tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59095854889785078542024-02-20T00:08:25.220-08:00Light and Life Missions NicaraguaNews, announcements, highlights and teachings from Light and Life Missions Nicaragua.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909585488978507854.post-90113350010103033162015-02-04T09:18:00.001-08:002015-02-04T09:18:49.383-08:00Fabio needed a bath. My wife and I were in a community called El Sanjon, which means the sink hole. It's name is a great description of what things were like there. <br />Dirty. Poor. Barren. We were there to welcome a new church into our fellowship as they chose to become our latest Light and Life Missions affiliate church.<br />
<br />
We were with a missions team from DeLand, Florida, The Lighthouse Church. When we have a team with us and there are other capable preachers, I usually allow them to be the face of the outreach for that event. This was the case on this day. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MxOUKQrJScKZQHQ5sJXop92qorRpW6cqFHQOBGnrot-nNbBkOvi5RaSVnGrPjr1My1-lGySTlys_-j98DJAeJbqFTY_1yltBeljnwGcdz30AFLsmQlUfiUM8wfK4KRPgTcPStjyXX52d/s1600/fabio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MxOUKQrJScKZQHQ5sJXop92qorRpW6cqFHQOBGnrot-nNbBkOvi5RaSVnGrPjr1My1-lGySTlys_-j98DJAeJbqFTY_1yltBeljnwGcdz30AFLsmQlUfiUM8wfK4KRPgTcPStjyXX52d/s1600/fabio.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabio </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I sat in the back of the ministry team looking out on the folks gathered there for service, a man caught my eye. He caught my eye because he was a big guy like I am, and you just don't see many men his size in Nicaragua. As I watched him I made some assumptions about who he was. He was dirty, and leaning over to one side in his chair. His eyes didn't appear to stay focused on any one thing that was happening around him. He clapped his hands as we worshipped, but his clapping was labored, out of rhythm, and sporadic. I assumed he was the local drunk. Sadly, every barrio has one. <br />
<br />
As service continued I watched him. My heart grew more and more tender towards him and I began to pray for him. One of the many things that I have learned in my years of ministry is that there is a reason people do the things they do. There is always some measure of private pain that stands behind the addicts decision to self medicate. No matter what prescription they have chosen. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. Over spending. Church. Whatever it is. <br />
<br />
As the speaker concluded and we came to the altar call as I'm sure you can imagine, this man was the first one to make his way to the altar. As he stood, I did as well and as I approached him i saw the pastor out of the corner of my eye making his way toward us and we all three converged at the same time.<br />
<br />
I asked him what i could pray with him about. He tried to answer me, but couldn't. Immediately I realized that my assumptions about him had been wrong. Just behind his left ear was a horrible scar. There didn't appear to be any bone there and the scar continued across the top of his head to the back of his right ear. He couldn't answer my question because he couldn't speak. I looked to the pastor and asked what was wrong.<br />
<br />
I learned from the pastor that this man's name was Fabio and he was not the local drunk. 20 years or more earlier in his life someone had tried to kill him. His head had been chopped in half with a machete. He survived, but was left without the ability to speak and his motor skills were poor.<br />
<br />
My heart broke and I began to pray for Fabio. I prayed for him and petitioned God for the things that I assumed Fabio needed and wanted. Things he could not ask for himself. I was ashamed of my assumptions and looked to the ground as I prayed. He didn't have shoes.<br />
<br />
As we prayed and prayed, God began to restore Fabio's speech. I could hear him as words began to come form his mouth. Simple. Basic. Quite. But words none the less. By now my wife Arellys had joined us and we were all praying together for him. Arellys being the wise person she is asked him simply if he knew Jesus as his saviour. He did not. But he wanted to. She led him in a prayer of confession and repentance. He accepted Jesus as his saviour. Suddenly, without dramatic fanfare, I knew something had happened. I looked up and looked into his eyes. He looked back at me and with clarity and conviction said to me "would you buy me a bar of soap"? I was overwhelmed. God had healed him and restored his speech. All of the things that he could have asked for. He chose soap.<br />
<br />
God spoke to me that day. As I had prayed for Fabio, so concerned for his needs and his healing, I had not taken time to consider that his greatest need was to be cleansed. Not from the dirt that was on the outside, but the stain of sin and separation. When he asked for soap, I knew that now that he was cleansed from the inside, he wanted people to see and to know that he was free from sin. <br />
<br />
I will not forget Fabio, his picture is above. One of the greatest obstacles to the gospel of Jesus Christ being spread is the preoccupation we often have with the physical needs and problems that are all around us. I am not suggesting to you or saying that we should abandon meeting people's physical needs. I am just learning again in a deeper and more relevant want how to balance meeting those needs. In a way that makes the message of Christ and His redeeming grace the bottom line in everything we do or say.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909585488978507854.post-65211217053758848832014-11-17T11:33:00.001-08:002014-11-17T11:33:32.287-08:00Fine for Littering<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life can be an oxymoron. There are many contradictions in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife likes to eat ice cream
when she is cold. I am hot natured but I have to sleep under the covers at
night. I am terrified of heights, but I love the mountains. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the time life’s contradictions are small, manageable, and easy to overcome.
