This morning I studied Acts 3, where Peter and John heal a crippled man at the gate called Beautiful. Beth brought out some very meaningful observations that pierced me this morning.
- Peter and John were on their way to the Temple that morning. Despite the fact that they were fresh followers of Jesus, it wouldn't have crossed their minds to drop their precious Jewish heritage. So often I want to "move past" my past, but while many things have changed (glory to God!), He gave me each one of those experiences for a reason. I want to be willing to embrace the experiences and lessons of my past as I move to minister in Puerto Supe.
- Peter and John were not so busy getting to the Temple that they missed the beggar at the gate. There are so many beggars here, and pretty much everyone in Puerto Supe is in need. I want to be the kind of woman who sees each one and knows that her agenda is loving people, not advancing on the to-do list.
- Peter and John gave what they had. I love the power in Acts 3:6-- "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" There are a lot of things I'm not and many more things I don't have to give. It's about time I give up trying to be other people and minister in the gifts the Holy Spirit is manifesting in me.
After I finished my reading, all I could do was sit on that sofa and sing, eyes wide open looking up at a yucky cloudy sky. I know that the Lord was pleased with my song, even if no one else would have liked it very much.
When I came back inside, Tim was looking up Hillsong in Spanish on the computer. Last year, our friend Sarah D came back from Australia with this CD in English and we fell in love with it. We found out a few days ago that the same songs were released in Spanish, I think with the same singers actually. Tim found on YouTube a video of "Mighty to Save" in concert dubbed with the Spanish track. Before long, I was in tears. I can't really explain what happened, but somehow, I saw all these people genuinely (it seemed) happy in Jesus, offering Him their all, and I was touched. Beyond that, I was moved to hear that worship in Spanish. It evoked in me such desire to see that kind of worship break free in Puerto Supe, in Peru, in Latin America, all over the globe. What could be more precious than people caught up in powerful worship of God?
It brings me back to the breathtaking picture of heaven in Revelation 7:9-10-- "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"
Oh Lord, you are worth every bit of our praise, our possessions, our lives. I can't wait to see that one day- people of all colors and cultures and languages captured by your beauty and telling you so. Would you show me here on earth a little glimpse of what that might look like? Would you use our offering to bring a few more people into that picture? Would you touch Puerto Supe and send an earthquake of life through it? Would you pour out living water on a dry desert? Show off your power and love, Lord, and let me be there to see it! You're all I want and need, my breath, my food, my life. Thank you for your great love and how it has taken my breath away.
I love "mighty to save" - it's our song of the month at church, but beyond that, it is a wonderful worship-provoking song. It makes my heart sing.
love -t