Next Stop – Togo, Africa, Hospital of Hope

It has been five years since I last blogged from Africa! 

Much has occured....Deaths and New life all mixed in! There is way too much to even summarize, but I now understand how "Death" and "Life" can be used in both a physical and a spiritual sense. I have navigated through both!

Now I am at a season that offers me the time, health and finances to "Go" and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the world. I could have chose any country, but my heart was led back to Africa. 

Over the next few weeks I will share a little of the journey that has led to this choice, but in the midst, I thought I would first lay down some quick disclaimers and also the "why" I am going. 

 

I will preface with DISCLAIMERS………

PLEASE do not analyze everything I say.

 

PLEASE  know that I may take some scripture out of context because I did not know what I did not know at the time. YOU will need to read your Bible for ALL truth.

 

PLEASE  know that my “heart” (*) will demonstrate a wide range of emotions, thoughts, and fluctuations. What I think today, I may think completely differently tomorrow because the Lord has revealed to me more insight. 

 

PLEASE don’t get frustrated if I did not spell check or if my grammar is lacking. Sometimes I am so excited to pull together a “lesson” that I learned, and I hit “send” before I edit it, other times I lack proper grammar wisdom, and other times I am jsut too tired to edit!

 

PLEASE  know that this Blog is just me and my little brain attempting to capture what I see the Lord doing on a daily basis. 

 

PLEASE know that I have sooooo much more to say about everything I say, so all those (*) next to a word mean that I have a little more to say about it at the end. I learned that some just want cliff notes and not a big message. 

 

So, IF you can tolerate these disclaimers, please journey with me in His GRACE.(*)

 

I admit that I hesitated to start a Blog because: 

1) It  is time consuming

2) I desired to step away and to engage  fully with what the Lord has set before me and not be distracted with blogging.

 3) It’s pretty risky to be transparent when I know I am walking into unfamiliar territory and my thoughts may be all over the place. No judging PLEASE!

 

But, with that said, I quickly realized that this “mission” (*) is not just for me. It is for all that journey with me. It is for all those whom are praying as I am away. 

It (the mission) is a continuation of the Epic plan (*)  that the Lord laid out in His Word for all of mankind. It is to be shared and not hid under a basket (*)

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What I hope to do is be able to share with you what the Lord has done, and not what I have done. This “mission” is not about me but what the Lord can do through me IF I follow His lead (*).

 

Enough for tonight. The following are my extras :)

(*) Heart– Man’s heart is prideful and deceitful. “The heart is deceitful about all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

 

(*) Grace – Free, unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.       (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

 

(*) Mission– “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” 

Mark 16:15

(*) Basket - "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a cancle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". 

Matthew 5:14-16

 

 

(*) Epic plan (summary) – The GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 

 

1)  We need a Savior because sin separates man from God.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. 

Romans 3:23

 

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. 

Romans 5:12

 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". 

Romans 6:23

 

2)  God came down from heaven in the form of man (Jesus) to be our sacrifice, to  save us from ourselves. 

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” 

John 3:16

 

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”. 

John 3:17

 

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

 

3) All are given an opportunity to choose to believe and serve the Lord.

 

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in his heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”

 Romans 10:9

 

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”.  

Revelation 3:20 KJV

 

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” 

John 1:12

 

To join in the Lord’s family

1)  Admit that you are a sinner

2)  Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God’s forgiveness.

3)  Believe that Jesus Christ die for you on the cross and rose from the grave. 

4)  Through prayer (talking to God) invite Jesus Christ to come in and guide your life. 

 

If this makes  no sense to you, invite someone for coffee who it does make sense to and ask them to explain it to you!! J

 

Don’t miss this chance!! A day will come when it is too late!!!