Heb. 12

¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
 ¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet,”^[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Sometimes I get discouraged and just want to quit the things God has put into my path to help lead or show others.  It's a good reminder that even through hard times (unpleasant and painful) God is training us.  I think He is trying to remind me of my feebleness...that I truly can't do anything without His help.  When I get a a place of weak knees, I find myself depending more on Him to work.  I can do my best and do my best to strengthen my attitude toward it all, but I must always keep in mind that God is the one making the level path for me.  God I need your healing and to truly understand what it means to wake up in the morning with The Cross of Christ as my focus.  

1 Tim 4

15: Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

It's easy to get discouraged in doing good work.  There are times where I just feel burned out and that all of my projects are going to crash around me.  Paul reminds those in ministry to "persevere."  Lord my my heart be one of perseverance....one that doesn't give up.  May You open the doors of projects I am to follow you in and shut others that you want me to let go of.  I want to do Your good work, but I do know it can't be done in my strength.  Encourage and help me Persevere!  

1 Thess. 5

⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

A good reminder of God's grace- He doesn't desire us to suffer- even upon His return.  Our hope is that fact that once life ends we live together with him, because he died for us.  
 THEREFORE- Lord help me encourage those around me and to build them up.  Teach me how to be better at that.   

1 Thess. 2

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

It's been a while, too long, since I have journaled.  Recommit.  But I felt a calling back to God's Word today.  
I was pondering this expression of Paul.  Truly the Thesselonians and all those God intrusted to him, Paul loved.  He had an intense longing to minister to them.  I began wondering if everyone has a passion, and intense longing to minister to certain individuals.  For some, it's the poor....for some it's Africans, for some it's their children.  For others it may be their co-workers.  

I also wonder how everything would change if we would ask the Lord to give us the same hope, the same joy, and the same crown of glory that Paul felt for them, to us, in our context.  How would that change how I minister?  How would that change how I serve?  

God give me that passion the areas you have called me over: Children's Ministry, African Awareness Ministry, Administration, Friendship, Ministry to my family. 

1 Cor. 13

¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

These verses have been said many time in my life...in fact I could probably quote them.  But, what stuck out today was the application to my life now.  God has given me this passion to be active in my "love for Africans.."  What does this mean?  What does it mean to God?  If I truly love the Sudanese, of whom I am trying to speak for (getting the word out about their situation through film and speaking) but I have not "LOVE" it is for nothing.  How can I change my strategy to always have love on the forefront?  
Love is patient: even with inaction 
Love is kind: even toward the enemy
Love does not envy: toward those who perhaps are doing what appears to be better activism
Love does not boast-is not proud: remembering that ALL knowledge and $ and heart behind activism toward the situation in Sudan is GOD GIVEN

Love does not dishonor others: even those in Northern Sudan
Love is not self-seeking: even though I want God to use me to do more in Africa, this is not the launching pad....this is only because I love the Southern Sudanese.

Love is not easily angered: even at inaction 
Love keeps no records of wrongs: a difficult thing to do, which such wrong is taking place- but I think God is saying "know I will hold them accountable.  This is MY war to fight too."

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth: My our hearts be guarded against false reports.  May we rejoice in the truth of His Word! 


 ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  May we protect one another and may be do our best to protect more Southern Sudanese for death by human hands.  May we trust God's hand and may we ALWAYS HOPE and ALWAYS PERSEVER!

Help us LOVE SUDAN as YOU LOVE SUDAN!

 

1 Cor. 7

²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.

I know this verse was written for those who literally are slaves or who have kept slaves...but it really struck me in a different way.

How often do we become slaves (through fear or rejection or need of approval) to human beings and then we are stifled by that fear?  I know I have. 

May God give us the confidence (IN HIM) to not be held slave by fear of human beings.  He has such great work for us to accomplish, if only we will release our fear. 

Save Darfur Coalition:

Save Darfur Coalition:

Give just 60 seconds for Sudan

On Friday, President Obama will join with other heads of state in a high-level, high-stakes meeting about Sudan. The decisions made at this meeting could mean the difference between violence and peace in Darfur and all Sudan as the country prepares to vote on the secession of Southern Sudan.

Send your message to President Obama right now and urge him to lead the way toward a peaceful, free and fairly-implemented referendum in South Sudan.