"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot

Monday, July 25, 2011

Dreams

Do you believe that God can speak through dreams? I believe so because there are examples of such in the Bible. I also believe in this because I believe God wants to be intimate with us and speak to us in many different ways. It makes since, why should I put God's ability to speak to me in a nice little clean box? I can't.

I recently became aware of a dream that involved my family, specifically, Anna. This women recently emailed me to inform me of this dream. She was actually in Haiti when I was down there, she arrived several days before I did. This dream occurred prior to my arrival and my knowing her. I have since talked with her about Anna's diagnosis of Pseudotumor Cerebri. After she researched that condition and recalled the details of her dream it was unmistakable that she dreamed about Anna having this condition. In the dream (and we believe in reality) the origin of this condition was from satan. She shared details with me that were spot on when thinking about Anna and her symptoms and experiences. Her purpose in sharing this with us was to remind us of the origin and encourage us to press on towards the goal that God has set before us.

I have but only one word to describe this experience and I know that it is grossly inadequate, awe!

Why do I share this with you? You are family and friends who have come a long side of us to pray for us. This is but a portion of the fruit of your prayers. Thank you, and pray on.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

God's lessons to Anna and I in the Atl

Anna, Luke, Abigail, Erin (my cousin and awesome helper with the kids) and I went to Atlanta on Monday night and returned Friday evening. We were in Atlanta for training on the ACE program which is what we will be using in Canaan for teaching the children. God did so much I don't even know what to tell y'all. Why do I write? So that we all will be reminded how big our God is.

Well, lets just start with a man named Terry. Anna and I were in the car in the parking lot fixing to leave at the end training on Tuesday. He pulls along side of us and starts talking to us. He had overheard that we were going to Haiti and wanted to talk to us. He gave us some money and said he wanted to be apart of our ministry, also that he wanted to share some things abut his life and ministry with us. So we went to lunch with him on Thursday and the one thing we wanted to talk to us about was trust in the Father. During lunch he spoke of three missionaries, George Muller, Hudson Taylor, and David Gates. In each one of these cases, the men wholly trusted God for their ministry. He didn't stop there, he spoke specifically about God providing for the financial needs of these men. All of the examples were astounding. Anna and I would like to share some and will if you want to know, let us know. God spoke to us through this man, because Anna and I had been thinking a lot, even to the point where we were potentially taking things into our own hands and worrying about financial support.

God convicted me that I was trusting in people more than Him. It's all logical and makes sense if we take a step back and look at it. If God calls a person to the mission field He's gonna take care of Him. I read about a missionary K.P. Yohannan and there was a story where he had ten dollars left to his name. Nothing in the bank, nothing nowhere besides that ten dollars in the pocket. He was in church one night and God moved him to give that ten dollars in the offering. He said, "God, this is all I got". God didn't budge, and K.P. gave the money so that he had not one penny to his name. That night after the service a man whom he had never meant gave him one hundred dollars in the parking lot. After reading that I thought to myself, why doesn't God do things like that in my life. Well, God answered. He said to me, I don't do things like that in your life because I don't have to, you take care of yourself. Wow!

Anna and I resigned from our jobs and thought we were trusting in God. That fact is we were trusting, just not fully. Recall the story of the rich young ruler. God wants everything.
In closing this man told us that he had gall stones and that he was a very busy man. He said that he wouldn't have come to the training if he didn't have the gall stones. He told us that he believes God gave him gall stones so that he would come to that training to talk to us. So Anna and I will pray that God will provide for all our needs. Did God really give this man gall stones so that he would be there to talk to us about fully trusting in God? We believe so.

We will post more events from the Atl soon.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Satan is in the little details

I believe Anna and I are under a full assault from satan (by the way, I will never capitalize his name, just can't bring myself to do it).

We have experienced the body being stricken. Unexpected doubts and questions. And now little details that don't go as planned or desired. The specifics of what, when, where, and how are not important.

