What does leaving it all really mean?
Selling your home? Giving away your cars and personal belongings?
What about that story in the bible about the ruler that came to Jesus to ask what he must to do to inherit eternal life? …”When Jesus heard this, He said to him, Yet you lack one thing, Sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.” Luke 18:22
This story really laid heavy on my heart because I knew that it would be difficult to let go of all the comforts that the “American dream” had to offer, as well as family/friends, our local church which we(my family)have been members of since 2004 here in Jacksonville, FL. I truly felt the call to leave it all…
This is the beginning of my journaling…Im not a professional blogger, but very much so, a beginner. My sentences might run-on, you might catch punctuation and grammar mistakes that I make, but my goal isn’t to try teaching you or impressing you, but to share the burning within me. The desire of my heart is to encourage, to be transparent/honest, sincere, and attempt to paint a picture of what our life looks like as we walk by the Spirit of God.
In the next few posts, I will be sharing of our adventures coming up in a few months and where the Holy Spirit is leading us. Today, I wanted to introduce myself and my family to you.
My name is Yana Gorlachev and Im married to my amazing hubby Andrey. We recently celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary late in 2017. What a Journey it has been! We went from teenagers, to spouses, to parents all in one year. Fast forward 10 years, we are so blessed with Ella (9 yrs), Isaac (7 yrs), Leila (5 yrs), and Moses (1.5 yrs) . They are a joyful, energetic, and a loving bunch of kiddos! They teach us more than we teach them. Ive seen myself transformed as a mom, wife, and lover of my Lord Jesus Christ.
In the year 2014, I attended a bible college for 6 months and it CHANGED MY LIFE! Not only did I allow Jesus to break down and begin a NEW creation in me, but I ended up praying a prayer that went something like this: ” Jesus, I am willing to go to the ends of the earth for your names sake, even if it costs me my life. Father, here I am, send ME!” Now, let me tell you something, if you plan to pray that prayer…be prepared to be called out.
“The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. “Luke 10:2 and Jesus continues saying this in verse 3: “Go your ways. Listen, I am sending you as lambs among wolves.” It gets even better. Verse 8,”When you enter a city and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.'” Well, there id say that I just received my first command from the grand chief! Long story made short, I ended up in Africa and my heart hasn’t been the same since.
As hard as it was to imagine flying to a third world country the first time, little did I know that I would be going there again the following year, except this time, I wasn’t alone. My hubby Andrey came as well. [may I add that serving with your hubby is so much better than not!] When we were on our way home a month later, we couldn’t wait to kiss the sweet cheeks of our children, being away from them was so difficult. Families need to stick together! With that said, Early of the year 2017, the Holy Spirit really began pressing in on our hearts…I felt the tug on my heart(some might say). A strong desire that just did not make any sense. How? What? Where? When? With who?
The Holy Spirit spoke to me a few years back and said this, “Daughter, stop asking WHY, your heart has been asking WHY way too long. Understand that this is the path I have chosen for you.” This is why I chose the title of my blog. “The path of the Chosen. Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” That’s Jesus saying, my desire is for everyone to go, but few will actually obey my call.
In a few short months (May 8th), Andrey and I(with our 4 children) are flying to Zambia, Africa for 3 months. The Lord led us to a wonderful organization called Overland Missions where we will be going through a missions course prep called AMT. It will better equip us for spreading the gospel to the unreached all over the world. Leaving our home, furnishings, cars, jobs, friends, family, for His name…to be the carriers of His Spirit who lives in us! We are so excited for what the Lord is already doing in us and through us!!
You know, if you want to find out what Gods will is, READ the Bible. If you want to do Gods will, DO the Bible. Gods word says to go into all nations and preach the gospel. Whether the nations for you is your next door neighbor or a co-worker at your job. It could even be the person standing behind you in the grocery store lane. Where ever you are called to, obey the Holy Spirit.
He told me once something so simple, yet it convicted me. I asked Him, “Holy Spirit, why do I hear you so easily here(I was sitting on the rooftop of our missionary house in Africa) and not as well back at home?” and He instantly responded, “I speak to you daily Yana, but you don’t stop to listen.”…That surprised me…How did I miss it? He is easily missed, ignored, pushed aside and neglected. We need to come back to the basics and stop talking and begin to listen…I encourage you to go find a quiet area in your home today and acknowledge Holy Spirit as your helper, comforter, and joy. Then get quiet and allow Him to speak.
My desire is for you to walk away from your computer/phone encouraged, and ready to go have some Holy Spirit time! He’s so precious, get to know Him, He will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Till next time,
Yana Gorlachev
