For the Love of God
What determines if I am going to make it to the finish line for God or not? Is it how much I pray or read my bible? Is it the acts of love shown for others? It is the buildings we have built in his service? What about the sacrifice in leaving the comforts of America 25 years ago and coming to the remote Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta of Botswana?
Along the way so many fall of the track. People who started off well! Pure of heart. Fully surrendered to God and who said, “yes” to Him, “Whatever the cost, Lord I'll go.” Looking at my own life, I took the path that wasn't the most glamorous. There was room for just two. I took his hand, and I walked with Him. Years of waking, years of service. What has changed?
I recently received a photo on my fb wall. It was the words of the bible, shaped like a person, embracing someone. That is the difference in the Words of the bible versus the words of any other book. It cries out “I love you” and it lives. The Bible, so intricate, so amazing, so historically accurate, yet it is so very simple and clear.
I have a close friend who, in the process of doing life, has left the God of the Bible and of her fathers, a lineage of pastors. I ask myself why? But there is a thread of something throughout her life that has plagued her. I hesitate to even say what “sin” it is because what we label sin are the big bad things. Murder, Sexual immorality, Adultery, Stealing, drunkenness, you know, the obvious things. So really, it doesn't matter what name it's called. Sin is sin. Flesh is flesh.We all sin.
The clincher is this- what will I do with my sin? Will I see it? Will I repent, which means to turn away from it? God's Word cannot embrace me, like in that photo, unless I am clean through the path God gave for forgiveness. In itself, that path, is a miracle. Therein lies the ability to be embraced by God. Its the fundamental issue in this life I embrace called Christianity. Jesus paid the price for mankind. Will I allow that price to be paid for me, Jana, a person not spotless, not pure, not holy. Far from it. His measuring stick is not the same as ours. A merciful God, why do bad things happen to good people? I don't know. I just know there is a path and I want to stay on it so help me God! It can't work for me unless I turn away from sin and let God do a work, through His Word, through the Cross, and through the Holy Spirit, whose name literally means “Helper”.
As long as I am holding the baton of GRACE and running, not my own might, but with the strength HE gives me to run, that I will endure to the end. Its not about getting there in first place. Its not a competition! Its an endurance race that means to finish is to win. Make no mistake about it, “All flesh is as grass...; the grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24,25)
Romans chapter 8 goes into full explanation, but to sum it up, here is Rm. 8:38, 39 ESV “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things resent, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing can substitute surrender to God. So, for the Love of God...surrender!
I am so glad to report that its been overcast, cool and rainy here in Maun during this 2 week holiday time at the Campus! Lorato Babies have kept everyone busy and its been so amazing to see these little ones surrunded with such love! The year ahead holds so much promise with moving into the new facility for Lorato House and the Life Center coming up every day to serve this region of Botswana. OIS school is growing and developing into a highly sought after school in the country. As we refuel for the new year, we look forward to sharing the many things that happen day after day through the dedicated staff and volunteers at Love Botswana.
I am reminded of the time when we were at my mom's in Austin, Texas for Christmas with the kids. I was so glad to be out of the sweltering desert heat of the Kalahari in Maun, Botswana. Seasons are opposite between the 2 continents. Christmas's in our part of Africa usually called for a cool salad and dip in the pool! All bundled up with our hot chocolate with whip cream on top, next to the warm winter fire, I asked my 3 young boys how it felt to have a 'real Christmas' in America. Their response, “It's just too cold to feel like Christmas”. 
It is with great excitement that we were able to host the Ngamiland Lodge operators who decided to give a party and much needed supplies to the Love Botswana Lorato House of Love’s babies and care-givers. It was our first introduction to our new facility that will be occupied in just a short time!
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