...is a beautiful place. It seems strange to say something like that, there are no trees or few trees, there's no running water above ground usually, but there are mountains. <That may add an interesting parallel to what I am going to share.Everything about the desert seems harsh and life threatening really, BUT there is a mysterious allure to that place.
After being in the country for only a few weeks, I was asked to speak to a group of long term workers on the border of Ωm@n... Honestly I started to sweat a little bit. "Lord what the heck do I say to these people who have left their families and everything they knew to come to a desert".
But like the Lord always does when we sincerely ask Him to speak... He does and this is what He said.
"Why would you come here, and why would you stay"... (My first thought was of course, because you asked me to) Then I was reminded of Gen 12:1, if the Lover of my soul called then I would stay. (I sensed that THIS was their reason)
While I was thinking about this I remembered that in the Bible that a place like this would have been called the "Wilderness" Then the Lord said "Who do I invite to the wilderness?" (Then it was like I got a download from heaven)
Desert invites
Those called to be a Father to His people. Abraham God asked him to leave his fathers house and his home country, so that he could have many sons. :)
The Leaders of and deliverers of His people
Moses, (Lead the people there) Joshua, (Trained to there lead the people out) David (Ok, he fled there but it to prepared him to be king)
And of course Jesus was driven to the desert by the spirit to be tested.
Oh and there is one person missing from this cast of spiritual giants from the Song of Songs the... Lords Beloved.
SOO you mean to tell me that it's an honor to be invited to the wilderness, to the place where I feel like I have nothing, to the place where it feels dry and I'm thirsty? I think so, the place where it is just you and the lover of your soul. (and it is probably one of the most beautiful places you can be)
It does something special to you, there is something of Identity that is implanted in you. You learn things about yourself that no human can tell you. The ability to discern the still small voice of God (I think) comes from this place. You learn to lean on the Lord... and (because you feel you have no choice) you allow Him to do and be all the things He wants for you.When you do leave, you know something invaluable about the Lover of your Soul that can't be taught.
Interesting how much we learn when times are difficult huh
Interesting how much we learn when times are difficult huh
I pray that the next time He invites you that you would run to Him and you wouldn't resist feeling weak but that you would fall into His arms. It's better that way :)
Learning to Die- Your weakness not strength
When I was asked to lead a team to the Ωm@n, I felt pretty confident about being in the country because of prior training at my church. (Quick shout out to my family at Grace Midtown)
I was also pretty confident in my communication skills, in my past i've been able to disarm heated situations just by speaking. Looking back I've actually relied on my strength in communication more than God in some situations.<PROBLEM
Here is my amazing, gift from the father, team
For most of them English is their second language. (If you are already connecting the dots, you caught it before me) The "staff" that I had become comfortable walking with was now broken, and completely useless, but I had not yet realized it. I recently heard a quote that might have saved me alot of trouble if I had heard it before hand.
"Your greatest weakness is you strength over emphasized"
When I think about how this has proven true in the last season of my life , I can only chuckle and thank God for His mercy and grace. Because really it was His mercy that broke my crutch. 2 Cor 12:9 < Lord I would really like to not have to learn some lessons the hard way.
But in the midst of all my mistakes LOVE truly covered a multitude of sins
Muslim Cousins-What I learned and saw
You know for most of us the first picture that comes to mind when we think of Muslims probably comes from CNN, unfortunately thats also true for the church. Something else thats really heartbreaking, is that those who have the most to say about this group of people, often don't them apart from what a television program has to say. But let me introduce you to a different (much more holistically accurate picture)
We were invited to their home after knowing them for only 20 minutes... They were just ONE of the many amazing families that we became friends with. Never heard stories like that on the news huh? (Yeah me either)
Honestly on a whole I never met a family there that wasn't incredibly hospitable, serving, and genuine.
You know it's really interesting if you were to try and share your faith there with someone who you don't know you would probably be kicked out of the country. BUT if you were to become friends with that same person, spend time with them, invest in the relationship, THEN share. Often the doors are open to a deeper relationship and the probability that they will meet the Father through you.
They don't care what you have to say if they don't know how much you care, it's like you are forced into a discipleship relationship. You have to share your life with them to see change. Once though you have made one really sound deep relationship their entire network is open to you. As far as ministering to them goes, it all boils down to revelation of who Jesus is. The part that needs wisdom and skill is how do you get them there.
When I was preparing to leave the country one of the friends that I had made was CRYING. He said"my brother you leave this country and you take a part of my heart with you." (Yep I cried too)
I firmly believe the if some people who simply love the Lord moved there, tent-making and just lived and loved God and the people. We could see revival in one generation...
