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Arrival in South Africa

10/10/07

We got off the plane after 21 hours of flight.  We were so ready to get a bath and something to eat.  God gave us favor on our airline seats, hotel, and transportation.  Based upon first impressions, Africa’s people are beautiful, helpful and very friendly.  We meet up with the crusade team early in the morning.  We are praying for good weather: Lord, hold back the rain and allow Your holy presence to rain forth on the people of Lesotho.  Close-up the clouds Father until Your purpose is prevails.  Empower Your servants who are Your mouthpiece to the people of Lesotho.  Father, you be the main event; You be the guest of honor; You come in all of Your Kingly splendor! 

Day 20

The Word of God tell us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).  Yet praising the Lord is not limited to singing a few songs once or twice a week in a church service.  Worship is a lifestyle that embraces the entire spectrum of life.  Even today, how was your worship before the Lord?  You can praise God at any hour of the day, seven days a week – in the car, in the shower or in the middle of the night.  It isn’t about singing a particular song or reciting a prayer – it’s about relationship with your heavenly Father who loves and cares for you.  This time of fasting has been about strengthening your relationship with your Father.  It’s about taking the last 20 days and saying, “God you are more important than anything else.”  Finish Strong!

Day 19

You will only enjoy the Bible’s promises if you choose to live by Bible principles.  All of us want to be blessed, but not everyone is prepared to live by the principles in God’s word.  You see, if you want Bible results, you have to live by Bible rules.  The Psalmist tells us that the righteous man “delights greatly” in God’s commandments.  He loves the Word of God and has made it the foundation on which he builds his life. The result is blessings in his relationships, finances, career, social life, family and spiritual life.  Living according to God’s word is not a selective process that allows you to choose to live by some commandments by not others.  In James 1:22 it says, “be doers of the Word, not hearers only.”  Continue to be “doers of the Word.”  Blessings

Day 18

The Bible says, “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord” Psalm 112 (amp).  All throughout the Bible, God consistently promises to bless His people, however His blessing also depends on our choices.  The Bible even says it this way in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”  This book, Deuteronomy, contains a list of blessings and curses which were directly linked to whether one chose to obey or disobey the commandments of the Lord.  This is found in chapter 28.  To choose life with God is to choose a blessed life.  You see it’s God’s will to bless you, but if you think His blessing is just for you, you are missing the point.  The blessing should go beyond our own existence.  Remember what God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2?  “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.”  The purpose of God’s blessing is to enable you to be a great channel of blessing to others.  God has renewed you during this season for a purpose.  What’s the purpose? You shall be a blessing! 

Day 17

I want to thank all those who came out last night, for our ministry night, at the nursing homes.  You guys are such an encouragement.  Anytime you go to the nursing home you realize that, for the most part, many of these people are about to move from this life to the next.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to pray and share your faith with them.  Such was the case last night. My family went to the same nursing home as last week and visited with the same people.  During our visit we saw a woman that I went to school with me in Crestview.  Yes my age!  That’s not what you expect in a nursing home.  However, she immediately opened up to me because she was acquainted with me.  As we prayed with her she ask me, “does God speak to you?”  This opened up a door for me to share in greater detail about my salvation and commitment to the Lord even in difficult times.  She immediately wanted to become a Christian.  Why?  Someone shared about Jesus and He gives hope.  This is the reason that Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.”  Nothing is wrong with the harvest…it’s ready.  Are the laborers?  Just a thought.  Have a great day of “Feasting.”

Day 16

Remember your confession in your prayer journal today that “no temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  He is faithful.  He will keep you strong and your Spirit will be strenghtened during this process.  Finish strong.  Remember, HE IS FAITHFUL.

Day 15

Today was filled with hospital visitations and a home visit.  Often times I wonder who I will meet during my visits.  Yet many times I meet someone who is not saved or an additional family member that is in need of encouragement.  Today was one of those days.  A young man was paralyzed due to a illness and his sisters where in the room.  It probably came as a shock to them that I was even there considering he did not attend our church.  They needed the encouragement as much as Him.  You see, that’s the function of the Body of Christ.  We are called to encourage one another.  Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.”  I’ve always interpreted it as…we add flavor to life…we make a difference.  I encourage you to make a difference in someones life today.  Add some flavor.  Blessings.   

Day 14

What a awesome service this morning.  I’m always amazed at what God has planned.  This morning was a perfect example of us providing an avenue for God to do His work.  People came with anticipation that God was going to do something great and He did not disappoint.  Why would we ever doubt His workings.  Right now their are wives and husbands rejoicing that their spouse has been saved.  Families thanking God that their prayers were answered.  I believe what the Bible says in James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”God heard someones prayer.  Have a great day and I’m praying for you. Blessings.

Day 13

As I’ve had time to reflect over the last few days, I’m reminded once again that hope must be found in the church.  Not the building, but the people…the church.  God has given His people a very serious mandate to love and reach the world with the gospel of Jesus.  The Bible says, “Christ in you the hope of glory.”  He’s saying, “I’m giving you what you need to do the work.”  We are not only called to set the example for the world, but also in the church.  The Bible says to “encourage one another” and to ”provoke one another to do good works.”  Paul believed in this principle.  He did this through a number of ways and fasting was one of them.  Fasting was a part of Paul’s spiritual discipline.  1 Corinthians 11:27 says, “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often in cold and nakedness.”  If we are going to reach the world our lives must be tough, spiritually, to do the work God has called us to in this generation.  Blessings