Hello All,
I wanted to share some encouraging things in hopes that it would stir your heart more toward Christ. And to let those know who have been faithfully praying for us that much grace and peace has been multiplied to us. Thank you so much for your prayers.
The Lord has been so good to us here in India. Though we had some trials, we know that it all works for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! God allows trials in the life of His saints to conform us to His Son. Glory to God!
God graciously continues to confirm that He has sent us to India so it gives us greater confidence in Him and strengthens our faith in "everything".
One thing I have noticed that has been a sign to me that He is with us and that we are in His will is that Sean's preaching has been filled with power, exalting Christ, flowing out so easily where I can tell its no works of his own. Please know I say this not to boast about my husband, but to praise God, seeing it is all Him. I see also that the Lord has given Sean much boldness to root out and pull down the things that grieves Him among profess Christians, that is contrary to His word, and to build up the right foundation that is in Christ. If God doesn't use us to win many souls to Him here I wouldn't care because I know that the Lord has been truly exalted here through preaching and good works. As long as God uses us to highly lift Him up, I will be satisfied!
The Lord has truly change my heart about missions and I so thank Him for that! I use to think that missions was just about winning souls, but its much more than that! Its about glorifying my Father in heaven through proclaiming His excellency which is in the gospel, filled with good works, letting my light shine in this dark world. I use to hunger for souls, but now I hunger to make Him known, making sure He is exalted wherever we are at, that Lord Jesus is highly lifted up. Men around us will not have any doubts that we are a family who worship Jesus and believes in all His ways and that there is only salvation through Jesus alone! In having such a revelation of this I feel so content now and trust Him in many odd circumstances.
Many people here have been open to the true gospel, but do know that you will always have those who are enemies of the cross. For the message of the cross is an offense to those who are perishing. Do continue to pray for us. That we would continue to stand boldly for His name no matter what and that we preach with much clarity and power, and that great signs and wonders would follow.
It is very important here to clearly preach that there is only ONE God and that salvation comes through Christ alone. If we are not clear with this, like many pastors here, the Hindus will just easily add Jesus to their many gods. They will say they’re Christians because they believe that Jesus is one of the gods. This great error has brought a jealousy deep into my heart to proclaim truth with all zeal and authority that there is only One God and that is Jesus and that we must separate ourselves from all falsehood! That we cannot eat at the Lord’s table and the demons at the same time! And we do know brethren and are prepared that with such clear preaching there could be persecution. We are not ignorant of this. For we do see that some already think we are trying to change their culture that is deeply rooted in Hinduism. One sister even confess to me that when she stop wearing the orange paint on her hands, the flowers, bangles, ect.. That people notice and that the Hindus treat her bad. Its o.k. to call yourself a Christian here, but once you start forsaking the Hindu culture that’s when persecution comes to the believers here. This is what happen to Graham Stains who got killed in Orrissa by Hindus. The Christians in Orissa set themselves apart from the Hindus by not taking their work days off on a Hindu holiday so the Hindus thought they were trying to change their culture. Graham and his sons then became a target. The Hindus killed those who they thought were destroying their culture. I could see this persecution happening here if the Christians would truly separate themselves, but many are living in fear and not proclaiming the whole truth. Please pray for the believers here. That they would stand firm on the truth, not being ashame of Jesus. Pray that they would not love their life, but have the mind of Christ and follow His steps to their cross. And pray for us. That God would continue to use us to encourage the saints here. For Paul the Apostle said it is through many tribulation that we enter the kingdom.
Do also pray for the children here. For God has open the doors for us to minister to many of them. We have been taking turns with each children in having them over for dinner, having bible studies and singing Christian songs with them. They really enjoy coming over. Sean has been spending time with the boys in taking them out and doing boy stuff. Many fathers do not have relationships with their kids so many children fear their fathers. The children look at Sean with amazement when they see him playing with his own kids and playing with them. They’ve been open to hearing the gospel and you can see the conviction on their faces when we do bible studies. Pray for their salvation. That God would use them (who are considered weak in the eyes of many ) to confound the wise.
