As I sat on the beach chair in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic enjoying the balmy tropical weather and wondering if I had the energy to walk the 30 steps to the beach bar for a beer I felt called to write these words…
Our soul seeks to know who it is in relation to God. Our life rediscovers itself through life experiences and most clearly through difficult, dangerous and painful times. The soul is on a voyage and journey of discovery and begins to see glimpses of the divine plan as the rays of light penetrate the darkness.
Many times we forget these glimpses and rays as we live out our lives with the concerns of daily life. At times our souls take the time to contemplate the divine in the beauty and intricacies of nature. Sometimes we marvel at the perfection of a baby. We see the divine connections when we see perfect timing in meeting people; we marvel at déjà vu- we have been there before in our dreams.
We are granted the privilege to share peace, love and hope soul to soul with another. A meeting with someone we are concerned about happens a little too perfectly to be anything other than a divine appointment. Through the struggles, hopes, sorrows, challenges and loves in our lives we rediscover our divine heritage as sons and daughters through the sacrifice and love of our beloved brother and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him, through Him, with Him we have eternal life.
What an amazing discovery! We – you and I; are brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. True peace, because we are peacemakers like our brother. True love because he faced greed, pride, oppression and death and defeated it with a love so great he defeated death for ever. True perseverance because he showed us that when we know we are in the Father and Spirit we do not fear anything this world throw at us. True hope because even though we all know we will die in our earthly life we believe the words Jesus gave us, “I’m going to prepare a place for you in my father’s house. If this was not so I would have told you for there are many rooms in my father’s mansion”. True faith because in spite of the challenges of our life we are called to place our faith in what is true, holy and divine.
And of faith, hope and love the greatest is love for love conquers fear.
The next day was Sunday and we met up with a Haitian pastor, Matheo Jean Claude, who had a vision to build a combination church, medical centre and school for Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic. We met several Haitian families and pastors and spent the day exploring where the Haitian families live. That evening we participated in a Spirit led Church service where hope, joy and fervent desire for our Lord Jesus Christ was evident in the singing, dancing and smiling faces. These people had no material goods but had an abundance of the goods of the Spirit. I was able to share a message of hope and love to our Haitian brothers and sisters while Matheo translated it into Creole.
Coincidence meeting Matheo or Christ incidence as we in the God Squad like to call it. May each one of us be open to the Spirit’s leading. Peace be with you…Jim