Decisions, Decisions

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." It's been decision time for both me and the P's. I've been praying over returning there, starting grad school this Fall, buying a house, and what my ministry here should look like. The P's have been deciding about staying where they are doing what they are doing or taking another route for ministry at this time.

I'm so pleased and grateful to say that decisions are being made on both fronts. I've decided to wait a year or two before starting back to school, and the P's have decided that D will start a 3-year seminary in south India before returning to their home. While vastly different implications are hinged on these decisions, the Lord's will is being made beautiful in His time through both of them.

I'd been wondering and praying through why the Lord would allow me so much time and a burden for that area yet seem to say that now is not the time to return there. And here is the answer! Had I decided to return there at this time, the P's would not be there, which would mean that likely I would not be able to be there without them. I'm so thankful to the Lord that He is sovereign and gives us the desires of our heart even before we know why we have those desires!

So for those of you have been praying for me and the P's, thank you, thank you, thank you, and keep praying! Though decisions are being made, there are still many unknowns and opportunities to walk in faith. Pray for both me and the P's that the Lord will provide a house of His choosing even across oceans. Pray for decisions we know still need to be made and those we don't even know about yet. May we have hearts of wisdom that desire to glorify God above all.

A Return to the Simple Things

Being back in the hustle and bustle of the States is such a stark contrast to India. While I was always busy in India the pace was just different. Everyone takes a break for an hour or two at lunch because of the heat of the day. Life is crazy difficult but at the same time sweetly simple. When I saw this ladder made out of bamboo, sticks, and wire, I was reminded of how simple things are there.

Last night at the hospital, I took a boy down to the morgue in a body bag. He had just gone to his prom the night before he came to the hospital. From the time I received him from surgery until the time he died, he received the maximum amount of medical intervention I think that I have ever seen, and yet the Lord had appointed his day to end on May 14, 2008.

It is such a comfort to know that the Lord is sovereign over every one of our days and already know the number of them. It reminds me of how important it is to live each day for His glory because we do not know how He has sovereignly numbered our days. "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). Though life here on this earth can be crazy and demanding, our task is simple. "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). May we strain forward on this numbered day.

Where are you looking?

"Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward" (Genesis 13:14). Are we looking all around us for opportunities to spread the name of Christ? I often find myself getting so focused on the tasks at hand that I forget to "lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help."

We should be continually asking Him to lift up our eyes from the entanglements of this world to see the true mission at hand. "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).

Hide Away

Missionary life can be very wearisome. Every day is steeped in dying to self. Visiting the P's reminds me of how important it is for us to remember our missionary families in prayer constantly. You wouldn't imagine how difficult simple tasks such as mopping the floors or going out for a walk in the neighborhood are. However, there is such joy in serving Christ and selflessly loving others.

Sovereign Grace Ministries has just released an excellent CD called Come Weary Saints. This songs speaks of the refuge Christ is to those who are weary and of the unspeakable joy that awaits the faithful. I pray that you will pray for a missionary today and think of a tangible way to encourage them...an email, a care package, etc. What we may think of as "nothing" can go a long way to encourage a weary soul!

"Hide Away in the Love of Jesus"

Come, weary saints, though tired and weak

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Your strength will return by His quiet streams

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Come, wandering souls, and find your home

Hide away in the love of Jesus

He offers the rest that you yearn to know

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Hear Him calling your name

See the depths of His love

In the wounds of His grace

Hide away

Come, guilty ones weighed down with sin

Hide away in the love of Jesus

The freedom you long for is found in Him

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Come, hopeless hearts, do not despair

Hide away in the love of Jesus

For ten thousand joys await you there

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Here are four of my favorite little girls in the whole world. Yes, they are all girls despite what we westerners think of as "boy" haircuts. Just as a side note, did you know that there is no such thing as boy-colors and girl-colors in India? I remember one little boy was so proud to show me his new pink flip-flops or "chuples" as they're called in India.

These sisters with AG are the daughters of Momina, who you met on the previous post about House Church. They are a Muslim family who live and work on the mission compound. S told me that though they had been exposed to the gospel many times in the past, no one had ever really sat down with Momina or her family members to really explain the gospel to them. Yasmine, the oldest in the black shirt, is the one who was looking at the picture of manna that I so badly wanted to talk to. Lahje, on the left, is possibly the most joyful child I have ever met despite the very challenging circumstances in which she lives every day...she has no idea that her life is hard! The baby is on the right and her name escapes me at the moment. She always had a bit of a mischevious twinkle in her eyes!

I've had this picture on my desktop since I left India, and every time I look at it, it makes me a bit homesick for them. None of them are yet believers and are being raised in a Muslim family. It makes me tear up a bit just to think about it. I pray that the Lord may scoop them up in saving grace and that they may be tremendous lights for Him in the midst of darkness.

Here's a short clip of them playing outside...it's really short but I thought you might want to hear their voices. Just like normal sisters, they play and laugh and sometimes yell at each other. I hope that you will get a little glimpse of just how special Yasmine, Lahje, and baby are and may pray for them as the Lord brings them to mind.