trusting God Archives

abril 11, 2022 por Joshua Dykes 1 comentario

Big Misson, Bigger God, Small World

Some of you know him and some of you don’t, but I want to tell you about my friend Paul Chandler. I never knew growing up that we would both end up in another country. Paul used to come over to my house to jump on the trampoline with my brother Brandon. As we both grew, we both also matured in our faith. We were part of the same youth group, taught by the same youth minister (shout out to Ron K. Brack), and mentored by some of the same people (I specifically think of both of our parents, the Tosh’s and Ms. Sandy).

We both served others together until I left to study in Brownwood in 2015. A year after I started attending Howard Payne University, Paul also moved to Brownwood to study there! It was surprising to have someone I knew from childhood also at the same university, and there we also served together and shared the Gospel. I graduated in 2018 and moved to Honduras shortly after to work with 61 Isaiah Ministries. In 2021, guess who else moved it to Honduras! You got it, Paul and his wife Taylor!

Paul has been a breath of fresh air for me (and also for all of our ministry team). Having someone to talk to that I already know on a deep level has been stupendous. I don’t have to explain the back story to my stories or experiential perspectives because Paul was there for much of them! Paul has an unmoving commitment to God and God’s Word that challenges me to be better. His presence has brought hope and peace to our team after the hard years of Covid and hurricane relief efforts.

Who would have thought that two of those boys jumping on the trampoline would one day be two of the men serving in Honduras with 61 Isaiah Ministries? I am proud of Paul and honored to work alongside him, learn from him, and advance the Kingdom.

This is just another example of how God connects people and carries out relational ministry. If you had asked Paul and me 10 years ago where we would be in 10 years, neither of us would have told you precisely that we would be serving with a ministry in Honduras together, but we were willing to do as God led us and now we get to serve together with an awesome ministry team.

As a ministry, we are sharing the gospel continuously with our youth group and with the people we encounter. We are encouraging two pastors to start discipleship with others, we are teaching how to do marriages and baptisms, and we are doing our best to be closer to God in each step of it.

febrero 4, 2022 por Michelle Holloway 9 Comments

The Balance of Life

I am often at a loss of what to write in blog posts. I do not feel I have any great truths to share or knowledge to bequeath to others. Many times, I simply write about my everyday life and how God reveals truths to me in this way.

This past December, we traveled back to the U.S. to spend Christmas with our families and to get some necessary medical procedures. It was a busy and full trip, but the time with our family was truly priceless. One of our goals on this trip was to gather some items that had been donated for the ministry. As such, we had several bags that we were returning with to Honduras. I knew the allowed weight limits and baggage sizes and I was pretty sure I had it all worked out. I wasn’t able to find my luggage scale, but I figured they weren’t too heavy as I could pick them up.

Well, I guess the workouts have paid off, but I overestimated my strength. When we arrived to check in our bags, I had one that was quite a bit over the weight limit. Panic ensued, but thankfully I had somewhat prepared for this. There was a bit of juggling of items, rearranging, and reweighing, but I finally got it all worked out.

I didn’t mention that the day we left Texas, it was in the low 30s with a lovely wind blowing and we checked our luggage in at an outside kiosk. So, there I was, with several open suitcases in the cold and wind trying to get everything to balance out just right so that we wouldn’t get charged extra. I am sure you can imagine this sight. I probably should have had Jeff video this fiasco, it felt like we would have won America’s Funniest Home Videos.

But regardless of my embarrassment at that moment, I walked away thinking how much this juggling of items in my luggage resembled my life. With the new year often comes New Year’s resolutions. I am going to read my Bible more, pray more, lose weight, eat healthier, start a new hobby, etc. We live life as a juggling act, and we are desperate to keep all the balls up in the air. I am always afraid of dropping the ball in some form or fashion.

But as I looked back at the cold concrete where I had just rearranged my suitcase items, I pondered how often I do that in my own life. I put so much on my plate and then must balance it all perfectly to get everything done. I could have easily avoided my problem at the airport had I just found my luggage scale. I realized that I could easily avoid the juggling of things in my life if I just consulted the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Scripture tells me exactly how to balance my life, but if I am being completely honest, I lean way too much on my own understanding and often don’t ask God’s direction before adding one more thing to my plate. It isn’t until I am panicking because I can’t get everything done that, I finally ask God for help.

As I walked through that airport, I realized I had things completely out of order. I must seek the Lord in the things HE has for my life, not the things I think He wants in my life. I must trust the Lord and not lean on my own understanding. I just bet if I consulted Him before adding things to my plate, I would have a much easier time balancing everything.

So, as we start this new year, I want to challenge myself to stop and ask the Lord before I commit, to trust Him, and commit everything to Him. I look forward to seeing how He shapes and molds me and how life balances in a way a never would have dreamed!

enero 7, 2022 por Nelsy Paz Deja un comentario

Mourning Into Gladness

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
– Psalms 9:9

As I think of all the events that happened in 2021 for me and my family, this is the verse that comes to mind. In 2021, I lost my grandmother, my grandfather, and my brother. The pain that I feel for those losses is huge. This verse helps me to breathe and to trust God more than ever. I’m not going to lie, at the beginning, especially after the death of my dear brother, I was mad at God. I could not understand why He had to take him away from us. But as I think of my brother, I have the assurance that he is in a better place now, enjoying God’s presence. I know we will see each other again, and this brings joy to my heart. God is a faithful God. He will always be with us in the good and bad moments.

2021 was also the year that Jason and I found out that we are going to be parents. For us, this is a sign of God’s faithfulness. Our baby is bringing hope, strength, and joy in a time of mourning. This is proof of what God is capable of. He is the only one that can change our pain to joy, our suffering to worship. Our broken hearts are made whole again.

This holiday season was quite different for me and my family. Someone was missing at the table. It was a time to remember our loved ones. This is not easy, but God always fills our hearts with strength.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Romans 15:13

Trusting in the Lord is the best way that we can surpass any suffering we are going through. If we allow God into our hearts, He will bring joy and hope even in the darkest times. He has shown me how loved I am by putting special people around me, and by giving me the gift of becoming a mother. God has different ways to show us His great love. We just have to allow Him to govern our lives and to trust in His holy will and purpose for our lives.

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