some encouragement, I hope

I recently started reading a devotional book by Beth Moore entitled Voices of the Faithful. (Thanks Rhianna for letting me borrow it!) Anyway, today's reading I found encouraging and wanted to share this poem with you that the author penned. She is/was a missionary in Central Asia.

Tie my heart to here,

Let it beat with the pulse of the people.

Let it love and be loved.

And when it no longer beats

Let my soul rise to Thee.

Bind my heart to You,

Let it beat as one with Yours.

Let it pump compassion through my veins

And let it always be my heart's desire

To come to Thee!

This missionary wrote the above after she had a conversation with another missionary. She asked him, "How long did it take you and your wife to feel at home on the field?" She says she waited for his deep, spiritual answer. He said, "It never happens." She wondered how that could be and then he shared with them that the peace and calm does not come from ever feeling at home; however, it comes from becoming tied to the people God wants you to reach and knowing the Father's heart.

I think this is very important for any Christian, not just missionaries. Are we tied to God? Are we tied to the Father? Do we have purpose in the task God has given us...each of us to fulfill? In Ephesians 2:10 the Lord tells us that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Are you doing those things? Are you tied to the work God has for you? It may be in a different culture but for most of you, it's in YOUR very own culture...there is work for us to do but we must not ever allow the work to overcome the Person for whom we work. If we work as hard as we can for God but have not God...we will quickly burn out and have nothing left to give. If you struggle to meet God daily, I urge you, I exhort you to make it a priority because how are you ever going to speak healing words into another's life if you yourself haven't been reminded of God's promises and healing words? So, I will ask you again..(and myself) are we tied to God? If not, seek after Him for He promises to be found when we diligently seek for Him. (Jeremiah 29:13).

*and on a side note...if you are a wife and a mother this post isn't meant to make you feel guilty because you aren't out in the world leading millions of lost sinners to Christ. Your first priority, according to God's Word, is your husband and then your kids. Don't neglect them..they are part of your "good works prepared in advance for you to do." I, struggle with this A LOT! There is a certain amount of guilt that comes with being a missionary wife/mom and finding the right balance between ministry to my family and ministry to the Thais can be difficult but it gets a lot easier when I allow God to show me what He wants me to do and when I submit to and trust the leading of my husband. So, this post isn't meant to make you feel guilty...do your work as unto the Lord...you, as a wife and/or mom, perhaps have the greatest ministry on the face of the planet. Raising Godly kids isn't easy but I still exhort you to be tied to God while you do it! He will grant you wisdom and understanding and patience to endure the hard days that seem will never end! =)