Life hurts, but "God is good no matter what"!

Recently, I have been noticing how many people are in very tough situations. When I look at the world with Ebola, ISIS or just looking at my friends and people around me, I can only say life is hard.  Sometimes I don’t know what to say or do.  To just say, "God is good no matter what" seams so un-caring. 

However, as I sit and think about it, there could be nothing further from the truth. You see it is only because "God is good no matter what" that life worth living.  Because of this truth that we should not give up. 

You see this world is a mess and it will only get worst. That does not change the fact that our God is still good. One day, He will put an end to all our hurt and pain. He will put an end to evil, and our hope will become our reality. 

So to those who are suffering, I am not making light of your pain.  To those whose life seems to be falling apart, I am not saying that things will suddenly be great. I am only saying that because "God is good no matter what", that makes all this hurt and pain and all this mess tolerable. It is because "God is good no matter what", that we can still have HOPE. 

So today no matter what you are facing put your hope and trust in God, for without the truth that "God is good no matter what", life would be without hope. 

Madman

Madman

Demonic or evil or none of the two

Would you chose to be mad, would you chose to be you

Freedom or captive or a state in between

A world of illusion sewn up in a dream.

Reality as we see it, only controls and confines

The ability to be free the ability of one’s mind

Are we victors in madness such a lovely sound?

Are we losers in sanity held by chains to the ground?

Is madness a play or just a game

No victor to lose or one to claim

Oh, help me oh help me this is my cry

Oh madness I’m searching where does your lot lie.

My eyes shall be opened I will no longer play

Madman your game must end on this day

Am I free from this struggle I confess not to know?

But Madman your grip you now must let go.

For the freedom I found once in your thoughts

I no longer feel that freedom that I ought.

In reality I feel more controlled by your crime

To rob me of myself and to lock out my mind.

Madman how could you, could one be so unkind

To hide your hypocrisy to validate your crime

Madman, O Madman, you have stolen from me

The joy and the laughter that alone can set me free.

Goodbye to you Madman goodbye to your shame

I no longer desire to remain in your name.

You no longer can control me with freedom as your lie

For my wings have been opened I’m ready to fly.

So goodbye to you Madman goodbye to you again

For although you have deceived me you have been my friend.

I will not forget you, nor the lesson I’ve learned

You have shown me that freedom is not found, but is earned.

Where My Heart Wants To Go!

As I sit here, my heart is unsure of what it feels. I have come to find that lately that my Heart is longing. Longing for Christ and the peace that only He can bring. Life has a way of beating you down, making you feel alone, helpless and defeated.
When I was younger the pleasures of this world, both good and sinful, would be my escape from this place. But now I find no peace in those escapes. I often just want to be at peace and free from the emptiness of this world.
My heart wants to be with Christ. I can’t even put it into words the sense of peace I find in the person of Christ. The more I come to understand what He has done for me, what He is doing in me and what it will be like when I am with Him. I long for His presence. I don’t long to die, I just long for the peace and contentment that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 1:21-23, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” Now don’t get me wrong, I am nowhere near the man that Paul was. I cannot begin to compare my walk with Christ to how close Paul walked with Christ.
I’m simply saying that I have a longing in my heart that only Jesus Christ can satisfy. I don’t always have that longing, and I pray I would love Christ as much as Paul loved Him. I pray that I would hate sin as the Apostle Paul hated sin.
I’m far from the man that Paul was, but I do know I have a longing to be in the presence of Christ, much more than I have before. It is the place…. Where My Heart Want’s To Go!

The Death of Sin

Sin can you truly be as strong as you seem

And to overcome you is only a dream

Are you more powerful then all of us thought

Are you a foe better not fought

Sin are you a monster that cannot die

A enemy so cold that hearts only cry

Are you a beast that comes from within

Or are you a thought that speaks like a friend

Sin are you a tempter that plays with the soul

A song of the wind that make us less whole

Are you so hideous that your face you must hide

Are you a poison that speaks only lies

Sin what ever you are this I have come to be sure

That all that you are I have found only one cure

As precious as a cure could ever be

Yes the blood of Christ Jesus has over come thee

So you may fight on, and some battles you may win

But be sure of this He is coming again

And on that day there will be no place to run

You will be completely destroyed by the glory of the Son

So sin no matter what battle you wage

No matter the poison, or how strong the cage

Fight you I must for He fights for me 

And ask me to trust that one day I'll be free

By Don Stubbs Dec 26th 2013 

Arizona Missions Trip Days 3,4,5 and 6

The days have been long and time to write is hard to find. 

