Do we know?

  My morning routine consists of spending time in the Word with my Heavenly Father and praying for those whom I know personally.  I also pray for Togo in general and then specifically for all the teachers and students as they grow closer to the Lord.  However, rarely do I spend a significant amount of time praying for my fellow believers from around the world.  However, this morning I felt a need to pray for the body of Christ throughout the world who deal with persecution and turmoil.  Minutes later, I received an email from a pastor in Togo for prayer concerning the Central African Republic.  I feel ashamed to say that I didn't even know there was a problem.

    In the Central African Republic, a group called the seleks are seeking revenge against the anti balaka group and vice versa.  It has become a fight between religions, ethnic groups, and political affiliation.  The infrastructure of the country has crumbled leaving the place empty of schools and hospitals.  To the north, is the country of south Sudan who has seen a displacement 200,000 people as there is also political unrest and innocent people being murdered due to their ethnicity and religion.  If that isn't enough already, Christians in the northeast and southeast of Nigeria are being persecuted by anti-Christian groups.  Where is the end of all of this suffering?   And I have only touched on three countries amidst others going through the same thing. 

       Not to cause a damper to your day, but I guess I think it is important to be aware of the persecution being done to the church body.  As I sit here in a house surrounded by an outside temperature below zero, there is not much I can do other than pray.  Maybe praying seems like a cliché to some but it is the only answer because God is the only answer through suffering.  We must pray for changes in hearts, and that we spend every moment being a testimony of God. 

  Although today seems bleak, Christ is returning someday soon for His kingdom.  The suffering will be finished and He will conquer all.

  
   At the  moment, there is no great persecution being done in Togo like in other African countries.  After hearing about all these problems, it gives me an urgency to be back in Togo.  The Togolese and all people groups need to know the peace that only rests in Christ.  The Christian Schools have the awesome opportunity to share Christ with 3000 students who can then share with their parents and neighbors.  Through a solid Christian education in Togo, the students can be equipped with the tools to evangelize and stand up for their faith through love.  As much as I yearn to save all those who don't believe, we must do our part to be a light in the dark world wherever God has asked us to serve. 

Broken

  Cars break.  Electronics break.  Even relationships break.  Our lives are filled with broken things that just cause clutter and leave us wanting the next big thing.  Like the iphone commercial, we sometimes have the desire to break things on purpose in order to receive something more suitable.  Although the start of this blog sounds dismissal, I am getting to a hope driven point. 


    Being home these past six months has been difficult.  I felt that I don't have a purpose, not sure of a ministry, and missing out on ministry in Togo.  However, instead of feeling empty and wishing for materialistic things to fill the hole, I have been thankful for my brokenness.  Through this emptiness, I have found that the only thing missing is my trust in Christ.  When I am weak, He is strong.  When I feel like I am  nothing, I am allowing God to be everything in my life.  Do I want to be missing out in the opportunity to serve in Togo?  Of course not!  However, I honestly can say that through this time at home, I have learned new ways to serve those around me and most importantly to be still before the Lord.  When all the mission field, it is easy to get busy and in the midst of doing "ministry for the Lord" and actually not take time be in the presence of the Lord personally.  At the present moment, I have had time to think, reflect, and be in awe of the Sovereignty of our Savior.  Without a hesitation, I am thankful to be broken and so I can allow Christ to fill in the missing pieces.  I am not looking for more of me, or to keep the clutter around, as Christ has taken it all and I want to leave more room for Him. 


   We all go through moments of brokenness, loss, and despair.  How we fill that brokenness is what matters.  We can't find hope in things of the world and nothing else can bring Joy and fulfillment than in knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. 


    As I continue to wait on God's perfect timing to return to Togo, I will continue to rest in God's strength.  Nothing, absolutely nothing else, can be more satisfying than being in the arms of Christ and allowing Him to control my life instead of trying to unsuccessfully control my own. 




I am now at about 75%.  At times when I thought I would never reach 50%, God continued to be faithful and I will not give up now that God's work will be done through His body in Togo and throughout the world.  How awesome that we serve the only true God who cares about all of his people throughout His universe.