Urbana 06

People say that there are things in life that you would've give up for anything. Well, Urbana 06 was the thing for me. It's not how awesome the opportunity was to be away with friends in another country for five days to just have fun. It's not how crazy the atmosphere was during countdown to 2007 with 22,000 other people. It's because of the growth and exposure I received at Urbana involving missions in my life and also God's calling for me.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 4:1-6

This passage was the theme for Urbana 06, with the specific verse being verse 1, where it says to "live a life worthy of the calling". I went to Urbana with open eyes, a willing heart, and a ready mind to learn and experience what God is calling for me in my life. I believe I received all of that and much more in the past week that will forever change my life.

Missions

I never really thought much about this to tell the truth. Yes, I do think about it, but not as much as I should, but that is how God works. He uses the unexpected to make His point, and through missions, God hit me in the head unexpectedly. During this Urbana experienced, I learned that there is a part of missions in me that I haven't really tapped into yet. My bro and my parents both have gone on missions trips before, so I guess I'm kind of the "late bloomer", but nonetheless, I finally see that part of my life in me. I feel that God has created something in me that still hasn't been used, and that when the time comes, I will be ready to go to wherever He calls me. It's just like the phrase Rick Warren spoke about on Saturday night at Urbana: "Whatever, Whenever, Wherever". Whatever God calls me to do, whenever God calls me to go, and wherever God calls me to go, I will go. It's that simple, and when the time comes, I will step out and take His challenge because He has called each and every one of us to GO. I'll be waiting for His call. I'll be ready to be His "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10)

Relationship

Not only did I hear God's calling for me to look forward to missions, I also felt that God was calling me to take the upcoming few years as an opportunity to be single and just have that time to be fully devoted to God's work. I've been unsure of my relationship status for the longest time because I didn't really know for sure if God really wanted me to pursue with it or not, and the truth is that I did feel God's go-ahead, but I also made some decisions on my own. It's been a year and a half now, but I've finally had a big enough experience to realize that the relationship portion of my life is not in my hands, but in the bigger and more powerful almighty hands of the one true Lord of my life. It's not something for me to worry about because in reality, my life was created by God, and whatever I do should be what He wants of me. God has a plan for me, and obviously the time will come when I will pursue, but right now, my calling from God is to focus on Him to do His work. Therefore, I've finally come to my senses that the confusion of the status is over, and I've finally let go of her. It's hard because she has pretty much all the qualities I've ever wanted in a girl, but I choose to and will eventually not like her anymore, because God has called me to leave that behind to take the hard road and be uncomfortable, and leave my "Haran"s away. I know these next few weeks/months/years will be extremely hard in that the devil will do everything in His power to take me away from this path, but I know that I have all the strength because "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13).

Some of you may say that from all of this Urbana experience that I've changed. It's a "new" Tim. But the truth is that it isn't a new Tim. It's still the same Tim who you've all known except for one thing. It's finally the real Tim. I'm finally able to feel my true passion for the Lord. I finally understand His role in my life, and that He is the one who directs every single aspect of my life. No more 99% with God and 1% with me. It's 100% with God now. God does not demand the most out of us. He demands everything, and now I've realized that and I give up everything to Him. God has a wonderful plan for me, and I really believe in that more than ever after this Urbana experience. I know He will carry me through the trials in life, and I know He will rejoice with me in the good times. No matter what, I will never stray from this path towards honouring His glory. Nothing can stop me from living a life worthy of His calling.

Il m'a sauve. Solo tu eres Dios. His calling. My calling.