Here are some recents pictures of the kids.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
What's new for the Bradsher's?
Well the Lord has led our family to a new church family. We are now attending New Hope Presbyterian in Clemmons, NC. I just started on staff as the part time Youth Pastor as of August 17th.
I was not looking for this position, but God planned this for me, and now we are there. The church is really great, and we are looking forward to what God has laid out for us at New Hope.
As for new news, the kids are still doing well, Corbin is growing by leaps and bounds and so has Cameron. Cameron has grown a few inches since spring, and Hannah is growing into quite the princess.
With my job loss, we are focusing hard on missions now, and Kristen is getting ready to work a part time job to supplement our unemployment income.
We are currently at 86% of our one time goal and 65% of our monthly support needs. So please pray that we are able to raise the rest soon. I feel that God is telling me that we will have 100% pledged by October of this year, and I have no doubts that it will be done if that is His plans.
Many Blessings,
The Bradsher's
I was not looking for this position, but God planned this for me, and now we are there. The church is really great, and we are looking forward to what God has laid out for us at New Hope.
As for new news, the kids are still doing well, Corbin is growing by leaps and bounds and so has Cameron. Cameron has grown a few inches since spring, and Hannah is growing into quite the princess.
With my job loss, we are focusing hard on missions now, and Kristen is getting ready to work a part time job to supplement our unemployment income.
We are currently at 86% of our one time goal and 65% of our monthly support needs. So please pray that we are able to raise the rest soon. I feel that God is telling me that we will have 100% pledged by October of this year, and I have no doubts that it will be done if that is His plans.
Many Blessings,
The Bradsher's
Where have I been??
Well it has been quite a while since I have posted. Mainly because life has been way too busy to be writing on the blog. But now I have a little more time.
Most of you may know that I was laid off from my job last week. So that is why I have a little more free time. The job loss was quite a shock and I did not expect it at all. But I was able to allow God to use it as a witness to the HR and managers in the office during the lay off.
The funny thing about all of this is that I took three weeks off prior to last week and the entire three weeks that I was off I was praying that God would show me a way out of my current job so that we could focus more attention on raising the remainder of our monthly support needed to go to Africa. So God answered the prayer.
It is going to be really tight on our family, actually the budget puts us in the red by $580 a month, but we know that our God is much bigger than budgets, and lay offs and will provide for our family.
We certainly do appreciate your prayers for our family during this time.
Most of you may know that I was laid off from my job last week. So that is why I have a little more free time. The job loss was quite a shock and I did not expect it at all. But I was able to allow God to use it as a witness to the HR and managers in the office during the lay off.
The funny thing about all of this is that I took three weeks off prior to last week and the entire three weeks that I was off I was praying that God would show me a way out of my current job so that we could focus more attention on raising the remainder of our monthly support needed to go to Africa. So God answered the prayer.
It is going to be really tight on our family, actually the budget puts us in the red by $580 a month, but we know that our God is much bigger than budgets, and lay offs and will provide for our family.
We certainly do appreciate your prayers for our family during this time.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Pictures from Swaziland, Africa
The following are pictures of a good friend of our family who has been serving for almost 9 months now in Swaziland, Africa. Alison has been teaching in a school there and ministering to many people outside of school.
She has been a great inspiration to our family and many others for her service to the Lord. She comes home in less than a month. She forwent a year of work out of college to serve Christ. What a testimony she has been to many young people for God's glory!
Thanks Alison!
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Reality of AIDS in Africa
The following is a writing for a school project from a 7th grade girl in Swaziland, Africa. It is a touching story, from a little girl who knows the impact of AIDS.
The fact is, 2 out of 3 people in the world that have AIDS, live in Africa. Many of them are children, and this little girl is sadly a victim of the dreadful disease that is killing thousands of Africans every day.
Here is her story:
The fact is, 2 out of 3 people in the world that have AIDS, live in Africa. Many of them are children, and this little girl is sadly a victim of the dreadful disease that is killing thousands of Africans every day.
Here is her story:
HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a dangerous disease that can affect
everyone. This disease is a fatal disease but can be controlled.
