Feels Like a Bullet Train...

Wind swept hair, along with a wind swept spirit... Wow, lots going on. Feels like a bullet/maglev train... Trying to keep up... Pray for us as we are now about to ratchet it up to another level as we enter a wild 2 weeks... breath... breath... breath... Praying for moments of stillness/sanity/God moments...

4 teams in the next 2 weeks...

1. McGregor Baptist work team, along with Dan and Kim, will be building 3 Homes for Haiti in Petit Goave and Mirogoane and doing lots of RMI facility work in Cayes and Zanglais. 
2. Teachers Training Teachers (TTT) will be doing the 3rd and 4th module of seminars for 75 teachers and leaders. 
3. Second Cape will be visiting their Sister Church in Port a Piment. They will be building 1 Homes for Haiti, distributing food, doing an open air evangelism service, meeting with the groups of the church (ladies, children, deacons, men's BBQ), plus other things. Becky's Mom is coming in with this team to stay for a month. 
4. Vision Team - We have 2 families coming in to take a look at what we are doing to investigate how they can get involved financially and practically. 

Additionally, Becky is organizing a retreat at the RMI Retreat Center that falls just after these 2 wild weeks. This retreat is for all missionary ladies here in this area. I can't begin to list the tasks I have on my plate. The RMI team is humming along at full speed. One food container came yesterday. Another coming in a few days. Hot Lunch food deliveries. Next Friday RMI is leading an Awana training event for Awana leaders here in the south. Constant Church visits by our Partnership Facilitators. On and On and On... yeehaw!

Maybe it's corny, but I feel like we are on board this bullet train that God is driving...

 

Life: Wilted or Abundant?

Our time here on earth, no matter your zip code, is about life.  LIFE!  Yet, sometimes we feel rundown... trampled on... wilted...  dry... spent...

Jesus says in the second part of John 10:10.. "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  Jesus was not talking about prosperity and good health.  He was talking about eternally rooted, overflowing and contagious faith, hope, love and joy no matter our current circumstance and context. This is only possible through the Gospel.

If we pursue something other than Christ, (maybe ourselves, maybe a white picket fence/stuff, maybe security, maybe a life of convenience, maybe family/kids, maybe education, maybe success, or maybe even no pursuit at all) we will be robbed of the abundant life that Jesus says can be ours.  Hint, read the first half of John 10:10.  Really, read it.

So, how do we live this abundant LIFE?  Be...

Planted... (Step 1)
Choose wisely about where you will put down your roots.  Are you planted and soaking up God's grace.  You aren't planted if you aren't in constant christian fellowship and if you aren't reading scripture.  Period.  If you aren't planted by streams of living water, you will never grow and bear abundant fruit.  Read Colossians 2:6-7

Growing... (Step 2)
Don't settle for your current existence, knowledge, or level of spiritual maturity.  Make a move. Study for sure, but put yourself in situations where you will be stretched.  Get out of your comfort zone.  Work out.  Do things that you think aren't possible.  Look carefully at your habits and how you are spending your time.  Prune the unhealthy parts of your life.  Don't just sit in the classroom, but get out there and put your knowledge to work and you will grow.

Fruiting... (Step 3)
This comes as you allow God to work in/on you and the Spirit to control you.  If planted well, and growing, you will bear abundant fruit. Your faith will mature.  Your hope will grow.  Your joy will explode.  Your life will be characterized by Gal. 5:22-23.  Are you bearing these fruit?  If you are not bearing fruit, and realizing the abundant life, go back to Step 1.

I am back on Step 1 myself right now.

I have quoted it so many times to myself and to others that I cannot count... "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1