Land of My Sojourn

For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever…

I have been continually amazed as I travel to see all of the wonders of God’s creation! It makes my soul rise within me to praise the goodness of our Lord when I see the grandness of all his workmanship.

Do you not know, have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. Isaiah 40

One of the things that I love most about traveling is seeing the amazing world that God has made. In every part of the world God has created unique and beautiful landscapes. Yesterday I drove through the California foothills and past the grape vineyards and I thought about how different it is from Florida. The hills are dry and brown, but there is a unique beauty to the golden landscape and rolling hills that is so different from the wet and green beauty of Florida.

Not only has God made each corner of the world with its own unique beauty, he has made each of us in the body of Christ a unique workmanship, crafted in His image. We are designed and gifted with a special purpose and called to serve in different ways. I am so thankful for each of you who pray and give; who through your partnership allow me to serve God as He has called me.

Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood purchased me for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. Revelation 5: 4-5, 9-10

These verses are such an encouragement to me. When I feel discouraged I have only to remember that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus, has already triumphed. By His blood he has redeemed and in His timing he will establish his kingdom. From every nation, he will redeem men and women to serve and worship Him.It overwhelms me to think that He has given me the privilege of playing a role in His plan. And as you partner in prayer and support to reach the people of Hungary you also play a part in His grand design!

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels. So the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:10-11

What an amazing love, He has clothed me with salvation.  What an amazing promise, He will be praised among all nations!

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit of itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:4,8

My greatest desire and prayer request is that I remain in Christ and let Him be my strength! I tend to want to plan and make things happen. This time in my life is a great growing experience for me as EVERYTHING revolves around God’s provision, prompting and timing. (It always does but sometimes I see more ways to “help God out” and here I’m at a place where I can’t DO anything on my own). I can’t think of anything in this process of moving to Hungary that God isn’t using to teach me more about Him and my need for total dependence on Him.

Recently I heard someone use the word desperation when describing how we should live in our relationship with God. Through this week, as I’ve looked at the support I have and the support I need, I’ve realized the need for true desperation before God. I know He has called me and that without His intervention in the hearts and lives of people to partner in ministry I am not able to go. Without His intervention all will my best efforts amount to nothing. When I look at the call and I look at the need, God fills my heart with a desperation to see His hand at work so that He may be glorified. Realizing my total dependence upon Him is a good place to be, but stepping out and living in that abiding dependence on Jesus Christ on a daily basis is hard. Pray that as I learn to abide more that it will be to the Father’s glory in my life. This is my heart’s desire.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:11-12 NIV

I was listening to a song this week that painted the picture of Abraham, near the end of his days, laying on his back on the desert floor, falling asleep while counting stars. As I pondered that image, I thought about a man who had seen God’s faithfulness over and over throughout his days.

Can you imagine Abraham looking back at all God had done and then drifting off to sleep counting, anticipating the future fulfillment of God’s promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky? (Gen 15:5) As I reflect on God’s call in my life, directing me to Hungary, I can see His hand at work and His faithfulness displayed. I can only imagine how I will look back at the end of my days and see promises fulfilled. I look forward to the journey.