But there are times when the contradictions that people have within their ideas,
beliefs and perspectives are more serious and more relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moral contradictions fall into that
category.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My family and I like
to go for walks down a local nature trail near our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t for exercise as much as it is for
time together as a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all go,
me, my wife, and my three children 14, 9, and 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an easy pace, no real pressures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently on one of our walks, my middle child
said, “well that’s not nice”, I turned to see what she was talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was reading a sign that read, “Fine for
Littering”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She understood it to mean
that it was okay to litter in that designated area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t really understand what the sign
meant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I thought about her statement and perspective, I realized
that we often develop our ideas, beliefs and perspectives with
misunderstanding. For her to gain understanding and develop the right idea and
belief about what the sign said, she needed to have instruction. As we look around in our day to day lives there are many signs that are
being used to build our perspective of what is right and what is wrong. But if we are to build a correct understanding, we too have to be instructed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4wUvYQcLH2Gd_8aWENBhf73bXf7-WRsuM1lb5jJbVj79CTAszd_bRpSCdcEcTmQOMSl30lRvjDYKMCEYcZtr9aGScZKnlgjJdeMW3hdC26eyrFeMYV_BxBYtHu7inPqjT0OXdZye-joC/s1600/fine+for+littering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4wUvYQcLH2Gd_8aWENBhf73bXf7-WRsuM1lb5jJbVj79CTAszd_bRpSCdcEcTmQOMSl30lRvjDYKMCEYcZtr9aGScZKnlgjJdeMW3hdC26eyrFeMYV_BxBYtHu7inPqjT0OXdZye-joC/s1600/fine+for+littering.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>The American Christian Culture is in the midst of trying to
deal with many such contradictions. In our ambition to be as inclusive as we
should be, we have allowed Christianity to be high jacked by moral
contradictions. We have allowed anyone and everyone to develop their own
understanding and perspective of what Christianity is or isn’t. What it does or
does not mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But many of the divisive perspectives
of morality can be and are addressed by God’s Word. The challenge is that
people are not being instructed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mantra “don’t judge” has invaded every denomination,
every spectrum of the church from the most conservative to the most liberal
ideas of Christianity. Misquoting Mathew 7:1 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">“</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">Judge not, that
ye be not judged”</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span>has
become a get out of Jail free card. Being judgmental is the religious equivalent
of what being racist used to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one
wants to be labeled racist, No one wants to be labeled judgmental. Playing the “don’t
judge” card is the new race card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
intended to shut down discussion and to eliminate any accountability for what
we call “Christian”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so the
term has become so blurred and so minimized, that most people really don’t know
or understand the differences between “Christian Culture” and the “Body of
Christ”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today anyone with any view of any issue can call themselves “Christian”.
