What is precious to you? I think of sweet little children, close relationships, special memories... not timber. Planks of wood? But to a builder on the dry savannahs, timber is not only scarce - it is an expensive luxury. You don't use it for framing or walls. Not for floors or fences, either. You save it for the places of necessity, like rafters and ridgepoles. And then you count the cost to import it.
Here is the precious supply of lumber that is now available for completing the house construction at the Bible Center:
Brother Lawrence writes: The gracious God has been so good to us as
to provide us with timber, a very expensive item in this semi arid area
of Makindu. Glory to the great Almighty God. His mercies endure for ever
and ever.
Here is the view of the house ready for roofing.
As the funds for cement got depleted, we had to use soil instead of the
cement. It works as good for our area. Praise the Lord.
The barbed wire (in the picture below) is ready to be used for tying some of the timber on the roof to secure it against the strong winds of the area.
The 4x2 planks of timber are now laid on one side of the roof. Praise the Lord.
What are we taking for granted in our lives? When we start to see our resources, our time, our opportunities... yes, even our interruptions and trials, as valuable investments then we begin to see the bigger picture. Timber is precious for the work of God here in Makindu. What is precious for His work in our lives? May we value what God is doing and invest in that!
This past month Lawrence's wife, Joyce, has been very ill and went into a coma for several days. Through the Lord's mercy she has been raised up, and is slowly recovering under the support and care of their children and relatives. We praise the Lord for His grace during this difficult time, which has included a lot of financial strain on the family. How wonderful to know God is in control and is purposing good for all who will fully trust Him!
"I
have learned that such shaking occurrences have deeper impacts
spiritually," brother Lawrence writes. "I am praying and waiting to know how much this has enriched [our family's] spiritual lives, and of those others involved. Please, pray with
us. Though Mommy was breathing while in her coma, it looks like she was
raised as from the dead, for she had lost her memory. It is coming back
to her bit by bit now..." The trauma of the experience has deepened the brother with a greater desire to stay close to the Lord: "We want to stay so
connected, like Enoch, and always walk with Him in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus. Please, please, pray on for us."
Do the troubles we experience press us closer to God - or do we try to solve things in our own way? Only when we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God will we be able to be used for his purposes. Only God can bring beauty out of ashes. The brother continues:
"The beauty of the whole wife's episode is
the ministering that has occurred around Mt. Kenya, and Nairobi, when I
thought I did not have room to be there. We have met with several people
who have been wanting to hear the message of truth and I was blessed,
too. We have been booked for meetings in Mt. Kenya area, the first one
being on Feb. 3, and the next on Feb. 15 to Feb.17. Please, pray for
these meetings and that the Lord blesses and provides for them.
We held meetings in these areas in the past, and truly saw
miracles and wonders, but we did not have the vision we have now. Our vision this time is that of unity IN CHRIST JESUS. Gal.
3:26-28: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Such a oneness cannot be achieve by our own efforts, but by allowing God
to cleanse us from everything that hinders within us and around us, and
to allow Him to knit us together in Christ Jesus in His love. It cannot
happen if we are not humble and if we hold to ourselves and lift the
idols of “I’s” and “We’s,” worshiping
whatever pertains to “ME” and what is “OURS.” We have to acknowledge
Christ as our ruler and give ourselves totally to Him to live His life
in us so that this life is manifest in all our actions, words, and
thoughts. This ONE life (Christ’s life) in us knits us together in
Him. Please, pray that this message is humbly received by all who hear
and understand it..."
It is wonderful to know the meaning of these words: "For me to live is Christ." This is the life Jesus suffered to give us - the only life worth living. Yet only when we realize that our own ideals and efforts are mere ashes can we begin to receive the beauty that God wants to give us.
Updating about the construction of the residential house, Lawrence writes: "Our building at Makindu is now just getting ready for roofing. Though I
have been much away, it has progressed to that extent. We thank God for
blessing us this far and to the extent that we now see the possibilities
of housing several visitors who come for spiritual help, and also those
who will come to minister to us. Glory to God. We now await His will
and blessings as to the roofing. Please, pray for us to be able to roof
it in time.
We have had moderate rains around Makindu
Town and the surrounding areas. There will be a moderate harvest and
according assessments, there will be enough food for the next two months
in every family that planted some. The
other areas have adequate rains for a very good harvest. Those who have
began selling dry beans are selling at a very low price, compared to
Makindu. Dry maize will be in the market from end of this month. I am
thinking of buying, the Lord willing, and transporting food, (especially
grains, beans and peas), from
other areas to Makindu as soon as it is possible so that we can have
some in store for the children and meetings, and also some for resale to
make a living."
As God has promised: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes..." (Isaiah 61:3-4)
What are we preparing for? In this busy time of year with winter holidays and family gatherings, there is plenty to do and get ready for. Our schedules fill up. Our finances drain low. But why? What purpose drives us?
I was reading today about a voice that once cried in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!" (Matt. 3:3) How have we been responding to that call? Are we ready to acknowledge that One greater than all our best efforts and ideals has come, and that He is seeking entrance in our lives? Are our preparations cluttering the path - or clearing it for God to have His way? It is a sober thought.
