Season's greetings and merry Christmas from Kezia
and I. It's been an amazing four months. So much has happened thanks to all of
our supporters.
Kezia got all of her documents straightened out and
has been ok'd to stay and teach at the Sowers school here for a year. We are
still, however, waiting for an interview date from U.S. immigration.
I'm working closely with Pastor Sipat on the new
English speaking church plant in the neighboring town called Ao Nang. It's
going REALLY well. I preach there every other Sunday, and lead worship on the
Sundays I don't preach. It seems like there's someone new there every Sunday.
As of now our congregation is made up of people from Thailand, the Philippines,
Ukraine, Russia, Germany, the U.S., and about 6 different countries in Africa!
I just wanted to let you guys know how much we appreciate all of your
support, especially through the holiday season. Living on support isn't easy,
sometimes it's really hard. I start to wonder where God's gonna come up with
all these things that I know I'm going to need. I admit, I have times of doubt
and fear, even though He's never failed to provide. His track record with me is
perfect, yet still I'm surprised when He comes through in amazing ways. Why is
that? I should be used to it by now, I have story after amazing story of God’s
faithfulness in my life and still He continues to amaze me. About a week ago we
sealed the deal and drove home in a new car! Neither my wife nor I have ever
owned a new car before, we were so excited, so blessed. We had been praying for
that day and there it was. He is so good to us!
Ironically it’s easier to trust God for the big stuff (house, car, etc…),
the things that are impossible for me to conjure up on my own are the easiest
to depend on God for. And He is faithful; He loves to provide that stuff.
There’s no way that a friend of my dad’s in LA decided out of the goodness of
her heart to buy me car. God did that, he put my need on her heart, and she was
discerning enough to recognize it as God, and to move in obedience. God does
that stuff, and it blows me away every time. But every once in a while, He goes
above and beyond.
You see as easy as it is to depend on God for the things you can’t get for
yourself, it’s just as easy to depend on yourself for the things that you can.
And this season, God has been showing me that I’m better off just depending on
Him for everything. A few days after we got the new car, we received a package.
And in this box, that got here the day before Christmas, were a couple of bags
of “Reese’s” peanut butter cups. Now for those of you who don’t know, Reese’s
peanut butter cups are my favorite, and what a blessing it was to open that
box. A dear friend of ours, in Windsor N.C., felt a desire to send us a care
package for Christmas. A package of something menial to most, but oh, so
meaningful to me. If sent to any one else it might be considered a waste, since
its postage surely out valued its content. But it wasn’t, it was sent to me,
and to me it was priceless. I was just as blessed opening that package, as I
was when I drove my first new car off the lot the week before. This package, along
with its timing, its message was perfect. The message I heard in my heart was
“Arise and eat!”
There’s a pretty random story in the Old Testament about Elijah. And if
you’re just reading through the book of 1 Kings you’ll just glaze right over it
and dismiss it as irrelevant, because basically, that’s what it
is. It’s got nothing to do with anything else that’s happening in 1 Kings, but
that’s the brilliance of it. Elijah, is afraid for his life because the prophets
are being killed, Jezebel even sends a messenger to him to tell him he’s next. This
is what happens next… 1 Kings 19:3
3Elijah was afraid and ran for his
life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while
he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat
down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said.
“Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5Then he lay down
under the tree and fell asleep.
As you can see Elijah isn’t doing so good, first he’s
running for his life, then he’s asking God to take it. He’s confused and tired,
then this happens… 1 Kings 19:5
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Arise and eat.” 6He
looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals,
and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
First of all, the angel touched him, I want you to remember
that, but second: God baked him a cake! I love that! Well, He sent a cake
through an angel, but God did it! And not just once, but twice! 1 Kings 19:7
7The angel of the LORD came back a
second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too
much for you.” 8So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that
food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the
mountain of God.
Now at some point Elijah’s plan changed. He starts out by
running away, overtaken by fear and running for his life. This totally drained
him, and he was done after just one day of running. Defeated, depleted, and
desiring to be deleted. Then we find out he’s running to something, the
mountain of God (Horeb is where Moses received the Ten Commandments) and he
lasts 40 days on two angel cakes. There’s a lot that can be drawn from this,
but I think the main point is this: Running away I’ll always run out, but
headed for Horeb I won’t be without.
God has shown me this month that He can provide everything
and anything and I should depend on Him for all of it. I bet the cake that
Elijah got was his favorite flavor; I mean it wasn’t just there, it was freshly
baked, waiting for him on hot coals. God wants to provide everything, not just
the big stuff. And while the value of the gifts may vary, the richness of the
blessing never will. If God’s the giver the gift is perfect. A new car and a
box of candy, there could be no clearer picture of the pendulum’s peaks. He’s
got it all covered; if we just head for the mountain He’ll get us there.
We’d like to send a special thanks to those who have been
supporting us. You are to us, the angel in the story. You know the Masters
voice and hunger to hear it. And when the Father of Lights has that perfect
gift He wants delivered, He sends it through you, a good and faithful servant.
You are to us what the angel was to Elijah, a comforting touch with inspiring words.
We are so grateful that God has put us on your hearts, your generosity and
obedience touches us, your words and your prayers, encourage us, strengthen us,
and beckon us to Arise and Eat. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and please keep
in touch!!
Grace and
Peace
Jason and
Kezia
