Thursday, April 4, 2013

An Affected Heart

Our eyes are extremely important in order to help in everything we do everyday.  Often, what we see stimulates and determines some of our actions.  Psalm 34:8 also includes the spirit man's eyesight along with the tasting. Paul's prayer (in Eph. 1:18) was that the eyes of our heart be enlightened.  The heart (in this reference) does not indicate the seat of emotion as we more commonly refer to, but rather of thought and will.  Our understanding needs to be right so that we can fully comprehend all that God has called us to.
Veronica at "Theshticks.com" has captured my heart in her drawing of me praying in a village in Papua New Guinea. After looking at some of the pictures I sent her I was totally at peace with what she would come up with.

 My eyes affected my heart the first time I viewed slides from a widowed missionary lady who worked in the Phillipines teaching the women and children how to read their own language.  Little did I know God was going to use her to start praying for my husband and I.  Soon after meeting her we begin to get the New Tribes magazine, Brown Gold delivered to us monthly.  Every article we read drew us to missions.   We were heavily involved in evangelism in our community, enjoying our  ministry.  But those articles about the few who were willing to go to the unreached tucked in  remote places stirred us.  Truth is, they did more then stir us, they changed us into people of God who would willingly say, Your will God, not ours.  I love the fact God works is a progression most of the time and His timing is perfect.   About four years after meeting this missionary lady we entered into the New Tribes training that would teach us some ways to live in remote places.  It was exciting and scary at the same time but so worthwhile.

Nothing could really prepare us though for the affect  of finally getting to our first overs seas assignment.  God begin to build on the training of how it takes a team to reach those living in place that sometimes even a helicopter can"t reach.   I think I really understood for the first time why God gave us feet. 

I often write mission posts because it where my heart is.   I know some may not believe this but those who live without a gospel witness will die and go to hell without a chance to believe.   Ace and I are grateful for those who are part of our team, praying and giving so we in turn could go.  God uses many different ways to challenge us all to obey Him...these are just a few He used.  A 50 year widow missionary women, a magazine full of God stories  of going to the ends of the earth, and a pastor with a heart for missions.  When we sit down to tell him what we believed God's will was for us, we said, my brother, you preached us out of this church by keeping before us the needs of the world.  The missionaries we met while in training only highten the desire to go and be a part of telling the gospel.   Never in a million years could the Sunday school teacher who invited us to visit her church could have known what God had in store for us.  But she too was part of the process. 

               How has your eyes affected your heart?              
 



                                                    

20 comments:

  1. I admire your heart of mission and the eyesight that is viewed through His own plans.

    People should experience the joy of witnessing, when people see and understand for the very first time what Jesus did for them, for us. How His blood and body became a sacrifice to ransom us from eternal damnation.

    My blessing for you and for Ace and for all the service you do for God and for the love of others.

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  2. I have always felt being a missionary is a spiritual gift. There is no doubt where your heart is. Continue to share your heart Betty.

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  3. Lolita, oh I have missed you. Did you get my little gift yet? I am grateful someone took the time to tell me the gospel. Blessing my wise sister.

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  4. Bill, never heard it said that one of the spiritual gifts was being a missionary. Ace always says, every one is not called to go overseas but all should struggle with it. His wisdom is beyond mine. The Word makes it clear that some go beyond and some stay at home to minister such as James and the ones in the first church. It is to them Paul came to report.
    Ace has never wanted to be a pastor...we all have our place to serve. I appreciate your encouragement brother.

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  5. Thank you for visiting Inking the Heart yesterday! I appreciate your comment. It is my pleasure to visit you here. I feel like a seed of missions has been planted in my heart lately and I don't know what to do with it. Will you pray with me? I am a 40 year old mom with 3 young kids so there isn't much I feel that I can do as far as travel. I would love to be a part of God's bigger picture with my family by serving on the mission field short term. This is just a small seed and I am praying for what God is going to do with it. Thank you and blessings!

