FAR AWAY
Ever need an incentive to improve your prayer life?
I was so blown away by her prayer last night- she is so excited. She can't wait to speak to someone in spanish about the hope we have in Christ. She wants to serve and love and she knows in the end, she will be the one who is changed in the process.
I have always been intrigued by the verses in Psalm 127:
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
God has blessed me with children and they are like arrows. And at some point these arrows are going to be delivered to a target.. and my prayer is that the bullseye is home safely in the hands of Christ. As they are on the way- my prayer is that they are flaming arrows, full of the light and hope of the gospel- shining for God in a dark world in need for Him.
So Lord- please put Your gracious wings over our children.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
We live in a world of increased danger. Our default mode is to add layers and layers to ensure safety. There is nothing wrong with working hard to make things safer.... but in this life, there is no such thing as safe.
In some ways I am sad that children have grown up in a world without diving boards, PE rope climbing, freedom to ride their bikes all day long as long as they are home by supper. But it makes sense that we have learned.... and wearing seat belts is a good thing.
But what price? Is there a loss of strength or endurance because our children for a large part haven't experienced temporal suffering or failure? I never wish any of that to happen- but we know the verses in Romans 5 is true:
3Not only so, but wec also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
CLOSE
Even though my child will be far away from a week- I am more impressed with how close this world actually is to gospel truth and possible revival.
The closer we are in communication technology and the universal human condition is in full view- and the inadequacy of the world's system to satisfy is plainly seen- the greater gospel access we have.
Once this group leaves Atlanta- it won't be long until they open the door to an entirely different culture with the same access to heaven through the death of the middle-eastern God-man who died and rose 2 millenium ago. And whose story has swept the globe since.
If it takes allowing my daughter to go out of the country to help spread this message of hope... then I am humbled to trust God to carry her there and fill her and bless her efforts.
Please join me in world-wide gospel proclamation- we want the whole world to embrace this love. peace, and hope!
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