Until I’m Safely Home…

I just felt like I needed to take some time to analyze the book I just read entitled, Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn. I have surges of emotions racing through me right now.

Conviction: I have conviction that I take for granted the five Bibles I'm staring at right now on my book shelf when many people do not own one. Conviction for how I do not cherish the Word of God as I should. Why did it take reading a book to make this a reality? I gave out four Bibles just last week to individuals that did not own one. Why was I not so convicted then? Was it my own pride or self-satisfaction that was more important than actually gifting them with the Words of Life?

Gratitude: I'm grateful that I live in a country where there is freedom to share about Christ. We host Bible studies openly in our home and announce them on the radio. We do not have to hide in underground churches or sing silent songs.

Heaviness of Heart: I am burdened for the people God has placed in our lives that have made Jesus their everything. I think of Lencho. He makes less than a dollar a day to feed himself, his wife, and his family, and yet he diligently studies God's word and now teaches it to those in Dolores. He is being tempted by a better job offer in another city, but so far has remained faithful to calling of pastor. I think of Paulino who was willing to walk four hours one way for a two hour discipleship to learn more so as not to commit heresy in teaching the Bible. I think of the mother down the road that is a victim of domestic violence, but prays for her husband. She knows the pains of physical hunger.

Many people here know about physical hunger, but Lord produce in us a hunger for more of You. Move in this little area of the world, in this zone of Honduras. Make us so that we will be as the deer that pants for streams of water searching for living water in You. Holy Spirit stir this up in the hearts of each church member of each church plant. Strengthen the leaders You have placed in each one. Equip them with Your mercy and grace. I pray for the communities where the sheep wander without a shepherd to guide them. Call forth leaders Lord! Touch the hearts of individuals. Lead us to them so that we can be Your servants that equip them and encourage them. We ask for a revival in this land! I pray that many would turn from their religion and embrace a relationship with You. I pray that the name of Jesus would become more than a bumper sticker or "catch phrase" used in the common lingo. I pray that the Lencas would learn the Person behind this name and bow down in reverence to You. Let this revival begin in our home! I pray that Gabby and Owen will not just hear about you from words we share with them, but will see you in our actions. I pray that they too would develop a compassion for people and a desire to share You with others. I pray that no matter where they go in life or what they do, loving You and sharing about You would be the passion of their hearts. May it never cease to be mine! Uphold us, Father! Help us to keep a Heavenly perspective and to see all trials as "light a momentary troubles."

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beaty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified!" Isaiah 61:1-3