Mission Belize 2009

January 29, 2009 Roaring Creek & More Tomorrow, Belize

Lights on at 600 a.m…. Great pancake breakfast and great devotional, sharing time.
Bobby suggested this morning that we call share our life verses from the Bible, or a favorite verse for the truth therein and to get to know each other better.

Bobby – Matt 16:35. He said he was saved at 7 years of age, but became serious about his faith at 36, after his wreck and trouble with the law. He was “tired being a failure as a Christian.”

Ralph – Psalm 23. God is so leading and so in control.

Ed – Scriptures are life to me, all of them. Lately it’s been the Lord’s Prayer.” I’ve sort of struggled with prayer my whole life. I think it’s very cool the Lord prayed, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”

Dwayne – Proverbs 3:5-6 & John 15. Trust the Lord with all your heart. Abide in Him.

Bert – John 15:18. “Bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” And Eph 6, “must know you have an enemy to know how to conduct yourself.”

Fred – Psalm 121 “One Scripture has been a life line to me.”

Randy – Phil 3:10 “Paul had an incredible transformation in his life, and so did I.” “I want to know the power of His resurrection. The fellowship of His suffering. And be conformed to His death.” “Christ died in the Garden – not on the cross. It was God talking to God. I’m still struggling with that reality – conforming to His death. I want the Spirit win the battle with the flesh.”

We arrived in More Tomorrow about 9am. We put in a good, hard, long day's work – Clifford, George, Mike (village chairman), & Charles came back to help. We really like those guys, and the feeling seems mutual. Got a lot done by 545pm when we stopped! That’s it for now, I’ll report More Tomorrow! -=db=-

Mission Belize 2009

January 28, 2009 Belize

This was the first full day of work at the village of More Tomorrow. It’s been beautiful, sunny, 80F with a breeze every day. Sorry to hear about all the ice and 20F weather back home! We probably finished about a third of the job today. It’s a great group, and we’ve worked well together and had lots of laughs. The natives who have helped us seem to enjoy such and join in the joking as well.

We’re up at 6am each morning with Ed turning on the lights and yelling, “Up & at ‘em girls!” Breakfast is at 7am, followed by a 15 minute devotional. Bobby started us off today and it serving as our spiritual leader. His texts were Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalms 1:1-3.

“In prosperity be fruitful! Are you? Anyone can share – even a brand new believer. He could say, “I gave my life to the Lord; He’s leading me now.” Bobby shared his live verse is Matthew 16:25, “Who would save his life will lose it….” He went on to share “the Lord knows it, and He then judges “according to what their actions deserve.”

In the discussion that followed, Randy chimed in, “Be shiners instead of whiners!”

I’ll leave you with that and share More Tomorrow. Be blessed! -=db=-

Solitude, Struggle, Suffering, Success

Recent email to: Curtis, Gary & Bobby,

Thanks for pointing this out at prayer the other morning – the timing of Jacob's limp and suffering. All that appears bad is not bad. As Curtis says, “It’s all good!”

It’s significant and encouraging that major events still happen to us as we’re well advanced in our journey through life and our journey with God. Our best years are still in front of us! Amen. Shalom. -=db=-

Alone with God

Do you need some motivation to get alone with God. To go on a spiritual retreat as Pastor Craig has suggested / requested? This might help…

“If Jesus practiced solitude, and Paul practiced solitude; why should we think we need not practice solitude?” Dallas Willard

“Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. (Gen 32:20-32) [Bolding mine.]

Being alone. Struggling with God and his fears. Determined to not let go, nor give up until getting something from God. Jacob struggled with God, himself, and others (Esau and Laban). For his tenacity and effort God changed his standing, his person, and his name – from “Deceiver” to “Israel,” “Prince with God” – WoW, may it be so with us in January, and in 2009, and forever. Our God is an Awesome God….

January 8, 2009 Subiaco

Investing in People

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

Everyone invests his life in something by virtue of his living. No moment can be saved for another day. Time once spent can never be recaptured. If this life is the seedtime of eternity, how do you best spend your life preparing for your time with God? Scripture answers this question by telling you to invest in the “fruit that remains.”