We prepare for anticipated blessing, don't we? The work on the residential building at the Center in Makindu is progressing steadily, spurred by the desire to have a place for visitors to stay while attending meetings. Here laborers work on the interior walls:
Lawrence reports: The walls have gone up about five feet now, but it is a wonderful blessing. Glory to God.
Certainly God's preparations far exceed what we can do. Brother Lawrence shares: We are praising the Dear Master for His wonderful gracious works around
here. We have had rains and the area is starting to look green and very
beautiful. It coincides with the "Christmas" season here when many talk
of changing their lives anew. The new green leaves remind many of
the new birth...... Oh, that God would be given His due right to change
and reign in each heart!
The children are active in their free time from school and are getting
instructed in Christianity in the center. It is simply wonderful, and
the second time it has been done around the center. Glory, glory to God!
We look forward to His glorifying Himself a lot more. Praise the Lord.
As the busyness of the season fills our time and attention, let us not forget that it was a simple stable and faithful shepherds that received Christ first. God isn't looking for the great and accomplished, but the yielding hearts. Are we prepared to receive Him?
How often does it seem like He doesn't? If we go by the look of things, by our circumstances and feelings, we don't see the Presence of a loving God. It doesn't appear that the needs are being met or the situation is changing. Our minds ask for evidence. But God asks for our confidence. Our faith.
It is when we hold on to God and rejoice that He is seeing, He is caring, that we will see the way opened step by step. Faith isn't something that comes from evidence. It comes from a relationship - from knowing God. And, as we live to know Him, God's love and mercy can be seen in every detail...
There is glory in piles of sand
And stacks of bricks
And in working together that more may come and experience the mercy and grace of God.
Lawrence writes: The walls of the building are now going up at long
last. Praise the Lord. God is so good. We have been praying for a
residential building for a long time. But now, the Lord is making the
dream come true. Glory to His name!!
As excited children, do we jump through the maze of God's promises and rejoice in their fulfillment - by faith?
The future of this work is in God's hands. They are good hands. Two and a half years ago this work was still a dream in the heart of His people. Surely God sees and He cares about this little congregation of believers in a barren land. Praise Him!
And, for those that have been caring about their desperate need of rain, brother Lawrence wrote today:
Thank you very much for prayers, Dear Ones. We have had two nights
of heavy rains--yesterday night and the day before. It is a wonderful
blessing from the Lord. We need prayers
that the rains continue long enough for a good crop this season.
Though the labors have been long and tedious, the Bible Center continues to make progress. Like all that we endeavor in life, it is the trials that prove us and our work.
Before progress could be made, the poorly-constructed "ring-to" beams had to be demolished. This had been one of the main hindrances to the work. Lawrence states, "Parts of the walls and windows that had not been done are also going up. Praise the Lord. The happy end is in sight."
Meanwhile, firewood has been gathered to begin firing the bricks. The stack has been covered with cow dung to contain and distribute the heat.
The firing begins.
Suddenly, disaster hits! Yes, we are "tried by fire" indeed. Some weakness in the design or method has been revealed. As the dear brother puts it, "Ah, the fight is still going on. Part of the burnt bricks collapse. Even when the road seems to reach the end, the fight is hot. We must keep looking to the Lord till the end."
Lawrence in the fight. Blow by blow, the work will go on.
The fires are lighted again.
And the burning out begins as the fire does its work. Are we letting the trials in our lives perfect and purify us?
As dusk falls, Alvin is at it.
Isn't it a privilege to be part of the Lord's building? Not only in these temporal endeavors, but much more as we are made a "habitation of God" by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. With Job of old can we say, "He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold"? 
This morning's update from brother Lawrence states: We praise God for blessings on the building work so far. The "ring-to" is now half way repaired. We demolished the bad one and also the partitioning of the building. By Saturday, I am told the "ring-to" will be complete. The roofing of the building will be the next undertaking. Please, pray for this other part. The bricks are about ready now. God worked a wonder by stopping the stack from tumbling down. Praise the Lord. Yes, thank the Lord for grace and courage to keep pressing on. It is time to count our blessings.
We need a vision that goes beyond the present struggle. It is so easy to feel the monotony, the lack of results, the endless demands and ask ourselves "am I making any difference, after all?"
Brother Lawrence reports about progress at the building site: We are no longer expecting the heavy rains and the brick making season has come. The work has now taken a full swing at the site...We have to fetch water on bicycles and a wheel barrow some two miles away. We must be careful of the meager finances and I personally have to supervise the work most of the time (in between several weekly Bible studies). So it is going slowly, but we are blessed as we work.
It is only the red clay soil...
It is only one bicycle load of water (and two miles is a long way to carry it)...
Lawrence (below) inspects the bricks for defects. They will be used for the partition walls inside the main building.
It is only a brick... only a bit of mortar... only an earthen wall...
...but it is building upon faith in a living God.
And it is not in vain.
Brother Philip (left) has been a helpful support at the building site.
Isn't it encouraging?
When we give the little we have, whole-heartedly, into the hands of God...
When we set out to trust Him... with no turning back
When we contend in prayer, meeting each doubt with a promise...
When we come boldly to the throne of grace... acknowledging our limitations and need (no matter how great it is)...
will we be disappointed?
No, it is there our Father's full giving is only begun.
Though no rains have fallen, the water drops still send a message of Divine faithfulness. He doesn't forget.
Our little, committed into the hands of the living God, will never be in vain.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
