As I prepare for my upcoming trip to Russia, I can easily be taken away by the "things to do" list, but this time I am trying to be more reflective. It's not that I don't ask God how He wants me to glorify His Name, but I question whether I see it through. This time, no questions. Ok, that's really not true. How else would I live up to my name of the "why" girl?
I think about the smells and sounds and how much they become a part of your soul. I think about the food and those things that I have missed. I especially am excited to see old friends and to hopefully meet new ones -- to give hugs and receive hugs, to sit and talk for hours and reach into hearts as they too delve into mine. I am already anticipating my first sip of Kvas.
The main thing that my heart is feeling was said so well many years ago by a guy named King David. Maybe these words are familiar to you, maybe they are not. They come from Psalm 63:1-3.
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
Russia is a spiritually dry and weary land where the believer rate is less than 1%. What else am I to do but to search for my God and know that there is still His power and glory. What else can I do but to praise Him with all my heart?
I generally return with a weary and burdened heart thinking and asking God continually to make His changes in His time and to continue to give strength to His children who live there and carry the largest burden.
Lord, prepare my heart, my mind and strengthen me as I go. I'm preparing to see what You want me to see and hear what You want me to hear and feel what You want me to feel. I surrender to You and what You want. Keep me out of this ... please.
