Airplane Conversations...

Back from India! Returned last week and have been in bed with the flu ever since. Although I haven't seen much more than my pillow it is good to be home. I spent 6 weeks in India and ate all kinds of bizarre foods, including slightly raw chicken , and drank water from unknown places and never got sick! Your prayers worked because I sit here typing in hot and cold sweats, wondering why I didn't post, "I'm flying home, pray for my health in America!":)



This baby was a sweetheart and hilarious! 

Displaying his usual expression:)

I had plenty to ponder during my 20 hour flight time and got into a lengthy conversation with the Indian doctor sitting next to me. Our conversation covered everything under the sun but predominated on the differences between America and India: food, culture, beliefs, traditions, language, holidays, government, entertainment, education... the list could go on we had 10 hours to kill.  As we discussed I realized so many of these differences were rooted in our beliefs/religion. Majority of Indians consider themselves Hindu. Majority of Americans consider themselves Christian. Hindus believe anything can be a god: people, animals, food, trees, a golden statue; they worship many different gods. Christians believe there is one true God, he created the world and everything in it, we didn't create him, he knows all things, he loves us unconditionally, died for us, and one day will come back and take all to heaven who have believed in Him.

I learned much while India. Each night I would walk home filthy, smelling of smoke and think about the lives of these precious people. They aren't so different from us, busy with children and work, complicated relationships and cluttered with stuff. Searching for answers but lost and have given up hope. Some are certain of there beliefs but when asked about it they can't explain why. Our lives are also filled with busyness and stress and it keeps us from asking the big questions. Many have settled for what makes the most sense, even though we don't know for certain. American motto: "enjoy life and be happy" but the end of that will come. Then what? 

The Bible is a proclamation of Christ love for you from the beginning of time to the end of time. From the first book, Genesis, to the last, Revelation, is story after story unfolding the depths of wisdom, understanding, mercy, grace, forgiveness and above all else a perfect love from a Heavenly Father.

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26



You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father.Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God



Trash along the riverbank glistening at sunset.



 





Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com





India has been another step in my life, another step in this journey of following my Savior. 

The opportunity to share with so many who have never heard how the world was created or how much they are loved by the Creator is humbling. To hear from the mouths of these poor women who have drunkard husbands that beat them, cheat on them and use what little money they have on alcohol instead of feeding there hungry children is heart wrenching. They are scared and alone, barely surviving in there world rampant with death, disease, illness and demon possession. There children run around bare foot and runny noses, bright smiles and ragged clothes unaware of the horrors and tragedies that face them. Most of the boys turn into there fathers, allowing alcohol to fill the hopelessness they feel. The girls are arranged marriages at a young age filling the role that there mothers had before them. 

Some mornings I don't feel like going into the dirty and noisy slums. I feel like having a regular day where I don't see so much hurt and pain. Those days become less and less and now I found myself missing them when a day goes by and don't see them. Amongst all the pain I see Jesus wanting to give life and hope to these dark places. 

When my selfishness creeps in I pray and ask the Lord to give me a deep love for these people and he shows me how much He loves me and how His heart hurt for me  and searched for me when I was in my darkest places of despair not knowing Him or trusting Him.  This thought fills me with a deep compassion for these people to know the Love of the Father. Nothing in my life has been greater than His love for me. I tried to satisfy myself with many things, family, friends, relationships, education, knowledge, jobs, success, money, volunteering, "doing good", traveling, fun, experiences...the list can go on and on. At the end of all of these I felt emptiness and an even greater emptiness than before. In my efforts to find meaning and fulfillment I chased after these things. I was feeding my ego and pride, hiding behind huge insecurities and trying to fill a hole of loneliness with busyness. A fear of not being important and a desire to be admired always dawned at the core of my ambitions.  

Yes, my sins are ugly and go deep. The death of Jesus on the cross went deeper.  His death was not in vain but covered every last deed I did or thought I thought. His pain, His sacrifice took it all away and gave me new life. I am the image of my Creator and He finds pleasure in me. Thank you Jesus that I can be your beautiful bride and that you have this same hope for each hurting soul. A promise of salvation. A future of a full life. A life of peace, trusting in a mighty God that takes care of all our needs. I know this all to be true and am thankful to share the glorious wonders of knowing You!

For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger. 1 John 4:12

Tonight I was riding home in a taxi through the chaos of rush hour in Chandigarh. Chandigarh rush hour = bicycles, pedestrians, scooters, motorcycles, cars, trucks, auto-rickshaws, bike-rickshaws, horses, cows, dogs and a constant stream of honking, yelling and flashing lights. The streets are lined with vendors in makeshift tents and stands selling everything from furniture to hot food and chai; intermixed are groups of people huddled around fires in the dirt cooking and eating there dinners. These people live outside in the dirt, in the noise, in the odors and it never stops. The drivers window is slightly down and it fills the cab with a dusty smoky air. I notice that Sonia and Su are unfazed by the scene. Su, an American that has been in India for 3 years, is more concentrated on the driving as it is very unnerving especially at night when you can't see the bicyclist. Sonia is a local and it's everyday for her. 

Back at the apartment our three other Indian friends, Kushi, Peter and Sunil are at the door to welcome us home. The five of us sat around the coffee table enjoying a meal of leftovers...all authentic Indian dishes minus Su's spaghetti that tasted more Indian than Italian (the three main spices they use are hot red pepper, cumin and turmeric, everything tends to these flavors). After dinner Su or mom as we all call her read from K.P. Yohannan's book "Against the Wind" (great book, you all should read). After we had great discussion sharing what spoke to us and discussing things of the day and the coming days. We sang some American songs:) and prayed together before we all went to bed. This is a blessed group that I am so thankful to share life with for a time.