Well, I'm a little late in blogging lately. I am recording this entry from Mexico, as Maggie and I are away for rest, time with the Lord, and with each other.
Ministry has a tendency to draw you into a place of 'performance'...a place of busyness and thinking that you must constantly be 'doing' in order to fulfill God's call. This is a trap of the enemy. God is reminding me once again in that in His eyes, 'doing' is trumped by 'being'. It is only when we learn to to abide in Him and and draw strength from His Grace, that we are able to do the works of God. He is far more concerned with who we are than what we do. Doing is important, but not at the expense of being.
The ocean here in Mexico is a place where I can remove myself from all distractions and rest from worry and strain. The sound of the waves reminds me of God's voice, described in Revelation as 'the sound of many waters'. He restores my soul.
Yesterday morning we went to church at Family of God fellowship, the ministry with whom we partner in missions and outreach here. The service was great, with praise and worship in both
Spanish and English.
During the service we heard the report of a man and his wife whom the church has recently helped. They were discovered living at the very end of the 'the shacks' which run alongside the railroad near the church. It is one of the poorest areas of Puerto Penasco, and relief is frequently carried to the locals living in these shanties. But somehow this couple had gone unnoticed, living in an 8 foot square box at the end of this strip of dwellings. They were sleeping on a concrete floor with nothing to cover themselves but a sheet and were in desparate condition. In addition they were both deaf and mute and needed medical attention. And of course, they had no food.
Within practically no time, this couple has been rescued. They now have a 13 X 20 foot new shelter, bedding and clothing and food. And there will be follow up, both spiritual and physical.
Somehow the image of "lighthouse" and "desert" do not go together in our minds. Of course the first time I ever came to Penasco, I was amazed to see desert and ocean together. It is a place of unique beauty. But far more beautiful than the desert and the ocean is the work of the Lord that is taking place here. The ministry of Family of God fellowship, and those who partner with them, is truly a lighthouse here in the desert, turning hearts toward the Lord.
This is the work of redemption. Our lives were destitute of anything good until we were touched by the Spirit of God. We may have been living in the relative luxury of America, but the Lord saw us as impoverished, spiritually bankrupt and dead in trespasses and sins. But Praise the Lord for His free gift of grace. His Word is a lighthouse in a dry desert land, and the work of Redemption draws us from darkness into the light of His love.
Through many years of following the Lord, sometimes we think we've developed some worthiness of our own. Since we are 'cleaned up' and living a good life, and serving God, without realizing it we begin to walk in our own strength and reasoning and forget that the life of faith demands that we always remember that we are impoverished and spiritually bankrupt. Only in recognizing our own spiritual poverty are we able to receive the power and provision that God has for us so that we may live an abundant life.
We are the couple living at the end of the shanty houses. And as long as we recognize our own poverty, the Lord takes note of us and brings us daily the provisions we need. But if we ever think that somehow we have done something to deserve our improved life, we forfeit the abundance He has for us. He will always let us provide what we think we can do in our own strength, but in so doing He allows us to forfeit what He has desired for us.
May the Lord bring us to the place where all we want is what He has and what He can provide.
Therein lies the perfect will of God.