I hope you have been encouraged by our report from India. I do pray that you too will separate yourselves from the world and stand firm in His truth no matter the cost. That you will not love your lives to the end, but follow the One who is worthy of all your life. Follow Him to your cross.
Greetings All!
It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been so busy with the baby and preparing for India. As many of you know we are now in India. Though the conditions here are worse than Mexico I have such a great peace and joy here that makes everything seem bright. Of course I have this beautiful inward peace because of Jesus who has given me much grace to focus on Him and not myself. I learned so much in Mexico that is has helped me much in India to not make the same mistakes of being inward focused instead of Christ focused. God has used Mexico to strip me of much of my comfort that it has made it easier for me in India. Also going back to Texas for two months has helped me also. I truly know for sure that God has stripped me from the world because I did not enjoy the comforts in Texas, believe it or not. I was ready to get out of Texas. It's the brethren in Texas that were the only thing that brought me joy.
Since God has brought me to a deeper brokenness in myself it has brought a deeper love for the saints. I love being around the saints and think about them all the time in meditation and prayers. It seems my faith and trust in Him has grown a lot too and I feel so alive now that I'm focused on Jesus Himself and worshiping Him intimately. There's so much life and power when we the Saints worship Jesus with praise and thankfulness!!
The brethren here are so beautiful! They are so generous, so meek and filled with servanthood. Their meekness and servanthood has blessed and humbled me. They really make India brighter. They are truly shining stars in a dark place!
We've all gotten sick except Hadassah. Sean & Hannah had mild stomach pain and diareah compared to me. I had it the worst. One of the brethren took me to the hospital. The hospital was definitely a third world hospital! The beds were very dirty and old. There were flies and mosquitoes all over the place and right outside the door was a cow and chickens! I did not feel good at all. I though I was going to pass out while I was there. It was hot and smelly in the hospital. I feel much better now. Another doctor came by the hotel and gave me an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. The hospital trip was definitely an experience I will not forget.
The town we are in right now seems to have no foreigners so we get a lot of stars and people follow us. We will definitely have a large crowd once Sean starts open air preaching.
The brethren found us a house...praise the Lord! It's a one bedroom house that's petty inexpensive. But I really don't care that it's small. I'm just very thankful for every provision provided for from the Lord. The Lord has definitely provided our needs and that is enough.
In the little stores here there are no American foods unlike Mexico. Indian food seems a bit difficult to learn, not as easy as Mexican food. So brother Peter is said that we can get someone to help cook for us for about $30 a month. I will definitely be watching and learning!
I've been amazed how our children have been handling this place. They have been having a very good attitude and haven't been complaining at all; though they did say they like Mexico better. I was afraid that living in Texas for two months would make it harder for them in India but it didn't. Praise God. I believe once they start making friends here just like in Mexico it will make it more enjoyable for them. There's a lot of kids at brother Peters fellowship for them to get to know. Please continue to keep our kids in your prayers.
Jeremiah is doing fine. Just sleeping and eating like a newborn should. Our family has really enjoyed having a newborn.
It's definitely been an adventure stepping out in the Lord and walking by faith. But I would rather live this way instead of living a boring life doing the same thing everyday and never walking by faith. I truly have no desire of going back to America. The two months of staying in Texas really helped me. I was very much grieved in spirit being there. In India it is obvious that their idols are statues. But in America it's deceiving because it comes in possessions. So Christians and professing Christians can easily deceive themselves and make everything a "need" when it's not. Many Americans don't realize the many idols they have like their houses, cars, material things, entertainment...ect. There's nothing wrong with having a house, car, ect.. but if your working more for you possession that for the Lord then it's an idol. And if you are fretting and worrying about your possessions and spending so much time maintaining them then it's a problem. (Luke 14:33)
I think many professing Christians in America also don't realize the relationships they miss out on with the brethren when they don't fellowship daily. Too many people seem to be focused on just maintaining their life and spending more time with their unregenerate family than with their spiritual family. I see this a lot and it grieves me deeply. It is clear in the bible that the brethren are utmost important. Christ died for the CHURCH. He is coming back for the CHURCH. John chapter 17 is a great prayer for the CHURCH. The first few chapters in ACTS talk about the building of the CHURCH and how the glory of God was there when they served each other and met daily together. True brethren always want to fellowship together worship God with others who have the same Holy Spirit living inside them. A true Christian should have "zeal for God's house" in love and in truth, to build the house of God until all come to maturity, to encourage and exhort one another that we may stand unashamed on the Day. If you don't have such zeal for the people of God in that way you really need to allow the Lord to expose your heart so that you may see where you're really at.
