Well, after a great nights rest, I feel I am again ready for life and ministry in England. Most flights to England typically arrive by noon and the trick to get your body reset is that you have to stay up the rest of the day until about 9pm. I am typically unable to sleep on planes so the day of arrival back to England I am normally on little or no sleep. The rest of our team arrives today and this will be the battle that they all are facing.
Our team is two members smaller this semester as two of the participants did not feel England was where they needed to be. This makes me sad and hurts my heart for a variety of reasons but it hurts most for the people that we are working with. The workers are few and the work and need is a daunting challenge. Our remaining time seems so short with so much work left to be done.
And this is where I find my heart this morning. My heart is faced with this challenge of the coming months. As I was reading my bible this morning, God spoke right to my heart with these words from Deuteronomy 5 and 6:
Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! (5:29, NLT)
Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives . . . . (5:33, NLT)
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Put them on your forehead. Write them on your doorpost of your house and on your gates.” (6:4-9, NLT)
The verse that sort of kicks off this whole section of scripture is verse 28 of chapter 5 where the Israelites say:
. . . . we will listen and obey. (NLT)
That is the state or condition of their hearts. They are ready to listen and obey. That is where I hope that God finds my heart this morning. I want to hear his voice but not only just hear it but I want to put action to his words to me and obey. My heart desires to be tuned to that of the ultimate example, Jesus. While his birth, death, and resurrection are central, it is in his life of obedience and service, a life that was about hope, that I desire my heart and life will be about as well.
As we begin this semester, this is where I want my heart to be. This is the heart I desire to serve with, to lead with, and to help inspire our team with. As God continues to move in my heart and prepare it for new seasons, it is my desire to be a person that brings hope.
And this is where my heart is this morning.
Where is your heart? Will you listen and obey?
Chad
P.S. Heather made it back to Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa safely with all of her luggage etc. Thank you for all the prayers. Their home was broken into twice over the break so please pray for their safety and protection for their home.
How blessed the people of Salford are to have you to lead, serve and inspire. We will be praying for you and your team to make much of your time there. Thanks for the updates on Heather, we will be praying for her also.
Listening and obeying,
Chandra & Mark
It might not be in the right context but Mathew 6:21 came to mind this morning as I read your update.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You are faced with new challenges daily this one being no exception. I can only see this as an opportunity to strengthen you that much more in Christ as you put your trust in Him to carry out your mission triumphing all obstacles.
Your a Soldier for Christ
Peace
Just wanted to stop by and say that I’m thinking about you. Miss you already! -Kate