Slaves Have No Rights

The day that we surrender our life to the Lord Jesus Christ is just the beginning of an indescribable journey. We go from death to life, lost to saved, alienated to reconciled, orphaned to adopted. Never would I have imagined that when I decided to follow Jesus that I would be used for His glory. The more that I grow in my walk with God, the more He reveals to me that I am nothing. I am a speck of dust, here for a little while to do his will and advance His kingdom here on Earth. He reveals to me that I am no longer a slave to sin, but I am a slave to Christ. And slaves have no rights.

Now when I say that I am a slave, I am not saying that I am mistreated, beaten, and work for little wages.No, I am saying that I serve my Lord Jesus, because He has already given his life for me. My mind is no longer set on selfish desires and ambitions, but on heavenly desires. My desire is to love the Lord with all my heart and obey His commands.I am a slave to Christ, and to me that is a privilege. It is a privilege because He chose from the time before I was born when He would reveal himself to me. It is a privilege to be his slave because He bought me, bought us ALL, for a price. It is a privilege because I am no longer under the ruler of the kingdom of the air. I choose to be a slave every single day because He first loved me.

Since I am now a slave for Christ, I have no rights. I have no right to complain here about the tropical heat when he has given me the breath of life. I have no right to serve half-heartedly when He has already paid the price for us all in full. I have no right to keep the Truth to myself when He has already revealed the truth to me in my heart. I have no right to become angry when he has given us His love and joy. When I surrendered my life to Christ, I became a slave, and slaves have no rights....

....But I would not have it any other way! 

-B

Simple Obedience

"You work for years you will not see. You work for the invisible all the time, but you work for the eternal. So it is all worthwhile." -Amy Carmichael

In about two weeks, our team will leave SEA. We will leave our neighbors who have welcomed us in their homes. We will leave the neighborhood kids who hold our hands as we walk down the streets. We will leave three college girls that we have poured into from day 1.

We have shared the Good News day after day. We have prayed to the Father expectantly asking for salvation. We will continue to do so even after we leave, but I never knew how hard it would be to leave a place that doesn't know who the Father is personally. We are trying to make the most of everyday, every hour and every minute we have to be effective for the Kingdom. 

We have seen only a few accept Jesus Christ. However, those few could flip this area off it's feet to see and believe in Jesus Christ. Those few will be the brightest light on the college campus and in the neighborhoods they live in. 

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."  -Philippines 2:13

We are working for the good purpose so others will know how Jesus Christ has changed our lives and as long as we speak truth to these people, we are being obedient. We cannot force our neighbors and friends to see the difference of Jesus Christ and their Hindu gods. However, we can pray that they seek Truth and hide it in their hearts. 

I know for a fact that each one of us has sought to be obedient to the Father this summer. 

"Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest

if we do not give up."  -Galatians 6:9

My prayer for my team is that even though it is difficult to see the fruit we work and pray so hard for, we will continue to expectantly pray for these people after we have left. We will continue to be obedient even when we are not physically here. I pray we do not give up on these people... that they genuinely seek to have the Holy Spirit in their hearts as we do. I pray that they see a difference in us and that they want to be different as well.

If we are truly followers of Jesus, we must not give up on these people that the Father created. He has never given up on me. He has never given up on you. He hasn't given up on these people who live across the world and has never heard of His name.  He is before me, with me, and always ahead of me. He seeks to call these people His children. I pray that our team is motivated more than ever to share the Good News and pray expectantly knowing that everything happens in the Father's time, not ours.

Go Tell it on the Mountains

I love seeing God's marvelous plan come to life through those that are simply willing to be obedient. This past week, our team went up into the mountains with one of our local friends to meet her family. While there, we got to speak with a man with the help of one of our translator friends. We asked if we could pray over him because the man was in poor health. He denied the request because he has different beliefs than us and was very devout to his god. However, he allowed us to share a message with him. God gave us the opportunity to share the good news with this man, his wife, and many others! The Lord reminded us of the beautiful song, "Go Tell It On The  Mountains", which applied very well to this day!

While heading back down the mountain, one of our team members walked with our local friend, N. N started speaking about how she loves hearing all the stories from the Word, but she is still confused about some things. God used the team member to speak more truth into her heart. After a minute, something clicked in N's heart and mind. She had a joyful expression and the two continued talking. She has not become a believer yet, but God is at work on her heart! The Father can use any conversation for his glory, anywhere and any time!

If there is one thing that the Father taught us all that day, it is that we are to Go and tell. Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere! Oh what joy He gives us when obeying his command to be his witness in the ends of the earth. We are praying that this blog encourages you to draw near to our Heavenly Father and see what marvelous things he will do in and through you. So, go! Go tell it on the mountains, friends!

Let the Battle Rage

The other night, we were eating dinner with a new believer and her two friends that are Hindu. One of her Hindu friends (friend A) has a discernment of spirits. As we were waiting on food, team members K and SR shared the Good News with friend A. She responded by saying that she knew they loved others and Jesus Christ by looking into K's eyes. Friend A continued to say that as the nine of us were eating, she saw nine spirits. Seven were the same, but she had never seen it before. (NOTE: 6 team members and 1 new believer = Holy Spirit) The two other spirits were different, but she recognized them. (NOTE: 2 Hindu girls = 2 recognized spirits) 

The spirit world is very real. Spiritual warfare is very real. Before this trip, I would have thought that this story... was just a story. However, experiencing it is completely different. We continually pray that people will literally see the light of Jesus in us. We pray that people here will be placed in our path so that we can tell them about how Jesus Christ lives in us. 

He who is greater is in us, than he who is in the world.

Sharing Through Singing

The first week we were in SEA, we has the pleasure of meeting an English teacher at the beach. Team Leader L began to talk to him and get to know him. He invited us to meet with his class and help them with their English. He also offered to take us to a festival that only happens once a year. We gladly accepted in hopes to share the good news. 

