by Joe Bradley | Mar 28, 2016 | Articles, Testimonies
In the midst of uncertainty all around us, we find great solace, peace, hope and joy in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of my favorite all-time devotions is Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. April 29 – “Certain Uncertainty” is a good one. Chamber’s articulates: “To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.” We’ve all experienced uncertainty, but let me suggest, not to the extent that Oswald suggests. Do we wait in breathless expectation for uncertainty? I know, if I’m really honest with myself that I loathe that position when and if I find myself there. Allow me to introduce you to my new friend Curtis. I first became aware of Curtis as I drove by him here in Phoenix, AZ on warm fall day. Curtis was holding up a sign that read: Need Rent Money. I made numerous observations…he was different from many of those standing on corners holding signs. He obviously had a place to live, or he wouldn’t be asking for rent money. He face was without expression. The next day, same intersection I encountered Curtis again, but this time with a different sign: Best Watch Repair at Diamond Jim’s Jewelry. Curtis had gotten himself a job flipping a sign at a busy intersection. Good for him, I thought. His face still without expression. For the...
by Ron Hocutt | Mar 7, 2016 | Articles, Testimonies
Jer 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied three, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? While wallowing in self-pity, confusion, worry and uncertainty the other day, God reminded me of an eternal truth that’s worth sharing: if you think things are bad for you now, how are you going to react when they really are? Will you remain a man of faith? The truth is that it doesn’t take much effort to knock us out of a trusting relationship with Christ. Look around, however, and notice those who are suffering for Christ in ways few of us could comprehend. Even knowing this, my nature is to always focus on my own troubles and assume them to be excessive, unjust, and unwarranted. If this sounds familiar, I ask you to consider the following: * It is our lot as Christians to be used by Him in any manner He chooses while still believing and trusting in His fundamental Goodness. Even a cursory review of scripture will demonstrate how God used (and in our minds perhaps abused) His servants. Are you willing to be used as these people were used? If not, you have no basis to be assured of your relationship with Christ. * Being a slave of Jesus Christ and “dying to self” means a lot more than we commonly think it does. It means all of you – what you own, think, feel, and hold dear – it all belongs to Him. Everything you are and have is to be used for His...
by Craig McAndrews | Feb 22, 2016 | Articles, Testimonies
I travelled to Haiti with a church group to serve with a team at a pastor’s leadership conference. This was the first of its kind for this group of Haitian pastors and the team who coordinated the event. There was a great turnout, and God was really working on the group who participated. At the same time, He was really working on me. For starters, I had to teach through a translator which is pretty challenging. I knew the process would stretch me, but I had no idea how uncomfortable it would make me. I remember the first time during the talk when I said something to the translator and they simply looked at me with a puzzled face. Turns out what I was trying to say couldn’t even be translated in the local language. There were moments when I had no idea what to say next, but each time God provided words and I managed to get through the sessions without any major problems. God reminded me that day how big of a God He is. The depressing part of the lesson was that God showed me how small I make Him. When I pray my prayers and look at Him through the lens of my own life, I realized I have a tendency to put Him in a tiny little box and lean on Him based on my circumstances. The idea of His bigness escaped me. However, the Haitian people sparked a new perspective in me through the simple act of prayer. I distinctly remember a time when the entire group was in prayer after one of the messages. During the prayer, I could hear the low murmur of the Haitian people...
by Craig McAndrews | Jan 11, 2016 | Articles, Testimonies
The Bible quotes God as saying, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (I Samuel 13:14). Do you see yourself as a man after God’s own heart? Another way to think about it is in terms of pursuit. Do you pursue knowing God more and drawing close to Him? I don’t know that I ever fully understood what that could be like until I experienced a nearness to God during a mission trip I took to a foreign country. During the trip, I had countless experiences where I was uncomfortable, nervous, and even a bit afraid. In one specific incident, we were serving lunches at an event we were hosting, and due to the size of the crowd, we ran out of food. In this case, the timing was perfect as each of the attendees received a lunch. Myself, and several members from our group were the only ones who did not receive the meal being served. Since we had prepared our own food before we left the house, it was no big deal as we simply ate the sandwiches we brought with us. However, shortly after lunch, one of the attendees asked our team leader why we did not eat the food that everyone else was eating. He specifically asked if we were unwilling to eat the same food that was provided to those who were participating in the event. As you can imagine, the intensity was high when the question was asked given that we did not intend to insult anyone. I...
by Rob Amerine | Dec 21, 2015 | Articles, Testimonies
One morning over a year ago God provided a ministry opportunity at a local coffee shop. At the time I had been displaced from my home and in the throes of a very challenging and painful family situation. I was angry and financially wiped out. Feeling overwhelmed about the decisions I had made to this point and the consequences that it meant for my family I was broken and had cried out that morning for direction and mercy from the Lord. Just hours later I found myself in a conversation with a guy older than me who had moved to town weeks earlier and said he had come to the Lord a few years ago. In our first meeting when I asked why he moved here he said outright “I’m just looking to be discipled”. I was pretty taken back by this and knowing my current situation I was thinking that this guy needed someone older who had it more together and could invest the time and energy he needed. We traded contact information and I just went about my day trying to manage my emotions and pains the best I could. I ran into him again and again that week at the same coffee shop so we ended up having a few more conversations that quickly turned to spiritual matters. From what he shared he had a solid understanding of the gospel but really wanted to know how to study the bible. He had a very likable personality and seemed to know a lot of people. I soon found out that he was basically homeless but was finding...
by Craig McAndrews | Nov 23, 2015 | Articles, Testimonies
I recently took a trip to Haiti where I had the opportunity to participate in my first international mission trip. I was hesitant to go and nervous about what to expect, but the work God did in me during that trip made me grateful for the opportunity. The experience taught me a number of things including what it means to live with boldness and courage despite my tendency to live with prejudice and fear. During the trip, there were so many uncomfortable moments for me that ultimately, I just let go and leaned in to whatever was happening. This was never more true than when I spent time in an orphanage. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, but I am most comfortable with kids who look the same way my kids look, which is not what you get in Haiti. The first time I stepped through the doors of the Creche (means Cradle in Haitian), I was bumrushed by little boys. They ran up to us, and held up their arms which every parent knows is the international signal for “hold me”. I knew what it meant, but I didn’t know these boys at all, so it was really awkward. However, they didn’t care, and I didn’t have enough time to process the situation. The only response was to pick them up, or get knocked down in the process. So I scooped a couple to them up, and after a few minutes, I knew this was what I should be doing. The children in that orphanage were energetic, loving, kind, playful and curious. The boys just wanted...
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