Joshua 14; Isaiah 49; Matthew 27:45-56; Colossians 1:1-14; Psalm 9: So many of these passages intersected today at the cross.
Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
Keep in mind this was written many years before Jesus ever came but even then God’s plan was what happened in Matthew 27:50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
Glory hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!!!
Colossians 113He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
This child of God is so grateful for Him engraving me in the palms of His hands and giving me eternal life! Thank you Jesus!
One last thought, this gift is for all of us. All we must do is receive it by faith. If you have any questions about how to do this or just want more information please feel free to respond by messaging me. I would love to help in any way.

Joshua 12-13, Isaiah 48,Matthew 27:24-44, Philippians 4:10-23, Psalm 8: The Lord often declares who He is in the scriptures. Listen to what He says,
Isaiah 48:12 “Listen to me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first,
and I am the last.
13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them,
they stand forth together.
14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen!
Who among them has declared these things?
The Lord loves him;
When your problems seem overwhelming and you don’t know what else to do go to Him and remember there was never anything before Him and there will be nothing after Him. He laid the foundations of the earth. He spread out the heavens and here is a news flash for you, He loves You! Yes you with all of your inadequacies and failures. He loves you and He proved it by giving His Son for your sin. So chin up. Bend your knees and speak to the One who really can get your through whatever you face.

Joshua 11, Isaiah 46-47, Matthew 27:1-23, Philippians 4:2-9, Psalm 7: I love the Old Testament. I love reading the Storie of people who faced overwhelming circumstances and saw God come through big. Joshua’s story today is one of those stories. I remind myself often that the things in this book are true and I can count on God just like these great warriors did. Then Isaiah 46 spoke powerfully to me.
46:8 “Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.”
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. What He wills He will accomplish and man cannot thwart His plans. My job is to listen, to trust, and to obey. His plans aren’t always easy nor do they make human sense sometimes, but I look back and I see that God has often used things that did not make sense to do the impossible. I challenge each of us to trust and obey this One True God who can do the impossible in our lives as well.

Joshua 10, Isaiah 45, Matthew 26:57-75, Philippians 3:12-4:1, Psalm 6: “The reason we lack trust is because we don’t lack.” Caleb used that quote yesterday in his sermon. A week before he was sitting in a church in Africa having spent a week at a carepoint where everyone there lacks. Sometimes they even lack basic needs for survival. That is why the carepoint exists. It provides much needed food and water. As he observed the children and adults and their faith he realized that one of the reasons they have great faith is because they have nothing else. He is their provider, their healer, their hope for meeting all other needs. Thus their faith makes ours pail in comparison! As I read Joshua 10 today and saw Joshua’s faith as he was in the midst of the battle it reminded me of Caleb’s statement. When you have nothing else all you have is God and Joshua learned quickly that calling upon God can change everything. In Joshua’s case the sun even stood still.
Joshua 10:12At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
You may be facing overwhelming trials. You may lack finances or provisions to bring about what needs to happen. Don’t give up my friend. Call upon the one who makes the sun stand still and brings victory out of tragedy. He is faithful and can be trusted. Trust when you lack!

Joshua 9, Isaiah 44, Matthew 26:36-56, Philippians 3:1-11, Psalm 5: God has really been speaking to me a lot lately about prayer. I believe He is leading me to write a 28 day devotion to be done in the month of September after Labor Day. I look at my prayer life and though I am faithful to pray and have studied much about prayer I still find myself much like the disciples in Matthew. Jesus brought them to the garden to pray but their weariness thwarted the intense prayer time that Jesus needed and wanted them to have. Jesus knew that Satan was sitting at the edge waiting to tempt them, discourage them and even whisper defeat into their ears. Jesus knew that the only way to defeat the attacks of the enemy was through close communion with God through prayer. Prayer warriors know an extra level of strength that other can’t and don’t because they have not invested time with the Father. When you combine prayer and fasting it takes it to an even deeper level. Our total dependency on God becomes even more clear. I write this to ask for prayer for guidance. To write a devotion guide is time consuming and wearying but if it helps just one other believer walk closer to the Father I know it is the right thing. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and the words to come easily. Thank you for lifting me and this new calling up. I know God has a plan. I just want to make sure I am in the middle of what He wills not my own.

