In less than one week, I travel back to a place that has stolen something from me. It’s a place that some how chisels off pieces of my heart each time I am there. Each piece broken off is surrendered reluctantly and accompanied by a mixture of pure joy and pain. Next week, I travel back to Africa.
How does one prepare one’s heart to be broken by the sight of human suffering? How does one prepare one's eyes to see the image of children naked and starving on the street? How does one prepare one’s arms to hold a child that longs to be held and loved by a forever family? How does one prepare ones feet to walk away when it is time to go? I have no idea. I just know God does it…someway ..somehow.
Maybe it’s the innocent smile from an abandoned baby looking up from a crib. Maybe it’s grip of a hand onto yours from a teenager who wants a friend..even for just a moment. Maybe it is the tear of joy streaming down a widow’s face as she describes how blessed she is to care for her HIV infected grandchild in a one room mud hut. Maybe it is the inspiration that comes from seeing the courage and faith they all have by the Grace of God..someway… somehow.
Maybe one’s heart can never be prepared, but can be broken and miraculously healed by the glow of light that comes from the many least of these they encounter. How does ones heart be broken so many times in one day, and rest at night beating bigger than it had the previous dawn? It’s an out of this world thing He does..someway... somehow.
Soon, I travel back to Africa. I go to learn, to see, to serve, and to meet Him there once again. What an honor and blessing it will be. Phil and I will be traveling together this time and would greatly appreciate your prayers. One year ago, I started this blog as a way for me to write about my trip to Africa then. It served as a place to tell stories of those who needed a voice. I hope to bring that voice back with me once again after this trip. I’m not sure how often I will be able to update my blog while gone. Please know if I can’t update while I am away, I will do so when I return.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Living Life
There was a time in my life when I didn’t “get it.” Maybe you have been there. Maybe you are there. I was living life, and yes was a Christian. However, I wasn’t “getting it”. I went to the Lord each day with my requests and even praises at times too. That’s what Christians do, right? That is our purpose. We ask for help and give thanks for our blessings. Then one day I realized there was much more to life…something I suspected all along.
It hit me one day in what seemed like a far away distant world the Lord had taken me to. There were probably 150 people in the room with me. It felt like just the two of us were there alone. It was there He spoke. I’m not sure what He said exactly. It wasn’t auditable. The words somehow poured into my heart, into my soul, and into the deepest place within me. I realized then and there, I wasn’t living my life for Him. I was living it for me. I wasn’t “getting it” in life. I changed in that moment and made a decision to drastically do things different. I suddenly got it.
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
How are you living your life? Are you living it for you or for Him? What are you giving? I often find I ask this question to myself at times. Living a life FOR Him is an intentional effort and choice that has to be made daily. It’s hard to slip away from it and go back to the self-centeredness we all have. Are you so busy trying to make a living that you have been side tracked from giving and living a life for Him? Ouch..I know it hurts to look so closely at ourselves in that regard.
It takes courage. I'm guilty, and I know many of you are too. We go to Him and ask Him for guidance, wisdom, or help. We do this knowing full well, IF we opened our ears up big enough, or IF His voice somehow miraculously reached us even though we aren’t actively listening, we won’t take the guidance. It’s like we ask, “tell me what to do, Lord” thinking that request gets us off the hook. We ask for the help so we have done our part. Then we expect it to all be handed to us or fixed until we need help again. It has to be such a slap in the face to Him. We don’t live our lives for Him, but we are constantly coming to Him for help and expecting Him to fix it. We ignore Him when He does try to help..if it entails us actually doing something, sacrificing, or just doesn’t sound like fun. I can’t imagine how frustrating that would be. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be that person to my Heavenly Father.
Therefore today, once again, I pray for change. I challenge you to pray too. Let’s pray for a life that is being lived out for Him. Wake up each day and make that effort and be thankful for the opportunity. The best in life awaits us. He blesses those who are faithful and obedient. He will guide us..IF we ask and are willing to listen and take the direction. Let’s live a life For Him.
It hit me one day in what seemed like a far away distant world the Lord had taken me to. There were probably 150 people in the room with me. It felt like just the two of us were there alone. It was there He spoke. I’m not sure what He said exactly. It wasn’t auditable. The words somehow poured into my heart, into my soul, and into the deepest place within me. I realized then and there, I wasn’t living my life for Him. I was living it for me. I wasn’t “getting it” in life. I changed in that moment and made a decision to drastically do things different. I suddenly got it.
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
How are you living your life? Are you living it for you or for Him? What are you giving? I often find I ask this question to myself at times. Living a life FOR Him is an intentional effort and choice that has to be made daily. It’s hard to slip away from it and go back to the self-centeredness we all have. Are you so busy trying to make a living that you have been side tracked from giving and living a life for Him? Ouch..I know it hurts to look so closely at ourselves in that regard.
It takes courage. I'm guilty, and I know many of you are too. We go to Him and ask Him for guidance, wisdom, or help. We do this knowing full well, IF we opened our ears up big enough, or IF His voice somehow miraculously reached us even though we aren’t actively listening, we won’t take the guidance. It’s like we ask, “tell me what to do, Lord” thinking that request gets us off the hook. We ask for the help so we have done our part. Then we expect it to all be handed to us or fixed until we need help again. It has to be such a slap in the face to Him. We don’t live our lives for Him, but we are constantly coming to Him for help and expecting Him to fix it. We ignore Him when He does try to help..if it entails us actually doing something, sacrificing, or just doesn’t sound like fun. I can’t imagine how frustrating that would be. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be that person to my Heavenly Father.
Therefore today, once again, I pray for change. I challenge you to pray too. Let’s pray for a life that is being lived out for Him. Wake up each day and make that effort and be thankful for the opportunity. The best in life awaits us. He blesses those who are faithful and obedient. He will guide us..IF we ask and are willing to listen and take the direction. Let’s live a life For Him.
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