Is it God's Job or Mine? Yes

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This past month, our church sent a team from our missions support group to the 1-day "TMAI International Symposium (pictured above)," live-streamed the 3-day "Shepherd's Conference" (pictured below) and hosted two "Missions Sundays." It was "fast and fierce," as my husband says, but in a good way. We were immeasurably blessed, encouraged and convicted by the word. I am still basking in the good of these last few weeks. But one thing that has been rising to the top for me is the sufficiency of the word and how tempting it is to get comfortable - though we are dependent on the Lord, we are responsible to walk in the truth we have been richly provided. 

In a Q & A with pastors John MacArthur and John Piper, they were asked: why expository preaching? MacArthur started by stating something that can be taken for granted - 'the word is inexhaustible and covers everything.' Piper shared, 'God wrote a book and gave it to us, and He knows everything. Why would I waste my time with anything else?' May we continue to go to the Scriptures for answers, truth and counsel, not the world, logic or personal preferences.

Missions Sunday Q&A

These shepherds were then asked if they would change anything with respect to their teaching ministry. I was  exhorted when Piper said, 'The closer you can get to the word, the more confident you can be that it will not return void. The how is meaningless. The Holy Spirit works through faithful rendering of the word.' God's words, not mine, are alive, active, discerning, mighty for taking down strongholds, able to save and restore the soul and mind.

Lastly, they expanded on aging as a believer. MacArthur, 84 years old, shared his heart prayer to God: 'Please, keep me faithful in speech and conduct. I do not want to undermine the work You are doing.' Piper, 78 years old, closed similarly by adding, 'He will hold me fast. The battle rages on. Do not coast, or you will be destroyed. While you have life, you have ministry.' These godly men are aware of their spiritual frailty, desperate need for God and His grace and their individual responsibility - am I? 

By no means is this an effort to guilt you over your bible reading, studying, meditating or memorizing, '...for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ' (Romans 8:1). Our prayer is that the Lord would grow our longing for Him and His word (Psalm 1:2, 19:7, 34:8, 42:1). May He be faithful to remind us the Bible is 'profitable' (2 Timothy 3:14-17) and faith and life are found in the Scriptures, even as Christ Himself battled temptation by quoting truth to the enemy (Romans 10:14-16, Matthew 4:4). As disciples and disciple makers, may we run the race learning and teaching others to obey all Jesus taught (Matthew 28:18-20).

Praise Reports:

  1. Husband is working on final edits to his thesis and will turn it in on Monday, April 1;
  2. Husband and I had the blessing of hosting a missionary pastor from Pakistan and meet another missionary from Spain;
  3. We were able to celebrate one of my brother-in-law's birthdays and see family we do not see often (see picture above); 
  4. Jacob had his final music recital, and many family and friends came to join - it was a blessing to see the gifting the Lord has provided him and the ability to enjoy it together (see picture below); and
  5. Zachary is continuing to work, go to school and spend time with us.

Jacob's Senior Recital

Prayer Requests (the Lord's will in all):

  1. Husband will present his thesis for his last semester of bible training on April 15th, and I will be able to attend;
  2. A new home to live in/near Riverside;
  3. I applied for the permanent position at UCR for the contract job I have been working since January; 
  4. Wisdom, endurance & to walk in the Spirit, with ongoing health challenges, daily dealings with sin & working (Avi);
  5. Witnessing and discipleship opportunities; and
  6. Jacob & Zachary to bear consistent/genuine fruit of salvation.

Meeting Steve Lawson at the TMAI Int'l Symposium

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