Off to Haiti

My apologies to all for not posting the past two weeks…been sick, distracted, & very busy…now I am only posting to let you know I will be leaving for Haiti within the hour. Please keep our team in your prayers…safety & the ability to accomplish God’s work there. I’ll be back March 3 with pictures…promise!

A Burden for the Lost

Wasn’t Sunday a lovely day…especially after the snow on Saturday morning! I read an interesting quote this morning on a website from Rev. Terry Teykl, author of several books, including the “My Most Wanted Devotional” that we will be using this Lent as we pray for the lost. He said, “Prayer should be primarily spent on the lost world.” As I've pondered his words, I have come to the conclusion that he is correct. As believers, Jesus has already promised us that the Father will provide for our needs. I understand that to be comfort, wisdom, guidance, healing, and provision…in short, all of our needs. I realize intercessary prayer is important, but as believers, we have been asked to do one thing by our Savior: to be His witnesses. Seems to me we might be much more effective if we spent the vast majority of our prayer time and energy asking God how we might effectively reach the lost. If a church would focus on that task…this is not to say we eliminate our missions of nurture or spiritual growth…but focus on reaching the lost, praying that God would equip and embolden us for reaching the lost…our churches might turn their communities up-side-down! Too many churches who are struggling that I am familiar with have turned their focus inward, becoming much more interested in themselves than the lost. Too many people have become enamored with programs rather than taking the time to stop and visit with a hurting person, let alone sharing with them how Christ has changed our own lives…if in fact He has.

Yes Lord, I Can Hear You Now!

What a week…ice on Tuesday...power out with snow on Wednesday…funeral at the church on Thursday…now it's catch-up if you can! My first response this morning was, “Lord, I don’t have the time for all I need to get done!” That first response of mine confirmed the fact my devotional reading for today must have been provided by God himself. This morning I read from The Royal Way of the Cross:

"Be sure that God will grant you whatever time you need to attain Him. Perhaps (God) may not give you as much as you would like for your own plans, or to please yourself under the pretext of seeking spiritual perfection, but you will find that neither time nor opportunity for renunciation of self and self-pleasing will be lacking. All other time is lost, however well spent it may seem."

Okay, God…I got it...sure wish I were more like Mary and less like Martha!

Fear Not!

I have no doubt that worrying is part of our fallen human nature, a part continually exploited by satan. People worry about the silliest things, all the while quoting Scripture like Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I am not sure if people who worry have no idea what that really means, or if they think it doesn’t apply to them, or if they just don’t believe it. Whatever the reason, I read a quote today from Emmet Fox that has stuck with me. “To be afraid is to have more faith in evil than in God.” Profound and so true! Now, I know someone will defend their fear; “I have plenty of faith in God!” Yeah, well if you are worried, if you fear, your faith is woefully misplaced. If you are a true believer, there is absolutely nothing that can affect your eternal destination that you do not control! Satan cannot steal eternity from you; disease cannot steal eternity from you; the greatest temptations, trials, hunger, or even death cannot steal your eternal destiny, unless you allow it…so why worry and fear? This doesn’t mean you will reside on “easy street” with money to burn, in fact, Jesus told us our journey will be tough if we follow him, but if we keep the faith our reward is secure…I am reminded of the old Southern Gospel song, "I’ve Read the Back of the Book, and We Win!"