Sunday, May 31, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
What is God up to?
Disclaimer: This was written as a criticism of my self and no one else. The amazing thing about the word of God is that it has the ability to challenge different people to different things. I struggled with self-centered independent living. He opened my eyes to God centered God dependent living.
As we began to pray through these questions as a family God began to change our hearts. No longer do we desire to acquire more stuff, toys, and wealth. In fact, through Him, we have grown to despise it. Because it has no place in the calling on our lives. No longer do we desire our safety and self-reliance, but instead God has given us a desire to be Christ-centered even if it jeopardizes our safety. Honestly we are not completely there yet, I don’t know that I can say I am willing to give up my life for my brother. But my prayer is that God gives me that kind of love. I desperately need that kind of love in order to impact the world for Christ so every day I pray for the Lord to increase my love for fellow men.
It is no surprise that as we prayed through this God began to challenge us and call us. We had to make a decision. Are we in? What a crazy prayer it is when we finally prayed God we are in for whatever you want us to do. That has led us to some strange places in the last 6 months. Mosques, homeless shelters, food banks, and cold streets, sharing the gospel wherever he leads. Now he has lead us to something even more. He has called us to the mission field.
This is where we need your help. The truth is we cannot do this on our own. We are in desperate need for believers to intercede on our behalf. We need men and women of Christ willing to go into their prayer closets and get down on their knees and pray to the creator of the universe on our behalf. Please do this for us. This list of things we need help with seems endless, strength, courage, boldness, discernment, understanding, clarity, timing, and finances. Please pray for our children during this time of uncertainty and change. Ask the Lord to bless our marriage that we may grow closer and make decisions in one accord.
In Matthew 6 it says “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things, will be given to you as well.” That is the desire of our family, not to worry about our lives but instead to see His kingdom advanced, to see the lost led to Christ, to see lives transformed, and to see Him glorified in all the earth.
~ Josh
Sometime ago I began to take a hard look at my life. Many
questions came out of that. What is my purpose? Do I really want to follow
God? What does it look like to be a disciple of Christ in the 21st century? I have always had a fairly easy life. I have never needed for anything, but was completely self-reliant. The truth is in our culture we are taught self-reliance. I was taught that if you want or need something to go earn it. This is not a
bad thing but when I began to take a hard look at scripture this is somewhat
different than what is laid before us in the Word. When Jesus called His disciples
they left everything behind for Him. When
was the last time I left anything behind for Him? He made such bold statements
as “No one who puts a hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” and "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Honestly when is the last time I had to
deny myself in order to follow Him? Because the truth is to follow, I must deny myself, I must get rid of my self-reliance. Then he said “For whoever wants to save their life will
lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be
for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” This may well
be the most challenging verse in the Bible. Am I willing to lose my life? Am I willing to sacrifice everything for Him and his service? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life
for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” I
know this sounds radical and reckless, but it is the word of God. How can I sit
back and ignore it any longer? How can I continue to gain and have the whole
world only to lose my soul?
As we began to pray through these questions as a family God began to change our hearts. No longer do we desire to acquire more stuff, toys, and wealth. In fact, through Him, we have grown to despise it. Because it has no place in the calling on our lives. No longer do we desire our safety and self-reliance, but instead God has given us a desire to be Christ-centered even if it jeopardizes our safety. Honestly we are not completely there yet, I don’t know that I can say I am willing to give up my life for my brother. But my prayer is that God gives me that kind of love. I desperately need that kind of love in order to impact the world for Christ so every day I pray for the Lord to increase my love for fellow men.
It is no surprise that as we prayed through this God began to challenge us and call us. We had to make a decision. Are we in? What a crazy prayer it is when we finally prayed God we are in for whatever you want us to do. That has led us to some strange places in the last 6 months. Mosques, homeless shelters, food banks, and cold streets, sharing the gospel wherever he leads. Now he has lead us to something even more. He has called us to the mission field.
In May we took a trip to Orlando, Florida to meet with an
organization called Missionary Ventures International (MVI). We knew little about the organization
but somehow the Lord led us to an orientation where we learned about them and their
values. It is amazing to see what God is doing through MVI and their staff and
there was no doubt in our minds that the Lord is calling us to be a part of the
organization.
They have presented us with an opportunity to move to Peru
and work in the Amazon jungle with the Shawi people. We are unsure what this
entails and are therefore taking an exploratory trip June 11-19. Jennifer and
I are going without the kids and Jennifer is 6 months pregnant.
This is where we need your help. The truth is we cannot do this on our own. We are in desperate need for believers to intercede on our behalf. We need men and women of Christ willing to go into their prayer closets and get down on their knees and pray to the creator of the universe on our behalf. Please do this for us. This list of things we need help with seems endless, strength, courage, boldness, discernment, understanding, clarity, timing, and finances. Please pray for our children during this time of uncertainty and change. Ask the Lord to bless our marriage that we may grow closer and make decisions in one accord.
We will also need people to partner with us financially to
support the work we will be doing so please pray that God begins to put those
people in place.
In Matthew 6 it says “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things, will be given to you as well.” That is the desire of our family, not to worry about our lives but instead to see His kingdom advanced, to see the lost led to Christ, to see lives transformed, and to see Him glorified in all the earth.
~ Josh
“May God himself, the
God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and
body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one how
calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Brothers and sisters, pray for us.”
I Thessalonians 5:23-25
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