One of my favorite authors is Oswald Chambers. Probably his most familiar book is a collection from other teachings of his, compiled into a devotional book - "Utmost for His Highest". This particular thought challenged me as Nancy and I were preparing to come to GUA. Now three years later, I understand it even more. Whether you are going to another country to serve or you are continuing to serve where you are, may you be challenged to redirect how you function as well. ____________________________________________________
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet.
- John 13:14.
Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means being very selectly God’s in any haphazard surroundings which He engineers for us. The characteristics we manifest in our immediate surroundings are indications of what we will be like in other surroundings.The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God’s power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary sordid things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the simplest duty as it ought to be done.“I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Watch the kind of people God brings around you, and you will be humiliated to find that this is His way of revealing to you the kind of person you have been to Him. Now, He says, exhibit to that one exactly what I have shown to you.‘Oh,’ you say, ‘I will do all that when I get out into the foreign field.’ To talk in this way is like trying to produce the munitions of war in the trenches—you will be killed while you are doing it.We have to go the ‘second mile’ with God. Some of us get played out in the first ten yards, because God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say—‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.
This past week we were blessed once again to have Calvary Baptist of Winter Haven with us. The support from this church has been amazing. The team this week came and rocked. Most of their activities included attending services with us on Sunday, house building 101, children outreaches, holding babies, teeing things from a new perspective - the works. If a picture is worth a thousand words here are about 6,000 of them.
Growing up in Florida, grand sunsets were are part of life. Since coming to Antigua, grand vistas of many sorts are somewhat common, but not as often are grand sunsets. This one was certainly the exception. This photo was taken while standing in the courtyard of our sanctuary.
Saturday night Nancy and I, attended the official swearing in of myself and Florida Baptist Children Home's VP of International Childcare,Ron Gunter. This event was in an obscure Chinese Restaurant in Guatemala City. In addition to the Guatemalan Marimba Music playing in the background along with Michael Jackson's - Beat It. Officially we are now members of the International Lion's Club.
Left to Right - Ron Gunter/Florida Baptist Children's Home - Marco Livio Diaz Reyes/President of the Lions Club International, GUA - Myself
Working to expose the locals to a taste of American July 4th celebrations, there were hot-dogs and pizza for everyone. Of course the accent for the dogs was a local delicacy - "Pico de Gallo". A really good salza.
What a great day! Watching and listening to the officers laughing and having fun. Having an opportunity to share the Word. Thanks to PCC-Largo for your help in adding to something good.
