This past weekend I was more drunk than I’ve ever been. It wasn’t your typical 20 proof spirit but rather the good stuff, 100 proof! I’m sure it can be found in the states, I just never really experienced it there. This strong spirit creates a drunkenness that can make one capable of climbing mountains, walking on water, loving your enemies, healing the lame and giving sight to the blind. Jesus and his disciples used to get drunk with this stuff every single day.
Over the past three days we journeyed over 15 hours with 8 people in a small red van to worship and serve. The spirit was as thick as water as we stood in awe and wondering of three different Indian-Malay church services throughout Malaysia.
We don’t speak the same language, we don’t wear the same clothes, we don’t have the same background, we don’t eat the same food, we don’t have the same skin color, we don’t have the same goals, BUT we DO serve the same God. Seeing the words of an ole’ familiar tune on the projector in Tamil and listening to the intoxicating praises of God going up in a language I don’t understand is more than enough to get me drunk!
Playing with the little children and watching them smile and giggle brought me back to my nieces. These beautiful 3-5 year old girls adorned is beautiful dresses stole my heart. Their curiosity and innocence pours out of them as God’s love poured into them through tickles, kisses and smiles.
On the way back home the Pastor told us we would be making on last stop at someone’s house to pray for them. To be perfectly honest, we were all exhausted and ready to be home already. But with reluctance, and quite frankly no option, we stopped and walked up the stairs to an apartment. Once we walked through the door, our spirit of self centeredness ended immediately as we gazed upon the beautiful child we had come to pray for.
Modivan was just 11 months old, but his hands and feet were deformed to the point he could not move them. His feet were twisted and his legs were not much larger around than my thumb. He was moaning and each breath caused a deep rattle in his chest. Coming out of his tiny nostrils was a white liquid, we were told was his milk. One by one we would wipe it away. After only moments one of the team members, Sheri, picked up the baby boy. As she was cradling him in her arms we all began rubbing his head and feet. Tears were falling on him as we were deeply moved with compassion. His family were not believers we were told, and they had just found out the baby was also blind.
We all began praying the instant we laid eyes on Modivan. We prayed for His healing and restoration, we prayed for the salvation of His family. We prayed for grace and peace for them all to get through this. It was heartbreaking for all, and God knew that’s exactly what we needed, to be broken and remember why we are all here. Not for ourselves, not to see miracles and travel the world, but simply to know God more intimately. And in that moment I knew God more.
It doesn’t make sense why He would allow Modivan and His family to suffer, but that doesn’t change the fact that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. That’s ALL things, not just some things: 100% of the time, guaranteed. Now that’s my kind of 100 proof.
