Moses met with the Lord on the far side of the desert (Exodus 3:1). There the LORD spoke to Moses from a burning bush.
It was not in some favored vacation spot, where a cool breeze and soft pillow are sought after. It was no weekend retreat that promised comfort and plenty to eat. Rather, it was on the far side of the desert that Moses was forever changed.
- It was out of a pit, and into slavery that Joseph found favor with God.
- It was in desperate loneliness that Jacob met the Lord.
- It was the year that King Uzziah died when Isaiah saw the Lord.
- Abandoned on Patmos, John wrote Revelation.
It was from a Haitian jail that God showed me things about his Glory I had never seen. In great physical discomfort I found comfort. In what felt like hopelessness I found hope.
Many things crossed my mind during those God breathed days. Two things I thought would never happen; one, I thought I would never see Alex, Junior and Florence again, and second, I thought I would never be able to engage in orphan ministry in Haiti again. Two years ago, the Lord allowed Renee and I to attend Alex’s wedding and next week Steve McMullin and I return to Port-au-Prince to consider a life long partnership with New Horizon Home.
Followers of the Lord don’t get to set the stage and arrange the scenery and then work up an experience. The Spirit does not work that way. It may well be in the unlikeliest place or on the darkest day, thought to have been abandoned by God that God may likely summon you to the far side of the desert.
Eastside Baptist Church, in Twin Falls, Idaho will courageously be sending Steve and me to investigate what the Lord wants from us now. New Horizon Home is an orphanage home for 20 children who have been orphaned, abandoned, or rescued from a life of slavery. Our assignment is to consider the work and bring a report back to the Lord’s people at Eastside to act on what we hear from the Lord. I will have a prayer guide for praying saints ready by the end of the week. Contact me for information on the prayer guide. The Lord invited Jeremiah to ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3)
It is our intent to consult with God on this matter. Pray that we listen and obey.
Phyllis Allison
April 3, 2013 at 6:58 AMYou can count on Aunt Phyllis’ prayers. Proverbs 3:6 – In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. I love you!
Paul
April 3, 2013 at 9:01 AMMy dear Aunt Phyllis, I am thankful to the Lord for you. I will keep you posted.
Bill and Lisa Riley
April 3, 2013 at 4:44 PMPaul, please send us the prayer guide. We will be holding you up this next week!
Paul
April 3, 2013 at 4:54 PMThanks Bill and Lisa,
I’ll send you the password in a private message, but here is the website… https://www.paulthompsonblog.com/weekly-prayer-guides/
Kathryn Montoya
April 3, 2013 at 5:52 PMHi Paul, this is Kathryn Montoya, I am in Haiti right not and will be next week as well. I am working in a village called Leveque where we have relocated many deaf people since the earthquake.We are working on starting a deaf orphanage in the future. Maybe we will run into one another. I will be praying for you guys!