Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Updates for the week

This week we had opportunity to go many different places with the Gospel. We were in El Cajon, San Diego, Harbison Canyon, and more. We have had a variety of people desiring to go out and work with us to bring the lost to Christ. I am always amazed at how God uses the young, old, shy and bold, all alike for His purposes. All we need to be is willing. We must allow the Lord to overcome our feebleness and fill us with His strength. It just reminds me that it is not we who are able on our own, but only by God's strength, His power, and His leading that we are able to share our wonderful Savior with others. Knowing that it is the Holy Spirit that works in us, to will and to do His pleasure, we can do anything He asks of us.
We had a father and 3 sons go out to witness both in their neighborhood and in a neighboring town. This family has been a great blessing to us this past week especially. Sara and the kids visited while Justin and I went out to witness with 2 of the sons, 14 and 16 years old. The following day, the father and 18 year old son labored alongside us. This family has invested time and effort to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is great to see the desire to reach out with the Gospel being encouraged and modelled by parents.
Another family spanning 3 generations has also been a great blessing to us. The first generation has spent much time with Justin and I, with our families and on the streets. Three of their adult children have gone out with us with a passion to reach their local communities with the Gospel . We have been both in their neighborhoods and the local church areas, and have been accompanied more than once by the third generation. I believe that the faithfulness of years serving the Lord has kept this family close. We praise God for this family.
I am continually reminded of the great responsibility and privilege it is to model Christ-like behavior when I see families serving God together. That has also been the focus of many that we have talked to in our time in California. Another family with 7 grown children have been brought up to me more than once. The father was a faithful servant of God. He followed God's calling, both in his homeland and to other countries, yet his greatest work was seen in the eyes of his children. They are a living testimony to his faithfulness and God's. I pray that my life reflects this dedication to God's calling of ministry to my family.
Though grown with children of his own, our friend still talks often of his dad. Our brother speaks of how the encouragement and example of a father/husband dedicated to be all God wanted him to be. Though none of us are perfect, we can certainly look to the example of those who have gone before. In hearing of life growing up on the mission field(foreign or domestic), we have learned lessons from the experienced. We have been challenged and encouraged to keep our eyes on Jesus, to do things according to God's Word, and to remember to enjoy our children. Children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. What a beautiful picture of God's family.
We are so thankful to have met so many that are co-laborers. What a wonderful family we have, this family of God. Worldwide, in every country, city, village, and town, there are men, women, and children who take the call to serve the Lord seriously. They are faithful to His calling and excited to see God at work. What a joy to serve the living God, to know that He is everything we need, and everything we could ever hope for!
God has placed these families in this area and they are determined to work to reach their surrounding communities for Jesus. I am so encouraged by the desire we have seen from people here to reach the lost. In our 2 months here, we have met so many that love the Lord and desire to serve Him. I could not possibly tell of all those stories, but know that there are many more that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Of that, there is no doubt. God's people are being mobilized. They are following His lead, and I cannot wait to see what He will do for His glory!
Serving a risen Lord and Savior,