Do you remember the scene, in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where they are in the hallway and licking the fruit flavored wallpaper?
“The strawberries tastes like strawberries!”
“And the snozzberries taste like snozzberries!”
Do you remember that? Well, this blog has nothing to do with that…
One day in Honduras, I bought some bagels…
One night in Honduras, I sat on top of a water tower with one of the teams. One of the girls, Brenda, had been going through brokenness for some time. She is someone who rarely ever prays out loud, and never sings in front of other people. She is usually very reserved.
I was encouraging her to step out in boldness, but she wasn’t really responding to what I had to say. Finally, I told her to stand up. She said ‘No’, but I wouldn’t take no for an answer!
“Stand up!”
Before us was a wide open field that stretched out for miles.
“I want you to think about something you want from God, and then shout out into the darkness. Declare it before God!” I said.
‘No’, she replied.
Remember how I had bought bagels that day? Well I randomly told Brenda…
“If you shout out loud, declaring what you want from God, I will give you a bagel!”
“REALLY?” Brenda exclaimed!
I was shocked at her response. Apparently, Brenda loves bagels!
“Really really!”
With NO hesitation, Brenda shouted at the TOP of her lungs into the darkness…
“I WANT TO SING OUT LOUD!!!!”
Everyone stood there for a moment in shock. None of us had ever seen her respond like that. Brenda came alive!
As we finished talking on the water tower that night, I asked Brenda if she would close us in prayer. She immediately said ‘no’, but then I told her I would give her another bagel and she jumped all over that offer.
Since that night on top of the water tower, Brenda has been a different person. She is no longer quiet and reserved. She is finding her voice! She is full of joy!
Brenda is in need of some support to continue serving God in the nations this year. If you would like to support her, click here. To read her blog, click here.
Prayer Requests
Healing: I’ve been very tired and worn down, with random aches and pains. Not sure what’s going on, but I am currently taking some antibiotics and trying to rest whenever I can.
Support: I still need another $1,100 for 18″ Journey, and $3,300 for World Race.
Clarity: I will be stateside in February to work, and I am praying to God for clarity about where I should live and work.
Finishing STRONG: Our squad is transitioning. Stacey and I have been raising up leaders to take over as squad leaders, and we are also heading to Thailand soon. After Thailand, Stacey and I head home. Pray that we finish STRONG!
B Squad: Pray for our squad as we have a pretty crazy travel day(s) ahead of us. We leave the morning of January 4th and don’t arrive in Thailand until the night of January 7th… yep! We will be together as a squad from January 1st-3rd. Pray that God blesses our worship and time together!
THANKS!
~michael
