I saw Jesus last night
"to learn to speak the language of love where the main language spoken is not Hebrew or Arabic, but hate"
These words from a man who lives in the midst of the Palastine-Isreali conflict
"let them have ____ but let me have Jesus"
"my enemy is my greatest opportunity"
a man who is living free of fear in an area where his collegue and friend was martyred
a husband and father like himself with a wife and small children...
a man whose very first words were in loving remembrance and honor of his beloved wife far away
a man who is part of a ministry who purchased washing machines for the hardworking and impoverished mothers "on the other side" not because they hoped to change them to "their side" but because they were hard working and impoverished mothers who could really be helped by having washing machines. He saw them, trapped in their situations, trying to care for their households of husband, 10 or more children, parents and parents-in-law trying to do the best that they can day after day with little hope of change ahead.
gifts given with no strings attached and possibly with very little fanfare or even words.
Just love
a gift freely given
not indebting the receiver in any way
seeing those across the great divide as not so different than himself
persons who are wanting to love and care for their household
a man who said if you want to help this region,
what is needed are examples of how to be leaders of integrity
not teaching only
not talk
not books,
lectures,
seminars,
funds alone
but real flesh and blood persons
who can demonstrate responsibility, accountability, faithfulness, integrtiy,
the ability to make decisions and stand for what is needed while being free of self interest, desire for gain
not as a superficial cover for evangelism but as a genuine desire to help and demonstrate Christ
a man who when asked how he would pray for the Church in the western world, said,
"I am so hesitant to ever speak critically of the Church... She is so precious"
Who encouraged us not to be paralyzed by fear of what others think of us...
I saw Jesus in this soft-spoken, quiet, deeply humble and thoughtful man.
I didn't see a dynamic speaker; I saw true joy
I didn't hear shrill words and harsh rhetoric; I heard peace
I didn't hear plans and strategies and formulas; I saw prayer and trust
I didn't see grasping; I saw patience and hope
who said "there is a creativity born of love" that finds a way to love those whom it is impossible to love without God's Spirit working in us
"For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
"let them have ____ but let me have Jesus"
"my enemy is my greatest opportunity"
a man who is living free of fear in an area where his collegue and friend was martyred
a husband and father like himself with a wife and small children...
a man whose very first words were in loving remembrance and honor of his beloved wife far away
a man who is part of a ministry who purchased washing machines for the hardworking and impoverished mothers "on the other side" not because they hoped to change them to "their side" but because they were hard working and impoverished mothers who could really be helped by having washing machines. He saw them, trapped in their situations, trying to care for their households of husband, 10 or more children, parents and parents-in-law trying to do the best that they can day after day with little hope of change ahead.
gifts given with no strings attached and possibly with very little fanfare or even words.
Just love
a gift freely given
not indebting the receiver in any way
seeing those across the great divide as not so different than himself
persons who are wanting to love and care for their household
a man who said if you want to help this region,
what is needed are examples of how to be leaders of integrity
not teaching only
not talk
not books,
lectures,
seminars,
funds alone
but real flesh and blood persons
who can demonstrate responsibility, accountability, faithfulness, integrtiy,
the ability to make decisions and stand for what is needed while being free of self interest, desire for gain
not as a superficial cover for evangelism but as a genuine desire to help and demonstrate Christ
a man who when asked how he would pray for the Church in the western world, said,
"I am so hesitant to ever speak critically of the Church... She is so precious"
Who encouraged us not to be paralyzed by fear of what others think of us...
I saw Jesus in this soft-spoken, quiet, deeply humble and thoughtful man.
I didn't see a dynamic speaker; I saw true joy
I didn't hear shrill words and harsh rhetoric; I heard peace
I didn't hear plans and strategies and formulas; I saw prayer and trust
I didn't see grasping; I saw patience and hope
who said "there is a creativity born of love" that finds a way to love those whom it is impossible to love without God's Spirit working in us
"For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
Susan – Thanks so much for sharing your piece on Labib. First, I have to tell you that you’re a wonderful writer. Your ability to boil down his words (and probably his person) into beautiful, spare prose made it more than just information. I’d planned to go hear him, but am so glad you went instead as you have squeezed out the essence and mixed in a bit of yourself at the same time. A gift.
ReplyDeleteBless you, too…
Tamara