September 2010
My dear intercessor and friend,
Have you ever felt as though there are not enough hours in your day for all that needs to be done? Many of us live in the “fast lane” of life and among people that glorify busyness. But busyness gives us a false sense of fulfillment and worth. We measure our value by what we do – not by what we are! Time becomes our controlling tyrant when we march to the tempo of this world thinking that “more is better.” Have you fallen prey to this deception, too? I’m sad to say it, but I have. Often I need to push back the pressures of life and enter a place of solitude so that my soul can catch up with my body!
Yesterday I was wide awake at 4:00 a.m. with Psalm 116:7 running through my mind: “Return to your rest oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” In my Portuguese Bible it reads: …“for the Lord has been good to you.” By sunrise, the birds started to sing and my soul was at rest. Solitude allowed me to return to my center, and to rest in GOD! Such times lift up my perspective, particularly when life gets tough, and God chooses to be silent. Such times clear my vision and restore my soul so I feel whole again.
Intentional solitude is quite different from isolation. Project Hannah’s passion is also to minister to women isolated by cultural, religious, or social segregation. A few weeks ago Women of Hope went on the air in two new languages – Umbundu and Oromo. We are speaking hope to isolated women in 56 languages now! Indeed, God has been good to us! I am blessed to know that He longs for my focused attention, so that my soul can return to its rest and find Him there. But millions of women do not have such blessings. They wake up at 4:00 a.m. feeling utterly alone and isolated; trapped behind walls of rejection, indignities, abuse, and spiritual darkness. Nobody cares about how they feel, not even their gods! But Jesus does! They need to know that with Him, our Emmanuel – God with us, nobody is ever alone!
Many have written to us: “You are the only friend I have. You really understand.” Let’s pray for God to empower us to continue speaking love, hope and peace into women’s hearts, so that we can take them out of isolation to a place where they can find rest in Jesus, the lover of their souls.
Believing with you,
Marli Spieker Global Ministry Director/Founder Project Hannah TWR
Marli Spieker
Global Ministry Director/Founder
Project Hannah
TWR