Today in American Christian Culture you can be “Pro-Choice or Pro-Life” and
still be “Christian”. You can be for “traditional marriage” or for “marriage
equality” and still be “Christian”. Terms like “sexual atheism” and “moral
relativism” are on the rise. And while most of these polarizing topics are
debated and addressed, there are many more subtle yet equally dangerous moral
contradictions within the lives of most “Christians”. The reality is absolute
opposites cannot both be equally true simultaneously. There are things which
are clearly “right” and clearly “wrong”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The challenge to change this trend can be overwhelming to
say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all busy and
tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us are struggling with
the challenges that day to day living present us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of taking on an entire culture with
the ambition to change it are in reality impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unless, like so many other things, we have an idea about our
role in bringing change that is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe we can look to this same misquoted scripture in its context to better
understand our role in changing the current course of Christianity in America
and the World.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
What Jesus said in
Mathew chapter 7 does not end at verse one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather, He goes on to teach about the importance of examining our own
lives first. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mathew 7:5 tells us …<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then
shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mistake that we have made for too long in dealing with
this issue is that we have drawn sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have camped out in our own way of thinking and have labeled the other
side of the issue as wrong while we remain happy in the camp of right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is that all real change in any
measurable way starts with each of us looking at and dealing with self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all the ideas, beliefs, and perspectives
out there that I deem to be wrong, the most important ones that I must crucify
do not belong to anyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
belong to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we each individually begin to take on the role of crucifying
ourselves rather than others, we will be on the road to real and meaningful
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When being in right standing
before the father for my self is more important to me than correcting those
around me that are wrong, I will be a credible agent for change in my
community, my culture, my country, my world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And when you do the same, you will be too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909585488978507854.post-42997675471193548652014-11-10T11:34:00.000-08:002014-11-10T11:35:31.703-08:00Buckets and Bowls<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nicaragua is a tough place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Communication
and planning are especially difficult and in the early days of our ministry
almost impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had left early
that day headed to an area near what is known as the “Triangle of Death”, a community
hidden away in the outskirts of the city of Chinandega far away from the other
barrios and communities. Hidden, forgotten and distant from the areas that
people see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It had been from the beginning and still is today the
ambition of our ministry to go places other people would not go or had not
been. We really didn’t know much about what we would encounter or what we would
experience, but we prepared for what we knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By this time in our ministry we had been serving in Nicaragua for 9
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had seen a lot and had learned
to expect the unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the knowledge
we had, we set out to reach a group of forgotten people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a short term mission team, we had a
plan, we had a program, and we had a ministry. The problem, no one knew we were
coming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had decided to find a church that we heard had just
started in this new area and work with them for the day to evangelize the
surrounding area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be going door
to door doing “old time door knocking evangelism” and invite people to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would then have a service and a feeding
center. Our hope was to connect people to the church and its pastor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trip would be typical, no good roads, lots of waiting,
lots of “redirecting”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we traveled,
we saw the familiar sights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A horse in
the middle of the road that wouldn’t move for us to pass, small children with
few if any clothes on playing in the muddy streets, hopeless adults just buying
their time waiting for something to change. Finally after an hour or so of
travel, we turned onto the “imaginary road” that led to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now it had started to rain and I was
concerned about how much we could get accomplished.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we made the turn I
saw something that I had not seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the distance, in the middle of the road I saw what looked like a
blockade blocking the road. It wasn’t unusual for us to come across things that
had been placed in the road to prevent people from passing through, but this
was unusual because I didn’t really know what I was seeing. The colors of the
blockade were bright and the items used to block us were in a nice line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually it would be tree limbs, garbage, and
giant rocks piled in a hap hazard way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My translator and driver were busy finding our
way so I kept quiet and figured I would learn about what I was seeing soon
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we got closer to the blockade we stopped and I realized
that it was made up of buckets and bowls. Not only was it made of buckets and bowls,
but it led directly into the entrance to the church that we were looking
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we got out of the vehicle, the
