Yesterday Khalil and I met up to go over the trip to prepare and to hear what the Lord has put on our hearts for this trip, since we have submitted every step to Him. Although what it really feels like is being a red headed step child dropped off in a foreign country with your hands tied behind your back, not knowing the language, and Dad telling you good luck, seeing how you'll turn out. Exaggeration, yes. BUT I am alone with God, which honestly is not what I expected. I will have Khalil but seeing as we have to be at a certain distance most of the time, I'm really going to have to break through my skin and be in a vulnerable place among a people I've never known. PTL! Moving on...
He asked that I read Isaiah 58 which discusses the topic of fasting, since fasting has been a significant part of preparing for the trip. After thoroughly reading through all of 58 we focused on verse 1:
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!"
He asked me what the sound of a trumpet makes.....sometimes it's hard to answer questions that I know we know the answer too. Well to make it worse he asked that I make the sound of a trumpet, not in one of my "I don't care what you think moods" I had to turn the switch on, blow my trumpet and move on from slight embarrassment. But of course he is a very good teacher and good teachers interact, push and sometimes put you in uncomfortable situations. He then asked what's the difference between Louie Armstrong's trumpet and the sound of a Royal Trumpet (at least that's the sound I made, very royal I might add). I thought well I'd rather listen to Louie's trumpet then my own for instance because I think it is a tad more beautiful. Well at this point we started touching on something very interesting.
Many people are blowing some sort of trumpet, some sound beautiful but you realize after time certain keys are off or don't work. Others play it differently, some are ugly and others you find are beautiful. If I were to take verse one without reading the rest I would probably think, " Ok God so you want me to go tell people their sins, very loudly!" But first off, that's not the trumpet I blow and that's the not the sort of thing the people of Morocco will find particularly beautiful and I agree. If you continue to read the verse God talks about the sort of sound He is searching for:
Summary: Free the oppressed, lighten the burdens of the workers around you, feed the hungry, cloth the needy. Seek Me and you're light will shine through the darkness and you will be known as the restorer."
In relationship with the one true God one finds this trumpet that God's speaks of. It flows a melody of love, grace, servitude and faith. We are going to Morocco to love the people, to listen to the people. This was something that God has spoken to Khalil and I individually.
Tuesday- Travel all day Wednesday- 13 hours in Portugal-Arrive in Casablanca at 11:30 drive and hour and half back to Kenitra(home) Thursday- Drive 14 hours South to meet with a Moroccan seeking to plant a Christian church for the people(unheard of). Saturday- Sahara Desert
I will blog when I can but I have been encouraged to journal more. Things on my heart: to be shrewd and discerning to the voice of God. Spending time with Him in the moment and the culture. Stepping out of my timidity and forming relationships that will reveal His love and draw them near to Him.
Things on my brain: Ride a Camel!!!!!!!!
Alas, we talk about finding the perfect person in order to love him. Christianity teaches us that the perfect person is one who limitlessly loves the person he sees. We humans always look upward for the perfect object but in Christ love looks down to earth and loves the person it sees. If then, you wish to become perfect in love, strive to love the person you see, just as you see him, with all his imperfections and weaknesses. Love him as you see him when he is utterly changed, when he no longer loves you, when he perhaps turns indifferently away or turns to love someone else. Love him as you see him when he betrays and denies you. Love the person you see and see the person you love.
- Soren Kirekegaard
He asked that I read Isaiah 58 which discusses the topic of fasting, since fasting has been a significant part of preparing for the trip. After thoroughly reading through all of 58 we focused on verse 1:
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!"
He asked me what the sound of a trumpet makes.....sometimes it's hard to answer questions that I know we know the answer too. Well to make it worse he asked that I make the sound of a trumpet, not in one of my "I don't care what you think moods" I had to turn the switch on, blow my trumpet and move on from slight embarrassment. But of course he is a very good teacher and good teachers interact, push and sometimes put you in uncomfortable situations. He then asked what's the difference between Louie Armstrong's trumpet and the sound of a Royal Trumpet (at least that's the sound I made, very royal I might add). I thought well I'd rather listen to Louie's trumpet then my own for instance because I think it is a tad more beautiful. Well at this point we started touching on something very interesting.
Many people are blowing some sort of trumpet, some sound beautiful but you realize after time certain keys are off or don't work. Others play it differently, some are ugly and others you find are beautiful. If I were to take verse one without reading the rest I would probably think, " Ok God so you want me to go tell people their sins, very loudly!" But first off, that's not the trumpet I blow and that's the not the sort of thing the people of Morocco will find particularly beautiful and I agree. If you continue to read the verse God talks about the sort of sound He is searching for:
Summary: Free the oppressed, lighten the burdens of the workers around you, feed the hungry, cloth the needy. Seek Me and you're light will shine through the darkness and you will be known as the restorer."
In relationship with the one true God one finds this trumpet that God's speaks of. It flows a melody of love, grace, servitude and faith. We are going to Morocco to love the people, to listen to the people. This was something that God has spoken to Khalil and I individually.
Tuesday- Travel all day Wednesday- 13 hours in Portugal-Arrive in Casablanca at 11:30 drive and hour and half back to Kenitra(home) Thursday- Drive 14 hours South to meet with a Moroccan seeking to plant a Christian church for the people(unheard of). Saturday- Sahara Desert
I will blog when I can but I have been encouraged to journal more. Things on my heart: to be shrewd and discerning to the voice of God. Spending time with Him in the moment and the culture. Stepping out of my timidity and forming relationships that will reveal His love and draw them near to Him.
Things on my brain: Ride a Camel!!!!!!!!
Alas, we talk about finding the perfect person in order to love him. Christianity teaches us that the perfect person is one who limitlessly loves the person he sees. We humans always look upward for the perfect object but in Christ love looks down to earth and loves the person it sees. If then, you wish to become perfect in love, strive to love the person you see, just as you see him, with all his imperfections and weaknesses. Love him as you see him when he is utterly changed, when he no longer loves you, when he perhaps turns indifferently away or turns to love someone else. Love him as you see him when he betrays and denies you. Love the person you see and see the person you love.
- Soren Kirekegaard
