Birthdays: Better late than never

Its nice to get birthday cards, expecially like this one. It had gone through quite a bit to make it, I got it over two and 1/2 weeks after it was sent.

It had the street address and the zip code corrected, and a brown stain across a ripped corner that made it look like it fallen into a machine.

The important thing was, I got it.

..and you say...God is Enough

John Piper is passionate about God being glorified.
"God is most glorified when we are most satifsifed....in Him"

Warning: This is not the health, wealth and prosperity Gospel. This is the kind of truth that has set me free.


Sent to me by a dear one who partnered with God to change my life and return my Hope, in that which matters most.

Day 6: Pastor Wilbur’s houses in Sixaola

Day 6: Pastor Wilbur’s houses in Sixaola
March 5th Wednesday

6:45 Breakfast
7:30 Devotional (Anita – The Father’s Love letter)
7:45 On the road to Margarita church
8:45 Work site (Pastor Wilbur’s house)
12:00 Lunch
4:00 Clean up and change clothes
5:30 Distribution of school clothes and supplies
6:30 Services
9:00 return to Hotel

Wednesday morning we woke up, and met down at the outdoor restaurant for a continental breakfast outside by the beach. It wasn’t your Comfort Inn Continental….they had yogurt, granola, fabulous coffee and all sorts of fresh fruits. We moved down to a patio under the palms for Anita’s devotional. She shared more around the theme of God as a Loving Father, and passed out copies of the Fathers love letter. This collection of Bible verses shows that God has desired us to be his children from the beginning, and made a way to insure it was possible in the end. Here is a small portion:

....I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.
God Almighty

The specifics of that moment are beginning to fade, but the LifeChanging theme came home during the plane trip back days later when Anita asked me a really good question on the plane “ How will you walk that out?”. More about that on Day 9.

We loaded up, and raced down the dusty road to the land of banana plantations, and the house of Pastor Wilber. He is a courageous man who left his job as the manager of one of the banana operations to resuscitate a small church that was affiliated with the Assemblies of God. When he and his wife started there were about four people left, and the AOG, despite having brought him on actually wanted to close it down. Since Pastor Wilber came, the group began schooling children and there are now upwards of 40 people in the church, with over 30 children in the school from all over the community. When we got there, we were all impressed by the love and humility of Pastor Wilber, the poverty of the house he lived in, and later that night …..by the power of God’s Spirit in that place.

We all worked, as Scott described, according to our gifts. Many of the ladies painting, Bill and Scott built new steps with Pastor Wilber and some of the Tico men. Anita sewed curtain (under the palms!) and taught the pastor’s wife how to sew. DJ was everywhere, fixing bikes for the pastor’s son...sanding and painting. Most of my day was spent cleaning the floor, a sweet experience. Lisa, in an encouraging way said “You are really working hard to clean the floor”. It was a dusty paint splattered floor, with cracks between the boards that showed the dirt below. I tried to explain that I saw the beauty of the wood, and if we bought this in the states, “it would be expensive, exotic wood”. Then she said “That’s neat, you saw the value of the wood and it makes it easier for you to clean it.” I felt God was saying to me…How much more I see you and the other children not as you are, but as you can be! What love he pours on us.

That night did the quick change back into our dress clothes. We passed out the kits of school supplies, and watched a move “Rescado Del Inferno”. The movie surprised me because of the personal testimonies against satan worship, which I learned is somewhat common in that part of Costa Rica. Bill G. gave his heartfelt testimony, and then we sang some songs together in the boisterous way we came to expect. This time it though was hard, because the musicians didn’t show up, Rolando and Hosuea (our guides and friends) had to sing…and it was a little flat.:) I remember asking God to do his work, despite what I thought and saw and heard, He is not bound by externals signs of “it’s working” or “not working”.

Pastor Wilber talked for a while, and the people seemed to warm up. Scott talked, and gave the alter call, but there was not much of a response. Then a little later, after talking with Pastor Wilber, Scott said to all the people under the stars that he wanted to do something a little different “that we don’t normally do”. He wanted to us to pray for anyone that needed prayer. Nearly the whole crowd came up to Scott and Anita, and each of us went from one person to another, praying in English. That’s when I saw God’s spirit moving in others like never before, especially one lady that cried out loud and shook while DJ prayed. Others were healed or given new hope. We all agreed that God was there in a spectacular way.

That night we rumbled home with some Ticos in the van, moved by the whole experience. Back at the hotel, I rocked in the hammock until well into the morning, because I couldn’t sleep….

How do you find God?

My good friend Scott sent me a tool that helps assess how someone finds God. It's self explanatory. Here is the link and my results (scores!). Maybe you should give it a try.

http://common.northpoint.org/sacredpathway.html

(21) Caregiver: Caregivers draw near to God through caring for and serving others.

(18) Enthusiast: Enthusiasts draw near to God through celebration and mystery.

(16) Contemplative: Contemplatives draw near to God through personal adoration and heartfelt devotion.

(14) Activists: Activists draw near to God through bringing about social change.

(12) Naturalist: Naturalists Draw near to God through nature.

(12) Intellectual: Intellectuals draw near to God through their minds.

(8) Ascetics: Ascetics draw near to God through solitude and simplicity.

(7) Sensate: Sensates draw near to God through the senses.

