THE LATEST FROM TIM SPYKSTRA:
To The Place Where I Belong
A 31-Day Devotional on John 13-17
THE LATEST FROM TIM SPYKSTRA:
To The Place Where I Belong
A 31-Day Devotional on John 13-17
Instruments of His Peace
This past Sunday I witnessed powerful displays of God’s presence bring His peace to wounded hearts. A few days earlier in Jimsebosh township 35 homes were destroyed by fire leaving many homeless. One of those families was invited to stay in the Love In Action church. Pastor Raymond greeted the family during worship and shared their difficult situation. How they were told the shack they rented would not be offered to them once it was rebuilt. The church was asked to pray for some land needed to build them a new place, which is extremely hard to find in the crowded township.
Toward the end of the service the congregation was invited to come forward and share how God had been speaking to them during a 21 day fast they had just finished. One of the ladies told how God revealed His grace and blessings to her in new ways during the fast. As the result of all that God had done for her she wanted to give a plot of land next to her house for free to this family to build on.
This was a holy moment as you could feel the Spirit presence overtake the room. One of the family member came forward with tears running down her check struggling to get the words out. This young lady expressed her gratitude for such a gracious offer. She stated how her family had never experienced such love in all their lives seeing Jesus through the actions of the church. Pastor Raymond came up next to her and said the supplies would be purchased tomorrow and the construction would begin.
As I took all this in I thought about all the ways the Father worked through His children to reveal His transforming love and peace in the midst of so much pain. This is how His Kingdom overcomes the darkness in our world. Pastor Raymond mentioned the gift from the Oceans Board which will make rebuilding homes possible. My heart welled up with praise and thanks for all the supporters of Oceans and all who have given to make The Father’s love known in a desperate place.
Below is a prayer from Saint Francis of Assisi which captures our need to cry out to the Father to fill us with His peace to bring His hope to our hurting world. Sunday I saw this prayer answered in a supernatural way as Jesus’ love overcame the darkness and used His instruments of peace from different parts of the world. I hope you will join me in praying this Kingdom prayer to bring Christ’s love and peace to a world filled with brokenness.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
