Preparing...

As I write this morning, it dawned on me that in exactly 7 days I will be on my way to Honduras. Both excitement and anticipation fill me and I do wonder what exactly God has in store for this trip. Over the past 2 years, I have been blessed to make two trips to Honduras for short-term missions projects. This trip is a bit different, however, because there is no real 'plan' or agenda for me to follow. I offered to travel back with my friend Sarah, who has been in Honduras since mid-May. What began as a casual suggestion and developed into a a trip I am so desperately awaiting, it's difficult for me to describe.

The US News is filled with reports of unrest and political uprising. While not to make light of the recent shooting and loss of life at the airport, the local news reports from Honduras itself are actually quite different. The 'reality' imposed upon us by the news media suggestions thousands of demonstrators. In speaking to my friends living there, there are a few hundred 'paid' groups who move from place to place, seeking to grab national attention from the news media. Perhaps news media isn't even an appropriate term. It's more like sensationalistic reporting and distortion of truth. Then again, that is in which the world we live, isn't it? I must wonder, however, how much we reporting we are exposed to as 'truth' and it being every bit as much twisted and construed into whatever can grab a headline. One must wonder...

So, I approach this trip with no plan, no thoughts as to what I must 'do' while I am there. I do sense this will be a trip of discovery and revelation from the Lord and for that, I am so grateful. So, to prepare for the unexpected is really quite foreign. I was talking to my friend Sarah the other day and we likened it the scripture where Jesus was commissioning His disciples.

"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light. " Matthew 10:9-10 (The Message)

Bare necessities - not a lot of equipment, travel light. OK, so I will live out my carry-on luggage for seven days. If there is one thing I am for sure, it is to take a guitar on this trip. I began playing the acoustic about 6 months ago so I am still very much a beginner. My starter guitar has the hard shell case, a new set of strings and will be my checked luggage (at the gate, of course) but of taking it, that is the only thing of which I am certain. I know a little Spanish, stressing the word little here, but I have learned to sing Jesus loves me in Spanish. I got to translate a few other verses of other songs so who knows what will transpire.

There are a few things I would like to do while I am in Honduras. One is to visit the feeding center and to meet my sponsor son, Josue. Another is to go to the city dump for food ministry there, possibly also go to the orphanage. But, if the Lord wills that none of that happen, I must be OK with that and just simply trust Him. It would be nice to visit the Valley of the Angels too and see the giant Jesus statue there. I have always wanted to be Honduras at Christmas, hopefully with my husband. I think renewing our wedding vows there, standing at the feet of Jesus would be awesome. Lord willing.....

Preparation is defined as "the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty". Just thinking about that is mind boggling! How does one prepare without planning? It's a very foreign thought process indeed. But, maybe that is the point: I'm not supposed to be thinking anyway. I'm supposed to be trusting Him for all things, great and small. So I prepare by making myself ready for service, not by making plans for things to do. That is as close as I can come to understanding what I am to do between now and next week.

Lord Jesus, grant me wisdom and discernment in this time of preparation. Help me not to get caught up in getting things ready but by readying my own heart for whatever it is You have willed. Teach me Lord, Your ways, Your thoughts Your intentions and help me to lose sight of self-interest and self-preservation. Oh Jesus, I need You so much!

My song and prayer for today...

Father listen to our earnest prayer. Jesus prayed it years ago.

That the glory You had given Him, we would somehow come to know.

Make us one according to Your plan, as in Heaven it will be.

Fill us with the truth and righteousness, You desire the world to see.

Let Your Glory and Honor fall on our face.

Holy Father, rest in this place.

The church is sick and in need of God alone. People, we must seek His face!

If we'll turn from our unrighteousness, He'll forgive our evil ways.

May the eyes of God be on us here. Lord, revive us by Your Grace.

Holy Spirit, be forever near. Saturate us in this place!

Let Your Glory and Honor fall on our face.

Holy Father, rest in this place.

Let Your Fire fall, let the wind blow, let the Glory come down.

Let Your Fire fall, let the wind blow, let the Glory come down.

words as sung by Jason Upton, Faith CD

Learning to Abide...

Abide....the word envokes thoughts of rest, peace and quiet but only at first glance. Webster's defines this word meaning as "to wait for; to accept without objection; to remain stable or fixed." Jesus frequently tells us to abide in Him all throughout His Word. He says that He alone is "The Way, The Truth and The Life" but do we trust Him to do just that? Sometimes, I think not. We are too caught up in holding onto some part of our ownselves and our own ways rather than to simply abide in Him. To abide requires one to trust completely, even if the path He leads you is unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

Dwell...to live as a resident (another Webster's definition). Christ dwells within us when we open our hearts to His Lordship. Do we also return the favor by dwelling in Him? Salvation is the easy part - that precious free gift to us that cost Him everything, born out of pure love for us. Dwelling in Him is more diffcult, that constant laying down of ourselves, that proves much harder than we ever imagined. Christ lives in me, He resides within me. Do I also dwell/reside in Him? A hard question to answer some days.

Join...to bring together so as to form a unit (to become one). Jesus prayed that we would become one as He and His Father are One. He pleads for us to draw nigh to Him, abide in Him, dwell in Him, live in Him and to join ourselves to Him. He is always faithful to john Himself to us, no matter what. He desires us to make our home in Him.

Live...to experience first hand; to attain eternal life. I am not making up these definitions, they are indeed Webster's. What is interesting is these words (abide, dwell, live and others) are all the same word used in different translations of John 15 where Christ talks about the Vine and the branches. Try using http://www.biblegateway.com/ to look up this passage, then select from various versions in the drop box.

Remain...to continue unchanged. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we remain in Him, in His Holy presence, we are transformed in His image yet we continue unchanged. His presence changes us, oh yes, but our nature takes on His likeness. Pure, holy and restored to fellowship with Him. Remain in Jesus...for to do this requires abandonment to ones own purpose solely for the sake of His Will. Teach me, Lord, to remain!

John 15...The Vine and the Branches (The Message)

"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. But remember the root command: Love one another. "