January 8, 2017

As I (Joseph) write this I am on a plane heading to Guatemala and listening to the Mercy Me album "Undone".  The song "Keep Singing" speaks to how I feel during this season of our life. As our hearts are torn between two places, we do not know what else to do but to keep looking up. To keep aiming and praising His name. As a family we are drawing closer to our Heavenly Father for comfort and peace. Our home is not on this earth. Our home is truly where the Lord is. In a sense I feel that moving to Guatemala will be climbing into His lap, completely trusting that He alone is our safe place, our shield. (Gen 15:1)

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: 

'Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.'"

Genesis 15:1 NIV84

This trip has started out with many obstacles. Due to extreme winter weather conditions our team of 10 from Faith Baptist Church is stuck in a hotel near the Raleigh airport. We have a saying throughout Good News In Action Ministries, "¡Bienvenido a misiones!" It means, "welcome to missions!" where nothing goes as you intend it but God is in control. I was able to fly out because I was booked separately as I plan to stay an additional week to try out a language school and network with area missionaries.

I am reading through the book of Romans and I stumbled on this passage:

“The Scripture says, “Anyone who asks the Lord for help will be saved.”

But before people can trust in the Lord for help, they must believe in Him.

And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about Him.

And for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.

And before someone can go and tell them, he must be sent.

It is written, “How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news.”

So faith comes from hearing the Good News.

And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.”

Romans 10:13-15, 17 ICB

What a great reminder of why we tell people about Jesus. If we are not obedient to make disciples by proclaiming it, then how will people hear? If we are not obedient goers then, how will they ever be persuaded to follow Jesus? For me and my house, our current mission is Spencer's Gate (our neighborhood), my work place and Guatemala. What is your "assignment"? Where has God called you to proclaim the gospel? The question is not, "has He called you?" The real question is, "where?"