Not only do we need to have such zeal to see the brethren come to maturity but what a great witness we become when we truly love one another in spirit and truth. Oh how such bold love for one another glorifies Jesus! (Eph 3-8-12) A love that passes knowledge! If you've never drank from the fountain of God then you won't understand how love can pass knowledge. First drink from the Lord then you will be given much grace and love for the brethren! (Eph 3:14-19)
There are some that have expressed concerns about us moving to India. We know that difficulties await us. God has ordained that trials and persecutions are prepared for all His Saints. It's those things that conform us to Christ and make us more genuine in the faith and more needy of Him. (1 Peter 4:12) As Christ learned obedience through suffering so shall we. (Phil 5:8) We know we are in God's will and that gives us great joy and peace.
I am concerned for many who hold to the name of Christ in America who live in rich comforts and do not realize they are naked and blind. (Rev 3:17-19) It is much harder being a Christian and living in America than in a third world country. In America you are surrounded with so many comforts that put many to sleep and they do not realize they are asleep. I'm afraid that many American Christians have to suffer through great destruction in order to be awakened. And if that has to happen then let it be that the rest of the Elect will be purified! Like it says in Daniel 12:10 "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried.." Living in America you almost have to make yourself poor to protect yourself from the lust of the world and to guard your heart. Not that making oneself poor is holy, but it protects us from have an appetite for more of the world and helps us to be more dependent on God and not our self. Remember our citizenship and home is in Heaven and not here. I truly understand why many of the Chinese Christians have prayed for American Christians to have persecution. Persecution is certainly brings us to our knees. Many American Christians are greatly asleep and I'm afraid that only persecution will wake them up. Not that I want such persecution to happen, but if that is what it takes then let is be for the Glory of God.
Some brethren have shared that they have been praying for us. We so appreciate you all and greatly covet your prayers. You all are deeply in our hearts and continually on our minds. As Paul says to pray always for the Saints. There is power when we are praying for one another. Continue to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith and exhort one another daily. For the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour. Love each other boldly. It will cost to love boldly. It cost Jesus and Jesus says greater love has no man than than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. And watch out for the weak ones in the faith. I had a dream that they are being abused by 2 kinds of groups. On is the "holiness" group who puts these little ones in condemnation, not reminding them who they are in Christ and the rich promises that are theirs, that it is not by works but by faith. And the other group is the harlot Church who allows all sorts of perverse spirits into the fold. Wolves who are ravaging the sheep. God is grieved how these weak sheep are being treated. Remind them who they are in Christ. That they are new creations and when the fall they can boldly approach God's throne of grace and confess their sins and He will cleanse them of their unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) We do not live in condemnation for Christ has set us free. Now I'm not saying we are free to sin; No way! But when we do fall into sin that Christ has made a way for us to be forgiven and we can confess to Him and be cleansed and continue on with the Lord without any condemnation. No Christian should live in continual "practicing" sin.
Finally brethren, I want to recommend a book that I think would be beneficial for all Christians to read. It's called TRUE DISCIPLESHIP by William McDonald. It is definitely the same message that God has burdened in my heart to exhort the brethren with. If you do get it please take it to heart and don't let it be another great book put on the shelf of the many other great Christian books.
Peace & may God bless you with much grace to all His Beloved!
Lisa
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