impression and surrender them to the Lord. 

 

One thing I have learned from this race is to release expectations and never say the word never. As often as we joke about never doing or saying something man will the Lord change that in a second. 

 

Never would I have thought I would be traveling the world for 11 months.

Never would I have thought we would be in a pandemic.

Never would I have thought I would sit across from someone in prison and see and hear their heart change right in front of me.

Never would I have thought the world would be in this state of chaos.

Never would I have thought this year would be like this.

Never would I have thought that I would have gotten pulled off the international mission field. 

Never would I have thought that I would have loved serving in my own country.

 

Reflect on your life…..

Are you releasing expectations on your life?

Are you reaching people in new ways you never thought you would?

Are you allowing the Lord to take control over your life and letting Him lead your path?

Are you reaching the unreachable? 

Have you sat across from someone you never thought you would? 

 

Trust the Lord. Never say never. 

Proverbs 3:5-8