"...seek first His kingdom..."

I wanted to share a story with you that has truly impacted my life. While we were visiting Mambula Game Lodge. I had the chance to catch up with a couple of the workers. After a couple conversations it was clear one of the workers was after my shoes and he asked that I leave them for him. I didn't find this offensive, but rather quite reflective of our culture. We've been taught to seek so many other things as if they have the power to make us happy, complete or whole inside. But we are so unclear on what happiness really is or God's plan for us. Frankly, I placed the thought of serving God, like my life depended on it, on the back burner was if there is time, or even someone else who can fill the role "I" am called to do. After about 10 min. of talking with this employee I found out that he was going through some life struggles, like all of us are, but he was looking for salvation/solutions in all the wrong places. The bottom of a bottle, smoking, etc. Then he began to tell me he knew it was wrong...he knew that it wasn't what he should be doing, but he didn't have anyone to teach him another way. It was during this moment that I felt the prompting of God within me to share the word (or what little I knew) to him. I was very familiar with the principles of the bible, but didn't know exact scriptures to quote that would be relevant for the situation, so I prayed constantly within for God's direction through the Holy Spirit. Within about 10min. of conversation about the bible and showing him scripture that related to what he was going through, where to find salvation, direction and the love of God...this young man began to shift. You could see it in his face and the way he held himself. It's as if a light bulb went off inside. He understood the ramifications of living a life as he had and what that meant for he and his family. Unfortunately, I had to run cause we were on a really tight scheudle, so I left him with prayer and asked God to show me what I should do next. Before I headed out, I asked when he was getting off work and if he'd be around when I got back. He said no, he'd be off work soon, but he would be in to work the next morning. I knew that our encounter was not by accident. So I jetted off to get ready for the safari and prayed for another opportunity to meet with him.

The next morning..I ran to see if he was there. He was! I was so excited..he had just gotten there and we were due to leave in about 8 min. So I ran over and met him at the bar with a satchel across my shoulder. He embraced me with a big hug and welcomed me as if we were old friends. Everything about him was different. He had a little pep in his step and he embraced every word I said to him as we greeted each other. He also introduced me to his co-worker who I had met the day before briefly. You could tell they had been sharing what he and I talked about the day before and what he was thinking about. I knew I was tight on time so I reached inside the satchel and pulled out a bible (one I had purchased from the coffee bar) and the same shoes he wanted when I first met him. I told him I didn't have much time, but I needed him to choose. I needed him to choose what I was going to leave behind for him to continue growing in God. You could see the words we shared yesterday guiding his thoughts. ( Matthew 6:33 "..seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." ) He looked at me and with no doubt, hesitation or fear..he reached for the bible and embraced it as if he had found the holy grail himself. I was overwhelmed with joy. His willingness to let God be his guide as he seeks the kingdom of heaven. I told him " God wants you to have the bible, and I want you to have the shoes." Go with God.

Hey Y'ALL, be sure to check out the adventures of James Wald on his blogg (http://www.james2africa.com)


Enjoy!

III

Live Among The LIVING...

Hello All,

Well..I must say..it is amazing how supportive we've all grown to be of each other in our continued efforts to seek the kingdom plans for our lives both individually and collectively.

I was drawn to a picture from the trip that most (if not all) of us are familiar with. I was looking back at some pictures from the trip when I noticed "death" in a new way. We are living amongst the living dead and will soon be called to live among the living. Be encouraged and know that this life is temporary and there is a price paid for our lives and a calling for you before you were born. How do you repay someone for such a high valued investment in you...? LIVE AMONG THE LIVING....!

No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret...

I was encourage to share this after the testimony Matt gave about the company policies most employers embrace these days. So I wanted to share a life story with you all that should prove as encouragement to us all. God is in control and as we see Him and walk in His ways..we will be blessed!

William Borden's life

Quotations taken from Borden of Yale, by Mrs. Howard Taylor, Moody Press, Chicago

