Victories

Our struggle continues to not be against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces...and so at the same time, our victories continue to not be those of this world, but spiritual.  Wouldn't have it any. other. way.

Junior preached on the armor of God at Belo's church on Sunday, and I am so thankful that God has given us EVERY thing that we need to FIGHT against sin, to FIGHT against darkness, to FIGHT against Satan.

He shared about a time he chopped off a boa constrictor's head (bear with me).  "His head was off.  I knew he was going to die.  There was no turning the situation around.  Yet, for several minutes after his head was off, the huge body of the boa continued to writhe and plunge at me."

June compared it to our battle with Satan.  It IS finished.  Jesus has already conquered, we have already found victory, death could not hold him, we have complete victory in Jesus.

And yet, though we KNOW all of this, Satan continues to writhe and plunge at our lives, still seeking to destroy and kill.  It is easy to allow the enemy to win those battles by giving way to worry, defeat, depression, sin and quitting...

WE CANNOT!  

He has already won, and we must not weep and cower under our hardships like those who have no Hope!  We must continue to fight the battles before us with the joy and knowledge and determination of those who have victory in the power of His blood!

Because Christ has defeated Satan, WE can only be defeated by the enemy by our choice...by living and working by our own power for our own motives with our own strategies on our own strength.

Ain't nobody got time for that 'round here, and I challenge you to join us as victorious warriors of a battle that is ALREADY FINISHED.

Wow, that was not what I set out to share today.  

OK, updates. They are many, they are beautiful (mostly) and they are being shared for His Glory and with great Faith that the Living God is at work!

1) He who calls us is Faithful. --1 Thess. 5:24

Thanks to almost 20 donors world-wide, every penny that we asked for as urgent needs a week ago has been given.  Praise the Lord!

We needed $3000 for our generator issues, and a beautiful someone gave $5000.  While we continue to struggle with many power issues and nothing has been resolved yet, we have the money to run the generator extra because of this, and have been able to order EVERY part we have needed.  

We needed $10,000 for start-up costs, and as of this morning, the whole $10,00 has been given and much of it has been used to purchase food, fuel, propane and internet parts also fried in the storm.

We even needed one last sponsor for one last student, Louis Claudin, for last school year, and last night, a woman emailed saying it was covered.

You know how?  They needed a new roof, and the labor was going to cost $1500.  Their men's Bible study group did all the labor for free, and choose Louis to receive the pay in their place.  I mean, do you have goosebumps like I do?  How creative and beautiful is that?  

THANK YOU for your prayers and help!  We stand in awe that this huge mountain of need is leveled.  

2) Devoted to Prayer. --Romans 12:12

This year our staff is getting together every Monday morning before classes for a repeat of our beautiful prayer time during staff retreat.  What an AWEsome dedication of the new school year that was yesterday morning, and I continue to be so thankful for the hearts our staff have to please Him.

3) The imprint of the nails.  --John 20:25

While power-washing a roof on Friday, Phil slipped, putting a nail through his foot.  While blood streaming down the roof and the pain he is still in today isn't beautiful, he could have fallen...he could have not had his tetanus, and it could have been worse.  We are so thankful for Phil and our whole maintenance, yard, electrical staff...and thankful for the way the Lord continues to protect them while they are at work doing jobs rendered much harder by the lack of a Lowe's, tools, and emergency care :)

4) Give attention to exhortation and teaching. --1 Tim. 4:13

Yesterday began our first day in the classrooms at EBS!  What a joy to finally, after much prep and support raising, traveling, paperwork and interviews, to finally be DOING what Emmaus does best...disciple into a Biblical worldview by teaching and living a Biblical worldview.  One of our visiting professors, Dr. Chris, didn't make it in quite in time, so Matt started out Systematic Theology with second and third year...

and Junior started in on Missiology with first and fourth year!

Add in a fantastic kick-off chapel service about the equipping of Emmaus and the filling of the Holy Spirit...yeah.  It's an exciting new year at Emmaus with 54 (and counting) students and great days ahead!

5) We who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God. --Psalm 55:14

While the Weavers are only able to join us for about four weeks this semester, it is still good to have them for a time, and the times of fellowship and prayer our team continues to share are of great encouragement and blessing to Matt and I.

So thankful to be fighting TOGETHER

and to have beautiful family such as these...

...getting together around the world to be praying for us and for Emmaus!  What a great joy and enforcement as we all persevere!

We continue to have major complicated power issues, major complicated internet issues (that are exasperating us to no end!) and major work on our plates...but it with joy that we continue to report and hear and see and know Him FAITHFUL.

Thank you for standing with us!