The Missionary

I found myself anguished today and with so many exciting things going on in life, I wondered why. Finding a few moments of solitude I asked the Lord what was hurting my heart so and a flash of tenderness hit me. Many of my dear friends are leaving or have already left to join the group of selfless souls that spread the word of God through a passionate display of Love. I found myself on my knees for these that are so heavenly minded as to work endlessly to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. One friend, in particular, comes to mind. For so many years, Don has sought after God’s will to serve ‘the least of these’. He has served the destitute and the homeless; after one trip to China he found his niche and the Lord has since taken him all through Africa bringing the Word of God and the love of the Father to those in small villages and communities. But, the Holy Spirit continued to cry out to Don for more and his heart began to set upon the pygmies. He studied them, he consulted the Lord and this year Don has found himself in the midst of a particularly beautiful pygmy tribe in the Congo. Within days the Favor fell upon his hands as he obtained entrance and acceptance and is now able to walk freely among those he feels called to. Another set of friends work in a sensitive area of the world doing a delicate work. They are literally saving children from the enemy’s plot to lie, kill and destroy. Wells are being dug, schools are being built, children are being healed, and gardens are cultivated. Smiles rule the day and the favor of the Lord rains down on them even through the tears and pain of children having to be pulled from subjection. We shipped them some women’s totes through visiting missionaries. When the travelers received the totes they were worried about the weight and how they would get them there. They were asked to open the boxes to see how many they could fit in their already swollen suitcases; when they did they were blasted by this wave of Love that came out of the boxes....their very words were "I felt the Love of God pour out of them”. When they got to the airport, they were not charged for the ‘over’ weight. Favor. There are so many stories of God’s precious hand stretched out to His children; my friend who almost lost her life during an attack of malaria is now building a medical clinic on their property in Uganda; another who just had emergency gall bladder surgery is a few days later, up and taking care of the many she serves in Rio de Janero; a sweet woman who lost her husband a few years ago and continued with their dream now running a large ministry in Kenya freeing people to live self-sufficient lifestyles; those who travel back and forth to serve for the few weeks they have vacation from full time jobs are taking the needed supplies and supplements to pass on. And the Lord says, pray for them as the persistent widow in Luke 18. “..and shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily”. God will certainly reply to the continual prayer of believers. He will respond to the injustice and religious persecution handed over to His people and in the end He will turn all things to good. Jesus is exhorting believers not to lose their enthusiasm, their heart or their faith but to stand strong in the throes of intercession as we lift those that go to the uttermost parts of the world and take the love of Christ to a starving people. And I fall to my knees…