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Archive for April, 2013

Symbolism of a FROG

Posted in General, Newsletters on April 28, 2013| 4 Comments »

This past week has been a challenging week filled with constant prayer. My heart broke and my thoughts were directed elsewhere. However on Friday, God again reminded me about a frog.

One of the workman was cutting grass at a PBT property and I was there to pick him up after a days work. While I was checking his work and walking about the perimeter of the house, my eyes were drawn to a frog. Most frogs I see come out at night when it is cool and moist. This was a different frog, is was bathing in the heat of the sun.

frog

What does a frog have to do with anything? Frog is an acronym for Fully Rely on God. Throughout the week I was troubled, I was down but not crushed yet God turned my eyes to a frog.

Over the recent weeks I have been reading through Isaiah. This past week while being troubled with a heavy heart, the prophet Isaiah had many comforting words. The theme was do not fear, do not be afraid, I am with you, I will rescue you.

Lord, be kind to us! We depend on you. Isa 33:2

Cheer up! Don’t be afraid. Isa 35:4

Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. Isa 41:10

Do not fear, I have rescued you. I have called you by name, now you belong to me. Isa 43:1

In the middle of those chapters, chapter 40, we read the Lord gives strength for the weary. God never gets weary and He doesn’t get weary of those coming to Him in times of weakness. God understands our little strength and when we call on Him, He quickly runs to help or rescue when our lamp of faith burns low.

The Lord gives strength to those who are weary. But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired. Isa 40:29,31

When the Israelites walked across the bottom of the Red Sea between walls of water that may have crashed on them at any moment…did they fear? What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace…did they fear? What about Daniel in a pit of hungry lions…did he fear? What about Jonah in the belly of a fish for three dark days…did he fear?

It is comforting to know when I lay down at night that God gives strength, though I must first FROG (Fully Rely On God) because Immanuel, God is with me.

Pray for God’s perfect peace, deliverance, and for His protection during times of trouble.

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Scripture Memorization – A Tool for Warfare

Posted in General on April 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

This week we were scheduled to contribute a blog article for the pbtpng.org website. The following is what Emily wrote and is posted on the PBTPNG branch website as well, if you follow the link.

In 2006, before coming to Papua New Guinea for the first time a friend and I decided to memorize James 1 in preparation.  I never imagined what an impact this challenge would have on my life.  On a daily basis a verse from that chapter crosses my mind.  In the daily struggles against cultural stress or just daily living in a developing country, the words of James 1 apply some way of encouragement.  The past few weeks I have dwelt on the verse:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It brings perspective on the daily struggles. What happens when we develop perseverance? We are not lacking anything.

book of james

Another verse from this chapter that has deeply affected my ministry is verse 7:

“but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

I have to believe and not doubt, so when I pray for God to start a spiritual revival amongst the Mborena Kam language group here and for it to spread all cultural and language barriers to the Abu, Kire, and Akukem languages to join with what He is doing amongst the Aruamu I must take it to heart that He will hear my prayer and answer in a way that glorifies Him most.  When I pray for more teammates to join our team here in Papua New Guinea to complete the task I must believe and not doubt that He will answers and rejoice when He does.

Friends as you dig in Scripture I challenge you to take it to heart, memorize it, cherish it and believe the truth God has given us through it.  Don’t hold it to yourselves though.  Pray scripture, share scripture with your friends as you discover more and more the greatness of our God, and be challenged by it let it impact your life.  Strive for the development of perseverance, so that it might finish its work making you mature and complete!

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