Concluding thoughts:
1st Brazil was amazing!
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Tony Gray told us that sometimes God will bring people thousands of miles away from their home to change the lives of others. Other times God will bring people thousands of miles away from their home to change their lives. I know that both my life and the lives of those I was honored to meet and share with were changed.
I can understand what Paul meant when he told the Philippians that God is my witness, how greatly I long for them with the affection of Jesus Christ The word translated affection literally means the internal organs, regarded by the first-century reader as the center of deepest feelings. The people of the Second Baptist Church of Nova Friburgo wrote us a poem to express their care and gratitude. They used a word that does translated into English in their poem: “Saudade” The best that Tony could explain it to us was that this was a “deep longing or desire for something” Perhaps this is how Paul felt about the Philippians and I feel about my new family in Brazil.
One does not have to leave the country to make an impact on the world. We just have to be willing to live life for Christ right here… today and everyday.
I made this video from the trip…. Check it OUT!
http://www.youtube.com/v/zmrB9iWAF6g
Consider this: Is it possible that God could so orchestrate our circumstances, experiences, education, personal development, emotions, mental and physical health, economics, intellect etc (for we [that is believers] are not simply not to be “spiritually” discerned [although many are deficient], but perceive and understand that we also have other aspects of life that are relevant to this living in this present day too; we are holistic beings created in the image of God) to mold us for the task that He has specifically for us?
Perhaps God knows the plan He has for our lives, and surely, in view of his character, it is a plan for us to prosper (perchance not by this worlds grading system), a plan of hope(a life worth living), and a future(an overshadowing purpose for life). As incredible and indescribable a our God is can one really imagine the great plans He has for our lives? Without doubt eye has not seen, nor has ear hear, nor has a mind perceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
Perhaps this is where the paradox begins…. I find myself at a loss for words at why life is so busy, yet seemingly so unproductive. Yet, maybe it is only unproductive from my perspective of things. How long did God prepare Paul, or David, the disciples. Throughout their entire lives. Therefore, I consider a beautifully woven tapestry. One side of course is simply a brilliant and excellent work of art….but note the reverse side. Herein we find the key to understanding the splendor of the front side. The back is where one finds bumps, knots, dangling threads…. Life is much like the back side of this tapestry. It too is full of bumps in the road, hard knots to work through, and dangling thread that seem to make the slightest bit of sense. Yet, perhaps, God is making me and you into the most elegant picture on the front side.
Perhaps this sorrow, this longing, this “saudaude” is but for a night; joy comes with the morning.
Perhaps this is where the paradox ends… Possibly I should not consume myself in mastering many things, but rather learning how to be mastered by one, excellent all consuming thing…. unless a grain a wheat falls to the earth and dies, nothing comes from it. But its death brings life anew and with an increase. I too must die. A generation must die. Die to self and have life in Jesus… or as they say in Brazil…
Tenha Vida em Jesus
