"Are we there yet?"

Recently,

As I have been seeking the Lord in my quiet time about everything He has put into to my heart to do, the desire to return overseas and begin to work towards fulfilling my grandmother's dream, and mine, for nearly 20 years now, I can't help but be disheartened from time to time from the wait, from the patience required of myself, and find myself continuously pressing on myself whether I am doing all I am capable of in preparation now.

I continue to throw out questions to the Lord such as, should I partner with this minister Lord, with this missionary Lord, go that way?!?

I long to fulfil my purpose and to see the children's home/center become a reality and have asked myself what the first steps to such an endeavor would be. I've been willing to join with others who are doing this work.

February 2 of 2016 was the 6th yr anniversary of my return stateside from Costa Rica where I had lived 2 years, with no intent to leave the foreign mission field. In these past 6 years, I wouldn't trade what God has taught me, about the difficult emotional struggles of children who've been abused in one way or another, about perseverance and in depth study, about research, about all the blessings I've been gifted, about so many hurting adults dealing with mental illness, and so much more. I could write a book about all I've learned and how God has shaped and developed me.

I've dreamed of working with homeless people, and guess what? I'm seeing them all the time, people without true purpose in need of an encounter with Jesus. If I can bring Jesus to them with my life and how its lived, its worth every day and every trial or misplaced dream.

The blog I wrote in February of 2011 about social work and missionary work remain my heart's desire. To bring justice to the poor, needy, the child and the woman in distress. I can see no other thing as what I was made for.

I imagined recently what it must have been like for the children of Israel, who had been given a dream, a big promise that they would be possessors of a rich, abundant land flowing with milk and honey, a land of rich fertile soil, where they would have plenty. I see that the parents were afraid to possess it, yet the Lord had already given it to them. Imagine how they must've longed for that land as they wandered through the wolderness,. Forty years!!!

But God was faithful to His promise, and they did arrive and possess that land. My God is faithful and fulfills his promises. My God is able!!

I have a dream, and maybe my faith is small, but I will arrive in the promised land according to God's good plan.

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, be removed and cast into the sea, and it will be done for you. "

Are we there yet?

-just a little longer, child, a little longer.

Who will go?

Who will go?

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, ask then that he may send workers into the harvest field." 

Look, my friends,  Look at them.    50% of the displaced persons living inside of Syria are CHILDREN, according to https://www.usaid.gov/crisis/syria.    These are inside abandoned buildings, lucky if they can find food or water and if they do not get shot upon sight. Most have become displaced from other loved ones who have died.  1,000s upon 1,000s are fleeing the country, with many fleeing in the past 7 years.  

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginnings of sorrows." Matt. 24:7-8

The gospel continues on to express that many will be deceived and led away, will be betrayed, will be killed, will become cold and heartless, the one who endures to the end will be saved BUT

"this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, …and then the end will come." Matt 24:14 

Now is the time my friends to reach out and embrace the displaced persons, those in crisis, those who are hurting…not to turn a cold shoulder. Turning a cold shoulder is an act of fear, not of love.  Jesus called us to reach out and love, do not be like the prophet said and harden your heart, and grow cold. 

We CANNOT, we MUST NOT ignore the plight of these broken people, for it is selfish, worldly and not worthy of a Christian. 

The Bible teaches, "They will know you are Christians by your love."  Love, not false love but the love that is true, gives to others, provides shelter for the abandoned and homeless, provides food for the starving and clothing for the naked. 

Jesus died for our freedom, He won the battle for souls for all eternity.  How the enemy would like to destroy, but God has given us an opportune time.  It is time for the harvest of souls, look at how they come by the groves out of the dark grasp of oppressive countries and places, how their religion has destroyed them. But Jesus came and gave his life as a perfect redeeming sacrifice to set them free.

It is an opportune time. If we have prayed for revival, let us embrace, let us get dirty and wet with the blood and sweat of others as we embrace them with open arms and provide in their time of need. 

You can NEVER OUTGIVE GOD!  It is not a time to hold back. 

So,

Who will go? Who will plead the case of the children, become a shelter for the widow, take up the cause of the teenager in distress?  

We cannot ignore the crisis before our eyes.  Jesus, please help us, strengthen your church send your church.