The journey of change and transformation is long and at times unexpected. I often find myself "surprised" at what God does in me. Listen to the word's of the journal this week:
"I didn’t expect God to bring me all this way to change what
He saw in me. But He has. I needed Sudan more than Sudan needed me, and I
didn’t expect that. I thought God was bringing me to Sudan to change Sudan. I
did not realize that His primary purpose was to expose all the junk in my heart
and change me! I’m so grateful that in the “less” of ministry, as I thought it
should be, I got more than I expected"
In the Comments section what do you feel God is transforming in you? Over the last six days what has surprised you?
FYI - Tonight in Wednesday night service we will have a special missionary guest. Don't miss it! Billy Burr has been a missionary in Africa for over 49 years. He is one of the great leaders of the Assemblies of God Missions in Africa. He will share in the main service, don't miss it!
Click the following links for more information about Christians in Somaliland
Here is a video of underground pictures from Christians in Somalia:
7 comments:
This has been an awesome learning experience for me. My expectation for my life is not the same as God's. I pray for God's direction and that He will give me the strength to go in the direction He has laid out for my life.
I may want to go in a different direction, my way may seem easier with less conflicts or troubles.
I pray for Christ to stay in my heart and in my mind with to strengthen me with humbleness to always follow His direction and His will for my life without question...
. I know that the life the Lord has mapped out for me is so much greater than mine, and whatever fears I may have, Christ will strengthens me to overcome those fears as long as I trust and believe in him and His power. I love You Lord, I love You Lord, I Love You Lord....
My prayer is that the Lord will deliver the Somalia women from every demonic strong hold and protect them and the missionaries from all harm and evil, In Jesus Christ name, A-men.
Wow, today's lesson really spoke to my heart! "It was my part just to obey, that Jesus is my just reward - that He can do as He sees fit with me, my family, and the work in Sudan. Jesus makes every night without power and every delay over visas and permits worth it. And only Jesus makes it worth it." And later, "Expect God to wring the self out of you in a painful and lengthy process using circumstance and shattered expectations - and then surprise you with how good it feels to have His image stamped deeply onto yours."
These two phrases found in the reading drove home the fact that often, as an American, I truly expect everything to be neatly wrapped up and finished off with a bow. And when things, circumstances, life doesn't come to me in pretty wrappings, I become frustrated and quickly focus on situations rather than seeing it for another opportunity to be transformed through Christ's work in me. I am amazed at His complete patience with me and His unending grace. Thank you, Lord, for ALL things and for how You can take each and every one and move me one step further in the process of becoming more and more like You.
And Lord, please be with the Somalians. As I read their remedies for overcoming evil spirits, I see some of what we Americans do, too. Rather than running to you, how many times do I consider other methods? Rather than praying to You, I choose to ask someone else's opinion. Rather than praying to You, I rely on caffeine to give me power. Rather than praying to You, I read self-help books. Instead, I must see that You are my help, You are my strength, and You are my Living Word.
The last two days I've been praying/thinking about a problem in my life. Something I don't like, something that I think is wrong. It's been easy to blame others about it, but the closer I get to God. The closer I get to Him, the more it seems like it's methat is broken. it's methat needs to change. God help me.
Watching that video of Somali's in Kenya and Somalia be baptized I wept uncontrollably this morning. I pray today for their safety. I pray they will be joined by hundreds more
What I do I feel God is transforming in me? That is a difficult question to answer. I am quick to recognize transformation in others but not so quick to see it in myself. I desire for God to transform me and pray that every day I grow closer to what I Need to be. I know that I am less fearful of stepping out of my comfort zone. It is so spiritually refreshing when I totally put all my trust in him. The load is somehow lighter. The fear becomes courage. The blinders are removed and I can see more clearly. Doing this journal is giving me an emmense awareness of others needs and not just my own. Not just the people in Africa but people every day all around me. I have never felt like I was in a continual state of prayer before. It certainly keeps my mind from day-dreaming about things I don't have. I believe that this week I have more pleasing to God and I am ready for whatever He desires for me.
It is amazing how everything is totally different to me this time in the Live Dead journal...i feel God dealing with me about answering the call to Him first.
I always want to answer the call to someTHING. I want to do something. I want the process to be fast so that I can be doing something. I have alot of expectations of everyday.
Unmet expectations lead to disappointment. Disappointment leads to bad moods, snappy behavior, harsh words, and poor choices. Being disappointed is miserable.
I am finding that the only thing that heals my heart and aligns my priorities is time with my God. Pouring out my heart to him. Sounds simple but its the last thing we do most of the time. If I answer the call to him first, my disappointments seem to fade. I am reminded that above all, He wants ME. That is His only expectation of me.
Through these past six days, I feel God transforming me to not stay in my comfort zone. I have always been the type thinking I am don't have the qualifacations to do something, but God is showing me that he give me everything I need to do his will. I want to obey God in every area of my life, he is just waiting on me to put all of my trust in him.
Loved this video! Sometimes we pray & pray & it seems we don't see results. We still know & believe our prayers are not in vain. While we may not see everything going on, God is working & moving. God continue to work & move in my life & the lives of these unreached people. We believe!
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