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  6. Inking the Heart, I will pray for you my sister. There are many ways to be involved with mission. Prayer alone is the greatest tool there is. This one thing I know its is not the enemy of your soul who would lay mission on your heart. Our Lord's heart is missions, getting the gospel out where ever you are. I will check on you to follow God's leading in your life. Blessing

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  7. Love this, Betty. God definitely can get to our heart through our eyes. I love the zeal he has put in your heart for the lost.

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  8. Thank Lisa for stopping by and leaving a comment. Your words encourage my heart.

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  9. I loved your beautiful story how God uses others to influence our direction in life. Your adventures are so very awesome and I thank you for sharing at "Tell Me a True Story."

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  10. It does mean a lot when others are encouraged by what I write. Helps me to keep at it. Blessings my wise sister

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  11. I was just looking at photos of the Philippines on Sunday. :)

    Thanks for your comment on my post "Growing Daughters in Twilight."
    How fun that your daughter Tara shares so many of your characteristics, and a missionary calling too. Where does she work? Will she be living near you on that furlough?

    Getting to know the women in our family, and seeing their strengths and weaknesses is an intimate beautiful thing, isn't it?

    Jennifer Dougan
    www.jenniferdougan.com

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  12. Jennifer, I so enjoyed your post about your daughter.

    Blackduck, Mn. is where home base if for our daughter and family. Our son in law family is from there.

    Our daughter and family have been in Papua New Guinea for 10 years.

    I have a great relationship with my sister in laws and appreciate them so much. I have no real sisters, only twin brothers. God has so blessed me with many spiritual sisters though. Blessing my wise sister.

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  13. The seemingly small things can turn out to be the biggest. Isn't God amazing that way? To be willing to heed His call is another matter. So glad you listened to the voice of our Father. I can't imagine you being the person you are now without having gone and done your mission for our cause. God has used you there and now uses you here to inspire and encourage others. The gifts don't get smaller - they get bigger...

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  14. This touched my heart. Thank you for sharing.
    It reminds me of about ten years back when I ran into an old friend from High School. Back then she wasn't a Christian.
    She told me that she had recently accepted Christ and it was because of the love she had seen in me years before.
    I couldn't believe my ears. How I lived years ago influenced her decisions into adulthood? I was humbled.
    We never know who's watching or how God can use even small things for His glory.

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  15. Floyd...thanks for the encouragement, every soul needs some. Sometimes when I sits and think about where I have been and all I have done. It's a humbling because I could as easily said no. It is Him in us that gives us the courage to obey. I will admit I have went kicking and screaming a few times. I really am not an adventurous person but God certainly is. Blessings brother.

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  16. Every time someone says my witness has helped them I too am humbled. Me just reading about your friend getting saved TC encourages me to keep living what I believe and I think it's gets more important as this old world falls apart. We are near the end I do believe even though I may not see the rapture in my life time. Just watching the TV series, "The Bible" made me think, just like in the days of Noah wickedness abounds. It made my wick burn brighter. Blessings

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  17. I love being a missionary... sharing the Word, planting seed. The LORD knows their hearts even more than we do, in terms of their turning to him. I've read so much based on CIM from all those years ago. And I also have read a bit about the South Pacific areas and the Asian portions and what they walked through... and what the missionaries dealt with. Being one in Uganda was a real heart-opener. And I sure hadn't anticipated that Dave and I would be there. But we loved it... and we were loved.

    NOW? I'm a missionary for the Bhutanese refugees from Nepal who live up the street and in my general area in Omaha. They think Dave and I are wonderful; so, God uses any of us any way we will let Him. When we get to heaven, we'll finally truly understand.

    Thanks much.

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  18. Caryjo
    I was hoping you would stop by...your heart for missions always encourages me. Thank God you carried it home to the USA, this country is full of lost people, there so much for them to hang on to beside trusting in Christ. Blessings on your ministry.

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  19. Life of a missionary is a hard one and I'm so thankful for those that choose to live that life and willingly to go hard places to live to teach the gospel. God Bless them.

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  20. Alecia, thank you so much for your comment to my post. I think the hardest part is being away from family. Blessings

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