It's Sunday and our last day in Haiti. It always seems hard to even remember what you did since morning at the end of these full days. Fanfan preached for us this morning and we returned to Gertrudes to give all the kids a fluoride. Wow, let's just say Haiti has a huge dental opportunity! We traveled up to the top of a mountain range bordering the city, it was beautiful and I was cooler than I have been in 7 days!
Haiti is a big deal to process and probably not much different than 80%of the world and historically 95%. It makes me so thankful for our country and the biblical foundations that have made it great, and the good we have been able to share with the world because of our abundance and conviction about freedom and justice. You realize the fragileness of the time in which we live and the difference a few choices.....a few people make. Like what if Haiti had a righteous leader for a decade. What if we got really serious about the huge opportunities we have when these kids come to America to study if we seized this opportunity to expose them to the truth of the gospel to raise up indiginous leaders to catch a vision of what part they might play in their culture when they go home. There is no end to the need....but real lasting change begins with self governence that comes from obedience to his commands. Jesus seemed to model inside out, bottom to top kind of change one heart at a time. The problem is global WE need the Lord.
I'll end with this since this is what got me to Haiti to begin with.
Isaiah 58:6
Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bands of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?
Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call on the lord and he will answer; you will cry and He will say here I am, if you remove the yoke from your midst the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.
We don't know precisely when these words were penned in Isaiah's life, but probably near the end which mean't the northern 10 tribes were already captives of the fierce, savage and powerful Assyrians leaving the remaining tribes paralyzed in fear of them and aligning themselves with godless nations rather than going to Yahweh as they watched their temple doors and implements of worship leave on the backs of donkeys bound for Assyria as tribute. Where was God? Why wasn't he answering? The point is...he was always a whisper away! When you read the chapter in context, He longed to fellowship, to tabernacle with them, but not as long as they were not serious about their personal bondage to sin and selfishness in spite of their fasting he couldn't abide with them! These were hard times for the southern tribe as nations warred against her on multiple borders; her need was great. Some of the tribes were fleeing to neighboring cities for refuge and food was scarce because of these border squirmishes. God was trying to show Himself faithful when they fully trusted Him to act on their behalf but He required them as us "to love their neighbors as themselves." He had brought this calamity on them causing them to turn to Him. He longed to be their protection from their enemies to show Himself faithful. Yes, Haiti is our neighbor and surely needs our help, but so might our neighbors in Minnesota or a U of M student. I think Gods heart breaks over the limitless power source that He is, to bring real change to our infected planet and the angels even marvel that He chooses to use us as His conduit of healing and joy and peace to the disease that has corrupted His creation. We are blessed and much will be required... no matter where we are tonight.
I'll end with this since this is what got me to Haiti to begin with.
Isaiah 58:6
Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bands of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?
Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call on the lord and he will answer; you will cry and He will say here I am, if you remove the yoke from your midst the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.
We don't know precisely when these words were penned in Isaiah's life, but probably near the end which mean't the northern 10 tribes were already captives of the fierce, savage and powerful Assyrians leaving the remaining tribes paralyzed in fear of them and aligning themselves with godless nations rather than going to Yahweh as they watched their temple doors and implements of worship leave on the backs of donkeys bound for Assyria as tribute. Where was God? Why wasn't he answering? The point is...he was always a whisper away! When you read the chapter in context, He longed to fellowship, to tabernacle with them, but not as long as they were not serious about their personal bondage to sin and selfishness in spite of their fasting he couldn't abide with them! These were hard times for the southern tribe as nations warred against her on multiple borders; her need was great. Some of the tribes were fleeing to neighboring cities for refuge and food was scarce because of these border squirmishes. God was trying to show Himself faithful when they fully trusted Him to act on their behalf but He required them as us "to love their neighbors as themselves." He had brought this calamity on them causing them to turn to Him. He longed to be their protection from their enemies to show Himself faithful. Yes, Haiti is our neighbor and surely needs our help, but so might our neighbors in Minnesota or a U of M student. I think Gods heart breaks over the limitless power source that He is, to bring real change to our infected planet and the angels even marvel that He chooses to use us as His conduit of healing and joy and peace to the disease that has corrupted His creation. We are blessed and much will be required... no matter where we are tonight.
Thanks for praying guys, Kirk for giving your blessing and your hard earned moola, my kids for picking up the slack, friends that gave me push to Haiti, and Jeff and staff for your generous hospitality, and...... God for another view of Himself.
Blessings,
Mare
Mare
No comments:
Post a Comment