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In this month's daily devotionals Jean shares from her personal prayer journal during her recent short-term missions trip in Romania.
Monday 8-6-01
Dear Lord,
Lord our hearts were challenged today as we experienced our first taste of life in Romania. When we arrived at the airport in Bucharest You saw the men who came up and offered to carry our bags. They were told by our translators we did not need the help, but they went ahead and carried our bags anyway and then ask for money. Lord help us to understand mercy, when to offer help, when not to offer help in these situations. They carried our bags without permission, so we did not offer them any money in return. We all had mixed feelings about this. Lord what do we do? How do we reflect Christ always? We want to show Your love, but we also want to use wisdom. Lord, we are Your hands, Your words; we know we are to express the kindness and goodness of God to those around us. We are all lost without You, completely fallen and dead, but perfectly sanctified through Jesus Christ. Lord, would You make up for our inadequacy, show those of these men who don't know You, Your mercy and Your goodness. Thank You Jesus for constantly interceding for us according to our Father's will, we desperately need Your prayers O loving Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Jean
For further study: Revelation 5:9, Luke 2:28-32
Tuesday 8-7-01
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the opportunity to be a part of building Your body. The trip is not an end in itself, but it is part of Your work of calling people, even our own team members to Yourself. Lord help me as a team leader to consider my own self last. Help me to do what is best for the team. I see my need for order and competence and professionalism chaffing with the team's need for rest and sleep. We are exhausted from the travel, but not well prepared for the work ahead of us tomorrow. Give us all grace O Lord and let us see Your work that transcends our breadcrumbs of a Vacation Bible School. Take this offering Lord and multiply it I pray. Also, Lord please give me the words to say, the message to deliver to the congregation Wednesday night. I did not come prepared to teach and yet Lord I totally trust in You and Your Spirit to provide the bread for that meeting Wednesday.
In Jesus' precious name,
Jean
For further study: Mark 6:41-44, Proverbs 27:17
Wednesday 8-8-01
Dear Lord,
Ouch, the pruning has begun. I feel exposed, all my rough edges beginning to show. I snapped at another leader last night in front of the whole team. I am frustrated that I don't always feel on the same page with my co-leaders. Lord please protect others from my sharp tongue. Keep Your hand upon me, that I might not cause harm. I need You to teach me O Lord. I am frustrated and aggravated, but probably it is my ego and pride that hurts the most. Lord let me be grieved over my own sin against my brother. Give me the grace and the opportunity to speak to my brother and the rest of the team in love and humility about my behavior.
In Jesus' name,
Jean
For further study: John 15:1-2, Romans 12:3
Thursday 8-9-01
Dear Lord,
Early this morning You woke me up with the bread that I requested for the meeting Wednesday evening (tonight!) The message was on my heart and it flowed through my pen: How to love to your children as You have loved us. You came and spent time with us, You became flesh and dwelt amongst us and touched us with Your compassion, You give us all good gifts, You served with an attitude of humility, You encouraged us with every word that came out of Your mouth. God, You never tear us down with Your words, on the contrary, You always build us up in love. So teach us Lord through the lesson tonight how to love our children as You have loved us. Thank You Lord for Your Spirit and Your faithfulness to me.
In Jesus' precious name,
Jean
For further study: John 15:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Friday 8-10-01
Dear Lord,
Thank You Father for the loving words of correction from my dear sister who joined me in prayer in the early morning hours. She ushered Your presence into the room where I had been praying - For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Lord I don't want to close people's hearts with my sharp tongue and abrupt ways, I want to be an instrument of healing. Thank You that I have loving friends who will gently speak the truth to me as led by Your Spirit, and then not leave it at that, but will consistently bear me up before Your throne of grace.
You are my all-loving Lord,
Jean
For further study: Psalm 141:5, Proverbs 12:18
Monday 8-13-01
Dear Lord,
You are exceeding our expectations. All the works of Your hand our wonderful! We trust that the group of 50 or so children and their teachers at the park yesterday that wandered into our vacation bible school (VBS) were led by Your hand to hear the gospel presented by one of our young evangelists. Who ever would have thought that You might use her "wordless" bracelet presentation of the gospel to reach this unexpected group of children and their teachers who all prayed along with us to receive Christ? Lord I trust that at that moment You quickened the truth of Your word to the hearts of many in that group. Praise be to the name of Jesus! We must trust in You O Lord for the growth and the fruit that will be forth coming. Your word does not return empty, but achieves the purpose for which it was sent.
