One of my roles as Regional Coordinator for Women Serving God in French speaking Africa, is to write monthly letters to our women in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. These are emailed to the women who have been selected as coordinators for the WSG ministry in their respective countries. They in turn, share the message with their leadership teams, or use it as devotional material for women’s study groups.
The wonderful result of doing this for the last 5 years is that we have developed deep friendships! The letter below is from October. Next time, I will share some of their responses back to me!
To our dear sisters in Christ,
October 2011
We rejoice in the LORD to hear of your ministry through email news. The Lord is advancing His kingdom through your work by His Spirit. Our prayers are with you continually.
I want to thank you, pastors and women, for the prayers for our family. We have been sustained by the faithful prayers of God’s people. As my husband’s earthly tent is decaying, his spirit grows stronger in the Lord day by day. He anticipates being in the presence of Christ with joy. (2 Cor.4: 16-18)
This morning before I came to write to you he was struggling with pain and nausea. He asked that I read the Psalms to him. Though I have times of being very sad, I am also aware of the immeasurable privilege of walking with this godly man during this time in his life. It is a precious privilege to help give strength to him through God’s word and to pray with him and for him.
The Lord also strengthens me with His Word.
How blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage! Passing through the valley of Baca (weeping) they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion! Ps 84: 5-7 NIV
“Blessed.” This word speaks of the divinely given well-being that belongs only to the faithful in Christ. We realize that we have no strength apart from Him. And when we rely on His strength, we are stable, we prosper spiritually. We are blessed.
“their hearts are set…” Here we question – what are our hearts set on? Material blessings? Clinging to the earth below us? David’s heart was set on the fact that he knew he was just passing through this life. His heart was not set on “staying” but on “passing through” this world to Zion! Praise God. This is NOT our home! This imperfect, painful, difficult life is not our final destination. Alleluia!
His promise is clear. At the end of our journey as pilgrims on this earth – each of His Children will see him face to face. What comfort! What divine anticipation!
Our home is not in this world ladies , our home is with God Himself.
“Therefore – encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thess.4:28
Your sister in Christ,
Gaynelle
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