Persistence In Prayer...

“I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his PERSISTENCE he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (Luke 11:8). I heard a wonderful message by Pastor Clift Barnes of Horizon Christian Fellowship, last weekend when I was in El Paso.  The message was taken from Luke 11:5-13, and was about the “persistence of prayer”.  This came at a much needed time, as we continue to wait on the Lord for answers to our prayers.

Let’s be honest, no one likes waiting.  It can be very hard, difficult, lonely and discouraging.  However, in those “waiting” times, we can also grow the most, as the Lord is molding and shaping us...desiring to teach us more about Him.  David Guzik wrote this, in his commentary on this passage in Luke, that really stirred my heart and thinking...

“God often waits for our passionate persistence in prayer.  It isn’t that God is reluctant and needs to be persuaded.  Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes US, developing in us a heart and passion for what GOD wants”

The more persistence we are in our prayers, the more the Lord changes US.  What a blessing that is to know, that even in the quiet times, the Lord is still working.

I share that with you so that you can join us, during this “waiting” and “persistence in prayer” time, regarding the electrical work for the facility.  The Mennonites have agreed do the electrical work for us, but are waiting on CFE (Mexico’s electric company) to come and approve before they can get started.  Over the past 2 weeks, they have told us they were coming out 3 different times, and yet have never showed up.  I am determined that rather then get discouraged, I’m going to be encouraged...to continue, persistently praying and giving this over to the Lord.  Will you continue to pray along with us?

Thank you very much....

Mas Agua...

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel" (Exodus 17:6). This is definitely one situation I would have loved to witness.  God providing water from a rock...that would flow forth and satisfy some 1 million persons and livestock.  Sometimes we think it was just a trickle of flowing water or maybe more like a stream.  However, imagine how much water actually had to come pouring out, to satisfy the thirst of that many people and animals.  Think about how much pressure, force, etc!

On a much smaller scale, we experienced something in a similar way this past week.  We were in need of getting water to the orphanage and God helped us accomplish that.  It was quite a process, but exciting to watch unfold.  Similar to the septic tanks we are using, the water tank is 6,500 liters, or, 1700 gallons.  Because the power tends to go out often, you put your water tanks as high as possible.  That way, even if your pump goes out, you have the height and gravity to still get water to the facility.  So, we constructed a massive, 6x6, 10 foot high steal base, that would hold the tank.  That was the easy part...getting the tank up there was another story.  It took 2 guys on the roof, 2 on the stand, and myself on the ground...to maneuver this massive tank.  God’s hand was definitely upon us as we hoisted the tank with ropes, sliding up wood planks for ramps and using boards for braces, so it wouldn’t roll off. There were a few scary moments, however, we were able to get it right in place without injuries...Gloria A Dios!

After digging more trenches, and running the pipe, the time came to turn the water on and check for leaks.  It was a glorious sight to see...as water came gushing out of the end of the piping.  It was even more exciting to see the watering pouring into the tank after hooking everything up.  That’s what reminded me of the story in Exodus.  The water was so loud, so powerful as it came gushing out into the tank...filling it up in only a matter of minutes.

So now...praise the Lord, water is flowing freely throughout the entire facility and we are now able to hook up AND have working toilets, sinks and showers.  It was a wonderful week and we thank the Lord for another accomplished task!

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  Has it not been told you from the beginning?  Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in" (Isaiah 40:21-22).

Embracing Closed Doors...

"Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.  After they had come to Mysia they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them" (Acts 16:6-7). One of my favorite letters written by Paul, is that to the church in Philippi.  It is incredibly encouraging, uplifting and filled with reminders of God’s blessings.  I also love the letter, because of how the church came about in the first place.  And for that, we travel back to the book of Acts, chapter 16.

