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Great Quote From C.S. Lewis....

“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.  We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.  We are far too easily pleased!”

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God's Plan Matures Us Slowly

Here is a devotional I read this morning, by Rick Warren. Great reminder for all of us....

So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. (Ephesians 4:22-24 TEV)

Although God could instantly transform us, he has chosen to develop us slowly. Jesus was deliberate in developing his disciples, just as God allowed the Israelites to take over the Promised Land "little by little," so they wouldn't be overwhelmed. (Deuteronomy 7:22) He prefers to work in incremental steps in our lives.

Why does it take so long to change and grow up? There are several reasons -

We are slow learners. We often have to relearn a lesson forty or fifty times to really get it. The problems keep recurring, and we think, "Not again! I've already learned that!"—but God knows better. The history of Israel illustrates how quickly we forget the lessons God teaches us and how soon we revert to our old patterns of behavior. We need repeated exposure.
 
We have a lot to unlearn. Many people go to a counselor with a personal or relational problem that took years to develop and say, "I need you to fix me. I've got an hour." They naïvely expect a quick solution to a long-standing, deep-rooted difficulty. Since most of our problems—and all of our bad habits—didn't develop overnight, it's unrealistic to expect them go away immediately. There is no pill, prayer, or principle that will instantly undo the damage of many years. It requires the hard work of removal and replacement. The Bible calls it "taking off the old self" and "putting on the new self." (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22-25; Col. 3:7-10, 14) While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

Growth is often painful and scary. There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Every change involves a loss of some kind: You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new. We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self-defeating, because, like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable and familiar.

 Good habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind—you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them—and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15 GW)

Friends In Haiti

   We've been talking about a couple of my friends that will be spending 50 days in Haiti, and I wanted to pass on to you their two blogs, so you can follow what is actually taking place in the trenches.

Carlos' Blog

Nate's Blog

Please pray for these two, as they do their part in helping the hurting in Haiti.

Have a great day.

Persistence

Can you relate to this?

Two frogs fell into a can of cream – or so I’ve heard it told. The sides of the can were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold.

“Oh what’s the use?” said Number 1, “tis fate- no help around- Good-bye, my friend. Good-bye sad world!” And weeping still, he drowned.  But Number 2 of sterner stuff, Dog paddled in surprise, the while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes. “I’ll swim a while, at least,” he said- “It really wouldn’t help the world If one more frog were dead.” An hour or two he kicked and swam— not once did he stop to mutter,  but kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, then hopped out, via the butter. (author unknown)

Good times or tough times keep on keeping on!

 

Reports from Haiti

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 - 3:10 PM CST

Following are communications written from missionaries in Haiti. Although not originally intended as "news" reports, the letters provide a true, on-site glimpse of the tragedy through the eyes of some who experienced it.

The first letter is from Missionaries Bill and Dorothy Smith, U.S. AGWM missionaries to Haiti who were in Haiti during the time of the quake. The second letter is from a Dominican Republic AG missionary couple, Miguel and Mairelys Ovalle, who are also ministering in Haiti. Of note, Miguel was an AGWM Latin America ChildCare (LACC)-sponsored child, saved and called to ministry in the LACC school.

--Report/letter from Bill and Dorothy Smith, U.S. AGWM missionary to Haiti:

All are ok. Abraham's pillars and roof are standing. The walls all fell and everything inside is broken but his family is fine. Cange [ex-Supt] & family are fine. He has some damage to his house. Haven't heard from Jacqueline but she is next door to Cange and he did not indicate any problem.
 
We just visited the churches today and there is lots of damage to Delmas 101 church. Two floors of the school at San Fil collapsed and the church had just minimal damage. The back wall of the Delmas 33 church is being held up with 2x4s. There will need to be work done on schools, but all in all, everything looked pretty good. Almost all the other schools I saw were totally destroyed...many churches also. Our home church fell in.
 
I almost lost it going down Delmas today. My heart just breaks for the people. I'm sitting here writing and weeping.We have a group coming across the border tomorrow bringing food and fuel so that will help.
 
I have many more responses I need to write before sleep overtakes.

--Report/letter from Miguel and Mairelys Ovalle, an AG missionary family from the Dominican Republic ministering in Haiti (translated from Spanish to English):
 
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.  We are grateful to the Lord to be able to communicate and for all our family being well, which is not the case with so many, which this sudden earthquake left trapped beneath the rubble.

When the earthquake took place we had just arrived in the country some 20 minutes before . . . and my wife was in the kitchen and I in the bedroom when the house began to shake violently and we ran out, both of us thinking that our son David was with us, only to discover that he was still inside the house, and I ran back to look for him.  He ran out on his own and calmly told me what had happened!  We hugged, crying and asking God for peace.

We went out to the street where there was panic and confusion on every side, and some who were injured came to our house where we were able to help them.  Our other son, Cadmiel, didn't want to go back into the house; he wanted to return to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), so we prayed that the Lord would help him overcome his feelings as quickly as possible.

Today we have seen what I can only describe as the greatest human catastrophe I have ever seen with the number of buildings and houses destroyed with their occupants inside them, with chaos reining in the streets . . . and no transportation of any kind, with the people alarmed and time running out for those trapped in the rubble.