AIDS affects black people and white people. It affects poor
or rich people, fat or thin people. It affects you whether you are a
Christian, Swazi, Zulu, Xhosas, Hindus, Rastafarians, Muslim, Mozambican,
Sothos or Tswana.
AIDS affects me as well my auntie, who was working in
Matsapha Spinex Factory. She was a likable woman and honest. She use to
help poor children in the community by paying their school fees, buying food
and clothes for them. Everyone in the community use to respect her.
She was the person who was looking after my grandfather and
my grandmother the most. My father looked after my grandfather and
grandmother but not as much as my auntie. My uncle did look after them but
not all the time, like my auntie use to. She was the most important person
to my grandparents.
She use to have more than one boyfriend and she did not use
to use a condom when she was having sex with her boyfriends. On nights she
use to leave home with her boyfriends to big hotels which are too expensive.
On weekends she use to visit one of her boyfriends.
One day she became sick and just got sicker and sicker. She
did not know what was making her to be sick. She visited the clinic many
times but she became sicker and sicker. Than my grandparents sent her to a
traditional doctor. He gave her some medicine and said she must find a boy
who will cut her with a razor blade and put the medicine in her. They chose
me as the boy. I did it but I did not like it. She became better for a week
but then her sickness returned and I became sick as well. Her and I visited
the health center for check- up. We found that we were both HIV positive.
They counseled us and they gave us some tablets and I take them even today.
When I heard that I was positive, I was afraid. I was
thinking that I was going to die, I cried and cried. But they told me that I
would not die. After that my auntie became sick and got sicker again and she
died. But me I am healthy and I am alive and life goes on.
So AIDS kills. It kills our parents, grandparents, aunties,
uncles, sisters and brothers. But life still goes on.
10 Ways to Help Kids Love Missions
The following was on the Desiring God Blog last week and I think it is great!
"There are things we can do to help our kids love the nations and the cause of Christ, even though a heart and calling for the Great Commission is ultimately something only God can grant. Here are a few ideas from Ryan and Anna, who are currently preparing to serve in Asia with their two young daughters."
1. Pray for missionaries as a family. We keep a stack of prayer cards on the dinner table and rotate through them during mealtime prayers.
2. Read missionary biographies to your children. The stories of Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, William Carey, Gladys Aylward, and other missionary pioneers are captivating ways to orient a child’s heart on the most important things in life.
3. Draw the whole family into supporting missionaries financially. Teach your kids from a young age that being a good steward of their money involves channeling resources toward the the cause of Christ in missions. Older kids can donate some of their lawn mowing and babysitting money. Younger children can earn money doing chores around the house which can be set aside for missionaries.
4. Find your child a missionary kid pen pal. Many children of missionaries around the world would be delighted to get mail from a child their age in their parent’s culture. Your child (and the whole family) will learn valuable insights about living abroad through the eyes of a child. Additionally, when the missionaries visit your church, your child will already have a relationship with the MK and will be able to include them more easily.
5. Entertain missionaries in your home. Inviting missionaries over will be as much of a blessing to your family as to the missionaries. Host them for dinner or for a whole furlough. Build or buy your house with this in mind.
6. Take risks as a family. There are ways to live life which help children grasp the reality that discomfort and suffering are normal and rewarding parts of the Christian experience. Volunteer at a rescue mission; house a single mother; move to the inner-city.
7. Affirm and nurture qualities in your children which could serve them on the mission field. As your children grow in knowledge and skill, encourage them to think about how they could use their gifts in missions work. Then, if God says, “go,” release them to go!
8. Teach your children to be world Christians. Don't expose them to only the American perspective on news and realities around the world. Go out of your way to make them more aware than the average American Christian about geography, world history, and the plights and perspectives of people across the globe.
9. Read missionary prayer letters to your children. Ask them questions about the content and look up facts about the missionaries’ location on the Internet.
10. Use missions fact books and resources such as Operation World, the Global Prayer Digest, the Joshua Project, and Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). Kids of Courage is the youth-oriented arm of VOM and offers activity books, spotlights on the persecuted world, and more.
"There are things we can do to help our kids love the nations and the cause of Christ, even though a heart and calling for the Great Commission is ultimately something only God can grant. Here are a few ideas from Ryan and Anna, who are currently preparing to serve in Asia with their two young daughters."
