“That there needed neither art nor science for going to God, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him love.” Brother Lawrence.
The last few days have been a whirlwind of thoughts, experiences, and lessons in the midst of the life here at our ministry place. When kids camp ended our team treated nicely by our contacts to a trip to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Amidst the city life and teams I was with, my fun became saddened on the night streets as I passed up many ladies half clothed, men giving girls cash in one corner I passed, and strip club lighted up. This is really not different than some places in America but I couldn’t help but pray for a while. It’s easy to think of ministry as specific places, events, but fail to realize that everywhere we go God is asking us to see the kingdom in it. Whether on the plane here, walking the streets on a day off, we must always be aware of the needs around us.
Last Monday night a combination of team members from both squads spent some time in worship, prayer, and scripture reading. It seemed need for us because we hadn’t had it as squadmates in a while and to just reflect on the great things God did last week and praying for what He will do this coming week. Anyone who knows me would know my heart about worship, and some of my struggles with our current corporate worship in some places. I’m beginning to ask myself, “God where is the family in worship?” In our worship at camps and with other staffers the last two weeks, I’ve experienced God’s presence in a mighty way. People come wanting to worship. They come wanting to experience God, community, sing their hearts out, and pray for each other. During times of singing and between songs we are finding ourselves leaving our seats and praying for people, giving them words of encouragements, reading Scripture, because this is a time where we can just focus on that. We don’t have a time frame, a “flow chart”, a set way of organizing, or care if you’re wearing shoes or barefeet; we just want to come worship God and lift up each other. Would this be weird at home if you left your pew during a song and sat down with someone and prayed? I’m thinking so because our corporate has seemed to be boxed, and once we’re done we wrap it up put it on the shelp and go home the safe because we never encountered our Creator or love from each other.
On Tuesday night I went with squadmates down to coast where across the waters is Kapiti Island, a place where apparently it’s a nature reserve of thousands of bird species and kiwis. It was a birthday of one of my teammates and I was blessed to be able to sit down and watch my first sunset of New Zealand. It’s the moment where you can’t stop saying “Wow!’ over and over again, realizing that you’re sharing Jesus and then the next couple of days seeing God amazing creation and splendor. In Psalms (without the exact reference) I read a couple of mornings ago it says “He is a fool who says ‘There is no God!” I’m awestruck at His beauty being the perfect artist and even through all of this He loves us. This was here years before and many after me, and with the sound of the ocean waves, the color of the sky, and the kids playing in the sand, God was there.
God was there in the streets on Wellington, He was there in our worship, and He was there on the sound of ocean waves. He is with you everywhere, even in the most simplest jobs like washing dishes. He becomes no less or greatest preaching in front of thousands compared to suffering for Christ in a prison cell. He is everywhere and His love never fails.