Joshua 8, Isaiah 43, Matthew 26:17-35, Philippians 2:19-30, Psalm 4: Have you ever created something? Maybe you have held the patent on something you created. As the creator you know what the creation can do. You know how it will work the best and you also know what its weaknesses are. You have “fathered” it therefore you know it and will do what is necessary to protect it. God looks at us that way as well.
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Your Creator is with you no matter where you go. He knows how you work best and what is best for you. He longs for you to trust Him and live life as He prescribes in His Word. He is cheering you on and takes interest in every area of your life. He goes before you, is with you and even goes behind you to protect and prepare the way.
Though life is challenging at times, we can know that our Creator is in control. Trust Him!

If you have been a prayer warrior for us this week, please know we have not taken your part of this ministry for granted. We have seen God show Himself so big! We came knowing that tomorrow we would have a dedication of the new multipurpose building at the carepoint. Our church and team raised the money for the building over the last few years and in the last two years it was built. We have had teaching times, singing, crafts, devotions for the adult ladies that serve and so much more in the building. It will serve as a huge blessing for the community leaders as well. I never dreamed when we came here we would leave with working lights in the building. God sent on our team an electrician and an engineer. As they looked at the building from the first day they began to come up with a plan to provide solar lighting in the building. They created a plan, made a shopping list, looked for tools to be used and within a couple of days they have made it to where not only will they have lights, but they are solar powered and will not cost the carepoint anything!!! God has been at work! They also wired the preschool building and created some much needed shelving. Our preschool teachers and carepoint leaders came in today dancing and praising God! Tomorrow at the dedication the building will be lit with light from Above!!!
Another God moment was today as several of the ladies were able to go with Amy McAdams to visit a special needs child in the community. The child is wheelchair bound and spends much of the day on a mat on the floor. The child is 15 and is cared for by a grandmother who also cares for 5 other children. They have no running water, so they go and draw water from the river. As the ladies arrived one of the children was washing dishes in the murky water from the river. Our ladies wept as they told of the tender care given to the child and the encouragement that Amy and the therapist who traveled with them had been to the girl and the grandmother. Ministry here looks so much different than just feeding and playing with small children.
One last thing we don’t take for granted is your many prayers for safety. Tonight we were grateful for those prayers as a car came dangerously close to one of our team members when crossing and intersection. Pedestrians are not respected here and cars don’t slow down. Our team member was hurrying across the road, but the car was speeding not slowing down. After the experience was over we were so grateful for the prayer warriors praying for all of us. We try our best to avoid any danger, but just like at home, you can’t always for see all things. Tonight we were grateful for Divine protection. Which brings me full circle in saying, thank you for lifting us up in prayer. Please don’t stop. We have seen God strong and mighty at work among us!
Tomorrow will be a GREAT day as we have Big Fun Day. Another answer to prayer is that a day care from the States, Heritage Preschool gave the finances to make this day possible. We will celebrate with games, a bounce house, a meal including meat, fruit and cookies. The children will perform for us cultural dances and sing in our honor. We will dedicate our new building and play a message from Pastor Kenneth Bruce from Westwood. It should be an amazing day! Please for us as we leave tomorrow because it will be our last time this trip with our children. I have often looked at times like this as a goodbye, but over the years I have learned it is really just a I will see you again later. Though this is true it is still a hard time so all prayers are appreciated! Thank you again for the prayers! Keep them coming.

“We did not eat yesterday and we prayed God would send us food.” That was what the team members heard as they brought food to a family in the community. Cindy expressed to the family that the gift of food was much like the gift Jesus gave for us. He gave His life to pay for our sin, but it is up to us to receive it. It is much like the food delivered to this family. Until it is cooked and eaten it doesn’t do any good. Jesus died and gave His life, but until we receive the gift we can’t experience the life it brings. Just as the food was a grace gift, so the gift of the food is a grace gift from the Father.

