The Christmas parties for the kids have finished, most of Africa is pretty much shut down til January and its almost time for a birthday party for Jesus. Just reflecting on what a great gift He has been in my life, and anyone else who has made Jesus the Lord of their life. I dare say….He is far and away The Greatest Gift.

When Jesus made his appearance in our world, it wasn’t with a lot of fanfare and with extravagant celebration. He CHOSE to be born in Bethlehem, a city that surely wasn’t a vacation hotspot of the day, in a barn that was full of animals, hay, a few rats and poop, and in a manger…..a feeding trough.

If this is where the Creator of the universe chose to be born, if this is where God showed up on Earth…what is He saying to us?

I think Jesus was saying, “I’m a real person and I’m here to relate with real people, to meet them right where they are, in the dirty places, where there’s animals, rats and poop. Even if it smells bad, I don’t need a red carpet rolled out for me, cuz YOU can be real when you come to me….just as you are”

So many times we think I need to get myself straightened out, then I’ll go to church.  I’m here to tell you…NOT SO!!!!  Its just the opposite, Jesus loves a mess….and He loves cleaning up a mess. He already knows that we smell bad, that we are in a rough place and maybe have made a mess of our life Jesus always seemed to be in hot water with the “religious” folks of the day for hanging out with all those sinners. I for one am so glad Jesus decided to hang out with me and my mess.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!!!!

It’s a great time for that end of year tax deduction, AND you can be a part of transforming lives in Africa. If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

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Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

Luke 22:39-44

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  

NIV

 How many of us are “waiting” on our breakthrough, on a new season in life, on our husband or wife we desire, on a breakthrough in our finances, our family, our marriage.  The list goes on and on. I find it interesting in the passage above that even Jesus had to seek his father, saying ”not my will, but yours be done”.  What does that say?   When Jesus took on a human form…he had a will….and that will was at odds with the will of God.  He HAD to pray….he had to sweat it out…til he got to the place of perfect peace.  That why WE have to struggle sometimes too.  We get mad at God, thinking He is holding out on us, in reality He is waiting on us.

Sometimes we have to “sweat it out”   Even Jesus had to…he said…if there is another way…..NEVERTHELESS….not MY will….

  We should be seeking to lives in the will of God….many times we want God to be in OUR will, we make a plan and then ask God to bless it.  

Its in the will of God that we have….security, where we are upheld, enemies are defeated, and where we find peace and protection.

 Everything God has for you is in His will….we need to be passionate about being in Gods will…..and sometimes to get there, we have to “sweat it out”.  

If you would like to help the children of Zimbabwe, you can make a tax deductible contribution in the following ways:  

Online Donations for my account -
        www.WorldOutreach.org
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Or Mail Checks to -
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Or  simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this post.   

 THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE, PRAYERS, AND  SUPPORT.  

Lots of what ends up here are things that God has given me to speak about here in Zimbabwe on the weekends, so why should this one be any different? Here’s some thoughts from last weeks message….EXCITED ABOUT JESUS

 It’s been said that “the longer someone is part of a church, the less excited they are about Jesus”. Sad but true statement in many churches. This is what can happen when we just “go thru the motions” with no real zeal or passion, not only for what for what God has done in our lives but even more importantly…what He is doing today….and what has He promised for tomorrow. Here’s what I think is one of the benefits to getting excited about Jesus. Once WE get excited…..

 I believe God wants to release something on the other side of our excitement.

What did Jesus have to say about this??

In Luke, chapter 19, Jesus is entering Jerusalem,  it’s the day we have come to call Palm Sunday. Everyone is praising Him, they are EXCITED about Jesus!!!  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”    What’s his answer? 

v40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out .”

God WILL find someone to praise Him….. He will replace you with a rock!!!!! 

Not all moments are created equal, sometimes if we don’t move with EXCITEMENT when he says to…we can miss an opportunity, our life can be forever altered. My move to Africa was not one of those “equal opportunity” moments.  My life is DIFFERENT because I moved with excitement.  I know I have missed opportunities because I wasn’t excited about what God was doing…I think we all have. Here’s some thoughts to ponder.

God became a man
To show us how to love….I’m excited about Jesus

 Through Him
Relationship restored….I’m excited about Jesus

 He helps me
Get past my past…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Pressing on
To the glory that’s next…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Serving through loving
Loving through serving…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Loving us all
Right where we are…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Helping me be
Who He created me to be…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Dispelling the myths
Clarifying the truth…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Opening our eyes
To what love truly is…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Anyone can be a part
Of what is to come…..I’m excited about Jesus

 Open your heart
To who He is…..You’ll be excited about Jesus

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

www.WorldOutreach.org
        Click Donate & select my name

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Or Mail Checks to -
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        (designate for Pier, Fund Code #68)

Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

Ex 4:2-3

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

NIV

This rod was nothing special of itself, it was just a rod (a stick).  What did God ask him, and more importantly, why did he ask him?

This was God…He already knew…how many know God already knows the answer!!!  AND…if He’s asking…there’s a real good reason….there’s a lesson He has for us.

What was significant about this stick was: It was what Moses had.

Note: God did not ask Moses what he didn’t have.
We could all make a long list if what we don’t have.
*We don’t have enough money
*We don’t have a good education
*We don’t have a high social standing
The list can go on and on
But God never directs our attention to what we don’t have, but to what we do have even though it seems small.