In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden family fortune, he was already a millionaire. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave 16-year-old Borden a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary."¹
One friend expressed surprise that he was "throwing himself away as a missionary."
In response, Bill wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves."
Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't his money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration."²
During his college years, Bill Borden made one entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."³
Borden's first disappointment at Yale came when the university president spoke on the students' need of "having a fixed purpose." After hearing that speech, Borden wrote: "He neglected to say what our purpose should be, and where we should get the ability to persevere and the strength to resist temptations."⁴ Surveying the Yale faculty and much of the student body, Borden lamented what he saw as the end result of this empty philosophy: moral weakness and sin-ruined lives.
During his first semester at Yale, Borden started something that would transform campus life. One of his friends described how it happened: "It was well on in the first term when Bill and I began to pray together in the morning before breakfast. I cannot say positively whose suggestion it was, but I feel sure it must have originated with Bill. We had been meeting only a short time when a third student joined us and soon after a fourth. The time was spent in prayer after a brief reading of Scripture. Bill's handling of Scripture was helpful. . . . He would read to us from the Bible, show us something that God had promised and then proceed to claim the promise with assurance."⁵
Borden's small morning prayer group gave birth to a movement that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshman were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.
Borden made it his habit to seek out the most "incorrigible" students and try to bring them to salvation. "In his sophomore year we organized Bible study groups and divided up the class of 300 or more, each man interested taking a certain number, so that all might, if possible, be reached. The names were gone over one by one, and the question asked, 'Who will take this person?' When it came to someone thought to be a hard proposition, there would be an ominous pause. Nobody wanted the responsibility. Then Bill's voice would be heard, 'Put him down to me.'"⁶
Borden's outreach ministry was not confined to the Yale campus. He cared about widows and orphans and cripples. He rescued drunks from the streets of New Haven. To rehabilitate them, he founded the Yale Hope Mission. One of his friends wrote that he "might often be found in the lower parts of the city at night, on the street, in a cheap lodging house or some restaurant to which he had taken a poor hungry fellow to feed him, seeking to lead men to Christ."⁷
Borden's missionary call narrowed to the Muslim Kansu people in China. Once that goal was in sight, Borden never wavered. He also inspired his classmates to consider missionary service. One of them said: "He certainly was one of the strongest characters I have ever known, and he put backbone into the rest of us at college. There was real iron in him, and I always felt he was of the stuff martyrs were made of, and heroic missionaries of more modern times."⁸
Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business, and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement."⁹ Although Borden refused to join a fraternity, "he did more with his classmates in his senior year than ever before." He presided over the huge student missionary conference held at Yale and served as president of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high paying job offers. In his Bible, he wrote two more words: "No retreats."
William Borden went on to graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.
When news William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.¹⁰
Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's plan. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No regrets."

Life Lessons Over Lunch...

So we are all looking to get out of work and serve in some capacity...before we strangle the person in the adjacent cubicle. Well, how about some improvisation, until that opportunity to hop on the next plane to South Africa comes..? Something was brought to my attention that we may all be able to implement into our work day/environment in some way. It's all about sharing the word of God in a non-threatening way with those we care about and want to see Godly change in thier lives. So consider "Life Lessons Over Lunch". It's a series that has gotten alot of review about what the work environment should be and how to implement effective and lasting positive progress. I thought it would be worth sharing for those interested in a resourceful way to share the word. Looking forward to hearing your feedback. Enjoy ! ( http://www.lifelessonsoverlunch.com/ )

- Go with God!

The Invisible Children..

I think we can all find purpose and an opportunity to speak out and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Let's come together and remind each other why we are here and the power of numbers of a voice willing to stand for something.

Be Encouraged ( http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php )

so guys, i'm new to the whole blogging thing so right now, i'm testing it to see if i do it right. =) I'll come back later with actual thoughts! I love you all and hope you are blessed!

Revelation...

Sometimes it takes going through our darkest and most trying hour to gain insight and a renewed perspective towards the kingdom of God. And it's during these dark moments that we have a revelation of the spirit of God within us. This revelation changes who we are from the inside out with conviction and purpose, allowing us to go with God in confidence and strength and grow with God doing His work wherever that may be.

To God be the glory for my darkest hour!

- III

Creation 09'

Lionchasers...

I just ran across that event Martina was talking about, Creation 09'. I ask that you consider praying about this opportunity to come together again and praise God. Be encouraged let me know your thoughts..


Creation 09'

- Martina, if there is any information you'd like to post that may be helpful to the group in making decisions, please do so..

- His grace...

III

Friendship with God...

Hello Team,

As discussed, I wanted to start a blogg for us all to contribute. Feel free to share this with others as you are lead to. Also know this community is focused on supporting each other and sharing resources and ideas to build each other up. Hopefully we all find this a helpful tool to commit to in a way that is a fun, creative and supportive outlet and resource for everyone as we all seek next steps in Christ. Please be encouraged and know that our lives, our love and our losses are all for our gain and will serve to support future opportunities to step up and grow closer to Christ as lion chasers.

- His grace is sufficient...


Daily Devotional (3.21.09)

III