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Jan 11th
4 weeks ago a couple of the guys and I were able to lead a men’s bible study at Ciudad Refuge. The bible study we meditated on Proverbs 10 for the 10th day of the month. That day we got to hear from the men in the men’s program here at the Ciudad Refuge. These men were once in gangs, homeless, addicted to drugs, and overall lost. Today they got to open up to what the Lord was teaching them and how the Lord had shown them their life before was filled with so much misdirection and pain. They rejoiced and praised the Lord for his direction and provision! They have incredible testimonies each one of them, and I learned so much from their stories. Through sharing brief parts of their testimony, all pointed back to one word. That word was deliverance!
BOLDNESS
Jan 13th
I wrote in week two that I wanted to grow in boldness and for the obedience to speak regardless of what my head says or what I think people are saying about me. I wanted to walk in truth and in dependence on the Holy Spirit to flow and speak through me. All the time the enemy tells me that say I am not worthy enough to speak truth to people. He wants me to believe that I can’t speak truth to people. When talking that I will fail at communicating a clear. All of which places me into a state of fear to speak. As I was spending time with the Lord, I flipped open my bible on top of the roof. And the passage I open up to was the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Now I have read this story many times but this time was different. I knew the Lord had been calling me to speak, but I chose to step away out of fear. This morning on January 10th, I wrote in my journal what it was going to take to have the boldness like David. Below are the things I wrote down.
1. GO! Matthew 28:19-20
2. Die to Self
3. Sharing Daily (Vulnerability)
4. Surrender to being comfortable
5. Find my purpose through revelation and not speculation.
6. Evangelize
7. Wake up every day giving the Lord thanks.
8. Speak out against hate, discouragement, and darkness.
9. Preaching every week.
10. Ask for feedback daily from my team. (Blind Spots)
The next week, they announced that they needed someone to give a sermon and a testimony for the homeless service. Throughout the week of January 13th, I had 5-6 different people randomly tell me that I should preach on Saturday. During breakfast on January 19th, as a squad, we had to decide who was going to be speaking that night. I felt my heart racing, and I knew that the Lord wanted me to speak. I then spoke up and said, “I will speak.” It’s crazy because I feel as though the 5-6 people throughout the week planted a seed in me to speak.
SPEAK
Jan 19th
On that Saturday, I began to write my first sermon. While I was with the Lord, I continued to ask him what he wants me to preach. What does he want me to say to his children? As the day went on, I became flustered on how to organize my sermon. I felt like I was all over the place and the spirit of defeat. I was starting saying to myself, “I don’t think I am capable of doing this Lord. I can’t write a clear sermon let alone speak.”
I then flip open to Jeremiah 1:6-7, and when I read it spoke to me at this moment. I made the connection that I was Jeremiah at this moment. I then continued to understand what the Lord says in Jeremiah 1:9-10. He said he would put words in his mouth. I knew the Lord guided my way there to show me that he would put the words in my mouth also, for me to have peace in knowing that he would speak through me and that he was there with me. He was going to protect me and guide me through step by step. I then had so much faith and began to finish my sermon. Below is my first sermon I preached. Check it out!
It’s cool how the Lord guides our footsteps and confirms his plan. After my sermon, I felt in my spirit to do an altar call. And 5-6 men came up to receive salvation. I then prayed for their deliverance. It was cool! After reflection, I noticed that for every one person that told me to preach that week, a person came to know Christ for the first time that night. The Lord works in mysterious ways y’all. It just goes to show that the Lord knows what he is doing even when we can’t see how he could use us sometimes.
I am so thankful for being able to see the beauty of Christ daily. My squamates love each other so well! The love shown from our ministry partners at Ciudad Refuge with the city of Medellin shows the heart of Christ. The Lord’s perfect love shows through actions and facial expressions through the people here in Colombia. I know the Lord love casts out all fear. I am abiding in his perfect love this month. So that though abiding in this perfect love I will cling to his strength and continually walk in love and not in fear.
The Lord has given me amazing opportunities to walk in his love with different ministries. From the homeless to loving on kids and going door to door sharing the love of Christ by inviting people in the community to the events/services offered here at Refugio!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 52:7
