“Therefore everyone hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matt 7:24
As we continue in our mission training pastors in the Word of God, it is easy to see the Holy Spirit moving within the church as they learn to stand on His Word. To stand on the truth of scripture is to stand on the nature of the One who created all things, and that is the only firm foundation on which to base one’s life. “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 3:11. It is necessary for someone to truly examine their beliefs and motivations to see exactly what determines his actions. How you were raised, what your teachers said, what society demands, what your peers pressure you into, what you think is necessary for survival; all play a role in shaping your thoughts, and ultimately ruling your life. It is always painful and hard to expose what you have believed in for so long, to reshape your identity and to transplant yourself onto a new foundation. But any foundation apart from Christ is just sand anyway, it will crumble. And as we watch our new set of pastors stare intently at the perfect law, it is amazing to see how God is transforming their hearts and blessing them. And the fruit of abiding in God’s word is clearly evident in the lives of the other set of pastors who are nearing their graduation.
On the same note it has been a pleasure for me (Matt) to watch God stir Noelle’s heart with compassion for the neighboring children. There are close to 50 children near our home who are left to raise themselves and each other as their parents dig in their gardens and go about their regular business. It is an everyday thing to see a 3 year old carrying an infant on their back. When we were new on the ground it was easy to expend the energy necessary to love on them and take care of them, but over time it became a chore to answer the door for the 15th time on a Sunday, or to break up the 3rd fight of the day on our lawn. However, within the last month God has convicted Noelle about serving Him begrudgingly on this front, and my wife’s love for them has convicted me. The fruit is small but it is a reward in itself to strive to live in obedience.
Also, after 2 months of hard work we have finished remodeling our clinic!