After several days, he picked us up and we were headed an hour into the mountains. As the radio was playing, Team Leader L asked the teacher to translate the song but he wasn't able to. We asked him if we could sing a song instead and he happily agreed. 

As we sang "This Little Light of Mine," he listened intently and then asked what the song meant. One of us told him that the song meant we had the Light of Jesus in our hearts and that we cannot hide the beautiful light. He didn't seek to know more at the moment and we were almost at the festival. 

We spent the morning with him as he showed us the traditional contests such as fruit carvings and flower decorating. After lunch, we left the festival and headed to his English class where we spent several hours doing activities with the kids as we taught English and they helped us with our language skills. 

The class ended and all six of us and the teacher packed into the car to come home. On the way, we asked him if we could sing another song. He gladly accepted. We sang the commonly known children song that goes, "I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart...." Afterwards we took turns explaining what it meant and how the joy of JC makes us happy. 

We continued singing How He Loves, Amazing Grace, and Holy Spirit. After each song, we had the opportunity to share what it meant and present the Good News. Driving slowly he intently listened to us and shared his beliefs as well. Where he could have driven 40 kph, he drove only 20 kph because he was listening to Truth.  
Lift up to the Father that this teacher would continue to hear Truth, and that he would seek to know who the Father is! Lift up that he knows the Father will be the only one to give him true JOY.

This is only one of the opportunities the Lord has created for us to share the Good News! All glory and praise to Him!

The Village Idiots

If you have ever been to a different country, with different culture and beliefs everywhere around you, you have probably experienced being a village idiot. In the past two weeks our team has been considered village idiots quite often. 

• Team Leader L fell out of her chair in the middle of a restaurant, crashed into two tables only yelling, "I am sorry, I am sorry!", while laughing.  
• Team Member SY swung her book bag on in a restaurant only to brake a bottle sitting on the table behind her.  
• Team Member B rode her bike on the wrong side of the rode almost getting hit by a car and motor bike at the same time.  
• Team Member SR is still working on figuring out the currency. She doesn't know if she spends $5 or $50 at one time.  
• Team Member K is having difficulties learning the language. One night she said something while playing cards with local friends when she actually meant to say the exact opposite. Needless to say, she got funny looks from all of us.  
• And I, as a left handed person, have found it quite difficult only eating with my right hand which is the culturally "right" hand to use when doing anything.

Also, all six of us girls together make a very loud group in a very quiet culture. Lastly you would think that within six girls, one of us could fearlessly kill massive cock roaches...You would be wrong..

Even though we may be clumsy, scared of bugs, and way too loud, the Lord is continually using us to reach others. He is so good when there is nothing good in us. Pray that He continues to use us on a daily basis!

Oh the Feet

"How beautiful are the feet of him, who bring good news, who publishes peace, who bring good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'your God reigns'." 
-Isaiah 52:7

We are the beautiful feet. We, as followers of JC, are commanded to bring the good news, publish peace , bring good news of happiness and publish salvation. Let us act on our faith and do this. How can we justify sitting at home and keeping our relationship with the Father to ourselves when so many people have never heard? These people will never have an opportunity to have the brightest light in their heart if we as followers don't give them an opportunity to know. 

As followers of JC, do we really have beautiful feet if we don't act on our faith? Let us not be selfish with our faith. Let us lift up to the Father for boldness and expectancy knowing that we have opportunities everyday in America and across the world to live out and share good news.

The Father has been so good here in Southeast Asia. We have shared the good news and met multiple Persons of Peace. Please pray that the hearts of these people will not rest without knowing more. Pray that they keep asking questions and seek to know Truth. 

Please continue to lift up my team and I  as we are diving head first into new culture and beliefs all around us. Lift up to the Father that we will have boldness in sharing and that we will not allow tiredness to interfere with the work. We want to be effective and bold communicators for the Father's glory. 

A Band of Misfits

Praise the Father! He uses us even though he doesn't have to. 
Praise the Father that He uses people that have problems, big and small. 
We are imperfect people. We make dumb mistakes, disagree with one another and at times have little faith. 

He has given us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Not only that, the Father wants to use us to share the good news. It is not an option, but instead a command. Know that He doesn't have to, but he chooses to give us this responsibility. Praise God He can use a band of misfits like us to bring Him Glory.

Together we have been learning to share the good news in many different ways to effectively reach the SEA people. We continue to learn new language, meet new people, and share what the Father has done in our lives. 

Kingdom Reality: I can tell my story. I can tell His story. I can teach others to tell their stories and His story. 

We have the light of JC. Let us not hide it from those in complete darkness. 

Lift up to the Father that people will see a light in us, a light in our house, and a light wherever we go. Lift up that they ask questions and seek to know more about the light of JC. 

Continue to lift up our team to the Father that we will be physically healthy, that we get rest, and for the people we are building relationships with. 

Let the Father be the only one to get Glory and Praise from our obedience. 

Up, Up and Away to SEA

Who would have thought that I didn't know my teammates a week ago. We have prayed for each other separately, and now we are together and preparing to go to Southeast Asia. By tomorrow, we will be on our way to the airport! Woohoo!!

 

Meet Our Team, and know the scriptures that are helping us prepare for the summer!

Team Leader C
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:18-20

Team Leader L
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
 Acts 20:24

Team Member K
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
 1 Peter 3:15 

Team Member B
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
 Romans 15:20

Team Member T
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
 1 John 2:23

Team Member SY  
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” 
Psalm 46:10

Team Member SR
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 3:15

Team Member C
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7

Please lift up our team as we are continually growing together and 

as we are traveling the next couple of days!

Thank you for your support!