I love how the Bible talks about our ministry. “Our ministry” as in your’s and mine. I’ll show you specifically where I’m talking about in a minute, but let me tell you why I’m so excited about how succinctly this is written. People sometimes say to me, “I could never do what you’re doing.” My first thought is usually, “Great! Praise God He calls most people to stay home so that I can go!” I realize that I am only able to go, because God calls most people to stay. Without the prayer and financial support of those who stay, we could never go. My brother once preached a sermon on missions (it was phenomenal) and used the illustration of the army. For every soldier on the front line, nine are needed as support personnel, in order for the front line to be effective. That stuck with me as I could see how true it was for missionaries. And, while I know it wouldn’t be possible to go without the financial support, and I recognize the huge value of logistical support, what we crave most is the prayer support. Now for the coolest part. Look how the Bible states it in II Corinthians 1:8-11 (emphasis added) “8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.” Did you catch that? You join us in our ministry and help us through prayer. Then we all get to thank God together for the answer and corresponding work. I love it! (Not to mention the wonderful lesson on deliverance and hope in the first half.) Meanwhile, think of the benefits on your part - while we get to be “burdened excessively, beyond our strength” (thank God for our hope in Him!), you get to pray for us. Then you’re credited with the ministry too. Not a bad deal. Because we know we can’t do this without God’s strength and guidance, we are SO thankful for our prayer partners; we can’t express it enough. We list our current prayer requests in the margin to the right and an extended version of the same on our our "Partner With Us" page. Please join with us in our prayers and our ministry. Thank you, Ruth, for our family. This is a barely modified post that I previously wrote in April 2015. I wanted to post it again, not only for the good reminder but also to get it out from behind the password protected area of the site.
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Lance & RuthOn a journey following God and working to be a blessing to everyone we come across here in Thailand. Prayer Requests- Concussion recovery for Ruth.
- Young people to sign up for the Inspire homeschool program to arrive next fall. - Travel arrangement and details. Archives
March 2024
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