Lenten Devotional...February 18

Psalm 19

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

More to be desired than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.”

(Psalm 19:7a, 10)

What do you truly value? We are asked this in different ways every day.  The pressure to conform to the values that confront us is pervasive, but the Psalmist calls us back to that which holds greatest value. Here, the law represents the relationship one has with Almighty God, a relationship built on faith, trust, and obedience.  Jesus offers us the greatest understanding of this law, not in a particular code, but in the pathway of love, grace, and mercy. That is to be desired more than wealth and position, even more than the sweet taste of any earthly treasure.

Prayer: Revive my soul, Lord, through the presence of your Spirit. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

India Trip, Day 7

Is there a chiropractor in the house??? The bumpy roads of India prompt the question. We drove 3.5 hours this morning over the bumpiest roads I believe I have ever traveled. I chose today to sit with the troublemakers in the back of the bus and found myself sitting over the rear axle, which by the way must be spring-loaded. We finally arrived a small church Leena started not long ago. These are very poor people whose limited income comes through picking out scraps from the trash heap to sell. ServeTrust provided rice, lentils, and vitamins for the children which we helped distribute.   The schedule for the week has been jam packed, usually rolling by 7:30 am and ending around 11 pm. Meals are optional in Leena's plan. There is just too much work to do!!!  We did, however decide to stop in a small village at a restaurant Leena thought safe for us to eat in. Bottled water...with sealed tops ( seems some like to reuse these bottles from time to time) is the only safe drinking water and food in the countryside cannot be trusted. Leena ordered what she thought to be safe for us and it was very good. As of 10:40 local time the team seems pretty healthy. Funny thing happened though when the brought our cokes to drink. They were already opened which seemed at first glance the hospitable thing to have done. Leena stopped us before a drink was taken; it seems a fairly common practice in the countryside to reuse the bottles. I suppose that's one way to recycle. One of our experienced world travelers said he noticed no carbonation, something I'll be looking for the rest of the trip.  

Surviving lunch, we headed to another of Leena's more recent ministries, near the edge of the forest.  It was not safe for us to go into the forest, so ServeTrust arranged for these folks to be bussed to a location close by.  We helped distribute soap and shampoo, rice and lentils to the children. These children were noticeably different from others we have seen. Their appearance was much more disheveled, and they sat expressionless for the most part. They have a very hard and dangerous existence and that burden seemed evident on their faces. They brightened considerably, however, when they were presented shoes. These wonderful gifts were adjustable, sandal-type shoes made specially to adjust as the children's feet grow.   One of our team members was moved to tears afterward speaking of the transformation in the children and the privilege he had to participate in it. They posed joyfully afterward, lifting their feet to the camera for pictures.

We then stopped on the way to another church to pray for the wife of one of Leena's pastors who has begun chemotherapy treatments. It was a moving moment of pastoral care as we prayed for her. A simple, directed moment of prayer, however, became a revival of sorts as people from the village heard we had come and surrounded our bus asking for prayer... Perhaps a glimpse of what happened to Jesus whenever he entered a village and was discovered by the people.

From there we traveled up a steep, cavernous (not too dramatic a term) road to a small village where we worshipped with the tribespeople. Their warmth and humble welcome was amazing. As we shared in prayer with them, they brought a man forward who told of being bitten by a cobra 4 days before. He showed the wound to his foot. The people had brought him to the church immediately and prayed through the night for him, and miraculously, he stood before us. 

The return to the hotel around 11 pm found weary but blessed travelers. What will tomorrow bring?

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...February 17

Mark 1:35-39

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”

(Mark 1:35)

“Rise and shine,” my mother cheerily sang as she turned on the light and opened the shades. I can’t say I always appreciated her wakeup call. Her true purpose was to invite me again to confront a world I would rather have ignored for a few more hours. The darkness of cold winter mornings still don’t entice, though Cindy’s attempts to reform me continue.

Jesus embraced the darkness, not as an escape, but a means of preparation. He rises early in Mark’s narrative to spend time in prayer. We are often called to emulate his actions, as if righteousness is best served in the wee hours of the morning. However, even in the early morning darkness, his quiet moments were interrupted as his disciples called him back to the demands of the day.

Rising early, pausing in the middle of the day, spending quiet moments in the evening…there is no magic in the clock. The message of the text isn’t the hour, but the commitment to the task. The Lenten journey calls us to these quiet moments.

Prayer: Creator God, who marks time with your own hands, please help me make time for you this day. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

India Trip, Day 6

Friends,

The day began with a trip to a children's hospital where ServeTrust assists with HIV/AIDS. Though ServeTrust already has its own structure and ministry to house and care for HIV/AIDS children and orphans, this additional partnership allows Leena another outpost for ministry and evangelism. Though the HIV/AIDS virus has been declining in certain areas of India recently, there are still 3,000-5,000 cases in the the district we visited today. Government officials were there as were members of the media. My picture was taken and I was briefly interviewed by a local reporter.

We headed off from there to one of Leena's early ministries, The School of Joy. This school is in a terribly impoverished area, providing opportunities for children who would not be able to attend school otherwise. Several of the former students have become teachers in the school. From there we traveled a short way to the computer and sewing centre where students have opportunity to find meaningful training and  work. Some of the women here are seeking to escape the sex trade and ServeTrust provides an avenue to do so. It is truly amazing the good and varied works that Leena envisions and carries out!

After four pm we began the hour and a half drive to a hilly region where Leena has planted three new churches. The first was in a small village where I preached. We then walked door to door, blessing new houses and praying for sick folks. These prayers were interrupted by a goat stampede through the village streets. It was really more like a parade. Speaking of goats and roads, multiple times today we waited for herds of water buffalo, Brahma Bulls, and wild dogs to clear the road, sometimes one lane roads! Good thing our bus has a reverse gear!!!

