In the Valley

One of my favorite songs is "In the Valley".

Based off of a Puritan prayer, it resembles a trust in the midst of trials. More than that, it appreciates the suffering and struggle. That is where the power and glory of God is revealed.

The prayer:

LORD, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
   where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
   hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
   that the way down is the way up,
   that to be low is to be high,
   that the broken heart is the healed heart,
   that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
   that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
   that to have nothing is to possess all,
   that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
   that to give is to receive,
   that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
   and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
                   thy life in my death,
                   thy joy in my sorrow,
                   thy grace in my sin,
                   thy riches in my poverty
                   thy glory in my valley

This is the original version of the song: "In the Valley"

And here's a fun rendition we did a few years back for Nicaragua missions night

thoughts on missions from someone not thinking about missions

There is so much that can be discussed and to think about with missions. From a recent retreat focusing on missions, I am reminded of the need to pray for missions - for those who are sent (specifically sent from my church plus more), for the people of the world who don't know Him, and for God's glory. I hadn't thought about missions in awhile but this weekend also reminded me of my role as a recipient of God's grace what I am to think and live out. A few years ago I went to Taiwan for a short term mission for the second time. That trip was just one and a half years after my first overseas missions trip, but I felt more sober-minded and spiritually tired. I didn't think missions was for me if it drained me that much. But God would not give me more than I can handle, really meaning by my own strength I cannot handle it, but I can handle it because He is my strength.

In my support letter that year I wrote:

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:3-4 

God is jealous
…to be known, worshiped, and glorified. “For you shall worship no other god, for the
Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 4:14 

God doesn’t need us
…but He uses us. Therefore we should be obedient to His commandments to go make
disciples of all nations. “Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything,
since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” Acts 17:35 

His love is great
…and He reigns over me. “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this,
that one died for all, therefore all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 

We delight in God
I know many of you love the Lord. That is of utmost importance that we have a
relationship in Christ and delight in God. I am not going to Taiwan because I have a deep
calling to go, but because I love God. So for you who aren’t going on organized missions, if
you love God, you are already on missions. Missions are not driven by a love for the lost but
a love for God.

Whether here in the US or there across the land and over the ocean, we love God. We do "missions" not necessarily because we want to but because God wants us to. And because His ways are higher than mine, when I fix my eyes on Him and not my "ministries", He will receive full glory the way He desires. And for that reason we want to do missions. Ghana, Germany, New York, and Boston. Four cities I visited with all such different culture with different aspirations. But all have one need, and that is a Savior. The world is huge, but we have a bigger God. I titled the blog the way I did because these thoughts I think are very fundamental. I wouldn't consider myself a good example of one who is very mission-minded. I wouldn't impose or criticize if a believer didn't think or pray about missions, but I would encourage that to consider it since it is God's heart. Plus when we think of the world, it makes other concerns we have seem quite trivial.