Even though what we have seems, small, weak and insignificant, this is on purpose, because God has designed it so that what we have must be connected to him to work.

The difference is the power of God.
It is not your ability, your knowledge, your talent, or the size of your gift or the beauty of your gift that matters

All that matters is: How much of God is in your stick?

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

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Or Mail Checks to -
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Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

OK  So I’m still stuck on Elijah and the ravens at the Kerith Ravine. 

1 Kings 17:2-11

2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”

 Elijah may not have wanted to go “there” .  I mean, the ravens can come and feed me anywhere can’t they God? I’d rather go to beach, or elsewhere.  BUT….THERE is where God’s provision was!!

5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Its important to understand……Our growth is related to the PLACE we are in and where we are placed.

Paul says it again in 1 Corinthians

1 Cor 7:17-24

17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.

Many times we see people  getting saved and trying to tidy up…clean up your life for God, many times driven by guilt.  Thinking I need to “fix” my circumstances to get to a place where God can “use” me better…….NOT REALIZING its better to stay in the place God found you….maybe just maybe (and very likely) He has a job for you there.

Placement is vital to growth!!!!   God has always done it that way. He has been matching people to places since the beginning. He placed Adam in the garden didn’t he?  But He did not create him there.

He was created in the wilderness but God didn’t leave him there.  He may not leave you in the same place…God knows the perfect place for you to flourish in the gifts and potential he has put in you…He MADE you!!!!

God PUT Adam in a place where he could feed him nurture him, look after him.  Place and growth go TOGETHER.  Are you in your place called THERE?

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

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Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

Rom 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

How much more proof do we need?  For me Romans 5:8 is the ultimate proof. There’s a lie that says we can never be forgiven, maybe God forgives others but my mistakes, my messes are just way too big. My Bible says ALL of my sins are forgiven and forgotten, as far as the East is from the West.  God truly does forget them, why can’t we?

We carry out Bible in one hand and a big rock in the other hand, that’s the load of guilt we can carry around with us. We say, “I would love to help you but I got this thing in my hand I gotta carry around. Whats the truth about that rock you are carrying??  It was crushed at Calvary a long time ago. Keep believing, keep standing in faith that God is on your side. We are always looking for answers, He is looking for intimacy. Get the intimacy first and hear that still small voice say “you are forgiven, I love you”

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

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Or Mail Checks to -
        World Outreach Ministries
        P.O. Box B
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        (designate for Pier, Fund Code #68)

Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

1 Kings 17:2-16

2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook , and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”

5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook .

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread — only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it — and die.”

Has your brook dried up?  Elijahs did. God fed him supernaturally when there was a famine in the land.  How about that….God bringing you breakfast!!!  I often wonder if Elijah washed off the raven spit before he ate? Then….the brook dried up. God sends him to a poor, suicidal and probably neurotic widow to take care of him.  Hardly seems like a step up.

When our brook dries up, many times that’s a signal its time for a change. The “C” word that many of us just don’t like. Lets face it, change can be uncomfortable and sometimes scary. Change may take some time to get used to. It may seem like a step downward instead of a step up. Fact is…all God wants is our obedience. Here’s the best part, water WILL flow again. Make the change, get used to the change no matter how uncomfortable it becomes.  Ask God what needs to change and don’t be surprised if  He says the change needed is in YOU!!! 

 Read on….He always provides.

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’”

 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

www.WorldOutreach.org
        Click Donate & select my name

        USA & International Cards accepted

Or Mail Checks to -
        World Outreach Ministries
        P.O. Box B
        Marietta, GA  30061
        (designate for Pier, Fund Code #68)

Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

Zimbabwe had the pleasure of hosting  a Joyce Meyer Medical team this week in Esibomvu and Bulawayo. This incredible group brought the healing hands of Jesus to thousands of folks who have little and no access to medical attention in their villages. Jesus showed He is still in the healing business as we were  privileged to see lives changed by His healing power. Many many more were transformed by His saving grace as they accepted Him as their loving Saviour and Lord. Thanks so much to all who were willing to give of their time, talent and treasure to show the love of Christ to these precious people.

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

www.WorldOutreach.org
        Click Donate & select my name

        USA & International Cards accepted

Or Mail Checks to -
        World Outreach Ministries
        P.O. Box B
        Marietta, GA  30061
        (designate for Pier, Fund Code #68)

 Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.

Here’s a few pics of my little friends from Isaiahs Home of Love, a childrens home here in Bulawayo that we are able to partner with in a small way to help the kids.  Most of these children are abandoned on doorsteps or in the bush and many are also physically abused. Isaiahs has a wonderful staff of ladies that provide round the clock care for these precious children.  We have a couple of ladies here from Household of Faith church in Louisiana and we were able to spend the day with the babies. Ashley and Nicole were no different than anyone who visits Isaiahs, they wanted to take them all home!!!

If you would like to partner with me in Africa:

www.WorldOutreach.org
        Click Donate & select my name

        USA & International Cards accepted

Or Mail Checks to -
        World Outreach Ministries
        P.O. Box B
        Marietta, GA  30061
        (designate for Pier, Fund Code #68)

 Or you may simply click on “Partner With Me” at the top of this page.