Availability not Ability

"It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts." - Corrie Ten Boom

Lord, who am I that You would call me to work on the mission field?  I am a single middle-aged woman.  I have no special skills or talents.  I am almost deaf and I'm very tiny in statue.  My social skills are lacking and my personality is not the best.  Surely there are others who are better qualified than me.  "My Child, it is true that there are others more qualified than you, but they are not willing to go.  I called you because I knew you would say yes."

I have been an active participant of a united global prayer movement which is shaking the nations.  Our prayers move God and His response is to send forth the Holy Ghost.  God sends out workers to harvest as a result of our prayers.  Every nation, region, and city needs "sent ones" because the harvest is plentiful and there is a shortage of workers.  Will you join with me in this united global prayer movement by praying for the nation of India?

Warning: when you pray, be ready to be sent out.  In fact God may answer your own prayer by sending you since He is a sending God.  Isaiah responded, "Here am I; Lord send me."  Isaiah became the answer to his own prayer...and so did I.

"Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  Matthew 9:38 

OUCH!!

Okay...so I can scratch the word FUN off the "Fun Things To Do List" for the necessary vaccines for this trip.  Four shots so far and a minimum of three more to go.  OUCH!!  In addition, I will have to take anti-malaria medicine.  I've heard and read horror stories about the side effects.  I'm praying for divine protection from the disease and the medication.

Researching the vaccines made me realize just how fortunate we are in America health-wise.  We are not rampant with diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera, etc.  The majority of the health problems in America are due to poor lifestyle choices.  Much of the food we consume is processed, filled with chemicals and lacks substance.  We don't exercise enough.  We don't get enough rest.  The list goes on.  The Bible advocates living a healthy lifestyle.  God's ways are good.  We experience needless pain and misery because we do not follow God's ways.

Nutrition plays a vital role in keeping our temples consecrated to the Lord.  A few years ago, God started dealing with me about my eating habits and other lifestyle choices.  Many people questioned my changes, "Why are you eating like this?  Why are you exercising?  You don't need to lose weight."  To me, it was not about weight or body image, it was about pleasing God.  Disciplining my body helped me to discipline my mind, which in turn disciplined my spirit.

Often our spiritual diets mirror our physical diets.  What are we consuming spiritually?  Is it processed and watered down or does it contain substance?  Are we more apt to read a book about God's Word rather than read the actual Word of God itself?  Instead, do you want to be Spirit-led?  The more disciplined you are in the ways of God, the more Spirit-led you will be.

If you'd like to learn more about living a healthy lifestyle according to Biblical principles, I highly recommend the book, "Greater Health God's Way" by Stormie Omartian.  This book is written in a conversational style that is non-judgmental and is very easy to follow.

Prayer for Persecuted Church

November 14 is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  I have participated in this event in the past, but with a very casual approach.  Why?  Because I always viewed persecution as something that happens to someone else on the other side of the world.  It did not affect me or my immediate world.  This year's participation will take on a whole new meaning as I prepare for the trip to India.  Until I read the following article, I was completely unaware of persecution in India.  I can not, will not, take a casual approach.  I will pray with fervency and sincerity for my brothers and sisters who are being persecuted.  I wonder...while in India, will I meet any of these brave, precious people who are risking their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  I sincerely hope so.  I pray I will "catch" their spirit of boldness and sacrifice.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - November 14, 2010

Most of us can be grateful that we have never been persecuted for our faith.  Maybe we have been laughed at, ignored or thought to be silly because we believe in God.  But most of us have never been beaten, imprisoned or threatened because we follow Christ.  Did you know in other countries that approximately 160 million Christians today are suffering because of their faith in Jesus?  Join with people all over the world on November 14 to pray for all Christians who are suffering for their faith.  Pray for their persecutors.  Pray that the Gospel will spread rapidly in countries where Christians are oppressed and that ungodly regimes will change as their people are changed by the power of God.

Missionary Stanley Scism on Persecution:
Persecution always goes on in India.  It only reaches Western attention when it gets violent.  But always...

   a.  if a kid comes to Jesus Christ, he/she can be thrown out of the house

   b.  if a teen comes to Jesus Christ, his/her parents can refuse to pay his/her secondary education

   c.  if an employee comes to Jesus Christ, he/she can be fired

   d.  if a family who rent their home comes to Jesus Christ, they can be evicted

   e.  if a wife comes to Jesus Christ, she can be thrown out of the house.

Persecution is happening in India again now.  One of our pastors is arriving late to Bible college because he's being harassed for his evangelism, even though the constitution of India guarantees the rights of citizens to propagate their faith.  Two of our pastors's homes and churches were destroyed by fire.  A church van was burned and 11 people were killed, our pastors and saints have rocks thrown at them, and saints are having to move to refuge camps for safety.  This is going on right now in India