And here is another reminder - especially for me . . . "Don't get upset when point A doesn't automatically lead to point B. There are no detours in God's story line . . . just complications that He's more than able to resolve . . . The Author of our salvation really does know what He's doing, even when we can't figure it out."
I needed to be reminded of Joseph's little side trip to Egypt where God shaped him into a man who would not only save his family, but also Israel and the entire known world from starvation.
And let's not forget poor Daniel in the lion's den who had no idea he wouldn't be dinner for the lions, but would serve as the catalyst for the conversion of a nation.
God ALWAYS has a plan. I NEED to not only believe this, but live like I believe it. AND . . . when it happens - as always - I will look back on this time and realize all the dots He connected along the way. I pray that for now, I will enjoy what I am doing and the lives I am interacting with and wait . . . wait for His time and His plan to unfold for me.
Jeremiah 29:11 (my life verse . . . hmmm) - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
3 August
A Wait – A Weight
To wait for a promise to come to fruition can indeed be a heavy burden. Long periods of waiting, can wear one down. Our frustration and fatigue from this weighty trial may even blur our vision of our Vision. We may begin to doubt if God has really called us to work for Him, or we may ask ourselves if it was merely our own desire. Perhaps today your hope is fading.
Mary and Martha’s hope also faded when Lazarus, Jesus’ friend became ill and died. Jesus waited until he began to decay before he visited the tomb. Our hope for our Vision ever to be fulfilled may have died and may be decaying. Today like Mary and Martha you may be saying to Jesus, “Sir, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. And even now it is too late….” (John 11:21, 23 TLB)
It’s too late; you are growing older; your energy is waning; you are discouraged with this long wait; friends and family doubt that you will go; and people are judging you. You may be confused and embarrassed and harassed with all the questions.
Take heart, my brother and sister. Look up! Focus once more on your Vision, because Jesus said in John 11:40 (TLB), “But didn’t I tell you that you will see a wonderful miracle from God if you believe?” Nothing will thwart God’s purposes, not even your waning Vision. Jesus will come along after those “long and weary four days” and say, “Roll the stone aside!” He will say to your seeming dead Vision, “Lazarus, come out! And Lazarus came – bound up in grave clothes…” Jesus said, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:43, 44 TLB)
Soon God will remove the grave clothes from your long wait.
Life Through Death
(John 11:2, 4, 25, 43-44)
I. Concentration: on Jesus gives the gift of life.
1. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. (v.2)
2. When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (v.4)
3. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (v.25)
4. When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (vv.43-44)
II. Meditation: on giving God the glory.
1. While Jesus is traveling and preaching, His friends Mary (who previously anointed him) and Martha send word to him that His good friend, Lazarus, is very ill and dying.
2. Jesus tells this will be a magnificent miracle bringing glory to God – Jesus refers to Himself explicitly as the Son of God; He is in no hurry and stays another two days.
3. When He arrives in Bethany Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days; Jesus declares that He is the one who gives life – He has unified Himself with the Father; those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.
4. Jesus declared the glory for God in front of all those who gathered at Lazarus’ tomb; the irony of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is that He gives life to others by giving up His own life on the cross; this is the final straw for the Pharisees who demand His death.
III. Revelation: on eternal life.
1. Regardless of where we are or what we are involved in, as true disciples we should lift up our request(s) to Jesus, with humility, asking that His will be done.
2. Sometimes our best teaching moments include sharing the most painful parts of our lives – when we do, we need to lift it up to God’s glory – God never wastes a hurt.
3. Believing in Jesus, accepting Christ as our savior, offers us eternal life; let’s not stop there, but find ways to serve our Lord (James 2:14-17)
4. Just as Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead, so will He raise us up into heaven.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Remember that when I am praying Jesus always hears me; He will respond in His time with His will.
2. Give up my control; allow any parts of my life to be used as the Lord sees fit In order to bring others closer to Him.
3. Lift up my own sins daily, requesting forgiveness; serve the Lord in the ministries He has chosen for me – serve joyfully.
4. Be ever thankful that I have been offered eternal life – Praise God!
In this country we take so much for granted. If I have to wait a second for internet response I'm wondering what is going on. And we have access to any version of the Bible we want. I wanted to share these pictures with you to remind all of us how much we have to be grateful for.
I received an update today (Sunday - 09-20) . . . Thank you so much for your email. How amazing, our electricity has just gone on again. There was a huge explosion and the neighborhood dogs went crazy and then the whole town was out. It has been such a succession of events. For more than 2 months we struggled with internet. They came out this week and worked all day. 5 minutes later it was off again. Back to reporting. Two days later worked all day. The wind died down for 2 days, internet now on and off again. They will not believe it that there must be a broken cable down the road. So back to reporting again this week. We erected poles and they replaced out 300 meter cable. Then we had a major fire on a mountain close-by, and we had water cuts. They had to draw from our main water supply. Then both Earl and I got the most dreadful flu. We are in our 3rd week and still not over it. A week ago, I thought instead of cooking we would order a takeaway from a restaurant. I am now at the tail end of 6 days of violent food poisoning. There have been so many attacks, but praise GOD we go through the fires as Isaiah says. These are just some of the things that have been happening here.
The month of September through to the beginning of Oct is our main fiesta month, and hopefully all the storms we have been going through here will have leveled out when I will be able to get the other BIBLES mobilized. Those 4 men I am positive were sent by the LORD. They are cut off from normal life here, and live far in the mountains, and that is where those precious BIBLES went. How strange to see people thinking that the BIBLE is the most amazing gift that anyone could get, and then many who have them do not grasp the opportunity to study them.
Dr. Dawn continues to be an instrument of the Lord at every opportunity - even to the service personnel that came down from the mountains to gerry-rig their internet into working. Let's follow in kind by giving the Word of God to anyone we see in need of it.
This weeks assignments:
- Continue performing your RAKs (random acts of kindness)
- Go to your "War Room" and pray
- If you aren't current on your reading / workbook - get current!
- Read Chapter 9 in your book
- Answer week 8 study questions
- Look ahead to page 81 for the week 8 "Make a plan" homework and set aside time to fulfill the assignment.
- Review your memory verses and practice your new one
- STAY IN THE WORD DAILY
- Continue to bless others as you are being blessed
- "Don't put a comma where God has put a period."
- "Don't put a period where God has put a comma."