i love Africa.
i know a lot of people tend to say this and it can seem like something thrown around, but i really love it here. i forgot how much i love the culture here, the people, the food, church, and the environment of friends and family.
For our 3rd debrief we flew from Malaysia down to Entebbe, Uganda.
First of all, talk about a flood of memories that came walking through the airport in remembrance of my Ugandan missions trip in 2009. It was strange to be in the same place with different people.
My squad and i crammed into one big bus and headed to Entebbe Hwy Hotel & Hostel and upon arrival was taken back when i saw we had beds, mosquito nets, running water, & hot showers! Across from our hostel was a pretty big church who had 4-6 hour prayer meetings almost every day, some started at 5am before people headed to work & some started at 4 and lasted till 9 or 10. I think then did it really hit me that i was back in Africa.
i no longer had to defend my faith and try to prove why the Bible is the truth versus other religions or ideas. There was this magnificent freedom that swept over our squad.
Freedom to worship.
Freedom to dance before the L-rd.
Freedom to pray.
Challenged to pray. Feeling incredibly convicted when hearing them cry out to G-d at 6:30am as i was just waking up, knowing they had already been praying for an hour or longer.
i feel like Africa gives a wake up call to our mindset or view of G-d.
It’s like they just get it here, they understand that He is all deserving of our awe & worship.
He is G-d, the Maker of the heavens and the earth and there is no one greater.
Whether its the lack of distraction from materialistic things or electronics or their utter dependency on Him because He really is all they have, it reminds you who you really serve.
Do i serve G-d because He deserves it or because of what i can get out of Him?
Do i serve G-d because i’m told to and want to escape from Hell or because i actually love Him and out of the overflow of my love for Him i cannot keep silent, but rejoice, declare My Beloved.
i check my heart and my motives and i pray i serve Him, i worship Him because He deserves my worship, He deserves my life.
Jesus doesn’t ask for your life or even pieces of it, He demands it. When we make the decision to choose Jesus instead of our sin or this world, we must make the choice to give Him everything, there is no in-between when serving Him.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth… Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on My throne just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
[Revelation 3:15-16, 19-22]