This morning is the first day of this year back here in Haiti and the saddest I have ever lived, seeing in my rounds literally hundreds of bodies lying in the streets and knowing that this is only the beginning, that the majority of the buildings, such as schools, fell with the schoolchildren still inside.  

I believe that in this moment we need all possible help from our churches in solidarity with us in giving goods and funds to acquire what is needed such as disposable medical materials and medicines such as anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, pills or chlorine for water purification, tent materials, sheets and mattresses.

We are rationing food and water, as well as gasoline, because we do not know how long these will be available. We visited some believers in [a nearby part of town] and thank God all the children and brothers are alive.  A few suffered cuts and injuries in their homes but are thankful to be alive.  

I will communicate more soon; please keep praying.

If you would like to make a donation to the Assemblies of God relief effort click here.

For more information and to view the original post go to, www.ag.org

Primal

While I was reading Mark Batterson's new book, Primal,  I came a across a challenging quote...

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of the deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; ...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly"  -- Teddy Roosevelt

I want my life to me lived in the "arena" risking much, dreaming big, and working hard to see God get the glory that is His. If you are looking for a great read, pick up Batterson's new book up by clicking here.

Visa Update From Mongolia

Here is an update letter form Mongolia:

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers, emails, encouragement this month! We are so blessed to have this group at home who never lets us go!
 
This has been a very long month and a half working on our visa. I wont bore you with details, but it came down to just two days away from our visa being expired. Lots of things happened. Many NGO's ( non government organizations) and missionaries have been denied visa this year. After all that has transpired we were drawing a blank about what was next. Last night, I was ready to call the embassy, a lawyer and such.
 
However,Troy said, "No. we are not going to try to pull any more strings. If God wants us to stay HE will make it happen." Then he said, "Shari if we just stop and trust in God to handle this, than whatever happens we know it is His will...especially if we are approved tomorrow...we KNOW it was the Lords work."
 
I felt peace about this decision also. I just felt like we needed to let it go. We prayed this morning and told the Lord we both did not feel it was time to go, but whatever His will was we were ready to obey.
 
So with great joy, confidence and peace I share the great news that Troy has been approved to not only be in Mongolia, but to be the director of an NGO here in Mongolia, which takes a different type of visa that is more complicated to receive. We have been given another years residency and permission to direct. This frees up a lot of our student time. Now Troy will attend language school for only 6 hours a week instead of full time...and it gives us a lot of extra space to do the ministry work. Thank you Lord!
 
I am learning, that all things are possible...when the Lord decides.
 
Thank you!
Troy and Shari

What If The Pharisees Had Twittered

Below is a post by I read written by Pastor Perry Noble, and I thought it was pretty amusing....

Disclaimer…some of these phrases MAY be over 140 characters, work with me!  :-)

• “Heard this guy named Jesus teach today, not very impressed.  All He did was tell stories, didn’t really go in depth like the guys do at the tabernacle.”
• “That Jesus guy healed a dude on the Sabbath right in front of everyone, which was so disrespectful.  Sure, it was nice that the person got healed, I just don’t agree with the way He went about it.”
• “BIG DEAL!  So this Jesus guy fed over 5,000 men with five loaves and two pieces of fish.  Seems to me like He is just into trying to do entertaining things to get people’s attention rather than teaching them anything of substance.”
• “The people that seem to be following Jesus and taking on some responsibilities for Him have not been to seminary…this is not acceptable!”
• “This Jesus guy keeps talking TO and ABOUT ‘lost people.’  I think His singular focus is going to be destructive to His ministry.”
• “This Jesus guy won’t answer any of our questions.  I think He is arrogant to not listen to us…doesn’t He understand who we are?”
• “Jesus didn’t wash His hands before He ate a meal with me last night, I did, therefore I am so much cleaner than Him!”
• “Jesus called me a snake/viper today, I am not quite sure that was appropriate language and I think that kind of talk is going to damage His reputation.”
• “Jesus always calls me and my friends out for His perceived problems with us…and quite often isn’t very ‘loving’ in the way He does it.  I think He has temper issues and should stop being so reactive.”
• “Jesus keeps hanging out with the wrong people…doesn’t He know that the people who are closest to Him don’t have their act together?”
• “Jesus lost His temper today and threw things and people out of the temple.  His irreverence for the things that matter to me is quite disturbing.”
• “This guy Jesus waters down His teachings, the way He is presenting things ANYONE can be forgiven!”

For more of Perry Noble, check out his blog at perrynoble.com

Stay in the Word!

I am challenged by these thoughts by Eugene Peterson:

"The words printed on the pages of my Bible give witness to the living and active revelation of the God of creation and salvation, the God of love who became the Word made flesh in Jesus, and I had better not forget it. If in my Bible reading I lose touch with this livingness, if I fail to listen to this living Jesus, submit to this sovereignty, and respond to this love, I become arrogant in my knowing and impersonal in my behavior. An enormous amount of damage is done in the name of Christian living by bad Bible reading. Caveat lector, let the reader beware."

Make time to be in the word, and be intentional how you live it out!