Lessons

It ıs an amazing thing to be in another country. Its awfully romantıc and sincerely beautiful. The people are beautiful and kind and refreshing as all get out. They are wonderfully different. Cyprus and the Cypriot people have once again demanded my attention, time, energy, money, and prayers. For some reason though this place has had such a weighing affect on me that its difficult to breathe almost let alone smile. As weird as this sounds ; I believe the Lord has allowed this for me to feel the spiritual condition of this place. A place that knows nothing about the quality of life Jesus offers each of us.
However, there is this other thing going on. The thing I really don't want to share. That is the wretchedness that is in me. The sinful man that I am and the battle that is always raging for my heart. This place has brings to surface the condition of your heart, your deepest sin, and your greatest longings. I was blessed just two days ago to read Psalm 38 and discovered my brother David felt just as I did in this last week. "Why my soul are you downcast" he would say over and over again, and I found myself pleading with God as David did to "REMEMBER NOT THE SINS OF MY YOUTH AND TO RELEASE MY FROM THE GUILT OF MY SIN". It was at this moment that it dawned on me. This weeks toughness and the hardship and struggle its been to pray and be alone with God and for others. Though I felt useless and my prayers felt unheard, He was with me! The Lord gives grace to the humble, and he is close to the downtrodden, and empowers the weak.
I began to meditate on Jesus being my shepherd, and he reminded me of the verse in Psalm 51 that says, "May the bones you have crushed rejoice!". For shepherds when they discovered their sheep had broken a bone, would break it the rest of the way, set it straight, and then carry them. So though I didn't see it, God was breaking me, so He could set me straight, and make not mistake about it He is carry me in this place!