Practice what you preach

Psalm 119:11-16 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. 

I think that's the problem with most of us.   We are often very quick to forget His Word.  This time, God wasn't about to let that happen.  When I was preaching my heart out in Portuguese on John 11 on Sunday night in Brazil, I would have never dreamed what He had in mind to burn  those truths into my heart on Monday night back in Humble, TX.

Before leaving the US, I had in mind a message to preach to Congregacao Batista da Ressurecao when given the opportunity, but during my morning time alone with God on Wednesday, the Spirit made it very clear that He wanted me to share from John 11, the story of Lazarus's resurrection from the dead.  As He opened the eyes of my heart to the profound truths in this well known Bible story, I savored each morsel He laid out for me on His banquet table and looked forward to encouraging His people.  

When the time came to preach in Portuguese again, as always, I wondered if the words would come.  Carried on the prayers of His people, they did come and I humbly realized that the Holy Spirit was declaring His Word through His privileged servant.  Considering the distress Mary and Martha were going through with the grave sickness of their beloved brother, Lazarus, God wanted us to remember that, no matter what we are going through, He loves us.  All the time. He loves us so much that He weeps with us when we weep.  He also made very clear that His timing is perfect and that the reason He often waits to answer our prayers is because He loves us and wants to work out the bigger plan.  

John 11:3-4 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 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.” 

When the final words were spoken, I thought the sermon was over, but it had only just begun. 

A few hours later, we started our journey back across the ocean which was pretty uneventful save for the fact that we departed at 3:15 am and had a 3 hour layover in Panama.  Back in the US, it was time for a late lunch and my Chickfila salad was delicious but didn't really sit well. I thought that my stomach was just readjusting but the pain got worse through the afternoon.  

As the pain intensified, so did my prayers.  "Why Lord?  Can't this just pass so I can get some sleep?  Oh God, help me."   When my prayers for relief were met with the awkward silence that means "just hold on and trust Me" we knew I needed to see a Dr, so a friend came over to stay with the kids and we headed to the ER around 1 AM.  In extreme pain, Danyel drove me through the silent night and at the hospital, pain medicine came quickly so I was feeling sane again. It was quickly determined that I had appendicitis and needed to have my appendix removed.  My care has been guided by His loving hands and we have taken many opportunities to listen to the stories of our caregivers and to testify to God's grace in our own lives.  The Body of Christ has been at my bedside laying on hands in prayer and laughing with us at the crazy experiences that come with pain meds and anesthesia.

Over and over again I have thanked God that none of this happened in Brazil or especially on the plane, allowing us to be in more comfortable surroundings with the people we love to help care for us.  This all could have gone very differently, and appendixes are removed everyday in Brazil, too, but I am so grateful that He chose to let all of this unfold as it did.  

"This sickness is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

Thanks so much for joining us along the journey in prayer.

This is My Father's World

It's just another day in paradise and it's one of our favorite parts of the trip.  We swam with pink dolphins in the Amazon River, fed monkeys, held a sloth, anaconda and a baby alligator, fished for enormous strong Amazon fish called Pirarucu, saw lily pads that could hold up a small child, ate delicious Brazilian food at a floating restaurant, and had a wonderful day enjoying creation.

I could hardly stop singing one of my favorite hymns:

This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white, Declare their maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong Seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: The battle is not done:

Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and Heav’n be one.  

Here's my favorite version: Jadon Lavik This is My Father's World

Please pray for us as we head home tonight and I'll send a final update of our last day of service when I get home.

 

How crazy do you have to be to take your kids on an internationalmission trip?

It's day 7 and we've reached a point in the trip that sometimes takes me by surprise........again.  I've had it many times before but it feels so selfish and unspiritual especially with a title like Family Life Pastor and all.  It's that point where you ask yourself, "Why did we bring the kids?"  Yes.  I said it. It's a question that goes through your head when the heat and the exhaustion and the stomach aches and the mosquito bites take your mind where you really "feel" like going.

The thought is fed by the fact that the sibling rivalry, laziness, respect challenges and general messiness that come with taking kids anywhere actually follows you on a mission trip, too.  Don't ever let the pictures deceive you into thinking that our kids have been unstoppable warriors for the gospel all week, never complaining or making faces when the food on their plates was unrecognizable or when other parents let their kids do it so "why don't you let us?"  

This week our kids have been kids.  Nothing magical happened when they stepped on the airplane for a mission trip.  They came just as they were, and just as we all are...works in progress.

But amazing progress we have truly seen.  They have prayed for the sick, boldly shared the gospel and loved the least of these and they will never be the same.  Perhaps the best part is that we have shared these kingdom experiences together. That means that the "God stories" that the rest of our friends and family just won't ever fully understand no matter how hard we try to explain them have become part of our family's shared history.  If taking kids on an international mission trip makes you crazy, then crazy we are. 

His hands and feet

I never cease to be amazed at how God is always ready to use those who are willing to step out of their comfort zones. Whenever I've done that, I've always found that there is a special grace that has flowed to and through me to those around me.  Having led countless mission teams through the years of all ages, I've watched God use His people and bless and change them in the process, but I'm not sure when it's ever meant more than now, when my team members will go home with me because they are my family.

Without any doubt, the family dynamic also brings plenty of its own challenges like sibling disputes and very close quarters for a week, but it's all completely worth it to have front row seats as we watch Jesus change the lives of our children as He stretches them physically, mentally and spiritually.  

These pictures tell some of the story of how God's hands and feet are being extended through us to orphans and children in extreme poverty.  Through us, Jesus has given piggy back rides, fave painting, hugs, high fives, smiles, soccer games, craft help, songs, prayers and the precious gospel to some of the amazing kids He has created for His glory and none of us will ever be the same.  

Thanks for joining us on the journey in prayer!

Loving the least of these

Yesterday was an amazing day at The Father's Heart orphanage in Manaus.  We love the way this ministry takes care of some of the most vulnerable children in this society and there are so many. Barry and Vania Hall are heroes of the faith as they work tirelessly to rescue children from horrendous circumstances that the local authorities find the kids in.  When they arrive at the Father's Heart, they are home.  Even non-believers who visit have said how strongly they feel God's love here.  

We had the privilege of joining in their work by playing with happy kids, calming the upset, rocking babies to sleep, helping with homework, making crafts and sharing the story from God's Word of how incredibly special each one of them is in God's sight.  

Our kids have been amazing and it's awesome to see how quickly they are able to connect with kids and how effectively God can use them on the mission field.  

We are headed back today for more fun and we will be sharing the gospel through special gospel soccer balls and hoping to work on some soccer skills as well in a local park.  

Please continue to pray for these precious ones to believe the truth about how much God loves them and how much they need a Savior.

Thanks for joining us on the journey!

Everything you have for us.......

" I receive everything you have for us today, Lord."

This is the prayer the Holy Spirit has placed in my heart this morning and I'm honestly not sure I want to pray it.  One of my favorite references to Jesus in literature is when he is represented by Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia. In that ageless story of the adventures of some chosen children they realize that he isn't safe, but He's good.  

That's what my prayer feels like:  not safe, but good.  Late last night, this team of ten made it to our home for the week in beautiful Manaus safely, but I don't think that's the ultimate goal for us.  As we continue to follow the Master, He may lead us wherever He wishes.  As we step out in His name into unknown territory, we give Him the right to stretch us, to change us and to create more out of us than we knew was possible.

Thanks for joining us on the journey and we continue to covet your prayers.

Here we go!

The Pennings and the Humphreys are ready to serve as we depart for Panama and then on to Manaus.