Set up your tent

I subscribe to a Christian news outlet called The Pour Over. It really is a great place to feel encouraged, but now a days it seems that no matter how many Bible verses they add into their articles it does not make me feel any more assured about the turmoil our world is facing. As Christians we can try to make life on earth better by sharing the gospel but this world is not meant to last and that is what I hold on to. As I read the news it often shocks me how people don't have anything to seek when this world ends. Knowing I have a seat at the Lord's table waiting for me is what gets me through the day. There is no hope for unbelievers, Jesus is the only way to everlasting life and when this world can be too much in my personal life or I feel broken down by mistakes that I have made, I keep my mind focused on setting up my tent and remembering that this place is not my home. 

The phrase setting up your tent came from a coworker of mine who while at work one night I was talking with her about how hard it is to be a Christian some days or even just to stay positive that better days are ahead. She told me that she gets through because she is simply setting up her tent here on earth. Tents are temporary and are meant for people who are moving or going back to some place better. It is not their home nor is it any type of shelter that people really want to stay in for a long time, yet while we're here we make the most of it. I'm a sensitive person and I don't like for anything to go wrong so when it does I can get real torn up about it. How often do I get more torn up about things that don't matter, like how I look or something someone did or didn't say to me, over people who aren't going to heaven? No matter what "mission field" you are in, whether that be at home, work, or overseas, the Lord has appointed you to love others well and to be a physical representation of the gospel. Too often I see myself following the devil down a deep road of using my mouth for evil instead of good. We aren't here for long and I want the Lord to break my heart for what breaks His. I want to be left with nothing but Jesus. Now this is a powerful prayer because when you ask for attributes to be given to you God is breaking you down in order to fill you with Jesus. You're going to be embarrassed, hurt, and humbled, but it doesn't matter what you look like because we're not here for forever. We're living in our tents. 

Working in the industry that I do I have the blessing of being able to be a representation of the gospel to patients who have been hurt by the church, never shown the gospel, or have fallen away. There is a little Jesus superglued to the back of my badge and you would not believe how often people look at it and comment on it. It's small and might be insignificant to a lot of people, but that Jesus is always in front of me to remind that He always goes before me. Sometimes I will be wrong, sometimes I might not have all the answers, but God never leaves, He is before, behind, and beside mme. Again it baffles me that people can live without Him, but friends it is our job to present this life changing gift to them. We’ve got GOOD NEWS! We shouldn’t keep this to ourselves. There are those out there who are in desperate need of a savior and don't even know it. There are some who are simply going through the motions and don't even know it. Show off your tent! Let them know we are called to more. We are meant to be in a relationship with the Lord and to have more than this world. It's okay to have feelings because it means that we're human. You don't need affirmation from anyone but God to know that you are being a good and faithful servant. No matter what happens to you in this world you aren't here for forever, set up your tent you child of God and let the gospel shine. 

May the peace and love of God be with you always,

Leah Carpenter