He is no fool...

" He is no fool who gave up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"

In the movie "The End of the Spear" missionaries are killed by some tribal members living in the Amazon.

As they are getting ready to go and introduce themselves they are boarding the tiny plane and one of the missionaries son asks his father if he is taking a gun- he tells his son that he is not because he says that the people he is meeting are not ready for heaven.

As I said the missionaries are killed by these tribesmen they intended to reach out to, it was difficult for their families and his son had a hard time with this culture. Many years later when this young man grew up he encountered one of the tribesmen that killed his father.

Eventually this tribesmen becomes a Christian and  a part of this man's family and becomes a father figure to him and a grandfather to his children. This man who killed his father, this man who was not ready for heaven- but now because of this missionary many years before giving his life, by following God- now this man he intended to minister to in his life he did in his death. This man was now a Christian and a part of his family-

I think sometimes in our human minds it is hard to understand such dedication, sacrifice, and obedience- even knowing that they might face death these missionaries followed God. And yes they were killed, but look at the difference they made in one man's life in a group of people's life.

Are we living life in a bubble- preserved by our thoughts, ideals, fears, and traditions- or are we living for something else for someone else-

Each day I have to get with God and repent and ask for His help, each day I have to say God I don't always know what I am doing, I don't always know how to help the people you bring in my life- but God thank you that I have a precious gift in my relationship with you and help me to show others you- help me in my life or in my death to show others the path to heaven.

Wherever He leads

Swaziland! Swaziland! Can you believe God is sending me (luther) to Swaziland! I am so excited about what God has in store. I'm still coming to grips with the whole idea. For those of you who knew me when I was growing up you are probably thinking, he is do the God thing, no way! Well let me tell you, Yes Luther is doing the God thing,. I am so sorry that being brought up in a Christian home that I ever turned my back on God. I didn't think God was cool. I know now that life without Christ is not life at all! I was just living. I wasn't experiencing life. To have a relationship with Christ is the best thing in the world. Because of my relationship with Christ everything and I mean everything flows from that. To put Christ first and let it go at that I discovered that my life is complete. I am content. If I need it, God will provide it. In Christ I am at peace for the first time in my life. My biggest thing is am I living up to Gods expectations. I want to conform to God , not to the world. This is my biggest challenge. I know that this is the Devils world. He uses my past to put doubt in my mind. I must stay in Prayer and Bible Study. These things are from God and the devil has now power over them. 
So with all this being said. I will go where He says go. I may question it, I may not understand it, but I will go. My Jesus took on my sin and died because of it, and thru it all He loved me. He wanted me to spend eternity with Him and that is what I what to do. So come Lord Jesus come. In the mean time I will go. I will follow Your lead!

Praying for Miracles

Okay folks well it is closing to our trip to Swaziland and we have $2300.00 left to raise by October 1, 2010. Asking for your prayers for this request and also for the trip itself and the people of Swaziland, and Chidlren's Cup.

I believe that God will grow me in his faith, but it can be a challenge. "Trust in the lord..... and He will direct my path..." Thank you Jesus and I must rest in you.

Faith

I am reading a book entitled "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie ten Boom. If you are not familiar with her she was author of "The Hiding Place" which chronicled the story about her family assisting Jewish people and hiding them during the Holocaust. At which point she and her family were found and arrested and they then were put into concentration camps. She survives this ordeal and then is led by the Lord to travel all over the world and reach out to people with the gospel and love of Jesus. I have been inspired and amazed at this woman of God who is a prime example of obedience and faithfulness. She endured many hardships yet she rested in God and served Him each day even while enduring the torture and bleakness at the concentration camps. These experiences I believe helped her in her ministry to so many around the world because she carried a message of hope, a message that no matter where you are at God is with you. A message that even when death surronds you, you can seek God to give life. ( She thought she was being prepared to be killed in the gas chambers and during this wait she began to minsiter to a fellow prisoner and then many others began asking questions about Jesus and salvation.) So I say I am amazed at how God used this woman to serve Him and to reach out to others and to truly embody the verse "He must increase, I must decrease." I am humbled, convicted and moved by such a faithful and obedient servant of God who did not look at life or it's circumstances but looked to the creator of life. God help me each day to look to you and rest in you and not be wrapped up in this world and it's burdens but help use me in spite of these burdens and knowing that you stand alone beyond all human understanding and capacity.

