Africa 2012

Tomorrow afternoon I set off again to one of my favorite places on earth. The first verse I laid eyes on when I opened the word tonight was Nahum 1:15. How appropriate…”Behold upon the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts oh Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off. 

The “good news” here is that the fall of Nineveh has occurred and there can be peace because no longer does Judah have to bear the brutality of military action and oppression from Assyria. “Keep your feasts” refers to festivals that were to remind people of the Lord’s past deliverances and the future hope of the coming Messiah. They would also worship at the feasts, giving the Lord proper thanks and praise. A similar verse is found in Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The good news here also refers to a great deed, usually a victory. This verse is also a shout of victory through God over every oppression. 

I always feel a sense of inadequacy when I depart off to another adventure around the world. But I think this is good. Because I know that the truth is that I will never be prepared enough or good enough. How dare we think otherwise. May he be strong in our weaknesses and may we find ourselves living in ways that show His glory because of the fact that we can’t accomplish things greater than ourselves in our own power. Tomorrow I have another opportunity to bring good news and publish peace. I pray and hope we have the opportunity to love on and ignite hope into the eyes of children and families oppressed by war. I pray and hope we will feast as we share with our new friends there about the Lord’s past deliverances and the future hope of the coming Messiah! May we worship and give the Lord proper thanks because he is good all the time. Lord, fill us up so much that we pour out good news of happiness and salvation and may we cry “our God reigns” with new brothers and sisters who desperately need only what you can offer. 

Some verses that inspire my desire to "go" not only to the far corners of the earth but also to the corner store, my job and anywhere he decides to take these feet!...

"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Isaiah 49:6

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

"And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:19

"True religion that is pure and undefiled before the father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep thyself unstained from the world." James 1:27

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:10-11

Thanks so much for all the support and prayers! Laura Beth and I will be taking over many towels, sheets, baby items, toys, school supplies, clothes and lots of LOVE thanks to you! We will try to keep you updated.The following is a link to the organization we are traveling with:

http://127worldwide.net/

Love, Stac