By:  Becky Thomas,
   Why are you downcast, O my soul?Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.Psalm 42:5-6 There is a burning, a bubbling deep inside.  There is a fire deep within the stomach.  No, it is not acid reflux or indigestion.  It is the desire to see lost souls brought before the Throne of God.   There are so many souls that are downcast, disturbed.  The trials of this life have weighted down their shoulders so that their eyes are averted from their Help.  These souls are our neighbors, our co-workers, the stranger at the store, the sister or brother, the son or daughter, the person sharing the same bed at night.  We do not have to look too far to see someone who needs hope in God our Savior. We have been holding “Times of Refreshing” revival services with guest evangelists Greg and Robyn Hubbard, who have our own evangelists Tim and Katie Bennett team with them.  (Join us for the last night Sept. 30 at 7p.m. Mount Morris Gospel Tabernacle.)  The service tonight was powerful.  The message hit me between the eyes. If there are any mistakes in this e-mail, it is because I’m typing it just shortly after having been smacked between the brows.  The verse from Isaiah 6:8 has rung in my ears since hearing the message Pastor Greg brought: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’  And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” One year ago today I was in India on a Mission of Mercy / PennDel Women of Purpose mission trip.  We were ministering to the women and children of India.  This day we were in a children’s home, an orphanage, working to get it “fixed up” for the kids.  The experiences were too intense to even journal.  What was written in my journal, and I dare to share, is this:  It is 6:00a.m. here.  At 1:35a.m. I still hadn’t fallen asleep and woke up at 3:00a.m.  The nurse who gave my immunizations was right — I’ll dream about it.  There is so much to tell I can’t even figure out what to write.  Recounting the events, the prayer rose up in my soul as tears filled my eyes. “God, I want this to be life-changing.  I want the fire for You to burn so bright in my life that I can’t contain it.  I don’t want this hum-drum Christianity anymore.  I want to feel Your fire in my soul.  God USE me — in a world where Christians are persecuted, let Your light shine through me — in ACTIONS more than words, let my life be a reflection of You.  Let this work build Your kingdom for eternal gain.  Don’t let the fire die in me, I pray.  In Jesus’ precious name!” My friends, I am not perfect.  You all know that!  Matter of fact, I have failed so miserably … just recently!  I fail daily.  But what a loving, forgiving God I serve!  The burning in the pit of my soul is for the lost.  Yes, my family … my friends … my neighbors … my workplaces … and India.   The decision-making journey was one of stubbornness and dragging my feet.  When I finally decided that I was not the one to go to India in February, the God-moment came.  He changed my mind for me!  Isn’t that just like God?  He also brought back to my memory that I had written the prayer to not let the fire die in me.  Ouch!  Another slap.  I guess I need those heavenly hits to keep me in line, and to remember to trust Him. Trusting His leading, I sent in the application to go to India.  I will, with God’s provision, be going to India again.  The burning on my soul, my heart, my mind is the picture attached.  Look at the eyes.  Those eyes!  My eyes are filled with tears just thinking of this little boy.  There is no hope in his beautiful eyes.  That lack of hope is why I must say, “Here am I.  Send me!”  One soul placed in the hands of our Lord and Savior for eternity is worth it all. So, to all who have been praying and asking if I will be going to India the answer, trusting and believing God, is, “Yes!” My heart is not only burning for those of India who don’t know, but also those with whom I come into contact on a daily basis.  I must do my part here and now, right where I am.  I don’t have to travel overseas to make a difference in someone’s life.  I have the opportunity as I am working.  We all know that we hygienists love to talk while we have our hands in your mouths!  That is a benefit for me, because it is difficult for the patient to talk back. As I talk to others, however, I must remember to listen.  There are so many who are downcast, disturbed.  One of the best ways to witness is to listen, to care.  How my heart is burdened not only for the lost souls, but the hurting souls who know Christ as Lord and Savior!   As you read this e-mail, you may be the one who is so burdened with the cares of this world, so busy with the activities of the day, so distracted from your Hope and your Help.  Know that there is One who cares and loves you.  It is a song we all know.  It is a song that each child has heard.  Let it ring true in your heart this very instant:  Jesus loves [you] this I know / For the Bible tells [us] so / Little ones to Him belong / They are weak but He is strong / Yes, Jesus loves [you] / Yes, Jesus loves [you] / Yes, Jesus loves [you] / The Bible tells [us] so. May we all remember how loved by God we truly are; and remember that love to keep a burning in our hearts to reach others. God loves you! 
UNREDEEMED (Selah)
The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemedPlaces where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed