Possessing the Promise

A promise is one thing. The Bible is full of promises to those that trust in the Lord. But possession is another matter altogether. It like the difference between holding a thousand dollar check, and actually buying something with it. The money is valuable, right? Only when it is used. 
 

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Consider John for a moment. He lives in this rented room with his mom and five siblings. He's only twelve, but he daily experiences the struggle for survival. Why is he so happy? Because he knows the power of God's promises.

Updating from our last post, here is John's testimony, shared by brother Lawrence:

John's father left the family many years ago. He took another woman, whom he lives with and has another family, though he serves as an elder in a religious sect here in Makindu. John’s mother, sister Dorcas Mueni, works to feed her children as a laborer in the farms around Makindu, or in the homes as a dishwasher/clothes cleaner, whenever work is available. They rent a single room near our Center.

Dorcas had found consistent employment on a farm nearby and had developed a habit of getting to work at 8 AM daily. But the famine brought other job seekers around and they reported to the farms earlier. One morning, as usual, she reported to work at 8:00 but found that her place had been taken by others. So she returned home feeling depressed, not knowing what to feed her children with that day. 

There was no school and the children had developed a habit of praying every morning for their mother. This particular morning, when she returned home after a few hours and told them that her position at work was taken by another person, she said that they would have nothing to eat for the day. That is when John responded and reminded her of Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” a scripture he had learned and memorized. Then he told her that they had prayed, and asked her to go out again, believing that she would get a job. 

It was late in the day, but she went out in a different direction and found work at the first place she asked, as John had said. She was told to report to the job regularly, and up to this day, she works in that place and feeds her children. 

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Consider the promises given us in God's Word: Peace which the world cannot give. Rest for your soul. Grace for every good work. Joy as your strength. Do you realize how valuable each one is - backed by the eternal treasures of heaven? If you haven't put them to use, ask the Lord to show you how to possess them and make them your own. He didn't give them to look at or long over wishfully. Real needs demand real answers. Our heavenly Father knows that. Don't you believe that He wants you to prosper in your soul and delight in His goodness today?

Not Forsaken

God is good. Do you believe that? What about when things don't look hopeful? When your prayers and desires aren't fulfilled like you had counted on? When you feel forsaken? It is time to look higher - to lift up your head and consider the Eternal One.

God is faithful, and it is for us to believe Him until faith is lost in sight. What does this mean? In the midst of famine conditions, brother Lawrence's current report from Makindu reveals hope and victory:

This month has began with heavy competing burdens and we are praying that the Lord  guides us as to what is best for now, with the building work challenging us and the personal survival efforts pulling on the other side, in the face of the famine and the ministerial burdens. The distribution of written lessons has ground to a stop. The production and distribution of CDs has also stopped as the funds have dwindled... But in all these things, we feel encouraged to go on with what the Lord has put in our hands. He is not dependent on us or on our strength. We are just what He has privileged us to be and we are contented to fill the place He has put us in. All I need is "go in full trust." He will do the rest. Please, keep praying for us.

The Lord is faithful and keeps His promises to us: "...God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore...be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor.6:16-18). We have experienced several miracles. The oldest lady in the congregation (over 70) had been attacked by disease, including swollen legs, etc. She has been healed and is undertaking personal evangelism to other older people. Her mother is still alive and she came pleading that we pray for her to be delivered of a demonic attack. The Lord delivered her, for which we are so grateful. After my healing, Wife was also taken ill and could barely make it to the house of worship for services. She was prayed for and now she is leaping and shouting as we walk the distance, and as she visits the homes with us. A mother of several children lost her job and had nothing for her family and herself. Her young son prayed for her to get a job and told her to go out in search for it. She testified that she started out late in the day and the first home she went to took her in and kept her at work, paying her daily. She came to church beaming with joy and gratitude to the Lord.... 

The Lord has never forsaken His children and He is not about to start it now.


Do you know this Father? God didn't mean for us to struggle and worry our way through life. "Come unto Me," Jesus said, "And I will give you rest." First come. Then you will receive the assurance, the peace, the goodness God has abundantly promised. If you are standing on the street in your troubles, it is time to forsake them and come knocking for admittance! It is your privilege to know the One who will "never leave you, nor forsake you." (Heb. 13:5)

Needing Another Miracle

Have you faced any extremities recently? In a life of faith we always look at impossibilities, but sometimes they seem to come in like a flood. 

That's been the situation recently for the brethren in Makindu. In the midst of the usual needs and responsibilities Brother Lawrence was brought low with a severe toothache. In answer to prayer the Lord has given him complete healing, and he testified today, "I am praising the Dear Lord... He removed one of my molars that was aching so bad. My jaw is healed and I don't have any more headaches or even side pains. We serve a great God... Glory, glory to God!" 

But being raised from a sickbed brings this dear servant of God face to face again with other necessities. The famine conditions have increased, and so several families are scattering to look for food and jobs. The burden to provide is weighing heavily. With limited resources and strength, what can be done to support his family and the needy around him? "I ask for prayers for another miracle," he writes. 

We all feel a need for miracles. The limits we have and the obstacles we face often feel overwhelming. It is time to call for help! We need to see the Supernatural in action. The path through the sea, the water turned to wine, the few loaves multiplied to meet the great demands... we need miracles, don't we? 

God is a miracle-working God. The Bible is full of evidence, isn't it? And God delights to do the impossible in answer to faith. No, He doesn't often work in the way we expect Him to - but the way that reveals to us that He is God. That He is unlimited and all powerful. And even more, that He knows us completely and is able to work all together for our good. The miracles He delights to do go far beyond the temporal and natural. They reach the hidden, untouchable and eternal needs that lie in our hearts. His miracles produce humility, patience, courage, faith, and Divine love.

Yes, let us ask our God for miracles today. We need them more than we know.

Laboring to Give

Jesus... Paul... the church at Philippi... they all labored to give. We like to think of miracles and a life with "every need supplied" and forget that work is involved. But suffering, drudgery, exercise, weariness - all gain a new purpose and beauty when we consider the Master's words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

Our most recent update from brother Lawrence shares this practical aspect of ministry, as he has been laboring to find self-supporting opportunities for the congregation at Malindi: 

The fish business has been blessed of the Lord and we are trusting Him for the desperately needed deep freezer(s) and a pick-up van for transportation. Once we have these, more profits will be released. Please, pray for these needs. Apart from the marketing of the things we do to keep the family fed, the fish business is the only business venture we have tried that has been much more greatly blessed of the Lord. It combines with church planting in a new area, as we wait for the fishermen to deliver the catch. And it does not deter us from ministering, for which we are so grateful to God. It is wonderful to witness to a community that is not polluted with erroneous religions, and which is so receptive of the word of God. Thank you, dear ones, for help and for prayers. 

We are praying that God allows this to raise enough funds for the ministry at Malindi, and also for the rest of the work which has so many needs. The Makindu Center is not generating any income (until, perhaps when we transform it into an education center - but for now I an not led in that direction, as it slows down spiritual work as it demands more from us). It is in an area that is very poor and has few opportunities for people to make a living, except in the market and small water resource area. But Makindu is a rich "spiritual catchment" center of the Savanna areas of Kenya. People come here for Bible studies with us, and this is very good and encouraging.

At this time, Makindu has entered into a painful season of famine for food. It will last till the next rains (October to December) if God blesses us with enough rains. But we have learned that famine and other hard things bring some people closer to God where His word is mostly ignored. 

(This photo reveals the upcoming August drought conditions - current photos are still unavailable due to the lack of a camera at this time.)

Let us continue to uphold these labors in prayer and seek the Lord to be diligent in the work He gives us to do!

Makindu update

Brother Lawrence continues on with the burdens and labors that the Lord has assigned him, and there are many needs right now. He has desired to hold Bible studies sessions once a month both in Makindu and with the coastal congregation at Malindi. There are many eager to study and know God's will and how to live for Him, in the practical needs of each day. Most live in great poverty and find the need to earn money a time-consuming focal point of their existence. Praise God, there are a few who are realizing the riches of faith and are learning to rely on the promise of the heavenly Father's care. 

