Blessings and greetings in the the name of our King Jesus,
Have you ever traveled on an international missions trip? If not, let me encourage you to get a passport and seek the Lord for an opportunity to live out the divine mandate to "go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." You have spiritual gifts, skills and abilities given by our Lord that could be used to transform lives in other parts of the world and not just your own. Not only can God use you to bring hope to different countries and cultures, but it's amazing what you will learn from the people there. Yes, it's stepping outside of our comfort zone, and yes it requires sacrifice, however, the benefits tremendously outweigh the costs. The rest of the world is not like the United States and there is so much to learn from other people as well as experiencing the joy of ministering to them. Pray, pray hard that God would expand your spiritual horizon and world view. Pray He will help you see the world the way He sees the world. Pray to be used of God near and far and experience for yourself the joy of greater ministry.
Tuesday, June 16 I ask you to pray for the Joseph Alliance team traveling to Liberia, West Africa. We who are traveling go with great expectation of how God is going to move in such a great land with such great people who are recovering from 14 years of civil war. Liberia was founded by African-American slaves in the United States who returned to Africa to live in freedom. "Liberia" comes from the word liberty. Liberians are connected at the soul to African-Americans and deeply appreciate African-Americans who come to minister to them and to hear their story. They appreciate all who come regardless of race, but are especially glad when African-Americans come. The needs are great and many but the land is so ripe for a powerful, miraculous move of God. So, pray that the "team" led by founder and leader of Joseph Alliance, Dr. Laverne Stevens, will be tools in the hands of our awesome God through which His miraculous wonders may be made manifest among the people. Thank you for your prayers and I will give a brief update upon our return. May God bless each of you!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Greetings Saints,
Over the course of my life I could not begin to count the many classrooms I have sat in as a student. Classrooms through grade school, college, two graduate programs, one post graduate program, not to mention the many workshops for business, ministry, music and many more that have helped me and prepared me for life. I'm am indebted to the many teachers, professors, presenters and support staff that have given of themselves that I may have the benefit of their wisdom and their academic and professional excellence. From Sunday school teachers to Deans of institutions of higher learning, I have been blessed to sit under them and learn. I'm sure you can say the same. The many who have sought to give you instruction and direction in life did so because they cared. Some of us did very well in these settings, some average and some of us not so well. Yet, often even those who have performed very well in schools have been slow learners in another school. Life. Life's classrooms are many and some of the courses and their tests seem so hard at times. Life's teachers sometimes seem downright cruel with little if any hint of compassion. However, while at times this may seem true, it is also true that the problem is not always life's tough taskmasters but rather the reluctant, lazy, spoiled, complaining, undisciplined learner. When we refuse to learn, or think we can be our own instructor we're not going to do very well. It really does not matter if the life student is saved or unsaved. In fact some in the Body of Christ are the worst students because they believe the few scriptures they have learned is all they need. Not so. It is in the understanding and application of those scriptures that will give the student the necessary tools for life. However, how does one even learn how to apply those tools? Tools without an instructor to teach how to use them can be dangerous in the wrong hands. God of course sends pastors, teachers, preachers, prophets and others to instruct us. However, the greatest instructor is the Holy Spirit of God. He is our ultimate guide, counselor, teacher. To ignore Him is to ignore the creator and giver of all life. Submission to Him is our only true hope for gaining wisdom and power to not only survive but to thrive in this life. In other words life is made more difficult when we fail to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Be not wise in your own eyes..." (Prov. 3:5-7a). Spiritual maturity does not come by attending more and more workshops, although they have their place. It does not come by wearing a title or holding a certificate of completion from a school, though schools are necessary. No, it comes with the daily communion with and submission to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8 Paul says "to be led by the flesh is death but to be led by the Spirit is life and peace." He is the best teacher I know. Seek Him, embrace Him, follow His leading and you will walk in divine wisdom.
Peace.
Over the course of my life I could not begin to count the many classrooms I have sat in as a student. Classrooms through grade school, college, two graduate programs, one post graduate program, not to mention the many workshops for business, ministry, music and many more that have helped me and prepared me for life. I'm am indebted to the many teachers, professors, presenters and support staff that have given of themselves that I may have the benefit of their wisdom and their academic and professional excellence. From Sunday school teachers to Deans of institutions of higher learning, I have been blessed to sit under them and learn. I'm sure you can say the same. The many who have sought to give you instruction and direction in life did so because they cared. Some of us did very well in these settings, some average and some of us not so well. Yet, often even those who have performed very well in schools have been slow learners in another school. Life. Life's classrooms are many and some of the courses and their tests seem so hard at times. Life's teachers sometimes seem downright cruel with little if any hint of compassion. However, while at times this may seem true, it is also true that the problem is not always life's tough taskmasters but rather the reluctant, lazy, spoiled, complaining, undisciplined learner. When we refuse to learn, or think we can be our own instructor we're not going to do very well. It really does not matter if the life student is saved or unsaved. In fact some in the Body of Christ are the worst students because they believe the few scriptures they have learned is all they need. Not so. It is in the understanding and application of those scriptures that will give the student the necessary tools for life. However, how does one even learn how to apply those tools? Tools without an instructor to teach how to use them can be dangerous in the wrong hands. God of course sends pastors, teachers, preachers, prophets and others to instruct us. However, the greatest instructor is the Holy Spirit of God. He is our ultimate guide, counselor, teacher. To ignore Him is to ignore the creator and giver of all life. Submission to Him is our only true hope for gaining wisdom and power to not only survive but to thrive in this life. In other words life is made more difficult when we fail to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Be not wise in your own eyes..." (Prov. 3:5-7a). Spiritual maturity does not come by attending more and more workshops, although they have their place. It does not come by wearing a title or holding a certificate of completion from a school, though schools are necessary. No, it comes with the daily communion with and submission to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8 Paul says "to be led by the flesh is death but to be led by the Spirit is life and peace." He is the best teacher I know. Seek Him, embrace Him, follow His leading and you will walk in divine wisdom.
Peace.
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