Growing in Strength

The "Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.  He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.  Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.  At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc on Jerusalem among those who call on this name?  And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?'  Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah."  ~ Acts 9:18-22

The context of this scripture is the conversion of Saul (Paul).  Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5).  He knew the scriptures, but, now, for the first time in his life, they were made alive.  He was seeing them from a completely different perspective.  Before conversion, he thought that in the Scriptures he had eternal life (John 5:39).  But now, he realized that the Scriptures were testifying to Christ and that in Christ, he had eternal life.

The light had come on, he was now alive proclaiming it.  But he also had to grow in his newfound knowing of Jesus.  Notice the scripture didn't say that he was growing more and more in knowledge, but in power.  It's also translated strength.  He was becoming more and more powerful or strong in his faith.  I imagine that this verse speaks both to ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit and to growing in strength of relationship with Christ.  It's the latter that I would like to focus on.  He was growing in strength.  Paul had the scriptures all along, but now he had the Christ in the scriptures.

As Paul spent more time with Jesus, he was strengthened for the work to which he was called.  We cannot neglect time with our Savior – time spent basking in His presence, listening to His Holy Spirit, studying His Scriptures with the intent of knowing Him better, worshiping Him through song for who He is and what He has done, and laughing, crying and just talking with him as you process all this life has to throw at you.  For it is this time spent with Him when no one else is watching that strengthens us for the work to which he has called us, mainly confounding the world with the knowledge and beauty of Christ.

Fruit, Not Gifts

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“Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.” ~ Acts 6:3

There are requirements of those you select to lead.  Notice the verse didn’t say select seven men who are gifted in administration or helps, etc. The gifting is never the qualification of those who lead.  Their character, submission to the Lord’s spirit and resulting wisdom that they display are what qualified these men.
True leaders should always be selected primarily by their fruit and then by their giftedness, not the other way around.  All too often, I think about my own ability to lead others and I think that I’m ill-equipped because I’m not a gifted speaker or boisterous leader.  This is not God’s way of thinking, because my ability to lead is not rooted in my gifting but in my consistent walk with the Holy Spirit where the fruit of the Spirit is actively present.
Look at Moses.  He argued with the Lord because he was trying to define his ability to lead others through his gifting instead of through his consistent pursuit of a loving God.  He said "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." ~Exodus 4:10.
Gifting is important, but it’s not God’s criteria for choosing leaders.  It’s their heart, their character, their displayed wisdom over time, it’s by the fruit of the Spirit and not the gifts of the Spirit.
Lord let my life be a consistent display of your fruit through a life surrendered to your leading!

~ Brent Roberts

President | Africa Freedom Mission

Sharing the Little that You Have

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I'm always blown away by how inviting and sacrificial African families are when you come to visit them in their home.  The other day, we were visiting a family in a nearby village when the father sent the children to fetch a drink for us visitors.  This family lives on a small farm in the bush and makes ends meet through farming, raising pigs/cattle and running a small shop in town.

They're definitely not the type of family that will buy and keep coke around the house for daily consumption.  And here they were, offering the little that they had to us.  To say that I was humbled is an understatement.

It kind of reminds me of this passage from Leviticus 19:

33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Little Bit of Off-Road

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I'm now in Kijabe, Kenya in the middle of rainy season and I'm already having experiences that remind me of my time in the bush in Zambia.  Yesterday, my friend Will and I were driving to a nearby village and had to use back roads around the side of a mountain.  We were going to visit a good friend of the ministry, Charles.

The road to his village is a single lane, dirt road that has been washed out by the heavy rains.  As you can see from the pictures above, we had quite the adventure on this drive.  As we rounded one corner, we came across a dump truck that had been stuck in the same place for 3 weeks.  We thought that we could make it.  So, I just held my breath and tried to keep the car moving, praying that I wouldn't run into the side of the mountain or the truck. The mud was deep and the space was quite small for passing, but we somehow managed.

After this, we came across a Matatu (mini bus) that was stuck in a mud rut.  After performing a 20 point turn and reversing back to the bus, we were able to tow it out.  The ladies in the bus were so thankful.  They had been sitting there for 45 minutes trying everything that they could to get it loose.

It might sound weird, but these are some of the situations that I miss about Africa.  Some days, the simple ride to the next town turns into a great adventure!

Home again! Home again!

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It's been almost 2 & 1/2 years and we're finally getting the opportunity to return home to Zambia!  Take a look at our newsletter and read all about it!

If you would like to support us for this trip, you can do so at: https://marketlifeministries.org/offering/.  Be sure to select Zambia Mission Donation so your gift is counted towards our trip.  All gifts are 100% tax deductible. 

Signing Off, For Now!

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It's bittersweet writing this post, our final post, as we transition from life in Zambia back to the States.  But we are excited to see where He is leading us next.  Please take a minute and read about what's next.  We will miss you Zambia, for now!

To View Our Latest Letter, Click the Picture Above, or

CLICK HERE

(7-year Slide-show)

(The slideshow above is a compilation of pictures 

taken directly from this blog - unedited.)

When We Can't See

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This New Year begins for me with a lot of uncertainty. Right now I don’t know what the future holds. At the end of last year, my husband and I felt a very clear call from God to move our family back to the United States, after almost seven years living and working in Zambia.  When God calls and moves, we will answer and follow. We will make every effort to choose His path. But it’s not always easy. It can be really hard. It can really hurt. Right now, we are jobless and homeless.  In a holding pattern, we are waiting on God to show us which path to take.  Maybe you can relate. Maybe you find it difficult to make resolutions or even plans this New Year because you just can’t see past today.

In this place where I find myself at the start of this new year, all I can do is submit myself, my family, my situation to God and wait. The only resolution I know to make is to live coram Deo (under the gaze of God).

Living coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.   ~R.C. Sproul

In Genesis 17:1 “the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.’”

Walk BEFORE Me

This word translated BEFORE is the Hebrew word Paniym, which means in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of.

Coram Deo

If I have envisioned myself walking with God, it has usually been a picture of walking beside Him or even behind Him and following His lead. But when I think of God’s command to walk before Him, the picture changes.

If God were only ever walking ahead of me, leading the way, following would be a pretty straight-forward, easy thing to do. I could do it with my ipod blaring and distractions all around me, because I would just have to follow in His footsteps. He is the Shepherd and His rod and staff guide me. And sometimes our walk is like that.
Walking before Him, on the other hand, takes careful attention. I must be completely tuned in to His voice so that I will hear His leading. I must trust that He is watching my every step and that I am safe under His gaze, even though I cannot see Him with my eyes.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

“This is the way; walk in it.”  

Isaiah 30:21

This New Year I will focus on listening. I will tune in to the voice of God behind me. I will walk forward trusting in His guidance. I will delight in the fact that His gaze is upon me. I will remember His faithfulness in the past and look to the future with great hope! Living coram Deo!

For You have delivered my soul from death,

Indeed my feet from stumbling,

so that I may walk before God

in the light of the living.

Psalm 56:13

Live Free. Live Loved.

~Kerri