Missionary Blues?

More Reflections from James … 

The Return

My heart awaits that moment
“Soon…shall I come
Quickly, you will see
as I lift you
From your torment.”
The world, it laughs and plays through time.
“What nonsense,” it proclaims,
“We exist in our prime.”
Yet patiently I sit
 With love in my eyes
For You my Master say,
“Eyes upward into the skies.”
Existence grows old
And misery abounds
Oh God, my God
Where shall you be found?
Yet still in my heart,
The endless plea
“Child of God do not fret
For He cares for thee.” 

I wrote the above poem years ago during a time when I thought that perhaps the LORD’s return was imminent.  But, alas, we still wait on.

Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, how I miss seeing your smiles and hearing your laughter.   Although, it has only been a few months since we left the U.S., it seems like ages ago.   We pray for all of you daily and our hearts ache when any of you are suffering. 

I often wonder about the conundrum of the modern day Christian.  We say that we want all to come to Christ and yet in our hearts we utter, “even so Lord Jesus come.”  I remember thinking the other day as we were attempting to share scriptures with members of a shrine amidst fierce opposition, ‘Why am I wasting my time with these men?  They have heard the Gospel before.  Perhaps, we should shake the dust from our sandals and leave them in their sins.’  But, the LORD reminded me that it was for men like these that Christ died.  Indeed, “… while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8b ESV)  And so we pressed on. 

Please forgive me if my tone is that of one who is weary.  But, there are times when even a missionary needs to vent. 

Incidentally, I thought that I would include a picture of the SUV that the LORD provided for us a few days after our arrival in February.   We were able to purchase such a reliable vehicle only because of the loving support from all of you.  May the LORD richly bless all of you. It may interest some of you to know that the vehicle is a collaboration between Mercedes and Ssangyong Motors (in S. Korea) called Rexton.  It is a 2004 model and at the time of purchase had approximately 37,000 miles.  It was purchased for $15000 USD and is one of the strongest cars that we have ever owned.  God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!!!

Well that’s all for now.  I pray that all is well for all of you.  And that you are resting in the Grace of our LORD and Savior Jesus the Christ