For two decades while Ken led Mission Trips all over the world, I would regularly put NOTES IN HIS SUITCASE to read while away from home. Last month our daughter Jessi went on a mission trip to Egypt and I decided to put together a note for each day she was away from her husband and children. As I began to write out a note for each day, I got the idea of including her dad, sister-in-law and a favorite Aunt. The opening remark to Aunt DeDe’s note to Jessi, rocked my world. I am going to share the whole note but I want to give emphasis to the profound opening sentence!
YES–just an ordinary little word used countless times during the course of a day, becomes extraordinary when spoken to the Father in obedience.
Ironically, Aunt DeDe had not seen any of the notes I had written. My first note to Jessi mentioned that every extraordinary event in my life was preceded by a ‘holy nudge’ and a ‘YES’ of obedience from me. When I got DeDe’s note I was stunned by the parallel encouragement for Jessi. An Ordinary Yes becomes Extraordinary because one of God’s kid’s said a ‘YES’ of obedience-‘Yes’ I will go to Egypt, ‘Yes’ I will push past the fear. ‘Yes’ I will leave the comforts of home for the unknown. Here is Aunt DeDe’s cheer of ‘Yes.’
Dear Jessi,
YES–just an ordinary little word used countless times during the course of a day; becomes extraordinary when spoken to the Father in obedience. I know God has extraordinary blessings in store for you as you serve the women in Egypt. I’m so proud of who you are in Jesus, and I want you to know I have been so blessed watching you grow into the woman God created you to be! My prayers go with you! “Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” Psalm 33:21
All my love,
Aunt Dede
Are you ready to take an ordinary ‘yes’ and transform it into extraordinary and finally do something that God has been nudging you to do? Are you ready to stop struggling with whether or not to say ‘yes’ to a ministry that you are suited for but you can’t imagine finding time for the transforming ‘yes’ of obedience?
In January the Lord nudged Jessi to say “Yes” to a mission trip to Egypt and her simple “Yes” became extraordinary as all the details of the trip came together and all the needs that she had were provided for-including her wonderful mother-in-love flying in to help Drew take care of the kids while she was in Egypt shining her light in the darkness. A simple “Yes” with an extraordinary outcome.