Why give up everything?

The first thing I want to say is this, I hope by no means does this blog come of sounding prideful. I don't think I have everything figured out and I by no means think I am better than anyone else, these are just my thoughts to a recent question I was asked.

Recently, someone asked me, "why would you willing give up everything you have here to go live a life over there?"

I had many instant thoughts to this question...I'll list a few..
1. What do you mean to live like that over there?
2. What am I giving up over here?
3. Do you think I'm "too good" to not live in a house and drive a car?
4. Why would I stay?

Okay, there were a few more thoughts but those were the main ones. But since being asked this question, I haven't stopped thinking about it. "why would I willing give up everything I have here and go live over there?"
I think the answer is simple and complex. But I'll make another list :)
1. I don't really see what I'm giving up that I can't have over there if God wants me to have it. Okay maybe my family, yes this is a big one. But let's be honest, I see them maybe 3 times a year...maybe when I come back for a visit I will get to spend more time with them and it will be more of a sweeter time. Besides there is Skype! :) another thing is my house with all it's luxuries. Well, It's a house, and it has been a HUGE blessing these past few years, but it's a house. I can't pack it up and take it on the plane with me, I'll be okay I'll have a roof over my head over there too...even if not up to "American" standards. So what about food? Well I think they eat in Latvia too...and really good food! No worries there, I was well-fed this summer ;-) I won't starve. So what am I willing giving up to go live over there?
2. My life is bigger than me. Whoah, that's crazy!! Ha okay maybe I just had a sarcastic moment with myself but it was funny in my head. Ha! But really, I've learned that all the lessons I've learned, am learning, and will learn are meant to be passed on. Things that God has redeemed me from and has given me Freedom and Liberty from, yea someone else probably has similar things they have gone through, why not share that freedom with them? I saw a deep need this summer, something like I've never experienced before! And this time, God has placed this urgency in my heart that I just cannot contain! As a dear friend said the other day, "Alesha, you coming to Latvia is so much bigger than you. God is hearin the cries of His people and He was waiting for a willing heart to be used by Him. You could be the answer to someone's prayer" now that's deep. I'm beyond humbled to think of that, but it's true, it's not about me at all but that people would come to know the One Savior! The Healer, Redeemer, Comforter, King of kings! It's so much bigger than me!
3. The biggest and most important of them all, my Daddy told me to go! I want to obey my Daddy and even if that means leaving everything else behind, than so be it. I know that I won't be alone, I know that I won't be on this journey by myself. My Daddy said go my child, let me lead the way. I'm always here for you and I always will be. Follow me! Now this is a lesson in the works, but when my Daddy says this to me, why would I say, no Daddy, I think I'll stay here and sell shoes. Haha NO! Hopefully my heart will always say, okay, let's go.I know there may be rough days and some people may not agree and some may try to fight me, but Daddy you have changed my life! You have given me purpose, direction, love, freedom. I will follow you wherever you go. I will give up everything if it means you can have all of me. Let's go.

Now there are still times when me flesh gets in the way and I want to hold on to the comforts of my life, but each day I humbly ask my Daddy to break me of my selfishness and make me more like Him. Each day I ask for God to lead and for my plans to be silenced. Only His will prevail, only His will stay true, only His are worth it! So why would I willing give up everything to move over there? Well, why not?