Here in Tanzania we are surrounded by breathtaking beauty. The brightly colored clothing of the women, even more beautiful the smiles on their faces as they pass. The laughter of children doing cartwheels and rolling in the grass. The sound of frogs singing out to God with all their little bodies can muster. And the mountains. We are literally surrounded by mountains. It is these skyscrapers of rock that have got me thinking this afternoon on the mention of mountains in the Bible. Two verses come to mind.
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2
Its the second verse that seems to be shouting at me as of late. Over the past few days I have prayed over a number of people in the community. God has healed two peoples legs, one girl of her sickness, and maybe more that I just don't know about. I praise Jesus because he is a healer, but without love for God and for the people these miracles are meaningless.
Think about it this way if Jesus came to this earth and did some amazing miracles but didn't give a wiff about all of us, I suspect no one would be talking about him today. Its his love that is entrancing. Its his love that draws me each day to the well of his heart just for another taste of his untainted, undeserved, and unrestrained affections for me. Really I don't care so much that he can flick a mountain into the sea, what gets me is he LOVES ME!?
Heres the question do I love him? Do you? I mean really are we in love? Now I don't write this to bring shame, doubt, or anything else that steals life because Jesus is LIFE. Anything that steals life is not from him. SO Jesus is not condemning us he is CALLING us. We can go to church, go on an 11 month mission trip (ME!), serve the poor, read the Bible, see God heal people, and yet totally miss the life giving love affair with God.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:22-23
Ok, so this last passage has always been a bit hard for me to swallow, but maybe I just need to look at it a bit different. God says only those who do his will will enter the kingdom. These men prophesied, cast out demons, and did many miracles. These men “did” more than most church going folks, however God said he never knew them. What if the one thing God truly wills is to have a deep, intimate, and life giving relationship with each of us? What if he's not so concerned with our participation in the religious, and is more concerned with our friendship? There is no way that Jesus suffered on a cross, bore the weight of the sins of the world so that we just have a little God time once and a while. He died so we can be together, so we can be his friend, his son or daughter, his bride! He died so we can be HIS!
What if every desire in us regardless of how small it is, is actually placed there by God? That slight longing to go to him in prayer. The joy that overcomes us during worship. What if all of these things are actually the proof that we are the beloved of God? That he is indeed in pursuit of us? I know this has been long winded, but I write because this is key to everything in our lives. We were made to receive Gods love and to Love him in return. We need to stop being religious and become reckless. Not reckless in the sense of being sinful, but recklessly in love with God and others. Im not there, and I'm willing to bet neither are you, but God desires us to be there and will be faithful to bring us deep into his heart if we only ask. So lets ask now, together. If the prayer of faith can move mountains, then Im willing to bet it can move the meandering heart of any man or women as well.
Papa, I thank you that you are more than just God above, you are a friend, a lover, and an ever present Father. I want real relationship with you. I want to be in love, not in religion. I don't want to just do things for you and miss the opportunity to just be with you. Religion and church attendance has only seemed to move you further away from my grasp. Jesus I want you! Not the you that I have made up in my mind, the real you! Have me Lord and show me exactly why you made me. Help me fall in love with YOU! Amen.
We were able to visit a special needs orphanage. We went to be a blessing but we were the ones who received a blessing. SO much joy in these children!
Please pray for strength over the next few months! We have been a bit worn down lately, but God is still at work. I just want to finish this race strong with Gods strength! Love all of you God bless!
