Thinking of My Missionary Friends

I've got some friends who are in the field in Guatemala doing mission work. They're part of a team that has traveled to a distant land to teach 'vacation Bible school' to a few thousand children. I admire them for answering God's call in such a tangible way. And I rejoice with them for by their efforts someone, a foreigner, may come to know God as the Savior.

The passage for today is;
"“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name." (1 Kings 8:41-43, NIV)

Contextually, this is Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple he has built to glorify the name of God. But to me, forgive my personal interpretation, this is talking about why my friends have gone on mission.

They have gone on mission so that 'men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm' and so that they will 'come and pray.' And God, who reigns in heaven above will hear their prayers and he will do what they ask. When they pray "forgive me" He will be faithful and just to forgive. When they pray "cleanse me" He will cleanse them from every stain, all of them! When they pray "live in me", no matter the language, He will come and dwell within them and they too will become God's temple and they too will bear the name of God in the form of "Christian."

God is cool. His word is awesome and the way he teaches me, so loving. Now if I could just get out of this chair.

Praising Him,
Carl