In Due Time...

Well, this week, I took my dad to the doctor's office in Palm Desert to get an MRI, and... no clue as to what's causing the pain in his back. I was also supposed to start teaching english at the school yesterday too, but to no avail. All is in God's due time. No official job yet, but serving the family, practicing teaching and serving at the church here is what occupies my time... not to mention a couple of bike rides a week into town, 7-10 miles one way (which is usually all I go).

God is good though, in spite of what may seem negative, it is an opportunity for Him to show Himself faithful on my behalf. So, I look forward to seeing Him work in my dad's life, the high school students, and the church body. Praise the King!

So, as I told you all in the last blog, the Lord has been working in my life in more ways than one. However, the latest is this: Sunday the church is starting a "youth" ministry. So, Sunday nights are the nights to reach out to them at this church... for now. Until I leave, this is where I've been plugged in. The Lord is definitely strengthening my heart for His ministry by way of examining my motivation, and putting my confidence in Him. So Sunday this begins and the valley of Blythe, CA needs your prayers.

*Please pray for the youth of this valley to get saved, plugged into God, and to see His love for them, following Him the rest of their lives.
*Please pray for the chains to be broken of sexual immorality, lust, drunkenness, and rebellion here.
*Please pray that He would impact my heart to be a tangible demonstration of His love and constant witness in word and in deed.
*Please pray for the church to be strengthened in His power and flowing in the gifts of the Spirit.
*And please pray for me, that I may preach the gospel as I should, focused on others (and not myself all the time) connecting them with our Daddy.

Other than that, I've been reading this book I got for my birthday, "The Heavenly Man" By Brother Yun (from China). Great read, and very challenging. A definite good read for any professing Christian. So check it out!

And my physical family is in need of your prayers too. My dad, "Bubba" is having many pains and problems in his back, and the doctors are being very slow to move at this point to figure out what it is. My Brother Delbert is having eye problems (it gets swollen about once a week), and my mom and sister have quite a bit of stress with these things (among jobs too).

a 94th birthday?

So, this week was my nana's (great grandma) 94th birthday. Had a great time and I was so blessed my family got together as a (somewhat) whole for the occasion. It was truly an answered prayer. The pictures here are of the event and the cake my mom and I made her. Her brother (86 yrs.) came out from Connecticut.

God is so good. Last year, the India team joined me in prayer for my family to get together - that was for Christmas, but who says it won't be this year, eh? But God is also showing His faithfulness on my great grandma's behalf. Psalm 127 says this:

1Unless the LORD builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the LORD guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.

2It is vain for you to rise up early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of painful labors;

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth.

5How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

They will not be ashamed

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

So my great grandma has a great reward... five generations are alive on my mom's side of the family. God is so good!

The Lord has blessed me with getting involved in a church here as well. As I came into Blythe, I was a bit hesitant to get involved, since my time here was so short, but upon learning that my time here will be extended until January, I plan on getting involved as much as possible. God had already been speaking to the pastor and his wife about me a bit. It was good to sit and hear Robert and Pam's vision for outreach here. They just want the Lord to move powerfully here and save some souls. During my time here, the Lord has opened the doors to begin being involved with the musical protion of worship, and just to serve His body by being an usher, greeter, pretty much just serving where needed. I am blessed though, I get to play a song for offeratory this weekend! Please pray for me though, that God would truly give me a heart-deep understanding of the fact that I am nothing and He is everything, seeing as though I struggle with a bit of pride.

Earlier in the week, He spoke to me out of Matthew 23:8-12, which says:

"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."

It was good to think and meditate upon (and still is, of course). Just to know mentally, that I am no one and that He alone is my Teacher (not for me to consider someone beside Him that), my Father (no one else can fulfill that role perfectly), and my Leader (the only One who can guide me into His perfect will). It was good to see this, because if I look to anyone but Him for these roles, I begin to serve man (and get puffed up in my fleshly ego) and become self-righteous. But when I look to Him for these, I truly serve Him in the roles He was meant to fulfill in my life, and His righteousness shines forth in His perfection through His Spirit. ( a little confusing? I hope not.)

Anyway, that's all for now! Be blessed! Praise the King for His goodness, He and He alone!