God is Faithful

Okay folks, just wanted to send out an update. We have been blessed with several donations this week, one in the amount of $1,000.00. I am amazed an overwhelmed at this generosity, anyhow just wanted to let everyone know that we have reached our first deadline for our mission trip to Swaziland and have about half to raise.

This is just a reminder to me of faith, and God's stretching me and stretching us and teaching us to rest in his wings.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and donations.

Don't forget to pray for Children's Cup for the 21 days of Prayer that started on August 15th- for the children and those who impact their lives.

Life's Journey

As some of you know from Luther's recent post the past few weeks have been rather challenging for me. I feel compelled to rest in God's spirit and am reminded that ultimately therein lies my peace.

My cousin recently died this past Wednesday, he was a man under 50 with two young boys , he was someone who had faced a lot of challenges in the past few years himself. His death was sudden and a shock to the entire family. My family asked me to give the eulogy, it was difficult, however prior to them even making this request God was preparing to speak and He gave me the words the night before the service as  I sat by my aunt's gold fish pond. I listened to the water flow and God's spirit spoke to my heart in how best to remember my cousin and how best to provide some words of comfort to my family and to remind them that He is there to bear their burdens. The passages He gave me were from Psalm 55 and Hebrews 4.

The main message that God gave me was that He is here to bear our burdens for us without question, so these past few weeks as I have been battling various situations I am reminded to give these challenges and burdens to God. With that I want to remind you whatever you are dealing with this week lay your burden down at Jesus altar, because He is not a high priest who does not understand us, but one who has felt our burdens and is there to take them from us as we lay them at his feet.

In this I am reminded of life's journey and that none of us know how long any of have in this life and therefore it is important to not get so caught up in the destination, but in the journey. By this I mean we often start our Mondays and say I can't wait until Friday , or I can't wait until vacation. Which don't get me wrong I love preparing for a trip, spending time with family or friends , or a special outing like a play or concert. However if we live each day waiting on vacation we are not getting the most out of life and this journey. We went to a restaurant several years ago in Charleston and their motto was "attitude is everything", and I think this quote is so true. For example when we were waiting to leave to go Philadelphia our flight was delayed and everyone was frustrated but most everyone had a good attitude we conversed with one another a grandmother played games with a small child, I met a family from France. The point is this not everyday is a trip to Grand Canyon, but what can you find in this day to be grateful for, who can you help, what is something you can enjoy. The point is this the journey is about the little things like having your favorite creamer in your coffee, letting someone in front of you at the check out counter, and grateful to be able to put your hands to good use or earn an income.

I am beginning my journey to nursing school, and I could feel overhwhelmed or get caught up in dates and numbers, but I believe God has told me take your time and do your best, it is about your becoming a good nurse not just becoming a nurse, not being in a hurry, not appreciating where I am right now in my family, my career, etc.

As we prepare to go to Swaziland this is a huge journey and we are still raising money, and in prayer for our service to God and our health. But as we prepare we are on another journey one of faith, believing that we will recieve the funds for our trip to Swaziland. One of a higher purpose, realizing that it is a gift that God has called to this place at this time in our life and to seek God for his guidance as we minister to the people of Swaziland. And to realize the capacity of God's heart to give us, to give me a love a heart for people an ocean away that I have never met yet, and to realize that this life is so much bigger than me, and that God is so much greater than me. And with that I must trust and rest in him for this and each day of my journey.

Trust and obey, trust and obey .

Fighting the enemy

If we ever needed conformation that we were doing what God wants us to do we sure got it and from an unwanted source! The enemy has been beating us up lately, well mostly Heather. She has been sick for a week, trying to keep up with school and work and then we find out her cousin passed away. Do I think the enemy caused these things to happen---No--- I do believe that he will use these circumstances to get us off track and out of focus with what God has planned for us. When this happens we stand on Gods word. We pray and keep God in the forefront. 

    No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1Cor. 10:13

Even in the mist of all the trials we are so excited about our trip and cannot wait to experience what God has in store. Please be in prayer for Heather and her mom as they travel to New Jersey to be with family. Pray that God can use Heather, through all this sadness, to bring glory to Him.

That is our prayer--- That God uses us to further His Kingdom, so that when we get to Heaven we can praise God with all of you!

And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack!!