Devotions in Paradise

We are waking up in paradise; not heaven but Parasio, Panama. Waking up in paradise after a long day of travel is exactly what you would hope for. We are rested and it is sunny and HOT outside. We are having our own individual devotions and will be together for devotions led by Jeremy a little later this morning and then we hit the road for a 6-7 hour journey west to David in the province of Chiriqui.

We are all doing a short term mission devotional and today’s topic is “Loving Others”. “These things I command you, that you love one another - John 15:7. [It is so weird sitting here on January 4th at 8 AM with my hands sticking to the keyboard because of sweat from the heat.] Sorry, back to the my devotions. We are reminded that it is not an option to love one another. We are not to love others when we feel like it, or when they love us, or when they are nice to us. It is a command from Christ - John 13:34,35. It is still very early in our trip but I know the time will come when we will be tired, when we may not feel loved, those we serve may not appreciate what we are doing, and may even seek to put roadblocks before us, it is then we will need to rely upon the Lord’s strength to continue to show the love of Christ. Please pray for us in advance of those moments, specifically that we will not try to love with self efforts but rather rely on God [“for love is of God (I John 4:7)].