We Can Be His Voice In The Wildernes

We started Sunday morning with a Bible study, Led by Denis Dennow at the mission in Bangkok. He spoke about being in a "wilderness" or "desert". These are  uncomfortable places of emptiness , darkness and loneliness. God has brought people to these places through the Holy Spirit's leading, for various reasons. For instance, He led Moses and The Israelites out of Egypt and into the desert (literally) for refinement and preparation. God also not only led, but turned Babylon into a dark place as a punishment for opposing His people.
 When teaching the Thai people of Gods grace and forgiveness, Dennis said we must be careful and honest about what we say. We don't  want them to think that God will take away all their problems, just because of their belief in Him.
Most Thai people are Buddhist, and believe they must earn their own way to a better new life through reincarnation. Since they do not know  Jesus, they too are in a wilderness, and will never have eternal life through and with Him.
 God never promised us a storm free life, but He did promise to walk with us through these storms.
 Gale did a devotion the day before, that brings al of this full circle:
Here is the testimony of a Chinese Christian:  "I walked through the road of life and had fallen into a great ditch.  The ditch was filled with depression, discouragement, and sin.  As I lay in that ditch Mohammed came along and said, "Its your fault you're in there the ditch. You offended Allah, and this is your just punishment".  Then Marx came by and said, "You're in the ditch because of class warfare.  You must revolt. "  But after the government changed, I was still in my ditch.  Then Buddha came along and said, "You're not really in that ditch.  You just think you're there.  Its all an illusion of the mind.  Be at peace, and learn to live in your ditch".  Then Confucius came by and said, "Here are 10 steps of self-attainment by which you can get out of your ditch.  If you will struggle, you will climb out eventually,".  But as much as I struggled and strained, I couldn't get out of the ditch, because it was too deep.


"Then one day, Jesus Christ came by and saw me in my ditch.  Without a word, He took off his white robe and got down in the muddy ditch with me.  He lifted me up and pulled me out of the ditch.  Thank God that Jesus did for me what I could not do for myself.  Romans 7:24-25
                      -Brian Betchner