streets began to fill with small children and mothers, elderly men and
handicapped people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With bright faces
and beautiful smiles they began to form a line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Old and young alike began to find their place in line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the front of the line of buckets
and bowls and took this picture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK6FP225yDROznVg8miffSDNOd6jtVXreRX7-ggq8uM1nre19a9eH9D4VZSh-CwghTbBwe-eSil5hySdm7E0hTFfUD4ONu-Z9d7V7GvZ3ZAbBMvaSjyy94vYEBVYLS_92E2FQbGdY3R04/s1600/picasabackground.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK6FP225yDROznVg8miffSDNOd6jtVXreRX7-ggq8uM1nre19a9eH9D4VZSh-CwghTbBwe-eSil5hySdm7E0hTFfUD4ONu-Z9d7V7GvZ3ZAbBMvaSjyy94vYEBVYLS_92E2FQbGdY3R04/s1600/picasabackground.bmp" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was totally blown away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had no idea what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did these people know we were coming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place was a total Gilligan’s Island, “no
phone, no lights, no motor car, not a single luxury” and yet here people were,
totally prepared for a feeding program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
this point I had to know what was going on and so I pulled my translator aside
and began to question them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Pastor of the church was there too and he began to
explain. The church was doing all that it could with all that it had to meet
the needs of its people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the
families there had little to no food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
small children and those who were sick had died. The situation was hopeless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But their faith in God had not been moved. Earlier
that week during one of their nightly services they began to pray and seek God
for His intervention. As they sought Him in prayer and fasting the Lord told
them that He would meet their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
called on them to prepare themselves for His provision. And so daily they came
to the church to wait on the Lord for provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each individual came daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got in line and held their buckets and
bowls and waited on the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pastor
and His wife built a fire daily and waited for The Lord to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of what others would call reality,
they prepared themselves for the vision that God had given them for His provision
in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pastor went on to
explain that as the rain fell and the weather grew increasingly dangerous that
the people of the church placed their buckets and their bowls down in line to
save their place while they sought shelter from the rain. I was blown away. Their
faith in God had moved them beyond their needs and moved them to action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were prepared for his provision. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God spoke to me that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is
that we are all seeking Him for something, provision, opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the great needs for many Christians is
the need to find their place in the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why am I here? What is my purpose? We seek Him with diligence to
understand and discover the answer to the questions of purpose and
destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We most often neglect the next step. In addition to our
seeking we must begin to prepare ourselves for the answer. You have to prepare
for the opportunity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do the natural,
He does the supernatural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meet many Christians
who have a desire to serve Him in some relevant way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They spend countless hours in prayer and
petition with God asking Him these questions, but rarely do I meet the individual
who has taken that next step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Institute for World Ministry is for many people the
needed next step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether your ministry
future includes missions in a foreign field or not, the great commission is the
same for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it starts and
ends with “GO”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IWM will prepare you for the greatest part of the great commission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the “GO” there will be nothing more
done. “Go” doesn’t just mean foreign missions, it includes the going that we
are all engaged in on a daily basis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So whether you are a new believer still needing answers to
these questions, or a leader in a local church needing resources to help launch
your mission’s ministry at your local church, IWM is for you. If you are interested please visit our website at www.igoiwm.org, or give me a call at 251-645-2117.<a href="http://www.igoiwm.org/" target="_blank">Contact us at The Institute for World Ministry</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909585488978507854.post-68932307159919400062014-09-28T16:13:00.003-07:002014-09-28T16:13:36.058-07:00TransitionFor the last few years, I have felt more like I was following God's plan for my life than I ever have before. My family and I have been spending our summers in Nicaragua working with our Ministry, Light and Life Missions. We worked during the school year both in the school system. We have had a great schedule with more flexibility and free time than I had ever had in my life. Opportunities for ministry were coming our way on a pretty regular schedule and we were doing all that we knew and believed that God had called us to do. The thought had settled in my mind that we were finally settled. We were finally in that place where we were living the dream of being in "ministry". <br />
<br />
In February that all changed. During my private prayer time God spoke the word transition to me. It caught me off guard. I wasn't really looking for it, for the most part I was very sure of the direction my life, (which includes my family, job, ministry, missions and so much more) and I was not seeking God to change things. I was comfortable. Balanced. The last thing on my mind was "transition".<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34mbvsTdx7jjneH9LIzdBHasYe118plSF-Z3i_6LTYtI-I_monBdLl7t3F1vO9C0P7HEG-24a62nonZENIrXDg7izHH-n6EsNFR9-o1pgel4dRYxwLb2NL_BX2Sgx7G2Y-GbTNPLxvbq3/s1600/DSCN1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34mbvsTdx7jjneH9LIzdBHasYe118plSF-Z3i_6LTYtI-I_monBdLl7t3F1vO9C0P7HEG-24a62nonZENIrXDg7izHH-n6EsNFR9-o1pgel4dRYxwLb2NL_BX2Sgx7G2Y-GbTNPLxvbq3/s1600/DSCN1105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.<br />Psalms 37:23</span></b></td></tr>
