We made it to home church today and really loved it. Stephen led worship today, which he really enjoys and is a great opportunity to be involved. I’m sure it was quite a sight to see us driving down the rode with a guitar standing up between us on the motorbike!
During the message today, Matt was talking through Sabbath and what God has been teaching him about rest here as he serves out of passion for Burma. It struck me that in this room of about thirty people, all of us were here to love the people of Burma, really. That is an assumption, but it’s generally true: if you’re a foreigner in Mae Sot, it’s generally to work with Burma in some way; and if you’re here and in a home church, you’re typically a missionary here to serve the people of Burma.
How odd. For the past few years, we’ve celebrated the few people who love Burma around us; we’ve asked all of you to share in this passion. And suddenly, we’re surrounded by a community that loves the people of Burma, reads all the books, knows all the documentaries, and are learning the language, too. It’s amazing to have someone in church say something about us, collectively, hoping for Burma to be free some day. It brought a new meaning to this community: better in some ways and perhaps bad in others, but a different perspective.
And we sang “Your Grace is Enough” as the last song, and I simply love the bridge:
“So remember your people, remember your children, remember your promise, Oh God.”
This is one of my repeated cries for Burma, that the Lord remember the Karen people, and all the hurting in Burma. That he would remember his hungry, wounded, and crying children.
I think of the promise in Luke 18:7-8, “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
This verse challenges me to my core. Do I truly cry to him day and night? For me specifically, do I cry to him on behalf of Burma day and night? And further, do I believe that he will bring justice speedily, and that he will respond (and is responding) to these cries? And the last line particularly strikes my spirit: even with his faithfulness, how faithless am I to not cry for these things?
Crazy–that Luke passage was exactly the subject of our sermon today. I was deeply moved by it. The big idea of the sermon was that God is not like the unrighteous judge in the parable, that we don’t have to badger Him to bring about justice or that we don’t earn His answer through stockpiling prayers, but just praying as we feel burdened moves our God who’s so quick to act on our behalf. I love to hear you’re praying for that kind of justice in Burma. I have been praying that He might even bring it through you :). It was cool because in that sermon, I was reminded of calling Dad for directions the other night and how excited he was to help me out as I careened around the backroads of Bryant, completely lost. Dad is Mr. GPS, so I could even hear the enthusiasm to help in his voice. It was so comforting as I thought about how my answers to prayer weren’t as dependent on me as I thought–especially the answers that weren’t what I wanted, that they weren’t my fault, so to speak. Praying with you that our eager God and judge will rush to aid the people of Burma–and for all of our peace, joy, and faith while we wait for His timing. I love that Shane and Shane song you guys know, based on the Scripture: Ask and I’ll give the nations to you… You all are so loved.
Keep up the good work, I know God will help you with this-I’m praying for you & the people from Burma-this is a friend of your grandma & grandpa Walker, I met you at their house, not to long before you went over-God Bless you & your work
How cool that at Janel’s church (Redeemer) they used the same Scripture you had and at Fellowship, when I walked into the sanctuary they were playing “Your Grace is Enough”! Amazing how half way around the world, we were worshipping God with identical Scripture and song.