1. Pray for missionaries as a family. We keep a stack of prayer cards on the dinner table and rotate through them during mealtime prayers.
2. Read missionary biographies to your children. The stories of Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, William Carey, Gladys Aylward, and other missionary pioneers are captivating ways to orient a child’s heart on the most important things in life.
3. Draw the whole family into supporting missionaries financially. Teach your kids from a young age that being a good steward of their money involves channeling resources toward the the cause of Christ in missions. Older kids can donate some of their lawn mowing and babysitting money. Younger children can earn money doing chores around the house which can be set aside for missionaries.
4. Find your child a missionary kid pen pal. Many children of missionaries around the world would be delighted to get mail from a child their age in their parent’s culture. Your child (and the whole family) will learn valuable insights about living abroad through the eyes of a child. Additionally, when the missionaries visit your church, your child will already have a relationship with the MK and will be able to include them more easily.
5. Entertain missionaries in your home. Inviting missionaries over will be as much of a blessing to your family as to the missionaries. Host them for dinner or for a whole furlough. Build or buy your house with this in mind.
6. Take risks as a family. There are ways to live life which help children grasp the reality that discomfort and suffering are normal and rewarding parts of the Christian experience. Volunteer at a rescue mission; house a single mother; move to the inner-city.
7. Affirm and nurture qualities in your children which could serve them on the mission field. As your children grow in knowledge and skill, encourage them to think about how they could use their gifts in missions work. Then, if God says, “go,” release them to go!
8. Teach your children to be world Christians. Don't expose them to only the American perspective on news and realities around the world. Go out of your way to make them more aware than the average American Christian about geography, world history, and the plights and perspectives of people across the globe.
9. Read missionary prayer letters to your children. Ask them questions about the content and look up facts about the missionaries’ location on the Internet.
10. Use missions fact books and resources such as Operation World, the Global Prayer Digest, the Joshua Project, and Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). Kids of Courage is the youth-oriented arm of VOM and offers activity books, spotlights on the persecuted world, and more.
Scripture in Song
I found this link on the SIM Southern Africa web site.
This is a new initiative they are using to help kids memorize scripture.
Link Here
April Prayer and Newsletter
April 12, 2008
Dear Ministry Partners,
Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We continue to be blessed by many people in support of our ministry to Namibia. God certainly confirms our calling each month as we review our donor reports. Every month there is a new monthly supporter. We want to thank each of you for supporting our family. As of March, we are at 70% of our one time goal of $67K, and we are at 50% of our monthly support needs! Praise the Lord!!!
One new blessing to our family is that of Brian’s full time job situation. We have been praying for God to show us when and how to start visiting local churches in order to share our vision and future ministry. Starting this month his manager will allow him to have a half a day off each week to take time to visit local churches. This is a huge opportunity and a blessing. So please be praying for God to open the hearts and ears of the church leaders that Brian begins to visit this month. Pray specifically that they will be open to hearing about our plans, and that they would consider supporting our family in missions.
In the town that we will be working in, there have been a couple other missionaries that have been working in the local schools and they have also been helping with the church needs. We found out last month that their missions’ agency (African Inland Mission) will be reorganizing their efforts in Africa. With this reorganization, they will be pulling their missionaries out of Namibia and relocating them to other areas in Africa.
This means a couple of things for the church in Grootfontein, and for our ministry. The AIM missionaries will be leaving the country as of December 2008. That will leave the church without any missionary workers until we arrive. So our prayer is that if it is God’s will, we will secure 100% of our monthly support needs in the next five to six months in order to move to Africa shortly after the AIM missionaries move out.
For the last few months we have been working on getting items ready for our visas. As of today we will finally be able to submit these and our passports to Namibia for their review and approval. Kristen and the kids will be applying for general stay visas, but Brian will be applying for a work visa. As we have stated in the past, it can take as much as six months or more to get the applications approved. Our prayer is that we are getting them in soon enough so that they are ready by the time our support needs are raised.
