Sweet time with partners

The majority of my year is spent life on life. I cherish it. More than that, I spend my time with the people others say are 'hopeless' or 'without a prayer' Its as if they give me life.

I'm a huge fan of StrengthsFinder. Its a a self assessment to identify your top 5 strengths from a list of 34. (Look into it...its highly recommended and worth your time--more than that, has helped me be better at what I'm already good at)

Anyway, two of my top five are developer and maximizer. To be a developer means that I seek opportunities to develop the potential in others. I see the what could be in the what currently is and challenge people to action. Even small growth is great to me because its change and its exhilarating to me. As a maximizer, I believe that something great can be something excellent. I'm always seeking ways to 'maximize' to the greatest potential. I see so much more in situations...its a dreamer and vision strength.

So how that fits into what I do can be tricky. Or maybe natural. I work with people for the sake of the gospel. On any given day, I think I'd rather work with the 'without a prayer' student than the 'they're so close' student. Just seems more up my alley. Afterall, neither student needs Jesus any more or any less than the other. The need is the same and therefore its my joy to be the 'light of the world' and the 'salt of the earth' to them both.

This seems fresh to me because of the week I'm having. I write to you from Toledo Ohio. My brother and sister in love live here, so I'm here visiting for the week. While I've been here, I've taken some time to share my ministry with people in the area. In addition, I've met with a few people that currently are a part of my ministry at Alabama. Emotion wells up inside of me to bring stories to them of students lives who are changed because of their partnership in me and my ministry.

They hear the stories, I see the faces. I see the pictures in my head of people who are different because of their investment. Because they've allowed me to be a developer and maximizer at Bama.

I had one of the greatest privileges in my staff career this week. I got to tell them thanks. Not from me, but from a student. I got to unravel a story that happened this summer of a student understanding what it means to partner in the gospel. As if all those times when Paul writes to the Philippians, Thessalonians, and other churches comes to life. She just got it. She got what it meant to be sacrificial with time, money, resources, talents, gifts, strengths...all for the sake of the Kingdom. For that is of the utmost importance. So she asked me to say thanks, and that I did.

It was bitter sweet to do such a thing. I'll cherish that time and be grateful for the opportunity that I had something to be thankful for.

In the meantime..I'll continue to enjoy time here in Ohio with family! Loving every minute of it! Next time I'm here I'll be holding my sweet nephew, all things good :)

Blessings to all.