This morning our crew headed out early for a church we've never been to, co-pastored by two of our graduates and friends, Berthil and Fritzner. Matt's been preaching in some great churches lately, and it was an encouragement for us to worship with believers there and they were encouraged that we came...win win! It's also a joy to see what life and ministry is like for our students and alumni...and to better know how to pray!
How do I keep four kids sitting still for 2.5 hour services without Matt? Goodness. They've done it their whole lives, which helps, as do fruit snacks and little notebooks. How does everyone else do it without fruit snacks and little notebooks? I have NO idea.
Today Matt preached about God's mandate that in marriage, two become one, and let no man separate what God's made one. It's becoming more and more common for men in Haiti to leave their wives and children for years at a time to search out a better life in other countries. The intention is usually to send funds back, or to send for the wife and children later, but this is RARE. We've seen so many families suffering deeply by being torn apart like this for years on end, and while parts of Matt's message on this culturally encouraged practice was hard to hear, it was SO TRUE and scriptural. I was touched by how strongly God's Word on this resonated today, and blessed by how the pastor jumped in and also spoke about how many struggles of our youth come from so many being raised in homes without fathers.
"Call your husbands," Matt concluded to the mostly female congregation, "and tell them that God's plan for your family is to be a family, together. Trust Him to care for your family as you honor His desire for husbands and wives to be together, to raise their children together."
As amens and yeses filled the little room, you could hear the prayers lifted, the desires of people's hearts matching with His.
I'm thankful for His Word...not just an encouraging Word, but often a "hard to hear" Word that leads to LIFE and FREEDOM and God's best. What's His Word speaking into YOUR life right now?
I'm also thankful for chances to share His Word with each other. How often do we miss His best for us, His truth for us, His freedom, because we just get swept away with life, with what's culturally normal, with what everyone else is doing? We're not just studying His Word to study it, not just for our own lives, but as the church, we're studying it for each other. As His followers, we're studying His Word for His best, set apart, for His glory.
Finally, I'm thankful for a God whose laws for us come out of His great LOVE for us. Even when it seems bitter. Even when it seems harsh. Even when it's not sweet. His commands for us are FOR us, out of His great love. They lead to life and peace.
Step out on faith with us today and do what He says.
I'm promising you He'll provide for what He's calling us to.
It's about a billion degrees, so after church we ended this happy crew in the pool, praying for this other happy crew of eleven staff and students in St. Raphael, baptizing young believers in the river.
So thankful for the work God is doing in people's hearts, and for the gift of working with Him.
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