Thursday, January 17, 2019

Mission Africa Update January 18, 2019

In Uganda see our recent communications online at: https://missionafricajk.blogspot.ug/.
In other countries also see our communications at: https://www.missionafricajk.net.
Friends: Our Updates are sent to instruct, encourage, edify and act as a help in prayer. We appreciate your receiving them, your replies, comments and prayer requests.

A Prayer To The God Of My Life

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance
And my God.”   Psalm 42:11

Our Father, most High God, glory and thanksgiving for ages without end for Your kindness, mercy, grace and help poured out upon us—all in Your infinite love! Praise You forever and ever, Amen! Thank You for my recent experience of being cast down in my soul, of being disquieted within for in this You sustained me and kept me prayerful. You lead me to yet praise You! You alone are the help of my countenance and my God!
           
I tried to articulate to the family at Christmas about how You bring a believer (especially a minister) into difficulty (as You crucify him in a sense) and then You lift him up out of the trial which is death-like (as You resurrect him). And I tried to encourage the family that when this happens to them they must hold fast to You and exalt You and know that You have purposed this painful trial to perfect and establish them—to strengthen their faith. And that in Your faithfulness You would lift them from the trial—that they should know and remember this. O Lord, how I struggle to remember Your work in this as I seem swamped over in my disquiet of heart at times. I see today that You were moving me away from a dependence on myself, my ability, from earthly supports or in my seeking to find comfort in others. And You took me through this cross while I struggled and cried out on it. Thank You for showing me my utter inability as I struggled to trust You about these matters. Thank You for teaching me more about trusting You when all in me cries out for relief which in Your wisdom You withhold until the right time. Teach me much more fully in these trials Lord that as this happens in the future that You are holding me when I can’t hold onto You—that You are carrying me—all in grace! I became hopeless, a bit dejected and fearful, I doubted You—forgive me, Lord, and yet in this turmoil You held onto me and led me to pray and showed Your ability to do that which only You can do! You are Lord and God—there is no other! You answered prayer—something that only You could do! Praise You, Lord! Thank You, Lord, for this trial! Thank You, Lord, for these lessons! Glory! Thank You for Your encouragements from others that You are the God who answers prayer (only as You can)!
           
O God, I feel that the spiritual battle is fierce these days—make us to overcome, forgive our sin, protect us from evil, keep us from iniquity, help our countenance in Your time and way, carry us when we are powerless and unable, and bring quiet, grace and help to us. Keep us praying, keep us trusting You, keep us faithful, believing and repentant! Thank You that we are at times helplessly hung up and that Your power, grace and presence are then manifested! Thank You that You cause us to endure the cross and You take us from it, up into resurrection life and renewal! How rich and wonderful this experience is, Lord! Amen! Bless You, Lord! Amen! I praise You, my God and the help of my countenance, Amen! Glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!  

May the Lord take us through our trials of faith in His sufficient grace and perfect our faith!

Photos are of ministers that God has blessed us to work with and minister to and serve with.
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"For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever"   (Psalm 9:18). 

“Poverty is a hard heritage; but those who trust in the LORD are made rich by faith. They know that they are not forgotten of God, and though it may seem that they are overlooked in His providential distribution of good things, they look for a time when all this shall be righted. Lazarus will not always lie among the dogs at the rich man's gate, but he will have his recompense in Abraham's bosom. Even now the LORD remembers His poor but precious sons, "I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinketh upon me," said one of old, and it is even so. The godly poor have great expectations. They expect the LORD to provide them all things necessary for this life and godliness; they expect to see things working for their good; they expect to have all the closer fellowship with their LORD, who had not where to lay His head; they expect His second advent and to share its glory. This expectation cannot perish, for it is laid up in Christ Jesus, who liveth forever, and because He lives, it shall live also. The poor saint singeth many a song which the rich sinner cannot understand. Wherefore, let us, when we have short commons below, think of the royal table above.”

-C.H. Spurgeon  British Preacher  1834-1892
 

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