Togo

I Thessalonians 1:2
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers

 

They are home, thank you all for praying, updates on the trip to come.

Africa update...

I heard from Jacob today. The Local Pastor in Togo, (orchestrator and leader for our team) and  his family deeply need our prayers. They lost their 12 year old daughter the second day the team arrived there, in an accident, her name was Faith.. The funeral and ceremonies are tonight and tomorrow. The grief for this family is heavy on all of them right now.Faith has two sisters, Joy(15)and Hope(7) who are missing their sister very much. Lets pray for comfort and shelter only our God can give them. And let's ache for this family's loss with them.

( John 11:35  says "Jesus wept") 

2 Corinthians 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Restoration

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him,

I ran today and while I ran the weight of my world came on my shoulders, my hurts, my anxieties, all the things that can stifle my breath and I poured self pity all over myself as I ran even faster and harder.

As my self pity hit its peak I noticed out of the corner of my eye a women in a wheelchair waiting for a ride outside a medical office.

She waved her frail hand in a friendly hello as I ran swiftly pass her. My heart was hit immediately with extreme guilt as I ran healthily by, even though I only caught her eyes for a moment I could tell she wanted to be me right then...maybe just for this run...How long has she been confined in her chair? how many more years will she suffer, and wistfully watch healthier, stronger people? Only recently was I in such a weak physical state that I begged God for restoration and healing. In this moment I thanked God for the ability to run now,for the ability to take in deep breaths on my own. I've seen many of my loved ones suffer from illness and disease I remember them just wanting one day or half day where they felt well enough to go for a short walk in the sunshine.

Father, how can I be so blinded some days to the bountiful blessings you have given me?! I thought of the ones in the New Testament who were restored to health by the touch of Jesus himself. What miracles!

Luke 8:48Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

How they must have felt? How effective they must have been afterwards? Their faith was strengthened in the Healer!

Help us Lord to be grateful for each day in the difficulties and in the joy. Remind me of my restoration in you every day,

good or bad.

Hands and Feet

"We must mirror Gods love in the midst of a world full of hatred. We are the mirrors of Gods love, so we may show Jesus by our lives" -Corrie ten Boom

Being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, giving aid and love to those hurting and sick is our hearts desire with " at His feet medical" that they, in turn after seeing God's pure love for them will receive His everlasting water, His great gift of eternal life.

How will anyone know His genuine love if we don't, like Corrie Ten Boom say's, mirror who He is? Ephesians 2:10 " for we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

On Saturday our family and friends are headed to serve in Africa again. Lets pray for eagle strength for them, that courage will be at their backbone and the power and the love of God will pour forth and do a mighty work in Africa. And let us stand fast wherever we may be on this earth and do the same, be the hands and feet of our Saviour.

Light

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79)

 

 

We all seek and desire light and restoration in a time of evil events, we look for the light, the good that can come from the ashes of tragedy.
The Bible says that we who believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, posses a light to give.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness" made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

With so many searching for light in this dark world let us look no further than our own hearts, where we carry an everlasting light source, existing to bring more warmth and healing than any one can imagine.
The light and grace of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
And then we can say with confidence: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life;of whom shall I be afraid? (psalms)

"Do the next thing"

" Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing."

 

A precious friend of mine recently led me to read this poem,

pulled from a devotion written by Elizabeth Elliott (wife of Jim Elliott(martyred missionary to Ecuador))

 

When our hearts are overwhelmed...

David in Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 

Family,work,friends, illness,finances,world events,crisis,tragedy,loss...can and does overwhelm the body and soul of each of us. We can be taken to a place where we halt...there is no more strength to move forward, we are tired,fearful overtaken and consumed.

Many In God's word grew weary, they had to stop, re-purpose and lean on the strength of God to be able to finish the work that was set before them.

 

Paul: (Galations 6:9-10) "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

Job: (Job 10:1) "My soul is weary of my life..."

Moses: (Exodus 17:12) "But Mose's hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands one on one side and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."

 

When our arms and legs grow heavy, when the next step forward seems impossible, when the day is long, or when the sun shines brightly but your heart feels cold and empty, just.. "do the next thing" whether it be a walk down the drive, a supper prepared, a paper turned in, or the next patient seen.

Then trust that the One who died for you, rose for you and is coming back for you can handle the rest.

 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. HE does NOT faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable. HE increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.

Beatitude: (happy, fortunate, blissful)

The poor in spirit, have the Kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn,they will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be satisfied. The merciful,they will be shown mercy.

The pure in heart; shall SEE God! The peacemakers will be called the children of God. Those persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ; they get the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is what Jesus said. I pray you are encouraged and strengthened by these promises, from the One who speaks truth, from the One who is righteous, pure and holy.

Matthew 5:3-12