Winter 2009 Newsletter
Preparing for Battle
We have been able to witness God working in some pretty marvelous ways this tour. God has shown me again that even when it doesn't seem like He's working, we must trust that He is taking care of everything. Our team had been ministering a lot, but we hadn't been able to see many salvations as fruits of our labor. Now I know that even if you don't see someone get saved right before you, it doesn't mean that they didn't receive Christ later. But you see it is extremely encouraging to be able to see that God is using you to bring others to Him, for telling others of the salvation message is why we're in the Drama Company in the first place. Well our team started praying specifically for salvations and we thanked God in advance for all the people we were going to see come to God. While we were in Texas, we did a Sunday morning service at a smaller church. We prayed before the service, and then we got up on stage and did our dramas. As soon as we started the first skit, we realized that the audience was dry. No one seemed to be enjoying our skits, and when you don't have audience participation in drama, it is a lot harder to keep up your energy and do a skit. Well at the end of the service, it seemed like all hope was lost, because it felt as if nothing had happened in the service. But when our coordinator gave the call for salvation, a hand was raised. And when she asked if anyone felt as if they should be doing better evangelizing, she said that pretty much everyone raised there hands. Many even said a prayer with us to tell God we were sorry and to ask for His help as we tried to do better for Him. I was astounded yet again! Though it seemed as if God wasn't in the service at all, God still spoke, and someone got saved while others pledged to do better in their walk with God. It just reminded me again that even when it seems like God's not moving, we are to just do our best and trust God with the rest.
That same night, we went to another church in Texas. Our team had also specifically been praying for people to partner with our ministry, which would help with our finances. We had had a lot of trouble selling partners, and we knew that we needed many more for our ministry. Well that night as the service was ending, I whispered a prayer to God for our t-shirt table. I prayed mainly for our t-shirts and partners to sell. Well, being the fundraiser of the team, I slipped back to the table right as the service ended, and what happened next was amazing! T-shirts started selling out of no where! They were selling three at a time! And then the partners started selling! I was even able to sell my first partner to somebody! Thank the Lord! We had more partners in that one night than double all the ones for the whole rest of our tour, and our t-shirts went tremendously well. God blessed yet again, by showing our team that He still answers our prayers. As I was standing in awe of this miracle, God reminded me of the verse, “Ask and ye shall receive." If we pray for things that are in God's will, He will answer our prayers!
I've been able to grow so much closer to God this tour, and it's been amazing! He has shown me so many things, and I would like to share one of them with you. This particular tour Satan was warring like crazy. I had many things happen to me this tour that tried to sway me away from focusing on God. When a person decides to give God their life (especially in ministry), Satan takes note. He will do everything in his power to cause you to turn from God, so we must be watching for his wicked tricks and plans. First Peter 5:8 says, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." This doesn't mean that we are to cower behind a rock always sneaking a peak to see if the old mean devil is on his way. No! That's not how it works at all. You see, I recently read the rest of the Scripture just stated. So many people just stop after the first part, and I personally don’t think I even knew what came next, but it's so powerful. The Scripture continues"…Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever!" (1 Peter 5:9-11)
You see, we're supposed to stand strong against the devil. When we take our refuge in Christ and rely on Him, He will give us strength to victoriously conquer the devil. Psalm 91:9-13 says, "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go; they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt you foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet." The Lord will strengthen us, if we trust in Him. But there is one more thing we must do. We are to put on our armor for battle. God is willing to help us, but He expects us to do our part as well. Ephesians 6:11 states, "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil." We must make sure we put on the armor of God each day. I personally have found that wearing God's armor makes facing the tactics of the devil so much easier. One of the ways we can do this is by starting each day with God. I've found that my day goes so much better when I let God take control of each day. When you wake up in the morning talk to God and commit your day to Him; purpose in your heart to let Him lead you that day, and pick up your shield of faith believing that He will protect you. Grab your sword by diving into God's Word each day, reminding yourself of His promises to you. We must put on the rest of His armor as well. Each day we face, we must make a conscious effort to trust in God and dress for battle. If we're just lazy and we decide not to put on our armor sometimes, then we are giving the devil free shots. We're making ourselves an open target. Though times will get tough, when we prepare for battle and take refuge in the Lord, Satan doesn't have a chance. So Prepare For Battle!! "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear I will help you." Isaiah 41:13.
Our ministry will soon be taking more mission trips to other countries. I would love to be able to go on a mission trip and see God work miracles all over the world. I want to help spread the message of salvation to all the people of the world, but there unfortunately is one problem. A mission trip takes quite a bit of money. I am trying to save up enough money to join one of the teams as they travel out of the country. If you would like to help me in any way, I would greatly appreciate it!! Even if you can't help me financially, please pray for me, for prayer is the most powerful thing we can do! Thank you so much for your time and God bless!!
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