Right about now in Dallas, there’s a team of 8 women at the airport getting ready to come to Guatemala to serve for the next week or so.  I know that they are excited and ready to be here.  They have already endured a cancelled flight and re-booking.  I’m sure that the Lord has a lot in store for them.  They are working with Fundaninos and a ministry in the City called Cadaninos that serves in a government home for children and adults with special needs.

If you would like to read more about who they are and what they will be doing, you can find their blog updates at The Village Church Mission’s blog here.  If you think about it this week, please be praying for the team and the children and staff that they will be ministering to.  Thanks!

So today at Fundaninos I took my camera — I don’t always, but today was the day — while I was there Gaby, Yoselyn and Evelyn asked if they could use it to take a few pictures (thankfully I have a small but sturdy camera!).  After Gaby promised she would take care of it AND bring it back, I agreed knowing full well that there was no telling what pictures I would get back upon the return of my camera.  Needless to say, I thought you might enjoy it as well. 

I feel like one of the main things that I have been learning (being reminded of) lately is that the Lord will fight for His children.  Lately it has been small things that seem big, but it has reminded me of times in the past and times coming that that either the Lord has fought for me or I need Him to fight for me.  I don’t need to worry, fret, stress, or become consumed by the battle — It’s the Lord’s battle and He has already won; I need only to trust Him. 

I looked up “Lord will fight” in my ESV study Bible and was reminded that over and over again, the Lord fought for His people.

A few of the truths that stood out for me personally:

• I don’t need to speak unless He tells me to.
  • Ex. 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”        
• God has fought in the past and He’ll fight again.
  • Deut. 1:30 “The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,”
• I don’t need to fear.
  • Josh. 10:25 “And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
• The Lord goes with me. 
  • o   Jer. 1:19 “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

 What is something that the Lord has been teaching you lately?

 As I have been thinking about what the next season in Guatemala holds, I have thought a lot about the process that God took me through to get me to this point.  It has been an amazing journey so far – God has done so much in my heart over the past 2 years and I’m so grateful for everything He has allowed me to be apart of.  However, this journey hasn’t involved just me.  It has included amazing prayer prayers, friends, family and supporters.  I really couldn’t do it without each and every one of them (and you!).  As I prepare to return to Guatemala for a second term I am back to raising support again.  “Are you nervous?” you might ask… well, no I am not.  I’m not nervous because I have no doubt that I am where I am supposed to be, no doubt that God has called me to be here, and I have seen that confirmed continually over the past few years and even within the past few weeks.  I have seen God’s faithfulness and how God cares for His children.  I am also confident that just as the Church provided for Paul, God is also raising up partners in the gospel to go with me into Guatemala.

Please be praying with me for the individuals and families that God is calling to go to Guatemala as partners.  While I can’t go alone, I know that God is going before me to prepare hearts as well as rising up those He is calling to go with me.  Is God calling you?

Over the past few days I have found myself reflecting on the promises of God.  There are so many! And because of who God is He always keeps His promises.  There is so much comfort in that knowledge.  When life is hard – there’s a promise for that… when things are going well – there’s a promise for that too.  For ALL the promises of God find their yes in HIM.(2 Cor 1:20) 

A few of my fav’s this week:

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  Psalm 34:19

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act. Psalm 37:4-5

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5b

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9a

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold the new has come. 2 Cor. 5:17

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.  Jer. 30:17a

I have loved you with an everlasting Lod; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jer. 31:3b

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

“You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off, ” fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:9b-10