MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Life in Lebanon
As I was sitting at a coffee shop waiting for our ride to Tyre, I began to read my Bible. I have been learning some incredible lessons and have seen God do so much through me this month. I have had the privilege of speaking in three services simply with the goal of sharing the gospel.
This morning in the coffee shop, I was lead to Matthew 8:5-13. This happens right after the sermon on the mount- which is probably the most famous sermon ever preached.
In this story, a shoulder comes to Jesus and pleads with him to heal his young servant because he is penalized and in terrible pain. I literally see the situation as impossible and hopeless. There is nothing anyone can do to the penalized man.
Jesus’ response is simple, “I will come and heal him.”
Could an impossible situation be so simple as Jesus saying “I’ll fix it?” What amazes me even more is the response of the soldier.
The soldier then says, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home…”
Talk about humility! He understands that he can’t do anything, but Jesus can do everything.
The soldier recognizes the authority of Jesus right away simply by saying, “Lord”. And then he expounds on the authority simply by using the example of his servants coming and going. He put his earthly authority under Jesus’ authority because he recognized JESUS can do the impossible.
Jesus goes on to say, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!…Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.”
See here is what God revealed to me the most in this passage.
COME. PLEA. HUMBLE. BELIVE.
COME. In the seasons of life that seam impossible and hopeless. We need to first COME to Jesus. He is the starting place. We can try to do everything on our own, but its not going to change this situation. Coming to Jesus is the only way to make the impossible, possible.
PLEA. Cry out to him. Pour out the hurt and desires of your heart to the one who can change the situation. Understanding that God is in control and even if situations don’t change immediately, know that HE is still good and has a plan and purpose.
HUMBLE. Understand the authority HE has and that there is nothing we as people can do to change any situation. We are not even worthy for HIM to come into our home. He is the one that moves and works, on our own we can do nothing (John 15:5).
BELIEVE. Have the faith that HE is good and has a plan. Believe in the promises of God and that HE can and will change the impossible situation. He desires our belief, as it says in John 16:9, “the world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” By believing we are rejecting the sin and accepting the giver of life!
What impossible situations could possibly come up that God can not change? Its time to COME, PLEAD, HUMBLE, and BELIVE that JESUS is who HE says HE is.
UPDATE
We have been in Lebanon for the last 4 weeks and we have only a couple of days left. We have been working with a host this month through an organization called Horizons International. There is services almost daily, which we have had the privilege of being involved with.
While we have been here, we have been given the freedom to share the good news as much as we have felt led. We have gone out a couple of times to pray for people on the streets and connect them to Horizons or other local churches.
We had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Tyre- a city in south Lebanon where Jesus cast out a demon from a girl (Matthew 15:21-28). I had the privilege of preaching twice in Tyre and being involved with the day to day ministry. It is amazing because there could be a room full of 100+ muslims and they continue to come back week after week, yet they have not decided to follow Jesus yet. The woman I got to pray for said she has been coming for the last 2 years, yet isn’t ready to make a decision to follow Jesus.
The last 10 days have been given to us to go where we have felt lead. We got back to Beirut and I have felt so strongly to go back to Tyre. So, my teammate Hakeem and I decided to head there for 5 more days before spending Christmas with our team in Beirut. We are headed out of Lebanon on December 28.
We also had the opportunity to pack over 500+ gifts for the kids in Tyre. It was amazing to see them all packed in the room waiting for the gift. Each gift included a toy, some candy, and an Arabic Bible! I was blessed to see the joy of Christmas for these kids!
For Christmas, my team and I went over to our hosts house and had a brunch. There was a little white elephant gift exchange and couple games of Mafia-card game. I talked to my family a little bit and then played some basketball with some guys we met. It was a good Christmas, but completely unlike the ones I have grown up with.
I am almost halfway through the race now, 6 months to go! I see how God has stripped me down to the foundation, and now I believe HE is building me back up. I am excited to see what HE does these next 6 months. Knowing that HE is the one who is making the impossible, possible!
Please continue to pray for:
My team. Team dynamics. Team comradely and connection.
2. Lebanon. The people of Lebanon as many are on the verge of accepting Jesus and being transformed. No one can come to the Father draws them.
3. More workers in to the fields here in Lebanon. There is classrooms filled with 5-+ kids, yet nothing can be communicated because everyone is talking over each other.
4. My calling and for clarity as I continue the rest of the race.
5. Safety as we head to Israel for a week over the new year. Also, for all of us to enter and exit the country smoothly. There is lots of security and we have to be on the same page.
Answers to Prayer
Prayer#1: I just sent in a proposal to go to Egypt. I am praying this goes through as God has been opening doors to continue to coach soccer and potentially build a soccer field in one of the poorest areas of Egypt. Pray that the doors continue to open, that it would be a green light to go, and that all the details would work out.
Answer #1: We are still waiting for confirmation that this is happening. I have been praying every day for Egypt and would love connoted prayers for this!
Prayer #2: Team changes are coming up. We have been with the same team for 4 months now and I have gotten to know these people very well. Now we will be switching teams in order to go to Lebanon and Jordan. I currently do not know my team yet.
Answer #2: The team has been set and I have been working with my new team for the last month. At first it was a little difficult, yet I believe God has allowed us to come together well. Plus I have enjoyed spending more time with the guys on my team.
Prayer #3: Leadership changes. Our alumni squad leaders and team leaders are headed home next month, so this month is a time to train the new leaders. I do not know If I will be chosen even though I would love the opportunity. However, pray that God would raise up the right people and that our squad would respond with love and unity.
Answer #3: Our squad leaders have been chosen and our alumni leaders have returned home. I was not selected for leadership, but we have three awesome new squad leaders who will be sacrificing for us in order to help us minister to the people of the countries. Thanks for the prayers cause there was some anxiety there.
Prayer #4: Pray with me for the country of Cyprus. This country is acting as a doorway to the unreached. It is pretty much the smallest country, yet it may have one of the biggest impacts for the Kingdom and the unreached peoples of the world. Pray that God would use this island for his glory and that the many more could come to know him here.
Answer #4:Only God knows the answer to this question, but I want to say thank you for praying. I know that God moves on behalf of His people when they cry out to Him. So please continue to pray!
