A Trip to Remember

As I stood on top of a sand dune in the Sahara Desert worshiping God, the only thing I could think of was the enormity and grace of how Sovereign God really is. Nothing else mattered at that moment. The presence of His hand and His might were so strong that I felt Him calling and whispering deep into my spirit to pray for the people of Algeria, Tunisia and the Middle East; also, to remember that they are not forgotten. As He knows every speck of sand, so He knows each soul there. There was one moment, when I was standing beside a bush in the desert. I thought of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus Ch.3. God told Moses that He heard the cries of the Israelites and He saw them suffer. He was coming to rescue them from the grip of the Egyptians to bring them into a good and spacious land, flowing with milk and honey. I feel God was using me to go and pray for the Muslim people to be rescued and brought into the land of truth and grace through His Son, our Savior. It never ceases to enlighten me that thousands of years later, God’s heart is still making His promises come true. He’s still the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. This is the beginning of another opening for Christians to lead the people of these countries through the desert to the promised land; a land that will last forever, even though it may take awhile to get there.

One of the most heartbreaking impressions for me was a visit to an old city in the desert. I thought I had stepped back in a time warp. It’s a valley occupied by a puritanical Islamic sect that broke away from the mainstream in the 11th century. When I arrived at the gate of this city, I was greeted by a guide because no foreigners can stay overnight. The women are not usually allowed out of the house during the day. When they do come out, they are covered with a white sheet from head-to-toe with one eye hole to look out at the world. My heart was heavy because I wanted to know if these women would ever know what it meant to be feminine. Do they know and would they ever know that God created them to be an awesome display of His beauty? They were created to compliment, to work alongside, and to be cherished by our Creator and man. I wonder if the women will ever know the freedom of being the Proverbs 31 woman God intended for them to be. Psalm 24:9 speaks very clearly to me when it says, “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.” My prayer is for the gates to be lifted and unlatched for the women and children to walk through the ancient door of Jesus Christ, so they may be set free to run in the pastures of His love.

I continued my journey through the Sahara. There is such rich Christian history in Tunisia and Algeria. They are hidden gems that are being polished again. The polish is the sweeping love of His people going to these places and leaving a shine for salvation and a message of hope. I am honored and blessed to be a part of His plan to move in with Him and not in fear. One thing I hope every Westerner could understand and see is that the people of North Africa are just like you and me. They have families, and they have traditions and schedules. They have hopes and dreams to become someone that makes the world a better place. They have dignity. I sincerely pray that the evil of a few will not destroy the lives of many. Just looking into the eyes of the children, I could see God in all His beauty and innocence. We need to put away pride and get on our hands and knees and seek the face of God for these precious people of North Africa.

There is a song we sing at church that reflects the endless love and the endless outreach of the God we serve. It’s called “In the Blessing.” It reminds me of everything outside of us and all that is within us is in the love of Christ.

Here I stand in the blessing of the Father’s love
Washed in blood, sweet forgiveness for a life undone
Here I stand, in the blessing of a million years
Washed within, filled with comfort for a million tears

Knowing that your love is all I need to get by
Knowing that your hand is over me all my life

My Father, I love you, My Father, I love you, My Father I love you.