wow so much...not enough time or words... i'm going to theme this one : Restoring the joy of my salvation! and i'm going to start off with an apt piece of literature written by a man who seemed to have a true revelation of the Grace of God: DAVID.
"God, is the One I've violated, He's seen it all, seen the
full extent of my evil. He has all the facts before Him; whatever He decides about me is fair. I've been out of step with Him for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What He's after is truth from the inside out. So Enter me God, then; conceive a new, true life. (Paraphrased psalm 51:4-6 MSG)
And my has He done exactly that! What a promise! Now please understand me correctly, this New life was birthed in me when Jesus saved me at the age of 17. But it has been a wonderfully enlightening journey of The Spirit really leading me through scripture and my life to give me a proper understanding of the full weight and Glory of my salvation.
And since God is the best teacher He then gave me the opportunity to put this into practice, He released me into what i am now 100% sure is a part of my very DNA as a believer... EVANGELISM. Oh the glorious privilege of sharing the most powerful and important message of all, and the overwhelming rejoicing when God does a mighty work in the heart of the person hearing the truth ,in order that they respond! what a miracle. But let's back track a bit, because every story has a context.
Whilst in Fusagasuga working on the New Tribe Mission base doing some physical labour The Lord began a journey that has 3 distinct parts (which will be explained here and in the next 2 blogs) this journey started as we began to make plans to go to Venezuela and it was here that we realised that The Lord was going to detour us for a little while during the political unrest inVenezuela. which meant that the next step was an unknown, so as a white team we started seeking The Lord about new direction and North was what God was saying.
So with aChallenge to get to Bogota the teams were reminded again of trusting God in the small things and just given the opportunity to reflect on all that had been established in the past three weeks. i really was truely blown away at what God had done, the foundation of truth that was laid in those three weeks had begun bearing fruit and my goodness was there a change in individuals in the team. it stirred such an expectation in me for the place that we would go, so in faith we bought bus tickets to santa marta trusting and believing that God would be the one that would go before us. And once again He did.
Through Steve from NTM we came in contact with a church there who linked up with South American Missions. there we met Pastor Julio and the Howards. what incredible people who really have a heart to see people come to Christ, and so with no further a due ,after settling us into our very own apartment building 5 minutes away from the beach, we slotted right into 10 days of set up ministry: EVANGELISM! and my oh my did we see God move mightily through us: we ministered to school kids from grade 0 to 12, at university, in church, in parks and house churches doing dramas, sharing testimonies, singing and preaching and even painting. It truely was amazing and i was blown away once again at how much Jesus really loves people. but also at how much He loves me and is establishing me.
God, you Soaked me in your laundry and I've come out clean, you've scrubbed me and I have come out a snow-white life. You've Tuned me in to foot-tapping songs, You have set these once-broken bones to dancing. You Don't look too close for blemishes,and have given me a clean bill of health. God, you've made a fresh start in me, you shaped a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. You Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. You Brought me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! So Lord Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. you've Commuted my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and now I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. You've Unbuttoned my lips, dear God; and i can't help but let loose with your praise. (Psalm 51:7-15 MSG with lots of paraphrasing)
stay tuned for the next insert...