We covet your prayers daily and can feel them every day. Your prayers mean so much to us. Just to know that God has called out people to fervently remember our family in their daily prayers means so much to us. Please continue to pray for our support raising efforts. We have truly been blessed. We are patient and half way there. So as Brian starts to visit churches and as more people learn of our mission efforts, pray that God will draw new financial supporters to our team. Also pray for our visas as they are now nearing the approval stage, that God will work through the people of Namibia that will be directly involved in approving these for us. Lastly, continue to pray for the Church in Grootfontein as they prepare for a group of missionaries to leave, and for us to arrive.
May you feel the presence of the Lord upon you daily.
The Bradsher Family!
Dear Ministry Partners,
Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We continue to be blessed by many people in support of our ministry to Namibia. God certainly confirms our calling each month as we review our donor reports. Every month there is a new monthly supporter. We want to thank each of you for supporting our family. As of March, we are at 70% of our one time goal of $67K, and we are at 50% of our monthly support needs! Praise the Lord!!!
One new blessing to our family is that of Brian’s full time job situation. We have been praying for God to show us when and how to start visiting local churches in order to share our vision and future ministry. Starting this month his manager will allow him to have a half a day off each week to take time to visit local churches. This is a huge opportunity and a blessing. So please be praying for God to open the hearts and ears of the church leaders that Brian begins to visit this month. Pray specifically that they will be open to hearing about our plans, and that they would consider supporting our family in missions.
In the town that we will be working in, there have been a couple other missionaries that have been working in the local schools and they have also been helping with the church needs. We found out last month that their missions’ agency (African Inland Mission) will be reorganizing their efforts in Africa. With this reorganization, they will be pulling their missionaries out of Namibia and relocating them to other areas in Africa.
This means a couple of things for the church in Grootfontein, and for our ministry. The AIM missionaries will be leaving the country as of December 2008. That will leave the church without any missionary workers until we arrive. So our prayer is that if it is God’s will, we will secure 100% of our monthly support needs in the next five to six months in order to move to Africa shortly after the AIM missionaries move out.
For the last few months we have been working on getting items ready for our visas. As of today we will finally be able to submit these and our passports to Namibia for their review and approval. Kristen and the kids will be applying for general stay visas, but Brian will be applying for a work visa. As we have stated in the past, it can take as much as six months or more to get the applications approved. Our prayer is that we are getting them in soon enough so that they are ready by the time our support needs are raised.
We covet your prayers daily and can feel them every day. Your prayers mean so much to us. Just to know that God has called out people to fervently remember our family in their daily prayers means so much to us. Please continue to pray for our support raising efforts. We have truly been blessed. We are patient and half way there. So as Brian starts to visit churches and as more people learn of our mission efforts, pray that God will draw new financial supporters to our team. Also pray for our visas as they are now nearing the approval stage, that God will work through the people of Namibia that will be directly involved in approving these for us. Lastly, continue to pray for the Church in Grootfontein as they prepare for a group of missionaries to leave, and for us to arrive.
May you feel the presence of the Lord upon you daily.
The Bradsher Family!
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Joy and Need for Discipleship
Acts 8:30-33
Could you imagine the joy it was for Philip to share the gospel message with the Eunuch? For one he was led by the Spirit to go and talk with him. We don't exactly know how the Spirit led Philip to go to the Eunuch's chariot, the Bible says that the spirit told him to. The Eunuch was trying to make since of what he was reading in Isaiah, and by shear luck (NOT HARDLY) Philip comes knocking on his door to see what he was reading. God is always working and leading us to do just like Philip, to be ready at a moments notice. We never know what the Lord is doing in a persons life, but we know that the Spirit leads us.
Notice also that Philip did not fight the Spirit, nor question the Spirit. He simply was obedient and did what the Spirit was leading him to do. Philip was not scared to go and talk with this stranger about Christ. Philip believed with all his heart in Christ and the good news that he shared with him that day. There should be NO PRESSURE in sharing the Gospel, or witnessing to people. Here are a few reasons:
1. God is always in control and He is a mighty and powerful God!
2. God is the only one that can save a soul.
3. We must understand that we can not save people.
4. Salvation is the work of the Lord, we are merely vessels that
God has chosen to use to share the good news. Just as Philip did.
Discipleship is so important. A new Christian needs people to help them learn about Christ. They need encouragement, love and they need to be challenged. Discipleship is a great joy as well. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than to see someone grow in the knowledge and wisdom or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth. 33In his humiliation
justice was denied him.Who can describe his
generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."
