Skip to main content

home from #Nicaragua14


This past week I was in Nicaragua serving with a team from our church: Tina and Steve Stone, Jeannie and George Hopkins, Betsy and Moriah Hodges, China Biggs, Carolyn Holland, Megan Hines, Tracy Mosley, Kim Key and myself.  God put together a great team that worked hard together, served many people and meshed together real well.  On social media we tagged this mission trip #Nicaragau14. 

The days would start out with team devotions and going to the local radio station to share our testimonies and for me to preach.  Each morning we would travel to a school near Somitillo, Nicaragua and serve the children at that school.  It would include making balloon animals, putting together wooden toys, playing games, singing songs, sharing Bible stories and such.  In the afternoons we would travel to a village and along the way we would be able to bless locals with candy and gifts from the back of the truck we road in.  At the villages we would help make a stew that would feed between 200 and 300 people.  There would be more balloon animals, kids games, stories, painting fingers and toenails, fixing hair and even sharing some ice cream. 

At both the schools and the villages there were lots of kids and people to minister to, and what I felt like we did best was to share God’s love and remind people that God hasn’t forgotten them.  No, we couldn’t speak their language, but through our interpreters and acts of love people heard and felt the reality of our God.  This was a great trip.

One morning we visited a special needs school.  It was incredible.  One particular little girl had downs syndrome and took to me.  I believe her name was Alexis, and she wouldn’t stop patting my stomach or poking me in my side.  At another school I met a boy about my son’s age, and his name was Andrew.  Neither of the children could speak English, and I couldn’t speak Spanish.  But we connected, and I continued to pray that God would let them know how special they are to Him.  He has not forgotten them, and God loves them so much.

Sunday morning after returning from our mission trip I began preaching a new series at The Community Fellowship called “Every 1 Matters”.  You see it is our belief that God loves people more than anything, and that our gracious and great God hasn’t forgotten anyone.  He is ready and willing to rescue people who call out to them, and God will also use us to rescue people in His name.

Are you in need of being rescued?  Do you think that everyone, including God, has forgotten you and that you are alone?  Do you know someone that needs rescuing?

May God use you and me to pass this message on to others … God hasn’t forgotten you and has a sweet plan for your life.  Believe it.  It is true.

Psalm 12:5  NLT
The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.

That is the character and grace of God.  He rescued us from death through giving us His son who died on the cross for our sins.  He has continued to rescue me through the years in all kinds of situations.  May this week we experience the fact that God hasn’t forgotten us and others!

for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....