odds and ends

 Today i smiled as i saw a taxi chauffeuring a man and his goat. I’ve seen dogs, cats and a number of other pets riding in cars, but i must say seeing a goat as a passenger is a first. 

The driving rules here…well there really aren’t many. a few stop lights here and there and an inherent driving on the left side of the road…then good luck. cars make there own lanes. If you are one of those drivers who is constantly teased about staying between the lines, then you would have a good time driving here.

 Esther’s fiancee came to town today. He lives about a 10 hour train ride away and had to go back tonight. they got their rings today along with some traditional indian wedding jewerly. i suppose some things transcend cultures…we were in the jewerly store for nearly 4 hours. it was all worth it, as the trip was successful.

First Impressions

I have been in Mumbai for almost two days now and already i have experienced so many blessings. I am living as one of the family here. They call me their own daughter. The culture here is similar to zimbabwe and so i feel right at home.

 Esther and i sang a duet in church today, as i played the guitar along with vocals. It was so much fun. I felt the Lord’s pleasure and felt so honored to sing with my friend in serving her home congregation. As her dad was preaching, the scriptures he read and theme he spoke on fit right into what God has been speaking to me about this trip. It was very confirming and of course i was weeping through much of the service.

I am excited to meet esther’s fiance tomorrow or Tuesday depending on when he is able to travel to Mumbai.

I feel so privileged to be here. Thank you for all who have made this trip possible. you have sown into an eternal reward.

Led by the Shepherd

These last couple of days have tested my trust in God. I have experienced some different sicknesses, little sleep and a days delay on flight plans. With each circumstance, i could feel my heart crying out more to God and finally i broke saying, “Lord, you are good and i have trusted you until now, but i need help. I cannot take much more.” i felt myself giving into fear and the appearance of my situation.

My diligent friend reminded me that no matter my circumstance, God is still on the throne and He is still sovereign. My circumstance is not out of His control. Therefore no matter the outcome, i can praise Him.

After a release with some tears and another prayer, my heart felt more connected to the big picture of being led by the Shepherd. He is the overseer of my soul; surely this is not to hard for Him.

So, as i leave later today for India, i am exhausted, yet hopeful for God’s daily provision for strength and grace in time of need. I am honored and excited to serve my friend as she weds and to serve the nation of India in whatever capacity the Lord allows.

“peace i leave with you, My peace i give to you; not as the world gives, let not your hearts be troubled and do not fear” John 14.27

Benefits and barrenness of fasting

We are on day two of a seven day corporate fast and all I can think of is food; yep, even dreamt about it last night. The benefits of fasting…let me recount them…um…right now I’m not feeling anything but a hungry stomach. So, why fast?

 A simple answer: Jesus did (and said we would). In the midst of his forty day fast he said. Matthew 4:4 “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jesus also says that His food is to do the will of the Father.  I want to be filled with the word of God, to eat the scroll. I want to learn what it is like to be fed by the word of God. Of course you do not have to fast to receive revelation and life from the word of God, but it does position my heart to receive more and to become tenderized.  In my journey of understanding fasting I know that fasting does not earn us anything before God. All of our righteousness is like filthy rags to God.  What fasting does is draw me closer to God. Fasting starves out (exposes) the cravings and desires that I run to to satisfy my barren soul. Rather than fill my mind and emotions with the Truth of the Word of God, physical comfort screams as a solution or rather functions as a noise to drown out the sound of my need for God. Sure there is a natural need for food. I will surely die if I don’t eat after some days. But, we are told to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things (physical needs) will be added unto us” (Mt 6.33).  I want to seek the Kingdom of God first. What is the Kingdom of God? The answer in short- God’s dominion coming to earth- when Jesus comes to set up His leadership and sits as King on His throne.  Matthew 9:15 says “Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Truly our Bridegroom King has been taken from us. His leaving was necessary for us to receive the Holy Spirit (John 16.7).  But He is coming back. Until then, I’m using the wisdom of God- fast now, to feast later. I do not want to put my hope and comfort in this world. Fasting reminds me to look higher, to look to Jesus to satisfy me. As great as the pleasures of this world look, no matter how innocent- even a needed meal- there is a greater feast to be had. I long for the day of the wedding super of the Lamb. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come Lord, Jesus, come!’” (Rev. 22.17-20)

Song in the night

One day in Israel, I was in the old city of Jerusalem on a Friday just as the Muslim sirens were calling for the afternoon time of prayer. Friday being their holy day, brought more men to the Dome of the rock than during the week. I found myself quickly getting off the main walkways to yield to the men rushing to pray. In that moment my heart became so tender thinking of Jesus. I found myself saying, “Jesus I love you.” These simple words said by one small person were offered up. I felt the Lord’s delight at the sound of my voice in the midst of many who were going to defile His name on His holy mountain.

            It was during this moment that I got a greater revelation of what I do as part of the Night-watch at the International House of Prayer. All night long this small group of people offers up weak words unto the Lord, as an offering of love. In the midst of so much darkness that takes place in the earth at night, we are one of the many groups gathered at night to sing praise to the Lord. We are part of His song in the night.

            Someone once said, Jesus longs for you to minister to Him. The first time I heard this, I was offended. “What could I possibly offer Jesus? He is God!” After seeking this out I began to understand more of what the writer of Hebrews means when he says, Hebrews 7:25  “he (Jesus) is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”  Jesus is before the throne of the Father, praying to the Father on our behalf. He desires a partner. He loves when we join Him at the throne and pray to the Father, in Jesus’ name, on behalf of others. I love being a friend of God!

 Zephaniah 3:17  The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing Psalm 42:8  By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 88:1-2   O LORD, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence,  2 let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. Psalm 134:1-3  Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!  2 Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the LORD.  3 May the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. 

Isaiah 30:29  You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

Give it a try

I’m not much of a blog-reader, so I wasn’t really interested in starting my own blog page. However, I’ve realized that there are some advantages to blogging so I thought I’d give it a try. It is my prayer that the name of Jesus would be glorified in the testimonies and ponderings that are shared on this page. I pray that the love of God may abound still more and more in our hearts as we come to know Him.