Africa

19. October 2013 · Comments Off on Africa · Categories: 2013, Mission Reports

He’s been pursuing opportunities in so many countries. So many opportunities are there. Gary has been busy in many African countries over the last few years, with many projects ready to start. But what holds them back?

I remember when I asked Gary about this… He had said that we just didn’t have enough people to launch many of these projects.

“Why don’t more people come to Africa?” I remember asking, seeing the great lack of laborers. His answer surprised me somehow.

“Many people are afraid of Africa. They see the starvation and violence in the news.” He mentioned fear of the animals too.

These are certainly things I can see people could be scared of. But the God we serve… He’s the same God that shut the lions mouths, He’s the same God that protected David when he was being pursued by Saul, and He’s the same God that sent Jonah to Nineveh. Let’s not be like Jonah… If God is calling you to go somewhere, go! If He’s calling you to somewhere scary, go! If He’s calling you to somewhere hard, go! God is faithful. He will always give us the power and grace to fulfill His command. Don’t doubt His promises!

“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3

If you want more information about opportunities in Africa, you can send me a message here.

We’re Asleep

04. October 2013 · 1 comment · Categories: 2013, Lessons

Aren’t we asleep? I listen to the words of the song… The music style doesn’t fit my standards, but the words so well describe our church today… We’ve lost our mission.

Asleep in the Light – Keith Green

Do you see, do you see
All the people sinking down
Don’t you care, don’t you care
Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job’s done

“Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord”
You know it’s all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts
No one even sheds one tear

But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds
And He cares for your needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in,
Oh, can’t you see it’s such a sin?

…
The world is sleeping in the dark
That the church just can’t fight
Cause it’s asleep in the light
How can you be so dead
When you’ve been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you can’t even get out of bed

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead
Come on, get out of your bed

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job’s done
You close your eyes
And pretend the job’s done

Don’t close your eyes
Don’t pretend the jobs done
Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.

 

Do we care? Will we put our work and resources and every fiber of our being where the need is? Isn’t it time?

Run!

21. September 2013 · Comments Off on Run! · Categories: 2013, Devotional

He ran! With unfaltering courage. Curses poured out of his opponent’s mouth. It didn’t discourage him. Instead he ran toward his foe certain of victory.

David had never fought a giant before. He wasn’t familiar with the ways of soldiers. He was a humble shepherd. But he had learned to trust God.

When he heard the railings of the Philistine against Jehovah, he determined that it could not continue. No one else was willing to fight the giant. Goliath was imposing! 9 feet tall! His muscles rippled with strength. Israel didn’t have anyone to equal him.

David did not hesitate. He refused the kings armor. He set out across the valley without a soldier’s weapons. Without any weapon except his sling and his shepherds rod.

The giant was disappointed. Didn’t Israel have any soldiers who were willing to fight? But they sent a shepherd!! Curses poured out of his mouth. Calculated to dismay, they failed to have their desired effect. As David approached the confident Philistine tipped his helmet back exposing his forehead. Seizing the opportunity David slung a stone which found it’s target on the forehead of the giant. As soon as the giant fell, David seized his sword and severed his head, ensuring victory.

How many times do we face giants in our lives? Do we allow them to discourage us? Or like David do we run toward the giant when the circumstances seem most forbidding. Run toward the giant! It sounds crazy, but David was certain of victory. Why can’t we? God has commanded us to preach the gospel, what reason do we have to become discouraged? If God has commanded us, then we have the power to gain the victory.

Let’s run toward the giant!

Unconditional

06. September 2013 · Comments Off on Unconditional · Categories: 2013, Lessons

Oh, yes. I’ve surrendered before, to be sure. Many times. I even thought I surrendered unconditionally! What a deception!

“But Lord, what if…”  I’ve said this so many times.

Last year God showed me I wasn’t surrendered. Oh yes, I admitted it. But I was stubborn. I didn’t really care. I was in the midst of the most exhausting and taxing assignment of my life… so perhaps it’s understandable… but certainly not excusable.

This year God has been still teaching me to surrender, unconditionally… holding nothing back. Bit by bit, lesson by lesson, I’ve given Him more and more. Even if it hurts, I know He has my best interest in mind. Little by little, I’ve given more and more of myself into His hands.

Has He ever tested you? He tested me this week… I wrestled with the choice. I knew He was asking me to do it, but it just didn’t make sense. It was a contradiction. Abraham was tested too. I’m sure it didn’t make sense to him either!

I chose… To follow Him whatever the cost. I gave this area of my life completely to Him. I laid it all in His hands. What peace filled me! Hours later He showed me it was a test… Now it all made sense! Now I saw the whole picture and how he was leading me. He had confirmed my trust in Him.

But what if I hadn’t surrendered? What if I refused to give my all? Perhaps I would never have seen the picture as I see it now.

What about you? He doesn’t require it all at once. Its a process. But will you surrender your most cherished fragments of life when He asks for them? You know you want them, but He’s asking for them! Will you give Him your most precious possessions? Your plans? Your talents? Your time? Your energy? The most secret parts of your life?  Your hearts inner desires and longings?

He’s still waiting, even now.

A Fallen Soldier

23. August 2013 · Comments Off on A Fallen Soldier · Categories: 2013, Posted Videos

If only I could have met her. In her long life Dr. Sheila Robertson made the best of every opportunity to share Jesus. She didn’t allow anything to stop her. She went where no one else wanted to go… even at after retirement she went to Guyana and worked as a missionary for a number of years there.

When the call went out for someone to go to a far out remote place near the border, no one wanted to go… Except Dr. Sheila. She was willing to go. What dedication!

Gary Roberts shares his experiences working with her at the memorial service:

Many soldiers of the cross have fallen doing God’s work. Dedicated. True to duty. Unwilling to let the enemy make headway at any cost. Many have fallen at the post of duty. Who will take their place? Who will pick up the standard and continue the fight? Who will go to the places where there is no knowledge of Christ?

Who will go and finish the work others have started? When we get to heaven you can be sure they will be anxious to know the fruit of their efforts… They will want to know who harvested from the seeds they planted.

Don’t leave the standard in the dust! Don’t leave the battle to be lost! Pick up the standard and make a decided advance! God has promised that He will be with us, if we go. Mat 28:20

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