I mentioned in my last blog right, that Im spending a lot of time sipping guate coffee and eating baleadas next door to our ministry location. The Morales family has adopted me and vice versa. And as it turns out, Americans aren’t the only ones watching Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe Cartwright. If you aren’t old enough for the reference, punch it up on google or text your parents real quick.
Marvin Morales of Puerto Barrios has a “sun stand still prayer”. I got this from a book by Steven Furtick. Furtick got it from a book called Joshua. Its all about audacious faith and how Joshua had the stones to ask God to stop the Sun while he was teaching the Amorites a thing or two about warfare. Dude had the faith to know that God would change the stars if he asked. Joshua knew he could pray a completely illogical prayer because he knew that God would keep his promise. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” Joshua 10:8
Ok, back to little joe, ben, Hoss Cartwright and Marvin Morales.
Marvin’s “Sun stand still prayer” goes a little something like this………
“”Lord, I want to leave my restaraunt management job that takes me away from my family for 10 months out of the year. I miss my family and I want to transform my barrio. You Lord, have given me the vision of La Ponderosa Restaraunt. It wont be just another place to get a steak, it will be built by you Lord, it will exist to shine your light on my neighborhood. A place where people will gather in a safe place as a family and they will taste the love in each recipe. God, please transform my home into La Ponderosa Restaraunt. “”
Marvin tells me a little more each day about the things God tells him. Sometimes he gives me a tour and shows me what will be where (24 tables to start with cuz marvin likes numbers from the bible). And sometimes he shows me the 20 acres behind his house that will have cattle on it one day. And today he told me, ya I am quitting my management job in December. The dream is turning into a goal. Marvin is not just hoping anymore, he is acting in FAITH. And he is probably praying for things completely out of his league. My friend Rachel Snowden told him this morning, “If your dreams don’t sound crazy, you aren’t thinking big enough”
Its sad how we talk ourselves out of trying things or doing what we wish we’d started 5 years ago. Im too old, I don’t have enough money, Im a nobody, people will know I dont have talent to do this…what will they say. Marvin is done with the excuses because its not up to him.
I spent most of mornings with Marvin and his boys this month. If you told me thats what my mission trip around the world would look like, I’d have said, “i can do that without leaving home.” And I could have, but I wouldn’t have noticed the opportunity if I wasn’t out here seeing the world from a different perspective. I’d encourage you, if you have a vision, or someone else does, press into it. Don’t brush off the desires of your heart anymore that are asking you to basically lose your mind. Maybe try it on, most crazy people I meet seem really stress free.
If God is telling you to build boat , I say “hey, maybe draw up some blue prints bro.”
