Praise The Lord

Well, so munch has gone on so I guess I’ll start wherever I want. This is my blog so if I don't follow perfect chronological order, that’s just how it is.

One of my team members is battling with temptation. He has been struggling for quite a while and he publicly confessed last week. We are all praying that God would show us the next steps to take, whether he stays and receives counseling from our leader, or he goes back to Montego Bay to complete his outreach and get some counseling by the leaders there. This is a very delicate situation, which is why specific details are not important. Please be praying. We are all confident that this will be handled in the appropriate way.

Today we spent the morning praying and asking God what we should do for ministry in the evening. Another student and I both shared Matthew 10; 7-8, "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy, [b] drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." So we then decided to go into the city. We then came up with the idea of handing out candies with Jeremiah 29;11, which says," For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. We really are having a hard time coming up with ministry that doesn’t have to do with talking because only one person knows enough French to testify, so we've been spending a lot of time giving. I'm really enjoying this. So many people gave for me to be able to come here and give to Guadeloupe. It rings true when the scripture says, “freely you have received, freely give" I'm blessed to follow this. It is wonderful to make someone smile. Not only are we sharing the Word and giving, we are being blessed. It proves to me that God wants to see us happy. We are filled with Joy when others are provided for, so how happy does that make the Lord? I would guess very happy indeed! While we were out I gave a girl in a bright yellow shirt a candy. About an hour after we handed all the Candy out she appreciated us. She really liked what we were doing she had been interested in Christianity and just recently started reading her bible. Luckily Sandra was there and they had a 20 minute conversation. It turns out that they both have a lot in common and this young woman wants to spend time with us and ask questions. This is a great picture of discipling. We can't wait to share and her from her. Her mane is Serena. We were very blessed God encouraged us this way.

Tonight we are worshiping this year into the next. My friends and I are coming up with a New Years (Weekly) resolution book. We are thinking about 52 unique ways to bless others once a week for 2009 we will do something nice.

I'm feeling restless here. I know things are being done, but I want to do more. I'm getting caught up in activities and planning instead of resting in the Lord, which I understand to be another term for trusting Him. I know outreach is not about doing what we think is actually work, but doing the work the Lord shows us. My passion is to see people disciple, to see people saved. I need patients.

I think Mediating is a way God wants to use me in my family. I have several relatives that are not getting along with each other. Deep and powerful relationships have now become dead. I was up last night crying for the disunity between them. I asked God to use me in this situation not from a humanitarian viewpoint, but out of His desire for peace among my family. I don’t know if this is something I might be called to do for the rest of my life, but my heart breaks for my loved ones on God’s behalf. I know great things could be done through my unique and exciting family, on both my mother’s and father’s sides of the family. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get home. I’m going to continue asking the Lord what to do, but something is going to happen. His peace will be experienced.