Enjoying Transformation?

I've been asked a handful of times over the past few weeks, "do you enjoy it?" The "it" being fundraising and partnership development.

An awkward question for me to answer at best, but I suppose it to be honest, and burning a hole in more than one consciousness beyond those that actually asked the question.

During on-boarding at WV, we had a session with an individual who has built his business around helping Christian's with that question. The premise of his theory, argues that stewardship, which is initially seen as subtraction, advances to transactional and ultimately to transformational. It is time, and Christ-centered maturity, that allows any individual and their view of stewardship to advance past subtraction, beyond transactional and live in a transformational perspective.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:7-8 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Our Commission as believers is clear and stated throughout God's Word. (Passages above being just a handful throughout Scripture.) We are all sent to the uttermost parts of the earth. For me, feeling a very specific commission many years ago, I have followed hard after what I believed was my purpose, my calling; to bring Jesus to the people of the world through healing. I had always known I would not be able to independently complete Christ's commission for my life, but it was always a future bridge for me to cross. To suddenly stop, and allow my surroundings to come into focus, and realize here we are, standing on top of that bridge, is nothing short of a testament of God's faithfulness in the journey. And now I realize that journey of stewardship, and maturity required, was just one more area where I still needed to grow and become more Christ-like. Transformational stewardship is an opportunity to connect to Christ's Kingdom.

For so long, I had traveled the path before me feeling, not alone, but that it was Jesus and I taking on the world. And then there was Jake, and it was Jesus, Jake and I. But now, it's all of us together. And my mortal mind struggles to understand, struggles with the transformation. So do I enjoy it? I don't know if enjoyment is what I am feeling. It's more of a nervous, humbling, awe struck, powerful sense of community. The truth of God's Word in a physical, tangible display of love towards the people of this world. We are all sent, and we will all go together!

Much Love.

P.S. In case any of you had doubted. Of course Jake got the '37 up and running. ;)