This month our team, C3, is with another team, Radiance! It has been such a blast so far to get to know these ladies better. We are serving with Center for Africa Missions where we live with our host family. We are in Keta, Ghana and stay about a 15 minute walk from the beach.
We started off ministry along with three individuals from a partner church in CA. Our teams traveled to local schools around the area to share the love of Jesus with students. Wednesday through Friday night of week one, Center for Africa Missions put on a three day crusade. Each night we went to the beach for the event, and pastors and people around Keta came to join together and celebrate Jesus. They have done this event the last few years, and it was so encouraging to see the organizations and churches that come together in unity to proclaim Jesus the Lord of this land.
As we enter this new month, new ministry, and new normals, I am reminded that God is constant. He never leaves us. He is full of promises, and He keeps them. This month He has been reminding me of how He wants me to be filled with gratitude and generosity – with what He has entrusted me with, with my team, with my host and community. To be grateful for who He is and the ways He continues to move. To be generous with what He has entrusted me with- time, materials, space, gifts, and His truth. I can be grateful for the big things and the little things.
This month I’m grateful for welcoming and caring hosts, for being a walk to the beach, for the way I can feel and see God in the breeze and the ocean, for spaghetti nights, for time to rest and spend time in God’s word, for space to read for rest, for quality time with my team and another team, for fans in our room at night, for bags of water we drink from, for community prayer and individual prayers- communication with our Father, for children and laughter, and so much more.
He is continuing to show me how He speaks to us personally. Week 2, our team was asked for someone to preach at an evening church service. Throughout that day, I felt the Lord bringing a possible sermon to mind as He reminded more of truths of who He is. When it came time to pray as a team, I felt the Lord prompting me to preach that night. Through time at the house and time that afternoon by the beach, the Lord gave me the words to speak for the sermon. I didn’t have to figure out something on my own or in my own strength. He brought to mind visuals and passages to speak on that I’d studied in month 1 in Côte d’Ivoire.
That night, I preached a sermon on light and what the Lord has been teaching me. How when He walks into the room, everything changes. The darkness cannot overcome His light. The Lord brought to mind a flashlight. The ways that we use a flashlight to light up the path in front of us, to to turn it on to see our feet on the ground, to bring direction, and to guide us to our destination. In order for the flashlight to do it’s job of shining light, it needs two things- fully charged, working batteries and to be turned on. Without these things, the light dies out or never turns on.
The Lord brought to mind 3 passages in John to connect to His light. John 1:1- talks about God creating all things and Jesus being the light for mankind – all powerful bringing light into the darkness.
John 8:12 says when we choose to follow Jesus we have the light of life and no longer walk in darkness. We don’t have to fear the darkness and can walk in light of the abundant, eternal, full life He provides.
John 12:44-46 was the last passage I spoke about. Jesus says when we follow the light, we don’t have to stay in the darkness. We can learn more about who the Father is and how He created us with purpose. We follow Him and can learn how to see ourselves and others through His eyes. We don’t have to be trapped by old ways and sin patterns. We are given new life and should choose to walk in this new life – actively turning away from sin.
Just as a flashlight, when following Jesus we can choose to be connected to the true, abundant, life-giving source. This source truly satisfies and sustains is unlike any other source we try to gain power from. We were designed by the Father in the image of Him to shine light. To receive His source of light that transforms our lives and allows us to shine His light to all around us.
Jesus comes as the light of life into our lives to illuminate the darkness, that those areas may become light. He uses our stories and brokenness to become His light to shine into the darkness in this world, that He may be known and glorified. He is so worthy to be praised. He brings new life, redeemed stories, and abundant life. Thank you Abba.
I pray this encourages you. You were designed by a Father who loves you so much and created you with purpose and value. He is active and moving in the world around us as He seeks to bring restoration and redemption. He accepts you as you are and desires to have a personal relationship with you. He wants to renew your life and story by being the light of your life. Feel free to email me or FB message me with how I can be praying for you in this journey of life. I’d love to intercede for you in prayer.
Recent worship songs I’ve been listening to:
Symphony by Switch
My hallelujah by Bryan and Katie Torwalt
As you find me by Hillsong United
