Lord let me burn, rekindle my coals. Pour some fuel on me and never let it darken. Increase the capabilities of my heart, multiple the capacity of my mind, proliferate my stamina to press on and in. Oh how I want to burn!
Strike a match in the depths of my heart. I want to radiate, to diffuse a fervent affection for the King of kings. Turn up the heat, set this world ablaze to love with intense purpose. Father light me up, turn up the heat, release the Heavens and ignite my feet. I thirst, I yearn, I’m desperate for your voice. To hear you is my life source, to obey you my joy. Set me ablaze for your glory, to combust for the kingdom. Father, Majesty, Holy One, Beloved- light me up and turn it up, point and shoot me like a flare for Here I am, use me for your glory. Are you ready to light up? Let’s burn together. Let’s light this world up. To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to obey Him the greatest human achievement. Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come a7er Me, let him deny himself...” Matthew 16:24. Growing up in an American school system where compeGGon, independence, and individuality is celebrated-it was very easy for me to allow this to become a foundaGonal driving point in my life. The make-up of these values is o7en many things parents desire. A hardworking, self-driven child o7en leads to a ‘successful’ adult. But to whose standard? Who set the bar to success anyway? What is success? Is it: owning a home? CompleGng college? Being married with 2 children? But the dent begins to expand, when this drive leads the individual to refuse to give up the right to themselves. This decision, to let go of independence and release the right we so o7en are taught is one of strength and dignity. Is in reality the very trait that is keeping us at a distance from God. It is only in denying this independent right to ourselves-that we are able to then live. The real life-spiritual life we are created to live. We allow ourselves the opportunity to grow. And from this opportunity we are met with the daily decision to choose ourselves or choose the purpose in which we were created for. Success is obeying God. We have all been created for specific purposes. I believe this fully. It is not in God’s heart or nature to create us for an easily replaceable assignment. Could you imagine if we were? Imagine if God created us in parallel to a factory line. As ‘producGon’ occurred and one person fell sick, injured, had to drive their 4 children to school God would replace them instantly for an idenGcal replica (with less going on). That the whole purpose of our creaGon was to fill the needs of God and step into place unGl someone be<er can replace us. How terrible would that be?! It seems that this mindset, has become a reality to many believers around the world. That either they have lost their opportunity or that there is someone more qualified and more equipped that will respond to God’s call. This breaks God’s heart to think that we are choosing to shrink back and hold onto what we can control; rather than trusting God and asking for His leading. When was the last 7me you asked God for direction rather than asking Him to approve your decision? I know I’m guilty of that... trust me... I have many of Gmes brought things before God waiGng for his approval and blessing. Rather than waiGng to hear His desires... It has taken me walking down many trails of “self-righteousness” and independence; to learn the strength and joy that comes from depending on God and responding to His leadings. Oh, what a difference it makes!!! We are all faced with decisions every day. But if everyone exercises their rights to the omission of God’s plans for us, a tragedy of great proporGons will occur. Millions of people will live their lives in guilt and anguish and will die to face their sins eternally in hell. (no way to sugar coat this...sorry) There are more than 4.7 billion non-Christians and about 3.1 billion people who’ve never heard the Gospel. More than 7,066 unreached people groups wait for a Christian witness. “All we have to do to seal the fate of these millions is to stay where we are. Choosing our rights. Surrounded by comforts, eaGng the foods we love, staying with friends who talk about what we like to talk about and shu`ng our ears to God’s cry, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Jesus gave us the ulGmate example of giving up everything (all of His “rights”) for a greater goal. Philippians 2 says, “He didn’t count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emp:ed Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, a slave.” Slaves have no rights, and Jesus became a slave for our sakes. He gave up the right to be with His Father. He gave up the right to a home, saying that while the birds have nests and the foxes have dens, He didn’t have a place to lay His head. He gave up the right to money. He had to borrow a coin from someone for a sermon illustraGon once. He gave up the right to marriage, and the right to His reputaGon. As far as most people are concerned, He was an illegiGmate baby, raised in a town that was scorned. The ulGmate slur to His reputaGon came when He, the Son of God, was called a devil by the religious experts of His Gme. But Jesus went further. He gave up the right to life itself, becoming obedient to death on a cross. For what purpose? So that God might exalt Him, give Him a name above every other name, which at His name every knee should bow. But there’s another reason: Jesus was showing us how to live our lives. He was showing us how to win over the devil, which is the greatest job ever given to us - taking the earth from Satan and winning it back for God. Jesus was showing us that the only way to win is to lose; the only way to conquer is to submit.” We must take Jesus’ example into every part of our lives. Only in doing this will we be able to win in life. He made it clear when He said in Mark 8:34-35: “If anyone would come a7er me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the Gospel will save it.” The choice is ours. We can hold onto our rights, expect and wait for “our blessings” and miss out on God’s greater purposes for us. Or we can give them freely back to Him for the greatest privilege of all - winning this world for the Kingdom of God. Where do you stand? Have you knocked on the door to ask God what your purpose is? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 You can’t beat death but you can beat death in life. The sooner you learn how to see God’s beauty the sooner you learn to live. Prayer and Update Personal: First I want to celebrate and thank you for your prayers from my last updates and in person seeing you! I have seen a few new monthly prayer and financial supporters! Praise God! As well as walking down a path to discover more relief from pain and stomach health! Thank You! New and continued prayer:
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As a team we have:
- Had clinics (antenatal, general, eye care, wound care, geriatric, dental, etc..,)
- Home health visits: follow up on patients we met during clinics, or going to those who can not leave their beds or homes do to various reasons and conditions.
