Wednesday, 06 May 2009

• "Who has delivered...and does deliver...will yet deliver..."

  I hate amusement parks. I have always hated rides of all sorts, including the tamer ones such as merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels. My worst feared ride is roller coasters. Ironic then, that my life of late seems to be taking me on a ride that is full of more ups and downs than the dreaded "thrill-ride" I fear! Sometimes in facing life and the situations that I am handed I feel like echoing my younger brother when he saw a movie in an IMAX theater for the first time and had the feeling that his seat was moving..."I DON'T WANNA GO THERE!!" =) But life is still coming at me, and I'm rushing full speed ahead into it, and there's nothing whatsoever I can do to stop it...so all I can do is hang on for dear life and enjoy the ride. I think the "hanging on" is where trust and faith come in...in this adventerous thrill-ride of life we're on, sometimes we can see no end, have no control, give no answers...and yet we hold on to what we know...the Truths that fill our hearts, the promises that He gives, and the assurance that He is Master of the controls. He knows best when to stop, when to take us up to the heights, and when it is time to come down...and His will is always best for us. And whenever we have the chance to look back to where we came from, we can see that always, He was there delivering us...how can we doubt that He is with us in the present doing the same? Or that He will be with us in the future with deliverance for every up and down we face...??

  All this said, I want to share a few prayer requests with you, my dear family and friends since it seems to have been a while since I have done so. I am aware that in spite of all my good intentions, still I have been terribly remiss in keeping you updated this year and I apologize for that. Thanks to those of you who, even with the sad lack of info I have given you, have continued to uphold me, my students, and friends up before God's throne in prayer. I am convinced that many times it is JUST THAT which gets my team and I through.

  Without any more ado -

  *Tomorrow is the annual local festival in honor of the village god's birthday. There will be a huge parade with almost everyone we know from our town involved. It is so easy to get caught up in the bright trimmings and festive atmosphere and see it as just an awesome culture experience. However there are always those scenes that are burned into memory and remain there throughout the following days and months and haunt my thoughts and prayer times...images of oodles of older people (and some not so old) following the parade with incense sticks, bowing and scraping to the idols carried by in litters...of the people of Kinmen, faces I have come to know and love, so intent on carrying out their particular duty, whatever it may be...of men and boys painted feircely with face and body paints, moving in slow procession, unaware of their own actions and movements as they allow themselves to become possesed by whatever spirits it is they are worshipping; often with backs, cheeks, or arms bloodied or peirced through with skewers...
  Also we have noticed that around this time of year our team/Christians on the island often face more spiritual warfare and oppression than usual. Please pray that God's LIGHT, His WORD, His NAME and His GLORY will be lifted high in Kinmen, even through this time - and that as we are able to go and watch, or stay in our respective locations and pray for those involved,  we will be messengers of His Truth.

  *This weekend my team and I will be singing in a concert in honor of Mother's Day. We are planning to sing to songs, one in Chinese and one in English. Lucas will accompany us on the piano. Pray that those of us who have no voices will recover in time, and that the rest of us will stay healthy so we can sing for God's glory.

  *On top of our regular teaching schedule, our weekends are pretty full up until we leave for summer camps in Taiwan in early July. Pray for God's blessing on our various activites...BBQ with friends, Taiwan TESOL teachers and TAs visiting, singing in the nursing home, cooking/leading worship for youth group, etc.

  *Our team will be taking a trip to Hualien at the end of this month. Pray for safety in our travels, and also for a special team time before the Kinmen team 2008-2009 splits up and and some of us go on to the next step in our lives.

  *Speaking of the next step, MANY of us are seeking God's will and making decisions about our summer activities, including trips into China working with orphans, going to Russia, going to Romania, etc. Please pray for God direction and guidance in deciding, and in working out the details. Also for peace, and for His strength and grace as we follow Him.

  *On a more personal note, I have seen God working in amazing ways in some dear students and friends recently. I thank you for your prayers, and praise Him for bringing Big John (Chen wei han) to a realization of his need for a Savior. John is now my brother in Christ and will be baptized when our church next has a baptismal service. Pray for his family, and for him to be a witness to them.

  *I have another 14 year old friend named Easy (Shu zhi chao) who needs love and attention almost more than any other kid I have ever known. He comes from a pretty much dis-functional home, and was sent to Kinmen for a change of environment and a fresh start in studying. Until recently we have seen little improvement in his grades, or attitudes...but in response, we believe, to serious, concentrated prayers on his behalf, we have seen some significant changes in the past week or so. Please pray that God will work a change in this hungry little boy from the inside out, and that he will see his worth in God's eyes, and his need for Jesus power to improve his life and attitudes.

  I do hope to find the time again soon to update you all on what God has done in answer to these prayers! He is a FAITHFUL God! How thankful I am for His UNFAILING love and ENDLESS grace!! I just want to raise my "Ebenezer" right now and say, "This far, the Lord has helped me!" I know that the same grace that has brought me safely to this day will be enough to take me through until the end...and at the end of the ride, what a THRILL it will be to stand before my Lord and see Him face to face!!!

  Living for the thrill of that moment...

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