Today marks a new beginning. Nothing big or outrageous, but a new day, a new me.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies
never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:21-23
The past 30 days have been riveting as the Lord called me to fast alongside Muslims and pray for them during their holy month of Ramadan. It has been an absorbing yet fascinating time in prayer and self sacrifice for the sake of love and salvation. As Christians we are called to love. We don't choose who to love, we are to love without reservations and without discrimination. Despite what we watch on tv, what we hear and what we have experienced as Americans there is absolute truth that outweighs the negative when relating to Muslims. Jesus died a horrible death in order that NO ONE should perish. And he arose, that we ALL may be free from bondage. Jesus died for you, for me and for Muslims as well. That truth breaks my heart. If Christ submitted himself to such a cruel death for Muslims, why am I not praying for them to come to the light? Why am I not on my knees crying out for salvation?
What I have learned through this experience, more now than in the years past, is that on our own effort we can not love with a selfless love. We can only love when we abide, commune, and spend time with God, who is love. My heart has enterwined with the Lord's and I have a deeply rooted love for Muslims that is ever growing. In light of this amazing experience I also realized how wonderful God has been and continues to be. The veil in my life has been torn. I am free to boldly go before God's throne of grace. As broken as I am for God's lost sheep, I am also overflowing with joy. When I look back to the days, when like a Muslim, I was blinded from knowing the glory of the Lord, I can't help but to break out in song. I rejoice in His goodness, His mercy and grace. When I think about the Lord, how he saved me, how he raised me, how he healed me- oh, thank you Jesus! I can only pray that Jews, Muslims, Buddhist and all of God's lost sheep would return to Him and experience the abundant life found only in God, through Christ Jesus.
If you are a Christian reading this, let this song be one that is unceasingly present upon your heart and mind. The faithfulness of God's love is without a doubt in my mind the fuel that keeps me going. And, if you aren't a Christian reading this, what are you waiting for? God loves you, He desires nothing more than to bless you and liberate you from the dead end pleasures this world has to offer you. Return to your Maker.
When I think about the Lord, Shane and Shane
30 Days is an admirable organization I have grown to love, support and join forces with. I encourage you to check out their website: 30 Days and get involved. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves* when being a witness of Christ to anyone. Season every word with love and not condemnation. Be not ignorant but Spirit filled. "If it doesn't point to Jesus, what's the point?" says my friend George Cuevas.
*Matthew 10:16
4 comments:
Great song, sang a slower version in my choir. It's very moving. great message! Great song pick!
This is beautiful...I can see your heart bursting at the seams. I wrote something similar this week on my blog in relation to Love and the only way to do is through abiding in Him...I have had to learn this the hard way as a mom, but His word is true and has power. What a blessing God has given you this heart, we all need to have it!
Thinking of you, my sister!
Love,
Melissa
Happy Friday sister! As always, great blog. The Spirit moveth in my sister Raquel =) The awesome thing is that in class this morning, one brother spoke about His mercies being new every day and the other finished Habakkuk with our class! I don't know if that makes sense to you? God is opening to your heart and filling it with His love. Awesome place to be right? I shall keep praying for you Raquel and we both know that our Lord will lead you where you need to go. Love you sister and keep doing what you're doing. Jesus is Lord of all....
Hi! Great blog! :)
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Thanks!
KyAnn
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