Remembering God's Promises On the Journey
Back to Africa

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

"I love You, I love You, I love You, I love You, I love You, I love You and my heart will follow wholly after You..." My heart sings the words of this song this morning as I sit with the Lord during devotional time today. I have entered into a time of trial and of testing I believe where the Lord is preparing me for what is ahead. I have been extremely tired but I know the joy of the Lord is my strength. I'm blessed to have friends who support me and recently two of whom have encouraged me with phone conversations, words of wisdom, and one even dropping off Christian CDs at my house today! The Lord is faithful.

I'm at a unique God-making-decisions-for-me day-by-day time in my life. Summer Semester at Regent University started Monday and I've been praying for a miracle regarding provision for tuition. I was advised to submit a letter of petition to the school requesting assistance especially as I am planning to be involved with missions work in Africa. (I'll be discovering the outcome of this in the near future and I know the Lord speaks to us both by open and closed doors...) My heart continues to break for the people of Swaziland- including those affected by AIDS, poverty, sexual violence, and the little ones who are orphaned when their parents die from AIDS. The 1st construction team from our church went for 2 weeks and returned in the beginning of May as one of our sisters in Christ from the congregation is staying in Swazi for 3 months. You can check out the blog documenting the experiences there
http://www.clcdayton.com/309020.ihtml. The 2nd team leaves next week and I'm excited to see what God accomplishes through them!
I'm on the 24th day through a 40 day devotional book
A Call To Die by David Nasser and this has proven to be a unique experience of drawing closer to God. It's brought some truths to light and continues to encourage personal growth in my life. I'm thinking I may even go through this again sometime. I'm also reading The AIDS Crisis What We Can Do by Dortzbach and Long and I'm learning more than just info on AIDS around the world... I'm seeing how people can partner together to make a difference for those suffering from the pandemic. "Over forty million people today are living with HIV/AIDS. In 2005, three million people died of AIDS, and half a million of them were children. The reality is dark. But in darkness, even one small flame of light makes a difference. And the church of Jesus Christ is bringing light into the darkness of the AIDS crisis all over the world."

As I think about the purpose of life, my very ability to take my next breath I know God has a plan. He has a plan for each person and He clearly tells us that His greatest commandment is that we would love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength (Matthew 22:35-40). Above all, am I doing this? Before my personal desires (fill in the blanks) do I place loving God? Does David's words in Psalm 63 describe my heart?

"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you."

Psalm 63:1,3

Lord, may You adjust my priorities as You desire so that I might put You first in all I am and in all I do. This is your only rightful place. Every time I sit may You be at the head of the table and every time I stand may my focus be upon You. Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Help me to remember that I can only love You because You loved me first. As I look upon Your sacrifice may I truly consider all things a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing You Lord. Whatever that means I must let go of or whichever of my own plans that means I must not follow I am willing to do. Have Your way. You are the Way. In Jesus' name. Amen.