Could you imagine the joy it was for Philip to share the gospel message with the Eunuch? For one he was led by the Spirit to go and talk with him. We don't exactly know how the Spirit led Philip to go to the Eunuch's chariot, the Bible says that the spirit told him to. The Eunuch was trying to make since of what he was reading in Isaiah, and by shear luck (NOT HARDLY) Philip comes knocking on his door to see what he was reading. God is always working and leading us to do just like Philip, to be ready at a moments notice. We never know what the Lord is doing in a persons life, but we know that the Spirit leads us.
Notice also that Philip did not fight the Spirit, nor question the Spirit. He simply was obedient and did what the Spirit was leading him to do. Philip was not scared to go and talk with this stranger about Christ. Philip believed with all his heart in Christ and the good news that he shared with him that day. There should be NO PRESSURE in sharing the Gospel, or witnessing to people. Here are a few reasons:
1. God is always in control and He is a mighty and powerful God!
2. God is the only one that can save a soul.
3. We must understand that we can not save people.
4. Salvation is the work of the Lord, we are merely vessels that
God has chosen to use to share the good news. Just as Philip did.
Discipleship is so important. A new Christian needs people to help them learn about Christ. They need encouragement, love and they need to be challenged. Discipleship is a great joy as well. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than to see someone grow in the knowledge and wisdom or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Praise For Financial Donors
We are so thankful to everyone that has joined our support team. As of today we are at 40% of our monthly support goal, and 50% of our one time goal.
God is so good and faithful and he has chosen you specifically for this purpose and that is to further His kingdom in Namibia.
I spoke with the Pastor of the Church I will work with last week and they are very eager for our arrival and so are the youth. They have had missionaries there for the last few years through AIM (African Inland Mission), but come this December AIM will be relocating their missionaries to other areas in Africa. So we are praying that we will receive the rest of our monthly needs this year so that we can begin our ministry in Grootfontein.
Please continue to keep the Namibians and our family in your prayers.
Many Blessings,
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Youth Workers Needed in the Mission Field
If you love the Lord, love young people, and love to share Christ, then you are needed in the mission field. The following quote is an intro to a request for help from an SIM Youth Ministry Coordinator. You can read the rest of the post here.
As I make contact with people seeking to connect with young people around the world in mission contexts I hear one request time after time. It is “Can you send us people to work with young people”. It is one request that keeps nagging away with me because I so want to be able to help them right now but the reality is that there are not too many people putting their hand up to go and minister and connect with young people.
For God's Sake
This is some great Scripture to meditate on.
Even our trials, and pains are for His sake!
Everything, Everything is for His Glory, no glory for us.
As He says in verse eleven, His glory He will not give
to another.
Even our trials, and pains are for His sake!
Everything, Everything is for His Glory, no glory for us.
As He says in verse eleven, His glory He will not give
to another.
Isaiah 48:9-11
9 “For my name's sake I defer my anger,
for the sake of my praise I restrain it
for you, that I may not cut you off.
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not
as silver; I have tried you in the furnace
of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my
own sake, I do it, for how should my name
be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
An Irresistible God!
The following is a quote from a poet, Stephen Dunn, who is not a Christian. Notice how he describes beauty. This is how a regenerate person sees Christ. Christ is beautiful, and so wonderful that He is irresistible! You can read the rest of this article at Desiring God. Link Here
"I just think beauty is irresistible. It disarms us. Takes away our arguments. And then if you expand the notion of beauty—that there is beauty in the tawdry, beauty in ugliness—things get complicated. But I think that beauty, which is more related in my mind to the sublime, is what we cannot resist."
"I just think beauty is irresistible. It disarms us. Takes away our arguments. And then if you expand the notion of beauty—that there is beauty in the tawdry, beauty in ugliness—things get complicated. But I think that beauty, which is more related in my mind to the sublime, is what we cannot resist."
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Made in the Image of God
A lot of times I just ponder on the fact that we are made in the image of God. But what does the image of God really look like? The sad part is that many people only know the image of God based on their own culture. I have been blessed in that I have been to many parts of the world and seen many cultures.
