Obedience

Obedience is not a virtue my children often display.  We are continuously re-introducing this task to help them understand what is expected of them.  They sometimes have selective hearing problems and claim this was the problem and not their disobedience...."But Mama!  I didn't know you wanted me to pick up my toys!"

As children of God are we guilty of the same? Not intentionally disobeying, but having selective hearing when God speaks.  Thinking that we can pick and choose what parts of the Bible we want to apply to our lives and ignoring the other parts.  One word I think some Christians want to ignore is a small word that even a Kindergarten student can read. 

Go.

Why is this word so scary for us?  This tiny little word causes us to give up control, it may cause us to question God -- Where? When? Who me?  We want to be ignorant of this word, this command that God clearly gives.

Mark 16:15

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.


Genesis 12:1

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "


Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Today I am actually...thankful that my children are at times disobedient....It helps me understand how frustrating I am to God when I disobey Him and that makes me want to obey Him even more!
A once heard a wise man say "Doing God's work is not a hobby.  It is necessary, it is what God tells us to do -- all of us."

Just today....

I hope my notes yesterday on darkness weren't offensive.  Just keeping it real.  I am super aware of how much I have to be thankful for....my situation could be hopeless and horrible.  It is not by any stretch of the imagination.  I just feel down-heartened and confused.  I hope that is what came across to you.  

We are never promised another minute, day or year.....so I am taking one day, one step at a time to get back to the warm sunshiney place I so want to be in.

Today I am dwelling on this....

Micah 6:6-8 (New International Version)

6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?


7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?


8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Darkness

Darkness surrounds us like a dense fog.  The local news, the world news, cancer, drug addiction, life.....It is easy to begin believing Satan's lies. 

You can't do it.

You're a failure!

Who are you kidding, do you really think you can be a ____?

You'll never make it!

What about _______?

You are on the wrong path.

Is this really what God wants?

Satan's darkness adds confusion to our stressful lives, minds and hearts.  He feasts on our insecurities and kicks us when we are down, convincing us we are complete and total failures.  And possibly we truly are failures in the eyes of the world....

But the people the world sees as failures, inadequate, less than capable are the people that God wants to use!  How exciting for those of us who aren't perfect....wait that would be all of us!  He wants to prove that He can take imperfection, challenging situations and mistake ridden lives and use them for His glory.

Since August my family has experienced sickness, stress, loneliness, confusion and SOOO much change.  I have felt completely beat up by life and the world around me.  Can you relate?

It's as though I am stuck in the mud and can't move forward.  People around me are moving forward, the ministry is growing and great things are happening.  So why not me?  Although in my head I know God's promises still remain, sometimes I feel like my arms aren't long enough to reach them.  The more I search God's word and spend time with Jesus, Satan's voice will be squelched!

Join me today on the journey out of the pit of despair as we turn toward Jesus, raise up on our tippy toes and reach to Him.

Still thankful, Sheryl

I would love for you to leave a scripture of encouragement or inspiration under comments if you choose.

Tomorrow became a week....

I apologize for letting time get away from me.  Just as all of yours are I'm sure....life is crazy.

Below are several pictures of different scenarios of "The Dumpsite".  Umapad is the name of the community we refer to as "The Dumpsite".  I will do my best to describe them.



Waiting in line, hoping for a dress



Handing out supplies  is always an adventure and treasured time on the missions.  They are eager to receive any items we are willing to give.  Vitamins, school supplies, backpacks, clothing, shoes, etc.  The following pictures are of the distribution of the pillowcase dresses.

Pure excitement!

 


 

 

visiting high school for Bible distribution and salvation message







10 yr old girl, caring for her dying mother and three siblings and managing the home; the father has left the home

Please pray for this family, by now the mother is most likely deceased.  She was very ill during the visit.  Wesley Home staff and The Rescue Ministries is trying to get permission from the father to help the four children. 


