Next Stop, Africa

-- Africa --

March 23, 2012

So, I'm on this plane. My third plane today, fourth this week, eighth in the past three weeks...  Oh, ash wednesday :) This particular plane is something special however, as it will be landing on the continent of Africa in just under five hours. 

Somehow in my lifes journeys - both as a duckling following behind my travel hungry father, as well as on my own adventures - I've never stepped foot on this rather large chunk of land.  Africa. I wish to learn the power behind this word, this culture, its people, its pain, its depth, its beauty... I know it's there, and I can't imagine finding it will be that difficult... in fact, even just hovering over this land in a big metal tube I feel some layer of unidentifiable substance being peeled back, exposing a blended mixture of emotions for this elusive land.  It's SO BIG!  I'm a fool to think that in touching just a fragment of Kenya & Uganda that I'm experiencing, 'Africa'. I know better... Soo much to explore :)

We will be landing in Nairobi, hoping around Kenya for ten days, then off to Kampala where we will spend five days enjoying Uganda.  Our time in Kenya will be spent - for the most part - gathering information on the orphans in four of the homes Warm Blankets supports, putting the children in a newly created database which will be shared with the UN.  See, if these orphans are not registered and properly identified, they are liable to being stolen, sold, moved into different forms of slavery etc... and with no way of tracking them, they become lost. Terrible things. Happening to little children. ALL OVER the earth.  Seek justice, receive life... 

So I was just in the bathroom a minute ago, and after watching several TED talks on the perilous status of our floating rock, earth (The truth in the messages being: "The economy will fail...", "Environmental concerns are real and dangerous..."  "The earth IS full..."  "Change MUST happen..." etc..), I found myself with a smile on my face and that liquid joy rolling down my cheeks as I FELT at my core a deep appreciation for the things my Lord has brought near to my heart... the things I have become passionate about.  I looked at my life and said "if for the rest of my brief stay here on earth, I can seek justice (it comes in SO many forms..), and enjoy creation in the ways I am currently (rivers, mountains, people etc etc..)... I will never be lacking.  Joy always.  Glory to Him.  Selah :)  A warm feeling... 

I wondered too how will my fingers glide over this keyboard on my return trip... what words will drip from my heart..  Crazy.

I want to share a brief story I came across as I journey now through Judges... A story which has touched me, like if a person were to come up to you with an extremely sharp spear and prick you on your exposed chest.  I feel it... I know it's sharp... I know there is power in it.  I know too that with time, I will feel the PIERCING power of this spear living it's truth in my life... and hopefully yours too :)

Gideon. Judges 6-7

This story, I cannot do it justice in a summary, although I'll try..

Gideon was just working the winepress one day and an angel came to him (we now have the spirit which speaks to us and gives us power in this way.. thanks to Jesus :)) and said "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."  

'Umm... okay?' -Gideon

And he doubts... so much so that three times He asks the Lord to prove his power over his life in really strange ways.. He doubts.  Wouldn't you?!  The Lord is asking him to SAVE Israel, to defeat the Midianites who have soaked them in oppression... impossible things He is asking him to do.  

So he seeks confirmation that it is the TRUE Lord guiding his steps, his words, his spear, his people...  and the Lord was patient with him, all three times He delivered what he asked (which surprised me to be honest, but made me glad that the Lord was patient with his servant of whom he asked seemingly impossible things.. so glad as I feel shades of doubt too).  

Here's the tip of that spear I was talking about... stay with me...

About to attack the Midianites, Gideon has found his power in the Lord and with troops numbering over 32,000 behind him, he is ready to do some serious battle...  But his ear and his heart, they are still faithfully in tune with the Lord's, and what does he hear?  The Lord says 'that's too many... anyone (soldiers) who tremble with fear may turn back...'  

22,000 men left.  10,000 remained.

"Still too many" - Lord.

He tells Gideon to take his 10,000 down to the water, and those who lap the water with their tongues he is to seperate from those who kneel down to drink...  those who lap the water, these are your soldiers.

300 remained.

"Umm...  Crap." - Humans
"Yeaaa... now I can show them my POOOWER" - God

Strange?  Sure...  What's the point?  Earlier when there were still 32,000, the Lord said this to Gideon... "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands.  In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her..." ... I will sift your troops down to an impossible 300.  "With the 300 men... I will save you" says the Lord.

Okay, so read the story (PLEASE), because obviously Gideon and the 300 go on to defeat the midianites and it's awesome (If you're a dood who loves Jesus, and you don't love the old testament, you crazy!).  

God wants to deliver us..!.. and he wants to do it in a way that only HE can receive the Glory... He will take the humble, and through impossible circumstances raise them up in their kingdom pursuits, bringing glory to His name on earth....  

I cannot express in words the depth to which this story has hit me...  

"He must become greater, I must become less." is a verse which just burst into my mind outta my heart...

It doesn't mean 'great things won't happen'... It means that in making ourselves less, we are widening the gap for Him to show up in Glory, fulfilling the impossible, making great things happen as we give the credit back to Him... as Jesus did time after time... why are we surprised he was able to do such great things??  He was the only earth walker who came down from his eternal dwelling right next to His maker in Heaven... He had faith more than ANYONE in his true citizenship... and all the glory went to His father.  

So we do the same... we learn from Gideon, we listen to the spirit, we seek impossible things which bring glory to Him...  and by sticking the nose of our compas in scripture, we trust the spirit to guide us on a true path which leads to that place in eternity which He is preparing for all who live in love with Him and with others... take me today, tomorrow, or eighty years from now.. just deliver me, and use my life (or death?) :)

So, what will this story mean to me in two weeks?  Will that tip have pierced my flesh?  

If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with my most recent journies and how the Spirit has undoubtedly hovered over it all.  This new job... I'm reminded daily of the gap I am trusting the Spirit to fill... I have faith in the impossible things becoming reality as myself and those in this ministry seek to do good for these orphan children... and now as I sift my own being down to 300 units of whatever from 32,000... I put my trust in Him, and struggle through doubt to proclaim His glory through it all, whatever may come :)  

There is power in the Word.  Life in the Spirit.  And in my own broken flesh, I will tell you that He wants to use you too in ways impossible to our understanding..  put your trust in Him... listen, and act :)

I crawl over the sleeping Kenyan next to me and look down... There she is :)  Africa :)  If you're the praying type, I would appreciate your joining me on this spiritual journey, being here with me in the spiritual realm, pleading to God on our behalf that he would give us impossible power to do impossible things :)  It's real, so very real.

Be well friends :)