Monday, January 23, 2012

Put out into the Deep


Yesterday, we attended our 
first community assembly for the year. 
It was exciting because it coincided with the meeting
of leaders from the Asian communities in 
"an international association of 
ecumenical communities,
brothers and sisters from many Christian traditions
living out our daily lives together".

We were reminded of the Bulwark prophecy
which was given to a small group in people 
in the summer of 1975:

This gathering is a great hope                                        
This meeting is both a hope and a promise.
I am raising up courageous, 
strong, gifted men and women 
who will join themselves to you.
As you hold fast to one another others 
will come and be joined to you.
Together you will labor with me to stem the tide of evil
that is sweeping the earth.                                        
I have brought you together for this purpose; 
go on with confidence, courage, and determination.
I will be with you, and in the days to come 
I will raise up men in communities
Who will bind themselves fast to you in my service.

I will raise you up with others,
And bind you together 
to make a bulwark.
But that is not all there is to be, 
             because when you have                 
     stemmed the onslaught of the Enemy
Then I will reveal to you greater things.
In the unity you have with one another there is a
     prefigurement and foreshadowing of something much
     greater that I intend to do;
Something greater, much more vast, 
much more glorious I will unveil at that time.
You are a foreshadowing and a prefigurement
You are a bulwark 
I have set up to stem 
the onslaught of the Enemy.        
You are a part and not the whole;
You are my servants and my people.


The amazing thing about this
is that when this small group of people 
in the US were hearing this in 1975,
here in the Philippines, our covenant community,
Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (The Joy of the Lord)
was also being formed.

More communities are being raised up, even now.
Jean Barbara, president of the Sword of the Spirit,
and Senior Coordinator of 
The People of God Community in Lebanon,
told us about the little community in Istanbul.
"There are only 13 members. 10 adults, 2 children, and 
one on the way. 10% of the members is
a converted Muslim." (that means 1 of them!)


God raised up leaders, 
the same way He raised up David to lead His people.
One of our leaders asked yesterday:
"The harvest is ripe.
The laborers are few.
We are the first fruits.
Who is willing and ready to go forth
and bring in the second wave?"
We have to be willing to walk on water,
to obey with freedom and boldness,
to get out of the boat ,
"Duc in altum", put out into the deep.
Then and only then will God's mission
be fulfilled in us and through us! 

I love blog parties!
Won't you join me?


Blessings to you
and your family,
Patsy

Friday, January 20, 2012

Songs in My Heart

I've had a lot of health challenges this past week,
but my heart is full of songs for the Lord!

I guess it's because I know He is faithful,
and I can depend on Him.
I seek shelter under His wings until
harm shall pass,
until "calamities be overpast",
until the tumult is over 
(different translations of Psalm 57:1).

Yesterday, I read an interesting verse from Psalm 56:
"Are my tears not stored in your vial?"
Apparently it was a custom in Jesus' day
to store tears in a jar or vial called a "tear jar"! 
If even the hair on our head 
is counted (Matthew 10:30),
then I can believe God also knows 
how many tears we've shed!

No progress on this painting yet!
I've been trying to draw a bird
to place on the top left.
So far my birds have come out looking
like a dolphin, a dinosaur, and a fish!!!
Not to worry, it took me
two years to get my drawings of hands 
to look like hands!!!

Linking with
Blessings,
Patsy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WOYWW 137: The Battle is the Lord's

WARNING!
Something really gross on my desk today!



But first, a painting I've been working on.
I'm going to put a bird on the top left.
Do you think that'll work?



 And here's the "something gross!"
One of my favorite stories in the bible-
David and Goliath!

We fight battles left and right.
Some big, some small.
I believe we always need to see
our challenges through God's eyes
so we will not despair or lose hope.

If there is great trial in your life right now,
do not own it as defeat,
but continue by faith to claim the victory
through Him who is able to make you
MORE THAN A CONQUEROR,
and a glorious victory will soon be apparent.

Let us learn that in all the hard places 
God brings us into,
He is MAKING OPPORTUNITIES
for us to exercise such faith in Him
as will bring about BLESSED RESULTS
and greatly glorify His name.
(From Streams in the Desert, January 18)


Joining the lovely Julia for a 
peek at desks and projects!
Look a new logo!!
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Blessings!
Patsy