Over and over today we were asked why we came. Nomsa, the one in charge of the cooks at the carepoint, asked today, why would you come to black strangers and show so much love to these children? We explained it is because God loved us we now love others. The Nurse too asked the same question. One of our team members again said, “We love because Jesus loved us and gave His life for us.” Then once again at the home visit the question was asked why? The answer again was because of what God has done for us. As we shared over and over and over we love because He first loved us. This is the message of why we are here!!!

This morning we went to the market to leave some finances in the hands of area merchants. The merchants are the ones who created hand made crafts. As our team members shopped they also shared the gospel message of why we are here again. The message is the same no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing. Jesus is our life and He is worthy of our praise. One woman at the market was telling our team member she was in a bible study and gave a presentation of what she was studying. Our team member talked about Jesus being her life and reason to live as well. Time and time again we have seen gospel sharing opportunities!

My last story tonight has to do with the Gogos and the Nurse that goes to each carepoint. We celebrated their birthdays with a tea party! We had sodas and cookies but we also had the privilege of telling them that tomorrow 2 of our team members will be putting solar panels on the new building and running lights. They were blown away. they danced and praised the Lord!!!! They had shared this morning about what they were thankful for. Over and over they said health and the strength to serve these children. It is with joy we will be able to give this gift to them and the children of the community so that no matter what they will be able to have lights and no power bill!

There were so many other stories I could share, but I will leave some of those for our other team members. I can confidently say we are making a kingdom difference, sharing the gospel over and over, and showing the love of Jesus to all who come around! Please pray for our workers as they install the solar panels and wiring. Pray for our two young men who will be speaking the gospel message tomorrow. Pray for more opportunities to share the hope that is within us. Pray that they will know we are there because of Jesus and we want all of the glory and honor to go to Him!!!!!!!

We have enjoyed a wonderful day of driving across South Africa to the mountain range of Eswatini or Swaziland as we have known it for years. South Africa is very flat around Johannesburg. You see a diversity between beautiful expensive homes and shelters known as shanties that are built from tin and boards. The city quickly gives way to farm land and flat open fields. Before long rolling hills are visible in the distance and those hills eventually give way to mountains. Swazi is located in the beautiful mountain range.
As beautiful as the terrain is, it pales in comparison to the people. Sam and Colton could not sleep this morning so about 4:00 they went to the hotel restaurant and had a 2 hour conversation with a brother in the faith. Though their skin colors were very different and their accents were continents apart, the love of Jesus drew them close together. They laughed as they shared their stories of how God had changed their lives. By the time the rest of the team made it to breakfast the guys had “had church”.
Please pray for us tomorrow as we start ministry at the carepoint. Caleb will be sharing devotional with the Swazi staff that will include 60 national staff and about 20 missionaries. Pray for anointing on him. Then we will travel to the carepoint for a day of ministry there. I know the team covets your prayers. Thank you ahead of time.

“Now where are you going on mission?” That questioned was asked today over and over as we sat in the terminal waiting to get on board our flight to Johannesburg. We were one of many mission teams on board. We met one church family going to an area in South Africa to train pastors and church leaders. There are 4 teams in the country of Swaziland this week working throughout the country. We were thrilled to see friends leading other churches that started their love for Swaziland at Westwood! Mark Clyburn and Allison Sides Clyburn went on a short term mission just like we are on this week and God called them to move to Swaziland. They lived there for several years then moved back stateside. Mark is not the missions pastor at a church in Georgia. The flight attendant on our flight told me the plane was filled with mission teams going all over Africa.
My heart has been filled with joy as our team saw God’s hand at work all around us today as we had gospel conversations all along the way. Most of the people we talked to were believers so it was more like a celebrate Jesus time, but what a great way to start our trip!!!
When we arrived in Johannesburg our friends from Japan were here waiting on us we our team of 21 is complete now. Please keep praying. We travel into Swaziland tomorrow so we will be driving about 5 hours.