How’s your Heart?

Written by Tina

April 8, 2016

Today has been a hard day.  Let me show you why.  This is a two month old baby boy, his name is Ramon.  He is so dehydrated and malnourished I don’t know if we are going to be able to help him.  About two hours before Ramon came to the hospital, I was helping hold down a three year old boy, Destiny, that got hit by a motorcycle.  He was scared, hurting, in shock, and I think he also had a concussion.  He screamed and cried, and it broke my heart.  He didn’t understand we were trying to help him.

I thought about a conversation I had with a friend this week about how God longs desperately for our loved ones to know him and trust him even more desperately than we long for this to happen.

Jesus made it clear that not only does God have compassion on sinners, but He desires that we have that same compassion. He wants to turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh that long to love God and make His love known to the world.

I believe we serve a God of deep emotion, of incredible passion, of intense feeling. God reacts, He gets intense, He shows us His feelings and His heart.  What I believe is in the deepest place of God’s heart is an intense, burning, passionate love for people. All people. Everywhere across this world, including right outside our front door.

When Art and Dorothy came to Nigeria to start GECHAAN, their philosophy is we save people’s lives, then we can introduce them to Jesus.  Dan and I have that same philosophy.  I believe that God is more broken-hearted about the numbers of children dying because of lack of knowledge then I am.  I believe that God is also saddened by the lack of Biblical knowledge in His children.  This week we have had our AWANA training for the next group of churches that would like to start AWANA and minister and disciple the children God brings to them.  I truly believe that if we help this upcoming generation of leaders and the current leaders in Nigeria with education and empowerment, that we can make a difference with God’s help.  He wants it even more than we do, doesn’t He?

My thought for today:  As you go through your day, take some time to ask that God would give you a heart of compassion for the lost. Let’s pray that through this heart of compassion He will move to become a part of what God is doing to take the gospel to hurting people around the world, but first start with your neighbor.

13 Comments

  1. Kim Raycraft

    Thought and prayer provoking. We in Canada have little to complain about. Thank God we have you and other missionaries in the world to help Jesus accomplish his mission for the world.

    Reply
    • Tina

      Thank you so much, Kim! The longer we are on this journey the more I understand in a tiny way how God’s heart breaks constantly!

      Reply
  2. T Haggerty

    I just wish I knew what to say.

    Reply
    • Tina

      I feel the same, Thania, Praying is all we have! Thank you for praying!

      Reply
  3. Melissa camiola

    Oh Tina I am praying for you today. I know how hard it is to have your heart broken over and over again. I have learned that when we allow our hearts to break with the things that break the heart of God, we come to know Him in a new and deeper way. May you be comforted by your knowledge of the depths of God’s love and may your efforts to help these precious babies bear much fruit.

    Reply
    • Tina

      Thanks Melissa, I know you know as well. Thank you for your prayers and insight. Love and hugs!

      Reply
  4. Mona Bean

    Much prayers for you both, know that God is using you and we that can’t do this can uphold you in prayer. Seeing this little guy makes us realize how God has blessed us individually and as a nation. We pray his blessings on you and those you serve.

    Reply
    • Tina

      Thank you Mona, prayers and God’s leading are what we need here!

      Reply
  5. Mary

    Oh Tina, no words. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Tina

      There really aren’t, Mary, thank you for praying!

      Reply
  6. Vicki

    Oh Lord, give me a heart of compassion. Praying for you and Dan as you save lives for the Kingdom.

    Reply
    • Tina

      Thank you, Vicki, that is what we need the most. Prayer!

      Reply
  7. Nchandom Alpha Elias

    Our God rescure the unsecured, He is compassionate and merciful, thanks for creating this medium of passing messages.

    Reply

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