just beyond

April soon will slip away

the rains retreat, to hide in a place

we will not know, umbrellas 

useless now, tightly furled

so too our season in Africa

tumbles towards its end

leaving bumps, scratches

bruises, time alone can heal

yet there, just beyond reach

not quite in focus, waits

an outburst of new

glory unfolding, certain

as life

I show you specified new things from this time forth, 

even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known. 

They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word], 

and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, 

lest you should say, Behold, I knew them!

Isaiah 48:6-7 Amplified

Healing a heart

Yesterday I received Bonnie’s email informing me that the topic for this week Faith Jam was to share a heart healing moment and before I had even a moment to ponder what I would write about I received another message in my inbox from Compassion International with the subject line Blogger assignment - 6 year old boy needs heart surgery

I don’t believe God could have spoken more clearly than this seeming coincidence.

There have been countless occasions when God has reached into my heart to touch exactly the spot that hurt most, healing in ways not possible for anyone but Him. These were places of raw emotion, aching areas in my mind and spirit. In all of my pain and distress, however, my physical heart remained sound.

In southwest Burkina Faso, Abdoul Fatao Kone is living a different story. Six year old Fatao has a ventricular septal defect, a hole in his heart. His parents have known about his condition since he was one year old but have never been able to afford the proper medical care. They attempted to heal little Fatao with traditional methods which left him with scars and small holes where healing herbs were placed in his body.

In December 2010 Fatao was registered with Compassion’s Sponsorship program and was seen by a physician and a cardiologist who confirmed that he requires surgery. For this surgery, Fatao needs to travel to India. The total cost of his surgery, including passport, visa, travel, the surgery itself and follow-up care, is $23,000.

Would you take a moment to pray and ask the Lord how He might want you to help.
You can read more about Fatao on Compassion’s blog and you can donate online as well.

Fatao’s parents will not be able to travel with him to India.  I can’t imagine how frightening this will be for such a young boy.  When you give online you will be able to write a letter to Fatao which will be read to him before his surgery. Your words can encourage and strengthen him and breathe the hope and love of Jesus into his spirit.

Together, as the body of Christ we can surely give this young life the heart healing moment he needs.


Jamming with Bonnie today as I pray... for Fatao and all other broken hearts


 

The honesty of a friend

I received an email from a friend this morning.  Not an acquaintance, not someone who drifts about the fringes of my life, but someone who is willing to dive in deep with me into the things of God.

She was in the middle of a lenten exercise and wrote:

Today's challenge is to ask a few good friends what it is that they think makes me unique... gifts...talents... strengths... weaknesses

I prayed and I pondered and I emailed her my thoughts.  I also asked if she would answer the same about me.  I share her reply here as a demonstration of true friendship:

What I see is someone who walks in integrity...

Someone who truly loves the Lord her God for who He is, rather than merely for what He does for her... Wanting His fellowship as opposed to merely the gifts that often times come along with it.  

I see someone whose heart is broken by the things that break His... Hungry children for one thing... Hypocricy within the church for another... And who takes seriously the great commission to, "Go and make disciples."

I see someone who also does not take herself too terribly seriously, who knows that while there is a time to be serious, it is a good and Godly thing to be able to laugh, even at herself.

On the other hand, I also see someone who is still reeling a bit from the hurt she has experienced in past church situations, and who, quite honestly, isn't yet past it... Someone from whose's heart still occasionally leaks that odd hurtful word, NOT intentionally, but instead, simply because it is still raw, still in need of healing. And there probably isn't all that much you can do about that either, except to be aware of it, and keep it before the Lord in prayer, waiting for Him to do what He needs to in order to bring that healing about in His perfect way and time

Perhaps many would offer the opening words of support.  I was pleased to see that my love for God and my heart for His hurts were clearly displayed.  It was, however, as I continued reading, down to the "on the other hand" that I felt truly known.

Wounds from a sincere friend  are better than many kisses from an enemy
Proverbs 27:6 NLT

Yes, life among others can be hard. Yes, hearts can be broken and raw. And the walk through healing can seem to take an impossibly long time.

Today I want to celebrate the God Who does the miraculous, the One Who provides us the opportunity to learn to love each other in the same way He loves us.

 Rejoicing today with Jennifer in how extraordinary Is our God.