The cost of loving and serving the Lord with all my heart which for me has included selling my little house not far from the beach, giving most everything away, and going on the road full-time as a single middle-aged woman with my special needs ministry dogs in a world filled with wickedness beyond measure, danger, a pandemic, and a zillion challenges of one sort or another, has been NOTHING compared with the cost so many of Christ’s followers have faced in loving and serving the Lord with all their hearts. People get their heads chopped off and are tortured for sharing the Gospel.
What I have faced on the streets and at the hotels of America in the way of filth, vomit, men going to the bathroom on the streets, danger, criminals, half naked people, being yelled and cursed at, sticking my finger on someone’s needle in New York City, being alone with a violent criminal at a hotel unable to get to my dogs, helping people overdosing, being hated for loving and following Jesus, giving up a social life for Jesus, not having a traditional salary so I can be wholly available for God, being far away from loved ones, living in much solitude to spend time with the Lord and write when I’m not out telling the world about Jesus, this is NOTHING compared with the cost others pay. But it has still been a cost to my flesh.
Truth is I wouldn’t return to a life of comfort and ease for anything. I would choose the Lord Jesus Christ and my calling for Him over comfort without hesitation. I would give up all I have been asked to give up all over again just to know I am bringing even a single ounce of love, joy, honor, praise and glory to God and that I am helping even a single soul to know and follow the Lord forever. Oh, I am so, so, so very thankful.
May you forsake ALL for the Lord – and be THANKFUL!
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Phil. 3:7-8 KJV