Coming from San Francisco to the stoking climate of Vajta that cools to a balmy 90 degrees at night makes you wonder if it really was God that called you here. And just as you complain in your mind of the heat while looking out to the pine forest a butterfly flies in your window to your feet, rises to the level of your eyes, winks, and flies back out the window. Sometimes that voice you hear is the wink of a butterfly reminding you of His Word – this time Romans 8:28.

      As I was thinking/praying, I thought of the church, I thought of us, believers. Are we on the throne or is God? Is our life of church going and Bible reading our all in all? Is the fact that we ‘do good’, we’re ‘in ministry’ or pray in the king’s English our fait compli (sorry Robin but it’s the King James Version not Elizabeth’s)? We say, “Well I’m a ‘missionary’. My cards punched – right?!” I can say with certainty that being part of a ministry in the oven of Vajta ain’t my ticket to heaven.

       As my friend Mark reminded us so eloquently last night, it all has to do with how we regard Him. Is He precious in our eyes? Do you think that way at all times? I don’t until I stop thinking about me.

Unto you therefore which believe He is precious:…1 Peter 2:7 – KJV

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: I Peter 1:6, 7 – KJV

       For some it is the trial of loneliness while being in the mission field. For some it is the trial of loneliness of being in their church. For some it is the trial of trying to …lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…