Posts Tagged ‘Christ’

A Lesson About True Joy–Learned in Romania

Friday, August 10th, 2012

I’m still mentally processing lessons learned while in Eastern Europe this summer. For instance, working in Romania among a group of young adults living with serious health issues deepened my understanding about true joy.

I find immeasurable joy in in my grandchildren’s hugs. I find joy in knowing my kids and their spouses love the Lord, and in hearing my husband’s hello when he comes home from the office. Joy, for me, comes in knowing my writing or teaching has given someone direction or hope. It comes in spending time alone with God in the morning’s early hours. These things, and other simple pleasures, bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

But what if my circumstances looked different? What if my health deteriorated and I was no longer able to walk or talk or care for my own needs? What if my home was foreclosed, or my husband walked out on me? What if I’d experienced abandonment and abuse similar to that of my Romanian friends? What if my present involved the same struggles they face, or my future on this earth looked as uncertain? How joyful might I feel then?

Sitting beside the Danube River early one morning in July, I read Psalm 4:6-8: “Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”

Those words leapt off the page that day. They reminded me that life’s circumstances can be dire indeed, but joy remains possible thanks to the Lord’s presence in our lives. Money, health, and creature comforts—although nice to have—ultimately do not bring the joy and peace we crave. It’s found in Christ alone.

These Scriptures have become very meaningful to me. I’ve turned them into a prayer: “Dear Father, please make your face smile on us (and on my brave Romanian friends). Grant us (and them) greater joy than those who have great material abundance. Grant us (and them) peace in knowing that You alone keep us safe. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Thanks for listening as I process the things I saw and learned. I pray that the lessons I’ve learned from yet another missions trip will bless you, too.

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Journal Entry for July 7

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Our chapel time this morning consisted of several kids’ testimonies. One spoke of how she witnessed God answer prayer after the car in which she was traveling broke down and no one would stop to help her. She and the others in the car prayed for God to fix the problem and He did. To her, that was a huge sign of God’s power and presence in her life.

Another spoke of the difficulties she’d faced since being diagnosed with HIV – especially the lack of proper medical care. One talked about his dad dying, and about nearly losing his mom. He said that he and his brothers prayed that God would not let her die, and He answered. Years later, she’s still alive.

Then the gal who committed her life to Christ last night spoke. With tears in her eyes, she addressed our team and said, “Thank you for coming. You came from so far away just to spend time with us. You have loved us and treated us like normal people. You’ll never know how much this camp has meant to us.”

How does one respond to that, except to thank God for providing the means and the opportunity to serve in this way? We wish the need for this ministry didn’t exist, but so long as it does, we pray that God will raise up the volunteers and especially career staff to build it and bless it.

Andy and Claudia drove the kids back to the day center – about 2 ½ hours’ drive one way on a very windy mountain road. At one point, they had to pull off to the side because everyone had to get out and throw up due to travel sickness. Poor kids! Poor Andy and Claudia!

They returned to pick up the team around 6:00 pm, and then it was our turn to travel on the windy road. No vomiting, but a few queasy stomachs. At one point after darkness fell, we drove through a fairly large town and I noticed that there were few lights on in the apartment blocks and houses. Tony explained that this area used to have a booming economy based on mining. Now the mines are closed and nearly everyone is unemployed and can’t afford to pay for electricity. Hence, the dark windows. Sad, sad, sad. Again, we in North America have much to be thankful for.

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Breakfast on the Beach with Jesus

Friday, June 12th, 2009

The disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Surely they must have felt exhausted and defeated. But their discouragement didn’t last for long because – wonder of wonders – Jesus showed up and cooked breakfast on the beach for His buddies (John 21:1-13). What a glorious way to begin a new day!

I love the picture of Jesus that Scripture paints. It shows us that He was a friend, in tune with the needs of those He cared about and wanting to spend time with them. It also shows us that He was a servant. He called them to have breakfast, and then He gave them the bread and the fish that He’d prepared. “When the disciples got to shore, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread…then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.”

A few days prior, this same Jesus had been crucified and buried. Then He rose victorious from the grave, conquering death once for all. Imagine – He could have been celebrating His victory on a throne in heaven. Instead, He bent over a fire on the beach and fried fish for His friends.

What a picture of Christ’s divine humanity! What a model of humility! This picture moves me to gratitude for the privilege of serving a Master who cares for His followers as He does.

It also reminds me that, in the midst of the busyness of life, Jesus wants relationship with His followers. He wants us to slow down, to step out of the “busy boat,” and to spend time in His presence – talking, enjoying each other, discussing concerns and delights, and praying together. Do we respect His wishes? Do we spend time with Him as we would a good friend?

When life gets so busy that it threatens to crowd out our quiet time with Jesus, let’s remember this picture from John 21. Let’s recall Jesus waiting on the beach for His friends as dawn broke, with a meal prepared to meet their needs.

He’s waiting for us in the same way. We don’t want to miss it!

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The Harvest is Great; Workers are Few

Friday, April 10th, 2009

“The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields” (Luke 10:2).

I’ve heard this verse countless times but its truth is only now starting to grip my heart. I didn’t realize the size of the harvest until I got involved in Eastern European ministry. For instance, in a city of 300,000 there might be 2-3 evangelical churches and 200-300 believers. Ministry opportunities are endless – our missionaries are working with the homeless, orphans, prisoners, teens with HIV/AIDS, children who live in sewers, abused women and children, high-risk families, and the list goes on. They’re investing their lives in sharing the hope of Christ with those who have no hope, but they need coworkers to help carry the load. The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.

Everyday, people in Eastern Europe and around the world are going into eternity without Christ. Do we, as western believers, really understand what this means? Do we really get it? If so, then our response ought to be as Isaiah’s was in Isaiah 6:8: “Here I am, send me!” No matter where He leads, no matter what it costs in personal sacrifice, time, and finances. Unconditional obedience based solely on what Christ has done for us.

Jesus’ words have become my prayer: “Send more workers for Your fields, Lord. The harvest is great but the workers are so few.”

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