In His Presence

A fisherman. A boat. And Seven World Racers.  That is how last month began for me.

It was a whirlwind of events starting with an interesting 3 hour boat ride across Lake Malawi (not advised for future World Racers) in a small fishing boat with three African friends who spoke little to no English and entering Mozambique as an illegal immigrant (oops!). Finally, after about a week of traveling, we arrived safely and illegally in Lichinga Mozambique where we were quickly told that we could not leave the city until the Embassy could get our passports legally cleared. Who knew it would take the whole month just to be released from this place?! Apparently, God knew. He is the One who brought us here and held us by His presence. Captivating us by His love all over again.

(Crossing the lake on the Fisherman's boat!!)

(Poor Lo got motion sickness about 20 minutes into the ride)

As soon as we arrived at Iris Ministries we knew that this was going to be a Spirit led month of ministry. To our surprise, however, we were the ones being ministered to. Our contacts, the Wilcox's and the Haynes, made it their mission to pour into us all month. From day one they prayed for us, prophesied over us, taught us, encouraged us, and let us be a part of their lives. They took us into their villages, churches, and prisons allowing us to partner in ministry with them everywhere they went.

(Teaching children in the village church in Lichinga)

(Saturday Fun Day in Muchinga with some of the crew)

(Our night guard found a monkey and is keeping it as a pet! SO CUTE!!)

(You can kind of see the Wilcox's Christmas tree poking out in the back! Love them so much!)

(The youth and young adult worship service at Peniel. So Spirit filled!)

(Saying goodbye to our sweet girls at Lichinga!)

We lived in a small missionary house on the Iris Ministries Campus just outside of town. Our roommate was a missionary doctor who had been in Lichinga already for several months. We had no idea at the time exactly what God had in store for us from this anointed woman of God! Dr. Angela Walker gave up her medicine practice in Europe over six years ago when God called her to the mission field. Expecting to come onto the field as a medical missionary God gave her something bigger. He anointed her to carry the calling of a healing and deliverance ministry; to walk in the authority of Jesus Christ that all believers have. Angela was a great encouragement to us all month as she really ministered to our spirit and taught us more about claiming authority over the enemy. Renouncing evil spirits and things we have picked up from this world and rebuking false beliefs that we have believed throughout our lives.

Let me stop right there. If this is a little too much for you to take in right now, believe me, I understand. But let me remind you of a very important passage that tells us of just how relevant this is to our lives.

This is a battle. If you don't believe it, read this passage one more time. You only wear armor when you are protecting yourself and you only have to protect yourself when you are in danger, as you would be in a battle. We are constantly stuck in this tension of a spiritual battle that our eyes cannot see. God working for us and the enemy working against us. It is a certainly a battle and we often have the choice in our own hands of which side we will take. Free will. Its a tough little thing sometimes. Which will will we choose? Our own or Gods?

The work of the enemy is all around us but at times it can be so subtle you might not even notice. That is why he is called the father of lies. God does not want us to be deceived by the enemy and the ways of this world that can so easily look innocent.

One night as we worshipped I laid down on the floor and began to cry. Why was I crying? I have no clue. But the presence of God seems to do that to me sometimes. For no apparent reason. I just become overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by His love. Overwhelmed by His goodness. Overwhelmed by His grace and mercy and kindness. God is infinitely more than I can handle. And I love it!! I asked for His forgiveness for the times that I wanted to go back home and be comfortable and for the times I missed my friends and family more than I thought I could possibly bear. He spoke sweetly to me and said, "You are home."

Does it get any clearer than that?? Where God goes, I go. Wherever He leads me, I am home. I am always at home in His presence. That is where I belong. I belong in the presence of God because He asks me to join Him. He asks me to put on my armor EVERY DAY and not give the enemy a foothold in my life. To abide in Him and remain in His presence where there is no darkness. Where He delights in me and I in Him. That's where I want to be.