Ever More

I love the beach, and often feel so close to God when we are there. As I walked along the beach at Palm Coast this summer, I felt as if God were speaking to me, telling me of a new work I would do for him. I remembered a scripture I had read years before, but I wasn't able to find, not then anyway. I thought of our mission trip and wondered what purpose I might have after we came home from Africa. As I pondered and prayed, I began thinking BIG thoughts and dreaming BIG dreams. My dream included building a home for orphans. (I was thinking China at the time.)

As the time drew near for our mission to South Africa, I began to focus on the work he would have for us there. I began to anticipate the inconceivable.


I would never have imagined that I would find such joy in seeing Shandakani, the first child we identified to sponsor, or that I would feel sadness in my heart when I saw her for the last time before we came home.



Nor could I have imagined the love I would feel for a little boy who jumped into my arms, put his arms around my neck, and rested his head on my shoulder. I never anticipated the joy I would feel when I was able to see Adi one last time or the excitement of learning he would be the second orphan we would sponsor in the school next year.



As I have been praying Ephesians 3:20, and as our mission team read and claimed Habukkuk 1:5, God began to move in ways we would never have imagined, and would hardly have believed, even if we had been told.

We would learn that Brad and Hazel Palmer of Build the Nations had wondered if they should begin providing a home for orphans. As they learned of our desire to work with orphans, they contacted a local pastor. He helped them identify Faith, Solomon, and Shandakani. Visiting the home of their grandmother and learning of their situation, they began to make plans to bring the children to the mission base to stay Monday-Friday. Their grandmother is 84 years old, slightly crippled and blind in one eye. She and the children are excited about the possibility of their staying at the school during the week. The children wanted to go to school on Saturday!

Then, as I fell in love with Adi at Auntie Lydia's, I was moved to ask Hazel if she thought Adi could be the second orphan we sponsored. But, Hazel took it a step further and asked Auntie Lydia if Adi could live on the mission base, at least during the week. She also made plans for Zuavhudi to do the same.

Hazel began to talk with me and others on the mission team. She shared her dream of building a home for orphans on the base, and we shared her excitement. We were quickly promising to come home and help raise funds to build that house!!!!

That night in my prayer time, I thought, for the first time, of the prompting from the LORD while I was at the beach. And, just like Jesus, I found the scripture I had looked for earlier, but couldn't find. I found it when it was TIME. "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

It was time, the time was now, for the new thing to spring forth. I was in the wilderness in Afria, in the dry season, where the place looked like a desert. God was showing me clearly the new thing. And, as I read more, I found Isaiah 45:2, "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight."

So, ever more than I could have imagined when we felt called to go to Africa, ever more than I could have imagined when we left home, we broke ground for the new building for orphans, a step of faith, before we left Africa.




Look carefully at the photo with Josie-Tatum in the foreground. You will one day see a new thing spring forth from the plot of land that looks like a wilderness. You can be part of the new work for Jesus by joining us in prayer. And, if the LORD leads your to contribute monetarily, please email me at rbmattox@bellsouth.net

Join me in.....Anticipating the Inconceivable.

(You can read more about Faith, Solomon, Shandukani, Zuavhudi, and Adi at our family blog...http://meimeimakesfour.blogspot.com )

Confessions

The wisdom of the world is that an honest confession is good for the soul; but the wisdom of our Heavenly Father is, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another."

Today, I confess my weakness. That is a good thing, because He promises that His strenght is perfect in our weakness. Today, more than ever, I request prayers for me.

I confess that the journey of last week, the journey that took our Brandon to meet his biological father, has drained me physically, emotionally, and even more spiritually. I believe I am malnourished. I feasted on Olive Garden Grilled Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara, on the best cheese steak sandwich I've ever eaten, on lots of salad, and too much fast food. I am weak, though, because I did not take enough time to feast on God's word.

In 10 days, Josie-Tatum and I leave for South Africa. I must spend the next ten days preparing for the battle, sanctifying myself for the work of the LORD.

Please pray for me. I feel so weak. I feel so inadequate. I am working to restore my vision. I know that God will do more than I can ask or imagine, but I believe in the power of intercessory prayer as well.

I thank Him that tonight, our pastor reminded me that there is power in praise. I thank Him that our pastor reminded me that I am energized by praise and worship music. I praise Him because Jesus knew I needed to be reminded of that, and our pastor was obedient to deliver the message to the flock, so I could hear.

I thank Him that He prompted me to pour out my heart tonight to my church family, and they began to pray for me. I thank Him for the sweet prayer of Brother Ricky. I thank Him for the sweet words of Mrs. Caroline who said she was lying in bed praying for Josie-Tatum and me last night. I thank Him for those who came to me with love and hugs and words of encouragement.

I praise Him that I had begun to think that preparing our thank you letter for those who have contributed would help me remember where we began and where God has taken us. It would help me remember that this mission was ordained by Him. He sent affirmation by a visit to a blog.

And, I praise Him again, for giving me more than I asked for, for affirming more of His sweet words to my soul. As I was seeking direction for Bible study, I thought about Joshua. Feeling weak, I thought I needed the words that remind us to be strong and very courageous, for our God is with us. I had decided I would study the book of Joshua as I prepare for the mission.

Then, just like JESUS, he affirmed for me that Joshua is indeed where I need to spend time, and a letter of thanks to others can be a remembrance and encouragement for me. I went to Linn's blog. (Many of you know Linn, but if you don't, you should get to know her by clicking here.) Linn spoke of her memorial box, and I knew then that our thank you letter could be a memorial box for me. Then I followed the link to her first memorial box post, and do you know where her scripture reference came from? Of course, you do. It was from Joshua. Affirmations of the evening #1 and #2.

Now, to some of you who are less inclined to believe in my God who is the Wonder-Working, Awe-Inspiring, Jehovah-Jireh, this might be hard to believe. But, just now, while I was typing this post, pouring out my heart, asking for prayers, my son Caleb and his girlfriend came in with the local newspaper. In this week's paper is a story about our mission trip. I read it and wept. There is a quote in the story from the missionary who founded Build the Nations, where we will be serving. Here is what he said of Josie-Tatum's visit, "These kids have never had a visit by another child who cares about them, let alone one from overseas, and that alone will bless them."

So, Big Shout Out Praise to the Wonder-Working, Awe-Inspring, Jehovah-Jireh for already sending answers to my heart's cry. Please pray with me and anticpate the inconceivable!