January 3, 2025 Devotion

 "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

This is a time, for me anyway, to feel heavy-laden: Do we have all the supplies we need? Are the flight reservations correct? Do we have a driver for our bus? Are the hotel reservations in Chicago confirmed? Will all our supplies fit in our suitcases? Etc.

Yes, I feel heavy-laden, but He offers rest. No, I can't do it all on my own, but He gives rest for my soul. 

As I turn my eyes to Him in prayer, I begin to feel the reassurance that His yoke is easy and His burden in light, 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

~Roxanne

December 19, 2024

 Romans 5:2-5

2. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 

3. And not only that, but we rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 

4. endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

5. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Last week, as I reviewed my notes on Sunday's message, I focused on verses 3 - 5: afflictions in the HCSB translation or tribulations in the NKJV and NASB translations. I completely missed the importance of verse 2. 

We (believers) have also already obtained (obtained is the perfect tense in the Greek, which means it occurred in the past and produces a result in the present; the emphasis is on the present state) access through Him by faith (the means we have this access) into this grace in which we continue to stand (perfect tense), and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Words in italics are explanations added to the text, courtesy of Pastor Jeremy.)

In 28 days, we will head to the Republica Dominicana (the Dominican Republic, a little Spanish lesson). 

Important tasks:

    - Pray

    - Connect with a prayer partner

    - Pray

    - Plan on team commissioning/mission meeting/packing party on January 12

    - Pray

    - Consider malaria prophylaxis (contact your doctor, a travel clinic, or Roxanne for questions/prescriptions)

    - Pray

Suggestions for your packing list:

    - Remember, less is more

    - You will have room in one checked bag and carry-on for all your items. You may also want to leave some room for coffee and vanilla in your return suitcase. 

    - Our laundry will be done daily, and people on the medical team will wear scrubs (which our guest house supplies) during the day

    - Bedding and towels/washcloths are provided

    - Consider leaving most of your electronics at home

    - Your Bible and a journal are essential (I have a new mission journal for anyone who needs one)

    - A book light is a good idea (so you can read past lights out for your roommates)

    - A water bottle (SRI supplies one, but some of us have a favorite one we bring)

    - Sunglasses and sun-block (essential)

    - Sturdy shoes (closed-toe ones are required for everyone on medical)

    - A flexible attitude

~Roxanne

We are 6 days out until Christmas, and our hearts go to those who have been impacted (whether directly or indirectly) by the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on Monday. As we pray, please pray for unity in the Body of Christ, healing for all involved, that the truth will be revealed, and that we will be sensitive to and meet the needs as we become aware of them, 

Ephesians 4:2-6 says, "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." NASB

It is easy to get preoccupied with all the details of the world around us and lose focus on Jesus; distractions are our enemy's favorite tactic, and man, he has perfected them. He wants to steal our joy, so let us not give him the opportunity. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." NASB

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 

Deb

11/14/24 Devotional and some Admin details

In my study of the book of Job, I've been struck by several parallels in our mission, which is our everyday life as well as our time overseas. 

Job has been struck by the loss of family, possessions, and health yet he proclaims - 

"For I know that my Redeemer lives

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

Even after my skin is destroyed,

Yet from my flesh I shall see God," Job 19:25-26

Recall that Job wrote this about the same time as Genesis. Job had no Scripture to read, he only had his faith in God.

In the Psalms, written by the sons of Korah who had the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) available, the writter says - 

"Why are you cast down, o my soul?

And why are you oin turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

My salvation and my God." Psalm 42:11

Reading these verses sometimes makes me angry at myself, 
I have my health (basically), my family, warm home, and friends; so why does my soul become cast down? 

Because I stop looking up to my Reeemer and focus on myself.

Then I am reminded that what I see, hear, and feel in the here and now is temporary. I have hope, my Redeemer lives!

I pray that as we will all focus on this as the nitty-gritty details pile up as our travel dates approach.

~Roxanne

These past 8 weeks, we have been going over the sufficiency and authority of Scripture on Wednesday night in GBC Kids Club. It is amazing and encouraging to witness our kids recognize that God gave us the Bible so we can know His love and how he wants us to live. 

"So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ." Romans 10:17

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

We are witnesses of His love, grace, and mercy to all we interact with - at home, at work, at the store, at the airports, on the planes, and on our mission. May any blinders be removed and hearts be softened, and may we be aware of what God is already doing and join Him as He has prepared us to.

Now for some of the nitty-gritty admin details.  We are 63 days out of our mission, if you have not asked for someone to partner with you in prayer as we prepare, travel, and serve, please do so this week. 

For those traveling, please ensure that you have registered with Solid Rock for our mission trip on their website - www.solidrockinternational.org/missions-home/

Our next STM meeting is December 15, starting around 12:30. Some things we will be covering include prayer, signing up to lead devotions during our mission, potluck at our hotel in Chicago, and packing suitcases. I will also have my Chromebook available so we can start the online Dominican Republic immigration forms, as they need to be filled out before we arrive at O'Hare airport. 

Blessings, 

Deb

Preparation Devotion

 2 Timothy 4:1-5 

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. Fir the time will come when they will not endure soon doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, and do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." NASB

Summer has begun and so have our preparations for our Fall STM Retreat and our mission trip in January. While details for our travels, lodging, and such are important the most important thing is for us to be ready now, preparing our hearts, souls, and wills by spending quality time with God through through our quiet time in His Word and in prayer. We also need to be comfortable in sharing the gospel and our testimony with others. There are resources that are available including EvanTell, https://www.evantell.org/evangelism-videos/, to help you. Also, please get with either Lynn, Roxanne, or Deb if you have questions or need help. 

Our Fall Short-term Mission Retreat is September 13-15 at the Woodchuck Ranch, N5768 18th Lane Princeton WI. Be watching for more details in the upcoming weeks. 

There is so much to be thankful for and also to pray about:

• Scott's neck surgery on April 4, went well and though his recovery is slow (it will take at least a year) he has been making progress. We are thankful for GOd's provision i a wonderful care team who recognize what is happening when he cannot find the words and have clearly explained the importance of not overdoing it to keep recovering. he will be seen by his care team again the end of October to see how he is doing and prayerfully figure the next steps to find out the root cause(s) of his underlying poly and peripheral neuropathies and other neurological symptoms that were not from the myopathy.
• Hector has a new position as Director of Operations and the Bucher family have arrived safely in Indiana and will serve as the Executive Director and Director of Development.
• The plentiful rain the has ended our drought.
• Prayer for that Hector will be able to raise the support needed and that he and the Buchers will have a smooth transition into their new roles.
• Prayers for wisdom and discernment as we prepare and plans are moving forward. 
• Open and moldable hearts, wills, and souls as we prepare for our next missions and all God has prepared will serve as He intended. 

Last day for Medical and Construction Teams

 Yesterday, Wednesday, the medical team served in Ellias Piña which is a two-hour bus ride from the guesthouse and along the Haitian border.  The construction team worked at the guesthouse and a local church. The teams were able to visit the new clinic, which many helped in the construction of, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.  

Both teams are currently serving their last day either on medical or construction and will be cleaning up and restoring supplies they used, repacking their things in preparation to head back to Santo Domingo in the morning and visit with their sponsor children.  Please pray for endurance as they are tired, for continued protection from the enemy, and for soft moldable hearts for each of them, those they are serving, and those they are serving with. May God's love and grace be evident in their actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes. 

Psalm 136:23-26

Who remembered us in our low estate,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

And rescued us from our adversaries,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

Who gives food to all flesh,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.