It is just crazy to me of all the types of fiery darts he throws (or shoots) at people. It really emphasis putting on the armor of God and the need for prayer. Interesting that Anna and I are thinking about this now. It was just three weeks ago that she was sitting in Dr. Weeks office. Dr. Weeks grew up on the mission field and saw the highs and the lows. She gave Anna what she said was the most important advice, to "daily put on the armor of God". And to think we didn't adhere. We have prayed more recently, but no where near what we need to be doing. I mean think about it, she was in the trenches from many years and that's the greatest piece of advice she gives.

We will do just that. Pray for us and with us please. We remain on course to depart for Haiti three weeks from Monday. There is much preparation to be made. We will buy some stuff here and there but He does the real preparation. He doesn't call the prepared. He prepares the called.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Update on Anna and the middle of God's will

Here it is Saturday afternoon and there is much to say.

Regarding Anna's condition related to the Pseudotumor Cerebri. Anna has been without head and neck pressure for three days which was one of the major problems. Anna has also experienced vision improvements, vision being the other major problem. For much of the morning Anna could see almost normal with the exception of the peripheral vision. Please join with us in praising the Father for this improvement and continue to pray for full restoration.

Anna had a doctor's appointment with the neurologist on Thursday and he looked at her eyes and noted an improvement. He also commented on the spinal tap that she had on Wednesday of this week, he said that the pressure that they measured when they punctured her spinal cord was at the high end of the acceptable range. That is a great thing meaning the pressure in her brain had subsided. All in all, we believe he saw improvement, couple that with what we've seen through today is exciting.

Regarding the middle of God's will, with Anna doing better and us confident in the Lord and trusting Him, something else has been thrown at us. Anna has a terrible spinal tap headache. She also has a cold and sinus problems. Then to top it all off, I was awoken about four o'clock this morning to Anna throwing up from the bed. It's almost like satan said (assuming the origin of this is satan) well you didn't fall when I sent the Pseudotumor Cerebri so here is this, this, and this. Anna and quickly recognized what was going on and read scripture and prayed, and then there was a great peace.

We are thankful that God is using us and pray for the strength to get through this temptation / trial. We are also very thankful for the prayers of the saints.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

There is a peace in the middle of God's will, but it ain't easy.

When I was in Haiti a couple of weeks ago I was sharing with a guy how Anna and I discerned that God was calling us to Haiti. He shared from his own personal experience that there is a peace in the middle of God's will, but acknowledged it ain't always easy.
I know this to be true now. Anna and I are preparing to move to Haiti for an extended period of time and I believe with everything in me that this is what God wants for us. That said, the weeks leading up to our departure have not been easy. Currently, Anna has been diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri which basically means that fluid in the brain is not draining properly which is causing swelling which is causing head and neck pain, and vision problems. When confronted with this diagnosis the question has arisen, what does this mean for us and our impending departure for Haiti. The answer to that question is nothing. God is not a God of confusion and His calls are not wrong. We will continue working towards the thing that God last told us to do until we get new or different marching orders.
I am curious of the origin of this sickness, a trial or a temptation. My first thoughts go to satan based on the assumption that he doesn't like what the Lord may do for His kingdom through our obedience. However, I do realize that it could be of God in a process of refining our faith and removing the dross from our faith. Prior to this issue I had been reading in Job and actually just finished yesterday. I noticed something yesterday in the eleventh verse of the last chapter that had escaped my attention until that point which was "And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him". At the beginning of Job it is evident that satan strikes Job, but only after the Lord allows him to. So we know the origin of the afflictions, satan. In conjunction with that knowledge, I considered it very interesting that at the end of the book of Job it said that the "Lord had brought upon him". The thought that comes to me is that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose".
In conclusion, the thought of being there is peaceful. Preparing to go is peaceful. Watching my wife hurt is not easy though. But this is the will of God and I desire none other.