Though Lawrence is unable to send photos at this time, there are a few pressing needs to pray for. He writes: 

The saints around Makindu are in an emergency need for food, over and above putting the finishing touch on the building--electricity and painting. The crops failed. Our irrigated crops were only vegetables and some fruits, which were meant to supplement the cereal meals we give the orphans. We are soliciting prayers for this emergency.

My going to Malindi this week has been held up by the needs at Makindu. I must make sure that the orphans and the desperate old people we have here have enough food to last them till the end of the month. To get the supplies we have lasting as long as possible, I have to have some orphans taken in by some other institutions (one is a local children's center, which we trust will take some in). The orphan population has grown so fast that we simply cannot afford to feed them. 

Let us be mindful of these needs in our prayers. God has a work to be done, and may we each receive our part.

Be Doers - His Way

 "Be doers of the Word..."
Jesus says a lot about doing. To come and hear (or read) may take some time. But to set ourselves to put the words of life into action takes more. More than just diligence or desire, though both those are needed. But without love and humility we will get off track and lose out on the relationship. After all, we are called to be "workers together with Him." There are plenty out doing things in Jesus' name. How many of them does Jesus acknowledge as His workers? (Matthew 7:21-23)

I'm musing on God's way of getting things done. The establishing of the Bible Center in Makindu, for example, has had many stops and starts in the past two years. A lot of time and money... and time and money... and to our way of thinking, it just isn't very efficient and inspiring. But that's not the whole picture. 

The building project is just the tip of the iceberg of what God is doing, because He is investing in the unseen things, which are eternal. Patience. Faith. Love. Can we measure all that's been accomplished through these many months? Can we count the souls and the spiritual riches invested in?


Here is the second drainage pit, lined with stones just in time so that the spring rains didn't erode the walls. Praise the Lord for the grace to plod and get one more necessity taken care of! The outhouses will be built above them as soon as metal concrete-reinforcing bars become available, so more waiting is needed here...

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Meanwhile, there is plenty to keep busy with. The dirt taken from the pits is being hauled in these wagons to neutralize soil in the garden, so tomatoes can be grown. 

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There is no waste in God's time schedule. When we are willing to do His bidding, that is. This week brother Lawrence has been called back to the coast to be a support to those in Malindi. To encourage and pray and "be about the Father's business."


There are a lot of hidden aspects in serving the Lord. Little places to fill. Little jobs that need doing. Am I available and ready to do what God wants done, right now?

He That Waters

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. - Proverbs 11:25

It is a blessed thing to stand on the Word of God and see His promises prove out. In the midst of the recent needs and pressures, the Lord has enabled brother Lawrence to make a trip out to the coast for a gospel meeting at Malindi. It is wonderful to hear the joyous report of God's work there:
This young man, Kazungu, son of Naphtali (the pastor of the Malindi congregation), was enslaved by the devil all through his years. We have been praying for him since 2006. The Lord answered prayers this time and he gave his heart to the Lord. Glory to God. Please, pray for him.

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We met Naphtali in 2006 at Mombasa, where he was a preacher in a denomination. The Lord showed him His will and he decided to obey the Lord. The Lord told us to move to Malindi, and both our families relocated. Since then, the Lord has been progressively adding to His church. Naphtali has made some good progress and has been used of the Lord to reach others. Through him, the Lord has delivered some from the bondage of evil spirits, disease and sin. Please, pray for him and the work at Malindi.

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This is sister Peris Wanje (Naphtali's wife). Miraculously healed several times, her testimony has touched several hearts around Malindi.

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Daudi and his wife are helpers to Naphtali and Peris. Their work is blessed. Please, pray for them.

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The Lord sent Bro. Edward (from Mount Kenya area) to help us on this trip. He was very helpful and blessed. We thank the Lord for his humility and love for souls. Glory to God.

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Sister Joyce, instructing a newly saved soul.

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Some of the young people.

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Shadrack is leading a new congregation far inland along the valley of the Galana (Athi) River. He traveled many miles to attend this meeting. Please, pray for him and his congregation.

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Back in Makindu, the much-needed April rains have arrived. Praise the Lord! As these dear laborers return to their fields of duty, they are looking to the Lord to supply seeds for the spring crops. In freely giving of the spiritual riches entrusted to them, they are surely promised to be "watered also themselves" in their temporary needs. Let us be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us.