- Hospital visits: to pray, encourage, and love. This past week I sat with a surrogate to explain to her about her mothers condition and what intubation is. Through our time together I answered many of her questions and sat with her to wait and listen what God had to say to her.
- Evangelism: this has been some of my most favorite times. Waiting on Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me to individuals.
- Discipleship/Discussing Theology and questions people have: I have loved discussing verses that confuse people or ideas about God that seem unjust. Revealing the tender love of God and breaking the false teachings of a distant unloving Father have been powerful and a privilege to be part of.
- Prayer walks: in the going God leads people to our paths.
- Public worship: often draw a crowd and invite others to join us in spiritual warfare and usher in His presence!
- Showing the Jesus film: our first showing we had 230 local people come to watch, many it was the first time they heard the Gospel!
- Befriending and building deeper relationships
Some numbers worth celebrating!! Statistics in the first 5 weeks
Shared the Gospel: 981
Salvations: 244
Bibles Given: 342
Acts of Mercy: 113
Prayed for: 1,403
Miracles: 1
Healings: 33
Hours of Prayer: 146.5
Medical:
Clinics held:10
Patient's seen:629
Teeth extracted: 84
These are not all the statistics but some of them.
My Heart: ❤️
I have endless stories and testimonies to share with you (some I have shared on Facebook and Instagram) but many I am saving to share first hand or for when God tells me to. But during this time here in the Philippines God has been growing my heart more and more to 'to stop for the one...to love the least of these." Sometimes the One has been a small malnourished child, an American University Dean on vacation, a police officer, a deaf and mute woman, a disabled man, a fiery Pastor, a new medical student, a local nurse, a mother who just miscarried, a newborn baby...oh the one can be ANYONE-ANYWHERE-ANYTIME.
"Jesus gave His life for me,
He took away my pain,
He made beat this heart of mine
So I could love again.
In return I asked Him
What I could give away,
He showed me things
That break His heart,
And then I heard Him say.
Just stop for the one...
Jesus stopped for children
and the thief on Calvary,
For the women at the well,
And then He stopped for me.
He said Go love another,
Until the battle's done,
In this world you shall have trouble,
But victory shall come.
He said just stop for the one,
Until My Kingdom comes,
From the smallest seed
Comes a mighty tree.
Just stop for the one,
Until My will is done
Here on earth,
As you just... stop... for... the... one."
(Claire Vorster, 2012)
To some one seems small, a waste of time, barely an impact. But to me its enormous, a celebration, a victory worth a lifetime- because that one has a purpose and that purpose is to be loved by God. Follow your heart and see the one God places in your path, you just might find yourself submerged in the unending love of our Father.
- Had clinics (antenatal, general, eye care, wound care, geriatric, dental, etc..,)
- Home health visits: follow up on patients we met during clinics, or going to those who can not leave their beds or homes do to various reasons and conditions.
- Hospital visits: to pray, encourage, and love. This past week I sat with a surrogate to explain to her about her mothers condition and what intubation is. Through our time together I answered many of her questions and sat with her to wait and listen what God had to say to her.
- Evangelism: this has been some of my most favorite times. Waiting on Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me to individuals.
- Discipleship/Discussing Theology and questions people have: I have loved discussing verses that confuse people or ideas about God that seem unjust. Revealing the tender love of God and breaking the false teachings of a distant unloving Father have been powerful and a privilege to be part of.
- Prayer walks: in the going God leads people to our paths.
- Public worship: often draw a crowd and invite others to join us in spiritual warfare and usher in His presence!
- Showing the Jesus film: our first showing we had 230 local people come to watch, many it was the first time they heard the Gospel!
- Befriending and building deeper relationships
Some numbers worth celebrating!! Statistics in the first 5 weeks
Shared the Gospel: 981
Salvations: 244
Bibles Given: 342
Acts of Mercy: 113
Prayed for: 1,403
Miracles: 1
Healings: 33
Hours of Prayer: 146.5
Medical:
Clinics held:10
Patient's seen:629
Teeth extracted: 84
These are not all the statistics but some of them.
My Heart: ❤️
I have endless stories and testimonies to share with you (some I have shared on Facebook and Instagram) but many I am saving to share first hand or for when God tells me to. But during this time here in the Philippines God has been growing my heart more and more to 'to stop for the one...to love the least of these." Sometimes the One has been a small malnourished child, an American University Dean on vacation, a police officer, a deaf and mute woman, a disabled man, a fiery Pastor, a new medical student, a local nurse, a mother who just miscarried, a newborn baby...oh the one can be ANYONE-ANYWHERE-ANYTIME.
"Jesus gave His life for me,
He took away my pain,
He made beat this heart of mine
So I could love again.
In return I asked Him
What I could give away,
He showed me things
That break His heart,
And then I heard Him say.
Just stop for the one...
Jesus stopped for children
and the thief on Calvary,
For the women at the well,
And then He stopped for me.
He said Go love another,
Until the battle's done,
In this world you shall have trouble,
But victory shall come.
He said just stop for the one,
Until My Kingdom comes,
From the smallest seed
Comes a mighty tree.
Just stop for the one,
Until My will is done
Here on earth,
As you just... stop... for... the... one."
(Claire Vorster, 2012)
To some one seems small, a waste of time, barely an impact. But to me its enormous, a celebration, a victory worth a lifetime- because that one has a purpose and that purpose is to be loved by God. Follow your heart and see the one God places in your path, you just might find yourself submerged in the unending love of our Father.
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