In the name of my Savior Jesus,
Jean
For further study: John 3:8, Isaiah 55:11
Tuesday 8-14-01
Dear Lord,
Help me Lord. Help me to see that as a leader the work is not in what we accomplish, not in what we produce, but the work is in the relationships that are developed and strengthen in Christ and one another. This dear Father is a valuable lesson for me. It is so American to want to produce!! And yet the fruit that bears Your name is rarely a tangible thing like a building or a book or a VBS. It is the work that You are doing in the hearts of the people involved in those projects. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Help me O Lord to put relationships before duty. Let me not be a stumbling block to those You have placed on my watch. Lord show me how to put relationships before schedules, relationships before agendas, relationships before itineraries, and relationships before my needs.
In the Name of my Lord,
Jean
For further study: John 13:12-15, 1 Peter 2:7-8
Wednesday 8-15-01
Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving me eyes to see Christ's beauty in each of my team members. It would be likely that I would focus on the negative if left to my own devices. But You did not leave me an orphan, You gave me Your Spirit and so You gave me Your eyes. You gave me Your Spirit and so You gave me Your heart. You gave me Your Spirit and so You gave me Your mind and Your truth. Thank You Lord for Your beauty in each of my team members. Thank You Lord that You are making them more beautiful in Christ: revival in one, a quiet awaking in another, repentance in still another. You are healing past wounds, imparting Your joy, increasing our faith, opening the eyes of the blind, and smoothing the rough edges. All these are Your handiwork dear Lord. You mold us and make us into the image of our first-born Brother. What a beautiful thing!
I love You Lord,
Jean
For further study: Ecclesiastes 3:11, Isaiah 43:18-19
Thursday 8-16-01
Dear Lord,
Thank You Father for Your extraordinary grace lavished on all of us. The children's outreach in the city of Bucharest brought out 700 children to hear the gospel message and to receive the children's catechism. You were glorified through dance and song and drama in that overcrowded, musty theatre.
I also must thank You Lord for the signs of life springing up everywhere in the souls of my team members. Where they were once doubting their purpose in being in Romania - "What are we doing here? They don't need us." They are now beginning to see Your purpose and plan. They are now beginning to understand Your work like never before. Continue this work and the opening of the eyes of their hearts - for Your glory.
In Jesus' precious name,
Jean
For further study: John 17:26, Ephesians 1:18
Friday 8-17-01
Dear Lord,
Who are the missionaries and who are those being ministered to? Tonight at dinner with the Roman family, me and my two other team members were blessed 100 fold. You brought me 1000's of miles to be built up in my faith. I sat at the feet of a man with the gift of faith who shared His testimony of trusting in You for providing for his family after he lost his job because of his faith. You, Oh Lord, have prospered him. You have provided for all his needs in many splendid ways, and especially by building up his treasury in heaven that will not be eaten away by rust and moth.
Continue to have Your way with this family, I pray.
In the name of Jesus, my Lord and my Savior,
Jean
For further study: Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6
Monday 8-20-01
Dear Lord,
Not only are there signs of life everywhere, but there are signs of restoration. You, Oh Lord, are called the "Repairer of Broken Roads and Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." (Isaiah 58:12). You have brought me across the vast oceans to minister in Your name, to apply the Balm of Gilead to the wounds of the past by Your Holy Spirit. You, Oh Lord, want to heal. You, Oh Lord, want to restore. You, Oh Lord, want to rebuild and You are doing it all over the world. You humble me Lord by allowing me the privilege of speaking words of comfort, compassion and healing to those You love, to those You care for, to those You are jealous for. Bless Your holy name Oh Lord God of Israel. Continue Your work of restoration in the family of God and set the captives free.