The next village was a short distance but they were an excited group. As with most of these events, we start slow with just a few children, but before long the little back building was full of children and adults. We were asked to pray for the villagers individually so we walked among the crowd, laid hands on them and prayed. We were so warmly received it was difficult to get out the door when the time came to leave. We immediately drove a few miles to a very small church, meeting in the front of one of the houses. The trick here was that the bus couldn't get through so we walked down a dark path with multiple smartphone lights illuminating the darkness. You may remember that "cobra thing" I mentioned last night.  It's a real concern in darkness...Come to think of it, it would concern me anytime! We did make it safely back to the bus for the two-hour bumpy ride home. 

As we walked among the goats and cows in the village streets today,  I couldn't help but think that in many parts of the  developing world, things aren't that much different than they were in biblical times. Gave me great appreciation for the privilege of sharing in this ServeTrust mission that reaches across time, over oceans, and ultimately changes hearts. Wonder what tomorrow will bring??

Keep praying!

Jim

Lenten Devotional...February 16

Psalm 48:9-14

“We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.”

(Psalm 48:9)

Lent is a season of reflection, a time of intentional contemplation.  Lent challenges us to reorder our priorities, not as simple seasonal sacrifices like giving up soda, or chocolate, or television for a few weeks, but truly pondering the way of Jesus and bringing our lives into line with his.

The Psalmist ponders the steadfast love of God in today’s text.  To ponder, according to dictionary.com, is to “consider something deeply and thoroughly.”  Perhaps a meaningful Lenten exercise for us today is to find a quiet place and consider deeply and thoroughly the unmatched love of God. The “temple” the Psalmist mentions can be anywhere you are for God will meet you there.

Prayer: God of love, I welcome your presence and ponder anew the wonder of your love. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

India Trip, Day 5

Friends,

Just another day...for Leena! After leaving Narasaropet at 7:30, we traveled about 5 miles to a roadside church. Literally steps from the highway stood this thatched structure with a dirt floor, and a tiny table inside with a picture of Jesus on it. 10 children with beautiful smiles awaited us inside the little hut, and there, we had church. We gave these children toothbrushes and toothpaste, but they gave us more...laughter and smiles that made the 8300 mile trip worthwhile. From there we went to a small village with a Massive tree in the center. Village may be too strong a term to use here, for there were just a few families again in thatched huts, but lots of children. They sang to us and we sang to them. A bible story was told and then I gave the children small wooden cars that Deborah Collier had given me last week from a ministry she was aware of called Toys for God's Kids. 41 small cars were quickly is the hands of 41 happy children!

We next traveled to the Rock Crushers School and sat with the children in their classroom built and staffed by ServeTrust. The children performed some of their music and memorization for us, then I gave them the kits we put together for our 5th Sunday mission project. No child could have been happier not more appreciative than these precious children. They thanked me again and again and I told them that you had put these together with love for them! Thank you Westwood!

We then went to the ServeTrust compound where there are ministries and healthcare facilities for children and adults with HIV/AIDS, TB, Leprosy, and a home for senior adults. We were greeted on both sides of the drive by residents of the facility who waved, put golden necklaces on us, and showered us with flower petals as we walked into the building. I was moved by the children who sat before me who have this terrible disease, several of whom were orphans who lost their parents to the disease. We prayed over them, toured the facilities, and talked with the patients for several hours. Leena made arrangements for us to have food delivered to us there and we ate it on the bus...chicken curry with rice. It was a late lunch at 4 pm, but much appreciated.

From there we drove to two remote villages where we sang, preached, and prayed, going door to door in one village to pray and share with people. They flocked out into the streets, even Muslims and Hindus to request prayer, so individually and also as a group we prayed for them. In this village, some of the leaders weren't too happy about our visit and made it a bit more difficult to drive, so we had to walk. I must say I am still getting used to walking past large bulls, cows, and goats just sauntering or sitting in the middle of the road. Leena told us there were no tigers in this area, but there were lots of King Cobras, so watching your step on these narrow roads was to be taken literally!

The evening ended with a brief youth service in Narasaropet. We were late getting there because of demands for prayer in the villages, but time in this environment isn't regarded as sacred like it is in Northern Virginia. One funny moment came when our team stood to sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness." We were singing unaccompanied until a few measures in when the keyboardist and drummer there for the rally decided to join us. The beat of the drum and the sitar-like sound of the keyboard was a sound and tone we westerners had trouble catching on to. Both groups kept going on their somewhat parallel tracks, but I would guess it was one of the most original renderings those young ears had ever heard.

Tomorrow will be more of the same...village after village and blessing after blessing. Pray that God will continue to guide our steps. Leena told us not to worry about the Cobras. She had already talked to God and knew he would keep us safe. I'll be walking a little closer to her tomorrow!

Keep praying!

Jim Abernathy

Lenten Devotional...February 15

Hebrews 2:10-18

“Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”

(Hebrews 2:18)

It is not uncommon in the struggles of life to seek out those who have had similar experiences.  To know someone has been through something akin to our own experience is to recognize we are not alone in our struggle. 

Our text tells us today that the Christ became one of us. This is the good news of incarnation; God with us, but not only God with us, God becoming one of us, knowing our hurts and struggles.  He knows our temptations because He was tempted.   But there is even better news here than simple empathy…He overcame!  From the wilderness temptations, to the constant challenges throughout his ministry, to Gethsemane’s garden, to the cross, He ultimately overcame.  And so, as Paul reminds us in Romans 8:37, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Live in that assurance, whatever you face today.

Prayer: Incarnate One, who knows me heart and has walked in my place, help me in trial or temptation today to overcome. Through Jesus, the Christ, I pray. Amen.

Jim Abernathy