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I spent the next few days asking Him about this word, transition, what did He mean, what was He doing, where was I going next? He remained quite, only ever saying to me that one word, transition. Never elaborating, no details. Finally without what I could see as real answers, I shared this with my wife, Arellys. We agreed to fast and pray and try to hear from Him. Anytime that God speaks to me about change in our lives my first thought is that we are going to be selling everything and moving to Nicaragua. After several days of seeking Him, we both came to an understanding that that was not what He intended. The only clarity that we received is that we both heard form the Lord that this transition was going to be into an even greater role in ministry. More full time, more missions oriented. <br />
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Having not heard much more than that, we decided to wait. We would simply wait on Him to open a door. No change, no planning or preparation. Just wait on Him to open a door. I hate waiting.<br />
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A few weeks later, without fail, the door opened. I was approached by James Graham, my friend, a spiritual father, and the Director of International Gospel Outreach, IGO. The missions organization that we are apart of. James asked if I would pray about and consider coming on staff at the IGO offices in Semmes and become the Director of Missionary Training for IWM, Institute for World Ministry. I knew immediately that God had opened a door. I also knew immediately that transition was going to be a bigger change than I had considered. I never considered that I would be asked to take on such a role in IGO. I felt like it was over my head, out of my league, beyond my skill set. (I could go on). <br />
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Since the offer, I have started working in the IGO office a couple days a week as I make the transition into my new role. By January, my plan is to be there full time. In the last few weeks since this change had taken place I have been amazed daily by the people that I have met, the stories that I have heard and the opportunities that I am seeing to do even more in missions than I ever dreamed possible.<br />
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The whole journey started with one simple word. No burning bush. No light from heaven. A simple still small voice in my heart that said one word "transition". That moment has now set in place a chain of events that I could have never planned or asked for. That one moment of direction without details, has changed my life, my future, my family, my forever. It has not been easy at all times and through every step, but it has been and is worth it. <br />
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I struggle because I like to know what is going on. I like to know the plan. I like to take it one step at a time. But in this, God has chosen to do it His way. And as He always does, He knows best. <br />
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I want you to be challenged by this like I have been. Faith is an amazing thing. Ever changing, either growing or dying, Faith is crucial to our ability to follow Him. Faith launches out in obedience without any tangible assurance. Faith listens to the word transition and patiently follows as He orders our steps. It is not random. It is not coincidental. Each step has been planned. And each misstep on your part or mine had been prepared for. We cannot catch Him off guard. He is ready. He knows. Too many times in my life I have missed out on opportunity to see and experience great things. Too many times I have wanted to make my own decision, follow my own path. This time, it is totally different. But I am ready to see obedience as it's own reward and ready to see what God is up to in this.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5909585488978507854.post-84230171414047322172014-09-24T09:20:00.002-07:002014-09-24T09:20:44.777-07:00Always LearningThe last few days, God has been taking allot of things that I have learned in the last several months and begun the process of translating them from my head to my heart. For me, this is always a difficult process. <br />
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Taking time to allow things that I have always "known" to be taken from a place of intellect and understanding and allowing them to become real and relevant in my day to day living is not always easy, but always necessary.<br />
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We have all heard that "knowing the truth makes us free". But this knowing is one of experience and not of education. The knowing of truth that produces freedom is the one that has been translated from head to heart, from understanding and education to experience and application.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWH4KBIvCYV5l2Fw6mRjR9tQJiRtDYqgO69zqKIXxhVGXE9lHCXCG4FfbZv_UtvbPrWNcsW8fkX9HSmo0PTwDkPIdSsp2eoRDwgLja9JkBa8YnjGeGLVhVKhnsG8Pmlx2ccIJynVcX7bX/s1600/100_2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWH4KBIvCYV5l2Fw6mRjR9tQJiRtDYqgO69zqKIXxhVGXE9lHCXCG4FfbZv_UtvbPrWNcsW8fkX9HSmo0PTwDkPIdSsp2eoRDwgLja9JkBa8YnjGeGLVhVKhnsG8Pmlx2ccIJynVcX7bX/s1600/100_2307.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"And you shall know the truth and truth shall make you free" John 8:32</b></span></span></td></tr>
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I think of the fact that my wife and I have three amazing children. We have both been there from the beginning all the way through to their birth. You could say that my wife and I both "KNOW" what it means to have a baby. But, who "KNOWS" better. <br />
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Obviously, she does and why does she know better? Because she actually experienced the birth, I just witnessed it. <br />
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As I mature in my faith, or at least try to, I find myself confronted with this challenge more and more. Taking the time to allow truth to set me free by allowing it to translate from my understanding into my experience.<br />
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Lord, lead me today into your truth, not that I may simply understand it, but that I may experience it, live it, share it.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06190857279076815337noreply@blogger.com0