I intend for this blog to be a short update on where I am at, our team change, and what we have been doing here in the Philippines, but first I just want to love on the Lord a little bit. Something that was brought to my attention at our church service this past Sunday as three little girls playfully crawled over my legs and hung from my neck, is how unconditional our Gods love is. It never fails whenever I am down or engulfed in my thoughts that the Lord places little events, such as these three little girls playing, or some other token of his affection expressing his love for me. More than just recognizing God’s love through the things around us, I believe God ordains moments like these resulting in an instant perspective change in our hearts, when just stating truth is not enough. It is a divine experience only explainable for me by the love of our father. It confirms a simple truth we speak of all the time, but cannot truly understand without the experience. God’s love is unconditional, unaltered by actions or performance.
Let’s pretend I swing and miss, as I often do, and there we have it, strike three at bat over. Down swinging…
God says, ” I love you son.”
“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36: 7
Next at bat, it’s a curve ball, “Ball or strike? Ball or strike?” Hesitation takes hold, Strike three inside corner. Down looking… 0 – 2 2K’s
God says, ” Get back up, I love you son.”
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” Proverbs 24: 16
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].” Psalm 91: 14
Third time at the plate, bottom of the ninth, 2 outs, down by 3 runs, 3 balls – 2 strikes, bases loaded… Boom! Good contact, deep drive down third base line, crossing left field towering high over the foul pole… HOME RUN! God Says “I Love you son.” Or is it?!? Foul ball… “I love you son.” Next pitch Strike three… Game Over… 0 – 3 3 k’s.
The Lord says, “Nothings changed… I Love you son.”
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35-40
Beyond our choice of salvation are we responsible for our actions at all? Absolutely, however we are not responsible for making God love us, or for that matter earning it. Instead our pursuit of righteousness and choice of godliness should be the reciprocal effect of this cosmic love made manifest within us. The fact that this love is unconditional, proven to me again and again, compels me to release the unrestrained overload within me back upon others through action. How can anyone truly believe they are unconditionally loved and not be moved to give it back?
So today I sing praises to the God who freely gives an Unequivocal, Unconditional, Unrestrained,
~ Genuine Love ~
As our time here in the Philippines nears its end, this being the last full day, I would like to update you on some of the things that have been going on. We have performed skits or sang a song at each of the church services taking place on Wednesdays and Sundays of each week. During the services and Sunday school we have also spent time with the children playing games and more recently sharing bible stories. Pastor Al revealed to us this morning that the attendance at church has risen from 430 to around 600 people since we have arrived. This past week we had a field day of sorts, where we invited the kids to come and be seperated into teams competing in several fun and sometimes gross games. For example water ballon fighting fun and duck fetus eating gross~ness~. They loved it and we thoroughly enjoyed our time competing alongside and sharing in God’s little ones joy. This community has been wonderful and we are all torn to be leaving so soon. I will thoroughly miss being able to walk outside our home and instantly be greeted by children enthusiastic about an opportunity to play with there newfound friends. We have developed relationships with many families and children in the community and pray continual blessings upon them.
One last update on my support account. As of today I am a little over $4,100 away from being fully funded. My next and final goal is to be fully funded by March 31. I have seen God move in magnificant ways providing for the members of my squad and I know he is always faithful. If you would like to support me financially you can do so by clicking on the Support Me tab on the left toolbar of this page. As always I would love to have your prayers as well.
Thanks for your time and support… Continual blessings,
Dex