The Sunday morning service was long, over 5 hours, during the time many different people would share and the sermon was over 2 hours alone. the rest of the day we spent getting ready for the Vacation Bible School. Monday was the first day of VBS we had 31 kids and 9 adults. Our team did a great job running the children's side of the program, while Travis and I taught the adults. One thing I am coming to understand is the harshness of life here on the reservation and the great need for the word of God to be taught correctly. During the adult class it became clear that the they love the word of God, but many of the Navaho still hold onto some of their traditional religions. They still seek help from the spirits and are at times controlled by these traditions. Day 5&6 where much of the same only more and more kids came alone with more adults.

The physical conditions have been extremely hard, Monday and Tuesday was a sand storm all day, everything was was coved in sand you could not even see at times because of the sand. We had to take everything out of our tents and clean out out sleeping bags, our clothes and sweep out more sand then I thought possible could get in a tent.There is no running water and the the outhouse are not in the best of shape.

But the people that live here have taught us that you make do with what you have. There also seem to be a strong sense of hopelessness in many here, but those who have Christ are determined to fight and not give up. Please pray as many have asked us if we could help long term, and even asked us about teaching though correspondence. Pray that our last two VBS's go well and that many children will accept Jesus Christ. Pray that God will destroy the many strongholds and traditions that opposed His truth, and that many would turn to Jesus. 

Arizona Missions Trip Day 1&2

6 of us  got to Tuba City, late Friday night, the rest of the group had gotten in earlier that day and set up our campsite that we would call home for the next seven days. Early Sat morning we headed out to the Navaho Reservation that we would be serving at for the week. Its only a 15 min drive from the campsite to the reservation. Once there we met up with the others in the team that drove from Ohio, so we could have all the equipment and supplies needed for the week. They had brought everything, generators, cooking stoves and food for the week to feed 23 people. They brought all the VBS supplies and everything else we might need. The reservation has no running water or electric in the area where we will be doing ministry. 

After breakfast, we had little time before camp meeting would start. Camp meeting is an annual weekend that a church would put on as an evangelistic and training time to challenge the Christians on the reservation to live for Christ, and to share Christ with lost family members and friends. We would spend the next 11 hours working with the children and youth teaching them. While most of the team worked with the youth, some of us got to share during the teaching time with the adults. We lead them in some songs and also shared from Gods word.

The day was long, but we stared to build good relationship, that will be important for the rest of the week, as we will be running a VBS for both children, youth and adults. We will attend a Sunday service today on the reservation, and the rest of the day will be spent preparing for the VBS which starts on Monday.

Please pray for the team as we want to see God do great things in the lives of those we serve this week.   

A time to serve a time to pray a time with friends, Kenya day 5&6

Kenya Day 5&6
Most of day five was spent at the Samaritan Purse staff viewing their airplanes and their offices at the airport. The work they do for the Kingdom of Christ is breathtaking. They are flying food, people, supplies to those in the most desperate and dangerous situations. Their heart is to care for the least of these and to take care of the poor at the sake of their own good. This has been very humbling to me. Later that evening we had a meal with more of the staff and got to hear first hand the scope of their operations.

Day six we went to church at Calvary Chapel Eldoret. It was so good to worship with brothers and sisters from Kenya. The Church was not much by our standards, but the singing and the warmth of the people, their love for Jesus was heart felt. After church we had lunch in the Rift Valley and I was reminded of the Glory of our great God. 

After lunch we headed back to Reuben's (Word of Truth Ministry) and continued serving there. We completed the work on the library, and finally headed home for the night. The days have been long and hard but, God has done great things in our hearts. He has given us a greater love for the people of Kenya, and a heart to see the gospel spread here.