Ok first I have to say sorry – I have meant to write two blogs, one for December and one for January alas they are not here….until now! I will be writing several over the next week so keep an eye out for them.
So first I am in Ethiopia – WOW! I know – it is actually stunning. Where we are is in the middle of no where – but like Lesotho this time last year. Again hence the lack of communication, WiFi is non existent and electricity is temperamental, this however does not stop us from living life to the full here.
The ministry we are partnering with is call HOPEthiopia and WOW it is incredible – here’s there link check it out HERE!.
They are a community development project. They along with some really cool people do everything with an outward focus – build a whole and loving community in an area that would otherwise struggle.
Between school/education, health clinics to building relationships, family centred care, to then creating sustainable environments both physically, emotionally and agriculturally – our days have so much to offer and also balanced with moments in the fields – wild – untamed – just you and the Father – it is just beautiful, little piece of heaven on earth.
We as a whole squad have been here since December, we had Christmas here, it was amazing – the second time being away from home. The Father continues to bless and pour out from his abundance. We had a great day between food, photos, stockings, games and movies.
So, to my thought for this blog. Your probably thinking OR maybe now from this title that it’ll be something nurse related because, well cause that’s my job – alas it is not. I can put your mind at rest, I did not have to save anyone’s life (PRAISE!). I’m also not going to give you an algorithm of how to do it either. I’m actually going to share a story from my journey, maybe ten years ago.
The title actually comes from the song that meant a lot to me back then – by The Fray. I heard this song recently in a coffee shop in Cambodia and I was brought back to when I first became a Christian.
I know I was walking out some deep wounds, especially in my relationships – living for Jesus was a new concept I hadn’t quite grasped BUT even then, Father showed me my trust even back then (THANKS JESUS!).
God brought to mind how that at that time I was still at school, figuring out who I was and walking through a period of separation from my best friend at that time – about silly things. I felt alone – it was hard – I blamed myself a lot for what had happened.
I then heard this song and it stopped me in my tracks. I had just come back from a conference in the U.S. It was overwhelming, the church was huge! Worship wrecked me even though I was still new to it all. I came back changed, I had perspective about my relationship not only with Jesus but also with my friend.
The lyrics in the chorus stuck out most –
“Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness and I would have stayed up with you all night, had I known how to save a life.”
Like it says I lost someone or for sure at the time it felt like it. I had lost them in the bitterness. I had huge amounts of guilt for not having ‘saved’ them or the relationship. Saving looked like trying to restore and I didn’t know how to do that or do it well without losing myself entirely to the control of others.
The perspective of Jesus then and that I still have now is that HE is the only one that can save any life and HE chose to die so that I would be SAVED! – WOW!
It wasn’t on me to save the relationship but being willing to release it to him and to pray – and that’s what I did. As I continued and the lyrics still stuck in my mind, we did reconcile if only for a short period of time.
(Matthew 5v23-26)
I look back at that time, 2007 and remember that I did lose things, people AND I also gained – gained my own life back through the eyes of Jesus! Now in 2019 I realise I gained so much more than my life. I gained the LOVE of my life!
This memory I share because I know I still have flaws, I’m not perfect, I know I have hurt people and that is something I struggle with still – I am human but it is not an excuse to continue on any given path (Romans 6v15). I have firmly laid this part of my story at Jesus’ feet.
My encouragement to you is to seek reconciliation with one another, if reading this your thinking of someone – DO IT! You’ll be glad you did.
Second whilst I do know how to save lives physically (THANKS JESUS!) the ultimate life saver is Jesus Christ! I’m dying on the cross, He made a way – He gave us an invitation to live life again, in fullness.
Come, the invitation had no expiry date – it’s been extended to you! I pray that as you read you will feel God’s heart for you. Come and rest (Matthew 11v28-30 – MSG).