(6) Traditionalist: Traditionalists draw near to God through ritual and symbol.

Day 5 (part 2): The Prison of Limon – God’s Grace

March 4th Tuesday (part 2)

After DJ’s devotion (see earlier post) we left for Limon in a peaceful drive, stopping only briefly for a vista view, lunch and a change of clothes in a coast guard station. At the prison, we waited for over an hour outside the gate, waiting calmly to be searched. We saw women bringing food for their husbands, and watched as a few prisoners did chores in the open yard.

Once inside, our escort guards took us to one of six or seven pavilions, each having a very large dark and dirty concrete walled room, surrounded by a few smaller rooms with only natural light streaming through the open, glassless but barred windows. The men were half naked, sweaty and though some were distant or macho, most were grateful that we would shake there hand and greet them. We were all on high alert, depending on and expecting God. I will let the stories tell themselves below.......Afterward, we had dinner and when we returned back to the hotel, Scott DJ, Hosuea and I played ping pong. It had been an intense day, but full of God's grace and treasure.

===================================================
Three weeks after we returned to Indianapolis, the mission team came
back together at Bill and Linda’s for a reunion. We took a few minutes
to answer the question “What was the key thing you remember?” ===================================================

• “I remember God gave us more time in the prison. I thought that was cool. I also like how many prisoners really listened to us as we poured our hearts out to them. The best part was when many of the accepted the Lord.” DJ

Prison officials let us stay an extra hour and 1/2....unprecepdented!

• “My prayer was to see the prisoners though the eyes of Christ. The first man I shook hands with was a young man. I remember looking into his eyes and being overwhelmed with love and seeing a man that God had created and that God cared for tremendously. One man that was shirtless and sweaty (all of the guys were this way as it was hot and humid), I patted his back, I remember the smile and look on his face as he turned his head and looked into my eyes. How much power does a simple touch have? What an amazing way to communicate love and acceptance.” Scott
  
  
• “One of the things that struck me is the amount of prayer that was conducted while we were there. People were praying while others were praying and when someone was praying others were laying hands on the one praying.” Amanda
  
  
• (from a word given through her to the prisoners) “It’s an honor to be here. I feel so small to be speaking to so many great men. I know all of you are great because I know all of you have a piece of God inside of you. And I believe God is wanting to awaken that spirit of Himself that is inside of you. I have a lot of respect for all of you because you are men. And god created men to be leaders. No only for your country and your city, but most important for your family. Through the belief in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit you all can be the men God created you to be, and we want to pray for you.” à Scott prayed the prayer of salvation. Katy

• “When DJ was giving his testimony about God being our Dad, about how He Loves us and wants us to be His children despite the choices we make to run from Him. A prisoner behind the bars watched without blinking, tears in his eyes, obviously touched simultaneously by the pain he had caused God and the grace he was offered. One of the many that received God that day.” Brad

• “Seeing the faces of the prisoners, to see their eyes and the shame and desperation, helped me realize we’re not all that different. We all want to know we’re loved, that someone cares. It changed my heart towards prisoners to see God’s heart towards them.” Anita

• “I loved hearing the voices of the inmate when they prayed the sinner prayer, it echoed out of the prison bars, like Angels singing in heaven.” Linda G.

• “I can remember the look of hopelessness in many of the eyes of the prisoners. Yet I could see the look of Hope though as the testimonies were given and men were saved. I will often wonder what will become of many of the salvation stories, how will God use them, what will they do with their lives after prison? I am just glad to have been a messenger for the Lord!” Bill G.

Day 5 (part 1): The Prison of Limon - Getting Ready

March 4th Tuesday
7:00 Breakfast and Dishes
8:00 Devotional (DJ – Let me be your Daddy)
9:30 Leave for Sixaola
12:30 Lunch in Limon city park
2:00 Limon Prison
4:30 Arrive at Villas del Caribe and check in (we were 1 ½ hours late!!)
7:00 Dinner
9:00 Ping Pong

We were all excited, and maybe a little nervous about the Prison trip in Limon (on the East side of Costa Rica). It was a great day to have DJ lead the morning discussion, reminding us in a deeper way about the Father-heart of God. We gathered around the patio, next to the apartment that Anita, Katy and Amanda shared. DJ read from Isaiah 43:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you…

…."Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

What DJ said gave us a vision for the prisoners, and ourselves. Speaking with the quiet, calm confidence that screamed conviction, DJ described how God would NOT be like our fathers--who left us alone to do their own thing--but that God wanted a relationship. God woke him up one night to tell him “You are my Child, let me be your Daddy”. It reminded me that I need to come to God with a child-like attitude, open arms, nothing to give but love. His talk was more like a testimony and less like a teaching; it connected so clearly to the conversation from Saturday with Anita the day before about God as our Father, reopening and answering questions we all have:

How do I get started with God as a Father? We didn’t choose him, He choose us despite our wounds and mistakes.

How do I know His love? Through others, as we become part of a family.

How much does he love me? DJ read from 1 John 3: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”.

Why does he love me? From this Love come a purpose, “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

I was so glad to be there with DJ, Scott, Anita Dan and the others at that moment, reminded of the darkness Father was bringing me out of, and how we would be used later that day to help others "escape" from their Prison. For that part of the story, because it was so precious and shared, I should start a new post to focus on the prison.