In His precious name,
Jean
For further study:Isaiah 9:6, 61:1
Tuesday 8-21-01
Dear Lord,
I am in heaven, as long as I keep my eyes upon you Oh Lord. I am traveling across Romania on a train. The conditions are not what we are use to, being from the US, especially the bathroom. We are all quickly learning to apply 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. It caused me to think of the many who had ridden on trains to their deaths in concentration camps during the years of Nazi Germany. What do I have to complain about? Lord help our souls to give You praise always, no matter what our circumstances. You provide Oh Lord; give us eyes to see Your provision and to trust Your hand that guards our lives.
In the name that is above every name,
Jean
For further study: James 1:2-4, Matthew 8:18-22
Wednesday 8-22-01
Dear Lord,
The God of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers and yet it is He that gives sleep to those He loves. Thank You Lord for the fun, friendship and rest that we received on the train last night. Thank You for eyes to see the beauty of the Transylvania countryside. Thank You Lord for the hospitality of our host families in Jibou. It is an amazing thing Lord that people would come out early in the morning and fight over us, as to who was going to stay in their homes. Father, we often must beg and plead for people to open their homes to those who come to our church that need accommodations, I am no exception. And yet these people, who have so little, are so eager to give out of their poverty. Once again Lord I must ask myself, "who is the missionary and who is the one being ministered to?" You are showing me so much Lord. I want so much more of You in my life. I open my heart wide to You Lord and I yield to You all those things that are filling up this vessel besides Your Holy Spirit.
Be gracious and merciful to me Oh Lord, for I am a sinner,
Jean
For further study: Matthew 10:8, Acts 2:42-47
Thursday 8-23-01
Dear Lord,
I don't think we have felt so overwhelmed and so in need of You since the trip began. This afternoon we walked into a construction situation that was totally unexpected. The situation was ripe for conflict, discouragement and embarrassment. What else could we do but depend on You. We prayed that like the craftsman, Bezalel (Exodus 31:1), who worked on the first tabernacle, whom You filled with Your Spirit, with skill, ability and knowledge to do all kinds of crafts that You would do the same for each of us. Lord You heard these prayers, You worked out conflict amongst us, You organized the leaders and gave each team member the strength, stamina and know how to perform all kinds of work for Your glory. You are able and ready to anoint Your Holy Ones who humble themselves before You. You are gracious and loving and give us success despite our own shortcomings.
We love you Lord God Almighty.
Jean
For further study: Isaiah 66:2, James 4:10
Friday 8-24-01
Dear Lord,
Two days ago we walked into a construction situation that was totally unexpected. We thought that we came to install pine paneling, and we found ourselves in the midst of the second story of a small church that needed to be finished: rooms needed to be framed out, dry wall needed to be hung and insulation needed to be installed. "What, Oh Lord," I asked You, "is Your work for us here?"
In the end we see that Your work was the testimony to our Romanian brothers and sisters of how we worked, not necessarily what we accomplished. Everyone - men, women and teenagers all worked together in harmony to accomplish the task at hand, and all of it was bathed in prayer as each team member took 15 minutes or more to pray in shifts while the construction was being done.
Lord, Give us eyes to see Your work. Truly, it is not difficult to construct a building Lord, but doing so and allowing Your light to shine through us in every way as a testimony of Your grace and truth and encouragement to one another is a true work.
In Christ's name,
Jean
For further study: Colossians 3:12-14, 23-24
Monday 8-27-01
Dear Lord,
It is late at night and I am lying on my bed in the home of my host family and I realize that You have ignited my heart with maternal love for yet another young man. O Lord, I did not ask for my heart to be aroused in this manner did I? Though I did wonder whether my heart would ever be tender towards another child again after the loss of the one from my life that I wanted to adopt as my own. But it would not be so. But now Lord I am confused. My heart is longing for this teenager as if he were my own son. I am confused and surprised at these feelings that I did not expect. You have made my heart so tender and the pain is often great for the things of God. Lest You think I complain, please know Lord that I would always choose pain over numbness, because at least with pain I know that I am still alive and feel I know a little more of Your heart as well. Lord help me to understand Your ways in my life. Lord if there is a relationship to be had here, let it be so and direct our paths according to Your Spirit and Your word.
