Updated Praise and Prayer Requests

Praises:

1. Clarity!

The goal of my 6 months here was to see if this was where God was leading me.  In His faithfulness and kindness, He has made it clear that this is where I am to be.  I feel incredibly blessed to serve Him here.

2.  Faithfulness!  

The kids have always loved to come on Saturdays; but over the last few months, they have really grown in consistency. They finish chores early on Saturdays to come to "Niños para Cristo" and they are ready for the church service when we arrive on Sundays.  They are anxious to learn!

3.  Opportunities to speak the truth!

Satan, in his usual manner, has been fighting the truth that eternal life is received only "by grace." He has sent people who are teaching that you must accept Christ AND "do something."  

But God, in His usual manner, has used this to give us opportunities to speak the truth that salvation is ONLY by grace, that there is no "AND". . . there is nothing we can do to add to His work, it is sufficient!  (I am so grateful that there is no "AND" in the Gospel because He knows there is nothing that I could do to please Him).

Prayer Requests:

1. Salvation

While a few have accepted Christ there are many more who are still blinded to the truth.  Please pray that we will see more eyes opened and more come to Him.

2.  Boldness and Wisdom

It is a bit daunting trying to confront false doctrine in another language, (especially when we are not exactly clear on what is being taught).  Please pray that we would have wisdom both to know what to say and how to say it graciously but boldly as God gives us opportunities to share the truth.  

3.  Summer Plans

I will be returning home in June with lots to do!  I have a few volleyball camps to instruct this summer, plans to make for returning to the DR, support to raise, and (of course) family to see :)

Thank you so much to all of you who are praying for me and for the ministry here.  It means so much to know that you are thinking of me and lifting up this ministry to our awesome God!

The Lord's Work

For quite some time now, God has been working the theme of humility into lessons of all types in my life.  It is humbling to receive money from people instead of earning your own money.  It is humbling to be surrounded by godly pastors and missionaries from whom I have so much to learn.  It is humbling to be loved and missed by family and friends.  Etc, etc.  You get the idea.  Through both the good and the bad, the easy lessons and the hard lessons, God has been revealing the pride and selfishness of my own heart and graciously teaching me humility. 

Just the other day I was reading a blog update written by a fellow missionary (which was very well written, by the way); but as I read the update, it struck me how much we tend to focus on particular ministries as belonging to a certain person.  Not so much in our words – more so in our thoughts.   When I think about a particular “mission field” or ministry,  I tend to think more of the people who are ministering and those to whom they are ministering, than the work that God is doing in that ministry.

We frequently speak of “the Wolfs in South Africa” and “Pastor Jon and Joni in Costa Rica.”  I think of my home church, Memorial Baptist Church and the ministries there:  Pastor Wright leading the church in “inviting others to know and follow Christ”, Pastor Jeff guiding the teenagers, Josh and Brie leading out to the young adults.  Sometimes it just brings a smile to my face to think of what wonderful people they are and what a great work they are doing.  And it is all true!   . . . But what about the God of these great works?  How often do I stop to contemplate Him, when I think of South Africa, Costa Rica, Ohio? 

I titled my blog “Declaring His Works” because that is what I desire to do, but am I?  How quick I am to report what is happening, yet slower to find the words to explain what God is doing.  Or do I even see it?  How many times have I missed seeing His hand at work because I have focused what I did or did not do, should or should not have done.  Don't get me wrong, I know that we need to share the tangible parts of the ministry: the things that we can see, hear, touch, etc.; but I just don't want my focus to end there. (or for that matter to begin there, I want my focus to begin with what God is doing and end with the tangible details).  Lord, forgive me for missing You in the work and help me to focus more on seeing what You have done through others and declaring what You have done for me!

Psalm 145 

I will extol You, my God, O King; 
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.