Spell
Praise God for mighty leaders who practice prevailing prayer. They understand it is the great “I Am” who is truly in control. He is the One who changes things, brings peace and prosperity to any one, any community, any city, any nation that puts Him first, believes, and practices prevailing prayer. How blessed we are to live in a community where faith and family take precedence. What a wonderful week we have witnessed, watching on television and reading on internet, as our team of medical evangelists work miracles in Haiti, bring humbleness to our hearts, and honor to our hometown. Our medical evangelists are following Jesus’ example, “being doers of the Word” and sharing His sweet spirit through heroic, servanthood acts being seen and heard around the world. It’s so true that nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God. People of all nations have seen the mighty Hand of God moving powerfully in Haiti. God gets all the glory, but it’s awesome when our county, our town, our communities, our people’s obedience and love for the Lord shines brightly for all the world to see. Surely, God smiles on our people, our place, and proclaims, “Well done my good and faithful servants.’
Dr. Larry Watts shared his feelings about working for the Lord as medical evangelists at a planning meeting for the Haiti trip. I wrote his words in my journal and have embraced the powerful message this week, “this trip, as any mission trip we do, is not about giving glory to any one church or group of people. It’s about giving glory to God and doing His work in the spirit of Christ.”
That’s what all of us should focus on as we proclaim praise for the mighty movement of miracles we are seeing happen in Haiti and here at home. It’s not about us; it’s about God and what He can do through our obedience. Ain’t it grand what He’s doing this week! A little Sampson slang to make sure you’re listening … are you sure you’re listening? I’ve been listening and loving the way God is moving, making people aware that He’s still in control, thrilled how he is using faith filled people from our hometown to do His work in a devastated land, praising Him that the enemy’s attempts- to block the blessings and bring dismay for items and people who didn’t make it to Haiti -failed, and believing God’s got our concerns already cured and ready for future miracles. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. These tough times make our faith even stronger, our witness much sweeter- knowing that His plans are always for our good and not harm.God used many people to make this trip one we can all be proud of. He knows our names, our hearts, our contributions, our prayers; our rewards are eternal and more delicious than a hot Krispy Kreme donut! Man may not see what we’ve done, but God does.
My heart stirred to write this story as a praise for all His children who have been a part of this mighty mission endeavor. I have struggled with how to write it and who to credit for making it all happen. Working into wee hours of the night only clouded my thoughts, so I decided to sleep on it and wait on His words of wisdom. They came in the early morning hours, as I read my morning devotion, and from prayer warriors who gave me good, Godly, common sense counsel during morning prayer at “Tim’s Gift.” Praise God for friends who speak the truth, even when it hurts. Are you blessed with such friends? Tell them you appreciate them, before the sun goes down. Don’t ignore words of love and life from those who love the Lord and you! Be thankful.
My devotion read,“ ‘In the multitude of words sin is not lacking; but he who restrains his lips is wise’ Proverbs 10:19 When you pray, My child, do not make it a one-way conversation. Know I am listening, but know also I will respond and will speak to you if you give Me opportunity. Prayer is not only of the lips, but of the ear also, for prayer is of the heart, and the heart that has learned to love has learned to listen more than to speak! A loving heart will teach you this. Speaking is often motivated by self-seeking, self-preservation, self-defense, self-aggrandizement and every other expression of the ego. Listening is an expression of interest and concern for others. When you come to Me in prayer, you ought to come to enjoy Me, not to entertain Me. A lack of humility causes you to be verbally expansive.” God desires our community, our mission team members, our hometown folks to be humble and honor Him in all the “good stuff” happening and going to happen. It’s only just begun!
My heart cried tears of triumph for our Maker, for multitudes who’ve been helped and healed in Haiti, for all of us here at home who helped it happen; this mighty mission from the Master. I planned to share appreciation to those who had the vision, the medical volunteers, their families, the sponsoring church, lots of leaders, those who donated items, made dresses, wrote large checks or put in small coins, gathered, sorted, and packed items in crates for transport, made contacts for everything from trucks filled with cases of water, to men providing trucks, planes, and pilots to carry our people and supplies to the field where treasures awaited. Shouldn’t we recognize those who sold tickets, donated food, prepared the banquet hall, adorned it with flowers, planned the program, served the meal, set up the equipment, sang the songs, and the list goes on? He knows every person, every little detail, and honors the determination of all His children who worked as a team to do His will. So, we can all celebrate this time when He is teaching us lessons of loving and serving Him, showing us miracles from His Hand, while knowing our obedience to His calling helped the cause and is fueling our faith.
The blessings of prevalent prayer is evident here, while watching our people perform miraculous acts there. Many of you have experienced blessings and miracles known only to you and God. Other miracles have taken center stage for our community to applaud. The Clinton Pentecost Holiness Church hosted a night of good singing, steaks, and a time to celebrate hometown miracles. Donna Reedy shared how God multiplied money donated by friends and family to cover her expenses, how her company, Healthkeeperz, matched all monies collected, and Global Impact matched that amount. Her excitement mounted as she called Dr. Watt’s forward to accept the check. His comments were important, but the miracle came when he took time to address what matters most in life, what we should stop to celebrate and thank God for in the great scheme of things. He told the packed place how we had placed ‘praying for Stephen’ signs all around town, supported Stephen and his family, and prayed that he would overcome the stoke that robbed him of functions you and I take for granted every day. Dr. Watts asked Stephen to stand. His devoted wife helped him to his feet. He stood for all to see their prayers sent up that ladder were answered. The Holy Spirit settled over that room; all of God’s children did rise and shine, cheered and clapped to see the power of prayer as Stephen walked slowly and silently shouted’thank you friends, God did this; He’s got you and me—it’s a miracle!”
My space has run out, but not the miracles and marvelous stories I still have to share. They’re coming soon; I can’t wait to write what’s being sown in my heart Prevalent prayer is powerful. We have seen God’s mighty Hand and His presence as this Haiti Medical Mission Trip has touched the world. Pray for our friends and neighbors, our medical evangelists, whose faith and service has saved lives and given life to His Word, His work, His wonders … around the world. Welcome home our heroes, humbled in spirit, honored by God, and happy to have served, even happier to come home to a land of plenty and people who appreciate and love them.
Embrace God’s Word in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Let us watch as God’s work continues, as do His blessings and bounty, to those who are faithful and fueled up … ready to go or stay at His command. Let us be thankful that He chose our place, our people, our provisions to provide help and hope to hurting people. Let us give God the glory, stay in prayer, be ready for even bigger and better blessings, and expect many more miracles. It’s possible when we put our trust in Him! Amen.
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