So here are a few pictures to give you some perspective of what the image of God looks like in Namibia.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Why Desiring God exists.
I thought that this was a really good post on the Desiring God website today.
Desiring God, like all fallen, finite human ministries and people, sees “in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We do not claim to be perfect in what we know. And we do not claim to know all that can be known. Nor do we claim to see what we know more clearly than others may see it.
But we do say with Paul, “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13). Though we do not know everything there is to know, and though we do not know anything perfectly, yet we do know many things truly and confidently, because of God’s revelation and his Spirit. To give a few examples:
To Read the examples given and the rest of the article click here.
Desiring God, like all fallen, finite human ministries and people, sees “in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We do not claim to be perfect in what we know. And we do not claim to know all that can be known. Nor do we claim to see what we know more clearly than others may see it.
But we do say with Paul, “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13). Though we do not know everything there is to know, and though we do not know anything perfectly, yet we do know many things truly and confidently, because of God’s revelation and his Spirit. To give a few examples:
To Read the examples given and the rest of the article click here.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Pictures of the Kids
I have not posted any pictures of the kids in a while, so here are some of the good ones.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Will Of God Part 2
Today as I was reading in Exodus Chapter 4, I came to, what can be, a controversial verse:
Exodus 4:21
And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
It does not say that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, but it says that God would harden his heart so that he would not let the people go. This is important I think, to understand once more, that no one in this world is here for themselves, but we are here for God's purpose alone. I know from my own experience that this is hard water to swallow.
Our sinful nature wants it to be about us, and no one else. But we had no part in our creation; we were created by a being much more significant than ourselves. That creator is God, and He has a purpose for each individual He creates. But God did plan us to be a part of His purpose and His will. He came to earth as a mortal man, died on the cross for sinful people. This in itself is very unique, because Christianity is the ONLY religion in the world that is not about works, or doing things for your own benefit. Christianity is the only religion to where you CAN NOT SAVE YOURSELF. We can only be saved by our Creator, God!
In this saving process, it is still all about God! I am thankful that my life is not up to me, and that I have a creator, an awesome God, that knitted me in my mother's womb, and knew me before the beginning of time; a God to which also, knows what is best for me and has a plan for my life. If only I would live each second of every minute of every day with a firm grip on this promise!
Exodus 4:21
And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
It does not say that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, but it says that God would harden his heart so that he would not let the people go. This is important I think, to understand once more, that no one in this world is here for themselves, but we are here for God's purpose alone. I know from my own experience that this is hard water to swallow.
Our sinful nature wants it to be about us, and no one else. But we had no part in our creation; we were created by a being much more significant than ourselves. That creator is God, and He has a purpose for each individual He creates. But God did plan us to be a part of His purpose and His will. He came to earth as a mortal man, died on the cross for sinful people. This in itself is very unique, because Christianity is the ONLY religion in the world that is not about works, or doing things for your own benefit. Christianity is the only religion to where you CAN NOT SAVE YOURSELF. We can only be saved by our Creator, God!
In this saving process, it is still all about God! I am thankful that my life is not up to me, and that I have a creator, an awesome God, that knitted me in my mother's womb, and knew me before the beginning of time; a God to which also, knows what is best for me and has a plan for my life. If only I would live each second of every minute of every day with a firm grip on this promise!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Joseph And God's Will
A lot of times we feel like we have to find out what God's will is for our lives, and then once we think "WE" have figured it out, we start trying to make it happen. Ever been in those shoes? Some of you may be right now. I know I have been there before.
Take Joseph for instance. He did not ask to have the dreams that God gave him about the future rule over his brothers, niether did Joseph ask to be sold into slavery. Joseph never asked to be in such a noble position for the Pharoh of Egypt, but look at how God grew Joseph into the man that He determined for him to be in Genesis 45.
4So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God.
Joseph, I am sure, had anger towards his brothers for a long time, but God finally showed him that it was not about Joseph, and what was good for Joseph, but that it was all about God and what God wanted for his life. Joseph said "God sent me" three times in three verses above, and all the time Joseph was right in the center of God's will.
