Let me preface this blog by saying that God loves to work in mysterious ways. He takes the foolish things in the world to shame the wise, and he takes the weak things in the world to shame the strong. He chooses the the low, despised things of the world, and He chooses things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are (I Cor. 1:27-29)This is where my journey in India begins. Well, there and also with a 37 hour, non a/c train ride during India’s hottest month.
It’s ironic that…
– I am so excited for the nation of India, yet I get sick the first two days we arrive at our ministry, and miss the opening church ceremony welcoming us
-The women of this village and nation work so hard just to live right above poverty, yet they wear the most amazing, decorative, and colorful saris (long robes)
-People live in a one-room hut, with a dirt floor, yet they still have the decency & honor to ask you to take your shoes off before entering
-A woman we were visiting & praying for lives in a hut made of cow dung, yet still offers to buy our whole team each a soda or gives us each a handful of soybeans
-A tiny, little stray cat here could be sold for lots of $ back in America. An
-We serve in a tiny church that is connected to the house we are staying at. This church only houses around 40 people, 50 max, yet this is the main site, and there is a smaller branch church on the other side of the village
-The social, cultural, and physical conditions make it extremely hard to be a follower of Christ here, yet they fervently praise God and pray so intensely that it lights your eyes up. Even the children are prayer warriors and possess a faith that would blow you away
-I think that I am the one coming to serve, yet my team and I are served tirelessly and endlessly every moment of every day
All this irony has really brought me to a sincere point of humiliation. I thought I was a decent servant, even that it was one of my spiritual gifts, but I have learned so much from this month and these people. Even the Son of Man became a servant to all and commanded us to be a “slave to all.” Who do I really think I am? God has taught me a lasting lesson that I must continue to lose my life for his sake, and to count others above myself at all times.
Jeremiah 9:24
“but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,� declares the Lord.
– I am so excited for the nation of India, yet I get sick the first two days we arrive at our ministry, and miss the opening church ceremony welcoming us
-The women of this village and nation work so hard just to live right above poverty, yet they wear the most amazing, decorative, and colorful saris (long robes)
-People live in a one-room hut, with a dirt floor, yet they still have the decency & honor to ask you to take your shoes off before entering
-A woman we were visiting & praying for lives in a hut made of cow dung, yet still offers to buy our whole team each a soda or gives us each a handful of soybeans
-A tiny, little stray cat here could be sold for lots of $ back in America. An
-We serve in a tiny church that is connected to the house we are staying at. This church only houses around 40 people, 50 max, yet this is the main site, and there is a smaller branch church on the other side of the village
-The social, cultural, and physical conditions make it extremely hard to be a follower of Christ here, yet they fervently praise God and pray so intensely that it lights your eyes up. Even the children are prayer warriors and possess a faith that would blow you away
-I think that I am the one coming to serve, yet my team and I are served tirelessly and endlessly every moment of every day
All this irony has really brought me to a sincere point of humiliation. I thought I was a decent servant, even that it was one of my spiritual gifts, but I have learned so much from this month and these people. Even the Son of Man became a servant to all and commanded us to be a “slave to all.” Who do I really think I am? God has taught me a lasting lesson that I must continue to lose my life for his sake, and to count others above myself at all times.
Jeremiah 9:24
“but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,� declares the Lord.
God, let me not look at myself, but abide in your presence. Help me to stop looking at my unworthiness, and look to your righteousness. Use me not for who I am, but for who you are. I beg you to give your servant the understanding to know you and make you known.
(Sorry no pics, internet is too slow, up on fb though)
