To live is Christ and to Die is Gain!

Right,

We've had an interesting few days. That substance we all take for granted and expect to be there all the time had gone, the taps were empty and the city of Gjakove had gone dry (well when I say dry, the man at the petrol station/car wash still had water and the super market had bottled water and the river still ran). The taps though were very empty and that meant the cisterns were too.

We worked out a routine for getting by; so we could flush, clean and drink, we prayed for water and waited expectantly.

Then big Russ asked the question. Why are we praying for us to have water when the whole city has none? the guys on gypsy street struggle with normal life let alone when there's no water. Why do we still pray more for ourselves and our "needs" than for the world at our doorstep?

So at 8.30 in the morning still fuzzy from sleep and not really wanting to think about it we pondered.

Then I had a thought. Maybe those words of Richard Foster are right, 'Our lack is not faith but compassion....if we genuinely love people, we desire for them far more than it is within our power to give, and that will cause us to pray.'

So when will it be that we genuinely love the people of this world enough to pray for them to have more than we can ever possibly give? When will we move away from our deeply ingrained 'daddy daddy bless me pleeaaasse' Christianity, When will we realise that just to give time and money isn't enough (we need to give all of ourselves)? and actually live in the covenant and great co-mission to be a blessing to all people, to give our lives as a sacrifice and to live in the fullness and Joy of giving ourselves wholly to the one thing that blesses us completely!

Why not actually do it? actually give all of ourselves and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. The road may be narrow and we'll have to watch our footing but the rewards of such a life are rich and fulfilling.