**Blogger is not being my friend right now.  I will do my best to get more pics on this weekend.

Thankful, Sheryl

Visual me

I am a super visual person.  I have to literally see it in my mind's eye to understand it.....Here is a recap of some of the trip through pictures.

Wesley Home for Youth

Boy's Dorm Outside

Boy's Dorm Inside

New Residents

Judy Ann



Ronillo

 

Marit lives in the Umapad dumpsite.  We met her on the first trip in June 2009.  She has guided us through the dumpsite to families in need during each trip since.  She has become an asset to Wesley Home for Youth.   We are giving her educational support for her daughter, Mary Ann so that she can afford to go to school. 

Marit & Mary Ann


More to come tomorrow!
Thankful, Sheryl

home

Well....I am home now...along with the rest of the team.  It is great to be back with my family and to be able to share about all the God did while we were gone.  I have to admit...the Philippines feels more and more like home and East TN feels less and less like home.  I can't remember a time in my life when I have encountered people who are so grateful for help, who are so hungry for the gospel and have a true desire to read God's Word rather than go by what a church or a leader says.  I so want to be able to be there and share the Word of God with my Filipino friends and struggle with them as we read scripture and apply it to our lives. 

This will be my last blog about the mission trip... I think.. and again it will not have pictures.  I left my camera battery charger in Bohol very early in the trip and my last 3-4 days in the Philippines I had no camera due to the batteries being dead.

Our last few days was pretty awesome as well.  Pastor Lemuel visited the orphanage and he has committed to pastoring the kids beginning in November!  He was already forming relationships with the kids and spending lots of time with them.  The music instructor will begin this coming weekend to teach the kids how to play the drums, play the keyboards and guitar.  The kids at the orphanage are very excited about learning how to play the musical instruments so that they can sing praises to God as a group.  The youth more and more are seeking to learn of God's Word and what it teaches.  It is extremely encouraging to me to know that pastor Lemuel will be spending at least a day a week teaching the kids about the Bible!

Ronelldo (sp?) is a new youth from the dumpsite who is now staying at the orphanage.  He is shy and doesn't talk that much.  He is a bit older than some of our kids but appears to be making the transition well.  Ronelldo now has a Bible, a bed of his own, clothes and school supplies.  He talked about how thankful and grateful he is to be able to pursue his education.

Sheila was hired as our director.  She has been doing great working with the kids.  She has already implemented some more structure and clear expectations for the kids to follow.  Sheila appears to truly love the kids and is enjoying taking care of them.  There is also another Filipino who we have hired to work with the kids who truly loves tutoring and spending time with them. It is so great to see Filipinos investing in the lives of the Filipinos at the orphanage.  That is my hope and promise that one day we will get to the point where financially we do not need to give to the orphanage but that Filipinos will see the value and the importance of rescuing these children off of the streets and dumpsite areas.

So, the last few days were encouraging to see that the church at the orphanage is possible and that there is a pastor.  That we have new staff who are invested in loving and developing the kids.  That there is a music instructor who is there willing to teach the kids how to play the instruments the team purchased and provided to the kids.  That there are children in the dumpsites and in the schools who have now heard the gospel and were given Bibles.  What a productive and amazing 10 days!!  We started it off by going to Camotes where one day we hope and pray that the orphanage will be located.  The mayor of Camotes wants to give us land where we can have a school and/or training center for adults and families where they can get jobs... The progress made in the few days is quite simply amazing and quite obvious that God provided it all and that He gets all of the glory for all of the good things that were done.  I am thankful that I and the team were able to be a part of it. 

Thank you for your prayers and support.  Let me know how you would like to be involved.  I am traveling to different states and counties to share about the orphanage; let me know if you would like for me to visit your church.  We are meeting at the end of October to discuss the mission trip in June of 2011.  We still need sponsors and support to pay for the school, church and music ministry of the orphanage.  We need tons and tons of prayer as we move forward.  our website is http://www.therescueministries.org/  may God bless you!

Dustin