Paul so badly desired to preach the gospel in Asia...yet the Lord had a different plan.  Acts 16:6-7 tells us that Paul tried, not once, but twice, to get into Asia, to preach the Word.  However, these verses tell us that the Holy Spirit did NOT permit it.  That seems strange if you think about it for a moment.  Why would the Lord NOT want the Word to be preached? Why would God close such a great door of opportunity, rather then open it?  Doesn’t He desire that, “...non should perish, but ALL come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  Yes He does, but the bible also tells us that His ways and thoughts are not our ways and thoughts (Jeremiah).  Solomon also wrote that, “as a mans heart plans his ways, the Lord directs His steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Back in May of last year, it seemed like God had opened a tremendous door of opportunity.  Everything was lining up, for us to begin caring for some 40 orphans, from an orphanage in Creel, as the current orphanage would close down.  God brought together a great relationship between the director, Ray Wilson, and myself.  He and his wife have been a great encouragement to Jackie and I.  As you all know, we faced some serious difficulties (closed doors) that were very frustrating.  God had orchestrated everything so smoothly up until September...why the challenges now?  Why did it seem like more doors were CLOSING then OPENING?  To be honest, I don’t know.  BUT...what I do know, and want to encourage you today in, is what the Lord has been teaching me.  God has shown me in a tremendous way, how to love, appreciate and EMBRACE, closed doors of opportunity.  Just as much as you would an open door of opportunity.

You see if we believe that Jesus knows all things, created all things and has our best interest in hand...should we really be discouraged when we come up against a closed door?  Even though we may think, or others, think it would be best opened, God may not think so.  I have also learned that when God does close a door, its only because he has something BETTER for us.  Yes, something better, like we see later on in Acts chapter 16.  Because the Spirit forbade Paul to enter Asia, he got the call to go to Macedonia...and as a result of that, a woman named Lydia and her household were saved, a demon possessed girl was saved, the philippian jailer and his household was saved, and the church in Philippi was birthed.

Think about that...no matter how exciting it seemed, to preach the gospel in Asia, God had something bigger and better in store.  Often times we look at something through a tiny magnifying glass...when God wants to pull us back a step and show us the bigger picture, through HIS lens.  Though we had thought that once the orphanage building was finished, we would begin caring for those children in Creel, that door has closed.

Ray, sent out a wonderful letter to his supporters that I have included in this post.  He does an excellent job explaining the new opportunities God has provided. Saints, I am just as encouraged as I was back in May.  In fact, even more so, because though we face a closed door that once seemed open...I anxiously await the new door of opportunity that God DOES open, to care for those in need.

Letter from Ray Wilson...

There has been a new development in our Creel Mexico “Aljaba” Children’s Home that I can hardly wait to tell you about! We were recently approached by an organization of Mexican churches that have a concern, as we do, for the Tarahumara Indian orphans in the mountains around the Creel area. They had the desire to open a Children’s Home in that area, but had not found a suitable location. This group of churches has helped us periodically with food and supplies there for several years.

We discussed several options with them and together we arrived at a decision, a proposal, that they took to their organizational leaders and I took to our Board of Directors for approval. I am pleased to say that both their leaders and our Board have given unanimous approval! So, we are now entering into a partnership with this church organization and them with ours, to fund the continuing day to day expenses of caring for, housing, and educating the 40 children that live at our Children’s Home in Creel! And though we will continue to substantially fund the Children’s Home there, our new partners are taking on the bulk of the financial responsibilities!

 

This has been a matter of prayer since we first opened this Children’s Home in 1994. It has always been my father, Black Buffalo’s calling to start new ministries where others, for one reason or another, had not done so. He has had, and always will have, a “pioneering, we can do this” kind of spirit and outlook. I like to say about him that he has “boldly gone where no man has gone before!” It has always been his prayer that a Mexican organization would someday rise to the occasion and begin taking care of the orphans in their country. That day has come!

 

• They will be providing local leadership, and coordinating volunteers and workers to oversee and assist our current staff, which includes our directors, Lino and Lupe Balderas, who have been with us for the past seven years.
• We will continue to raise support and receive contributions here in the States and use those funds to help with the day to day expenses, as well as with construction and maintenance projects around the buildings and property.
• We will continue to support the ministry there by taking Mission Adventure Teams to the Children’s Home on a regular basis.
• This decision enables us to pursue the opening of our third Children’s Home in Retalhuleu Guatemala, where we already have an organization of 11 churches that are ready and able to take on the day to day operation and partial funding of caring for the children! We also have plans to open our second Leticia Colombia Children’s Home in 2014. We opened our first one there in 2004 and it continues to minister to and care for 75 children with funding from the Orphanos Foundation.
• Please join with us as we “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”

Please don't hesitate to email me OR give me a call if you have any questions.  Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Jason