We could search all our lives to try and find out what God's will is for our lives, but the thing is, we are right in the center of it already. God's will for our lives does not mean living a life of eternal bliss on Earth. There are a lot of days, months and maybe, just maybe YEARS of hard pressed trials, pain and suffering, but in the end, we were always right where God put us at. Right where God wanted us to be. Molding and shaping us for His purpose, not ours. And that's OK, because it is not about us, it's all about God!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Watch out for That PLANE!
Could you imagine seeing this ahead of you as you are speeding down the road in your car?
Water Carnival in South America??
A great friend and missionary, Jamie, is in Loja South America working in what is called a Cafe' ministry. Seems that a country wide tradition is to have water fights among people of all ages! How cool is that.
You can read the post here. Also, keep her in your prayers as she does the Lord's work in South America!
Site Here
You can read the post here. Also, keep her in your prayers as she does the Lord's work in South America!
Site Here
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
"And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly."
This is out of Matthew chapter 15. I have read this scripture many times before, but I got stuck on the following dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite Woman. Jesus is walking through Tyre and Sidon among people in the day that were despised. Then I noticed what Jesus says to her, "It is not right to take the Children's bread and throw it to the dogs." And she replies "Yes Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters' table."
I meditated on this a while to figure this out. The Children are God's chosen people, the bread is Jesus and the dogs are those who I would assume reject Christ. But the faith the woman had as she is in the streets pleading, and shouting to Jesus to heal her daughter. She was a person rejected by many, and she would settle to get the mere crumbs, leftovers of what Jesus had to offer. And Jesus showed her compassion and because of her faith her daughter was healed.
I would love to hear your thoughts, or what God may have revealed to you in this scripture.
This is out of Matthew chapter 15. I have read this scripture many times before, but I got stuck on the following dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite Woman. Jesus is walking through Tyre and Sidon among people in the day that were despised. Then I noticed what Jesus says to her, "It is not right to take the Children's bread and throw it to the dogs." And she replies "Yes Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters' table."
I meditated on this a while to figure this out. The Children are God's chosen people, the bread is Jesus and the dogs are those who I would assume reject Christ. But the faith the woman had as she is in the streets pleading, and shouting to Jesus to heal her daughter. She was a person rejected by many, and she would settle to get the mere crumbs, leftovers of what Jesus had to offer. And Jesus showed her compassion and because of her faith her daughter was healed.
I would love to hear your thoughts, or what God may have revealed to you in this scripture.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Near Sacrifice of Isaac and the Sacrifice of Christ
Once again this year I am trying to read through the Bible, but as of late I have started to do something different. This year I am trying to learn more historical facts about what I read. I am a bit behind on my reading, but today I was reading in Genesis 22 about the "Near" sacrifice of Isaac. The Bible says that they went to the land of Moriah. So I did some research and what I found is that researchers think that the "Land of Moriah" was probably not an area of land, but was actually a summit or a mount. Further research finds that this mount was probably Golgotha.
Does Golgatha ring a bell? Golgatha, or Calvary is where God sacrificed Christ for the atonement of sin for those who believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior. How cool is that! I always knew that there was some foreshadowing in the near sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, but to possibly have been at the same place!
One last note, just as Abraham was to kill his son of his wife Sarah, God at the right time provided an alternate sacrifice to take his sons place. And God did the same thing for us, in that just at the right time, God sent an alternate sacrifice, Jesus, to be put to death for the atonement of sin.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Psalm 4
As I read this last night, it really gave me a lot of comfort, so I thought I would just share that with you.
"1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! 2O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;the LORD hears when I call to him.4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. 5Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. 6There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" 7You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
"1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! 2O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;the LORD hears when I call to him.4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. 5Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. 6There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" 7You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Mohler Possible Nominee for SBC Pres
I hope that he gets this position. See the post here.
Also read the comments about the post. Notice all the emphasis on the fact that the church he attends only give 3% to the Cooperative Program (CP).
Really is a shame how much is put on that percentage given to the CP Fund, and not on the Godly Person and leader that Al is.
Also read the comments about the post. Notice all the emphasis on the fact that the church he attends only give 3% to the Cooperative Program (CP).
Really is a shame how much is put on that percentage given to the CP Fund, and not on the Godly Person and leader that Al is.
Friday, January 4, 2008
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