What is the fruit that remains? The Bible teaches that this imperishable fruit is human beings. Jesus invested His life in people. When He died, He died for people. He urged His followers, “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life.” People are important; people last forever.

Things, on the other hand, have no intrinsic value. A beautiful cup may have utilitarian value in that it helps in getting drink to your mouth, but it is temporal and will not endure the consummation of the age. This does not mean that you should misuse temporal resources. Quite the contrary, God will hold you accountable, in part, for how you steward these resources.

As Christ’s obedient servant, use things to invest in people. An axiom of Scripture is: Steward the temporal; give your life in exchange for the eternal. Keep the value of your possessions in proper perspective; they are resources given by God to assist you in investing in “the fruit that remains.” This best prepares you for an eternity with Him. What does your investment portfolio reveal about your belief?

[This is from one of my prized devotional books, Thoughts From The Diary Of A Desperate Man by Walter A. Henrichsen. Email: walter@leadershipfoundation.org]

2009 A Year of Hope

Websters current definition of "Hope"

1: to cherish a desire with anticipation <hopes for a promotion>2archaic : trusttransitive verb1: to desire with expectation of obtainment2: to expect with confidence : trust

synonyms see expect

Webster's 1828 definition of "Hope" HOPE, n. [L. cupio.] 1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job 8. He wish'ed, but not with hope-- Sweet hope! kind cheat! He that lives upon hope, will die fasting. 2. Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense. A well founded scriptural hope,is, in our religion, the source of ineffable happiness. 3. That which gives hope; he or that which furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good. The hope of Israel is the Messiah. The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel 3. Strong's Definition ἐλπίζω elpizō el-pid'-zo From G1680; to expect or confide: - (have, thing) hope (-d) (for), trust. Thayer's Definition ἐλπίζω elpizō 1) to hope 1a) in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence 2) hopefully to trust in

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation; and continue instant in prayer.

Happy New Year Brothers!

When Should I Begin?

Thank God for the first of the year! It’s a logical time to begin anew. To try and change some things that need changing in our lives and ways.

Thanks be to God whom we know from the Word to be “the God of the second chance.” If we repent (change our actions) and ask for forgiveness, He will relent and forgive our past failures in these areas.

The question is always HOW and WHEN for us, and our weak wills.

Brian Fields says the HOW begins with a “quality decision.” One you’ve thought about, meditated on, and probably written down some sort of plan to accomplish what you will to change or do.

I want to address the WHEN. I submit that the when is now! Whether it’s the decision process, the planning process or the action process or all three; start the process now! Don’t worry that it’s past January 1. And don’t even try to catch up with something necessarily. Start where you are, and start NOW.
Let me share three of my favorite quotes with you, and one Scripture. May they aid you on your journey!

“The best time to plant a tree was forty years ago. The next best time is today.” Unknown

“If I knew the Lord was coming tomorrow, I’d plant an apple tree today.” Martin Luther

“A good job done today is better than a perfect job done tomorrow.” Gen. George Patton

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went."Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go."Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
(Matthew 21:28-31)

For the Love of Christ

Craig recently requested our CCF Community fast from media for the month of January. That’s from TV, movies, and from the recreational use of computers. In his verbal request, and also his follow up letters, he also shared his personal plan for fasting from food, and suggested we do as little or much of that as we feel led or are willing to do.

More important than the WHAT of all this is the WHY.

Craig stressed the church at Ephesus, which had lost its first love, although Jesus commended them for many things they had done and were doing well. Could this be the church in the west, the USA, CCF?

This is to be a season where we seek our loving God to reveal to us the depth of our love for Him or the shallowness of the same. Then come up with a quality decision and action plan to improve the situation and make things right!

The Lord be near to us and have mercy on us as we seek Him in these ways, and in these days. It’s time to wake up! To be alert.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.

(Revelation 2:1-5)