Your loving daughter,
Jean
For further study:Psalm 121:1-2, 1 Samuel 1:12-17
Tuesday 8-28-01
Dear Lord,
Your answers come so swiftly. Oh Lord, I do not pretend to understand the whole, but only the little that You have shed the light of Your truth on. I see now that Your heart is tender like this for all Your children. Your heart beats with love for each of us. How do You bear the pain, the longing for Your children - thankfully You are Almighty God and yet You feel such great love for each of us. Thank You for showing me a portion of the intensity with which You love us through the connection You have made in my heart with this young man.
I love You Lord,
Jean
For further study: 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ezekiel 16:8
Wednesday 8-29-01
Dear Lord,
You have fed my soul in Romania, especially here in Jibou. I feel like I have experienced a taste of what the first church in Acts must have been like. Eating together, working together, praying and worshiping together, it was like heaven to me. When can I go back Lord? What must I do to experience this all the time? At 9:30 PM half of the church escorted us by foot to the train station and waved us off. It was a joyous and bittersweet occasion. What love and support and fellowship. One could say they had nothing better to do, but what better thing to do than to encourage one another and build up the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love...(Ephesians 4:16). Thank You Father for encouraging us greatly through the Lord's Army Church in Jibou. Thank You Father for giving us a clearer picture of what Your church is to look like. I can only hope and pray that we encouraged them half as much as they encouraged us.
In Christ's precious and glorious name,
Jean
For further study: 1 Peter 2:4-5, Revelation 21:3-4
Thursday 8-30-01
Dear Lord,
This is my last night in Romania and it is very late. I tried to go to bed, but my heart longs to speak with You so I rise and quietly move into the directors office where it is quiet and comfortable and dimly lit. Lord, You must teach us about mercy. I think I saw Christ last night as we were waiting for our train in the station in Jibou. The Associate Pastor of the Lord's Army Church was approached by a Gypsy boy, possible around 6 years old, begging for money for his baby sister. He had the drill down and obviously did this for a living. While the rest of us stood around not knowing what to do or how to respond to this street urchin, the pastor looked down at this child with the love of Christ radiating from his face. He spoke so sweetly to him and offered to buy him some bread, which the child refused, he insisted on getting money. This pastor did not see a con artist standing before him, he saw a lost child of God that needed the compassion of Christ. Help us all Lord to be merciful, as Thou art merciful. I am so glad that You, Oh Lord are not a respecter of persons, judging one to be more worthy of mercy than another, for we are all in need of Your mercy.
In the name of my merciful Savior,
Jean
For further study: Leviticus 23:22, Luke 6:35-36
Friday 8-31-01
Dear Lord,
I love You! Paharul meu este plin de da peste el. My cup is full and running over, with both joy and sadness. We are leaving this afternoon to return to Florida. This morning we visited the People's Palace, the second largest building in the world. Ceausescu built this palace on the backs and by the blood of the Romanian people. It was a profound experience for me to walk in the halls of this place.
Providentially, Ceausescu and his wife were executed before the palace was finished and so, they never occupied this incredible structure. As we drove up to the building, I began to weep as I recalled that while the evil leader was building this palatial home he was also exporting all the milk out of the country so that there was no milk for the children of Romania.
A Romanian friend and brother in Christ shared with me that there is still some bitterness in his own heart left over from the oppression he and his countrymen experienced under the terror of Ceausescu. He recalls having only hard salami to eat while Ceausescu was building this monolith and eating extravagant, multi-course meals every day. As I walked through the magnificent halls of this place with my friend, I could not hold back the tears - I grieved for every Romanian oppressed by this evil man. Lord I thank You for the privilege of grieving with and for my Romanian brothers and sisters. Their freedom was taken from them and many still are not sure what freedom really is even today.
Lord I pray that You would plow under the fallow ground of their hearts that was hardened by the evil one during his reign in Romania, pull the thorns and release healing into the hearts of every Romanian in Christ.
In Your loving and merciful name,
Jean
For further study: Psalm 107:13-15, 19-22
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