God´s Prevailing Power

This morning I opened a letter from Britney. Her letter started with this quote....
"God´s prevailing power is released through prayer. That power may come in the form of wisdom- an idea you desperately need and can´t come up with yourself. It may come in the form of courage greater than you could ever muster. It may come in the form of confidence or perseverance, uncommon staying power, a changed attitude,... changed circumstances, maybe even outright miracles. However it comes, God´s prevailing power is released in the lives of people who pray." (Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels)

This past weekend we have experienced God´s prevailing power through changed circumstances. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, things have not worked out like we hoped in the home of our host family. Yesterday we moved to a hosteria (like a hotel) here in Tabacundo. We are happy and safe there. We rejoice that God is all-knowing from the beginning of time because a team was scheduled to join us this Wednesday and will be staying in the same hosteria. We also thank the Lord for such a wonderful team of missionaries who are so full of love for us as well as love for our Lord and seeing His will done.

We are over half way through our time here in Tabacundo/Tupigachi. We have 11 days of ministry left. Like I said on Wednesday, the first two people of the team arrive (Pastor Donnie & Kenny), as well as Uncle Fletcher and a translator. Fletcher will be out here with us and the team until Friday, then Rick Martinez will return on Saturday. We will hike Volcano Cayambe!!! (Don´t worry it´s not active...it´s snow-capped) Then the rest of the team will join us on Sunday. Rick will spend that week here with us and the team. The NEXT Saturday morning (June 20th) we return to Quito and have our big reunion with the missionaries and the other three summer m´s that have been in the other community! We are excited about that reunion because after just one week spent with those girls, we all feel as if we´ve known each other for years!!! It will be exciting to hear and share stories of what the Lord has done in and through us, as we prepare for the week in the Jungle.

God is answering our prayers about interacting with adults more. Though children are very important and often our door in, if a simple church or bible study is going to be started it is going to be with adults. Today as we walked through Santa Monica, after a great day of Bible storying with the children in the school (which by the way are carrying these stories back across the mountain throughout the families in Santa Monica!!!!), we talked to 4 different women and 3 of the time were able to share some of the gospel with them. We told them all why we are here and left tracks with them all. God even allowed us to make plans with one lady, Maria, to have a Bible study in her house this Friday!!!!

I am so thankful for what God is doing here. I read today in Life as a Vapor by John Piper that "looking back is looking on the past providence of God: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20.) And looking forward is looking on the future providence of God: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" (Proverbs 16:9.)...Every moment will be a point of gratitude toward the past and faith toward the future....Just think what kind of people we would be in the next year for the cause of Christ if we were continually humbled by our backward look of gratitude and continually emboldened by our forward look of faith!" This brings me back to the prevailing power and now providence of God in our lives, especially of those who maintain a spirit of prayer. I see God´s prevailing power as we walk up and down rocky, mountain roads, as He puts women into our paths who already know we are there by their children and are ready to study God´s word. I see God´s prevailing power through difficult and challenging circumstances which changes suddenly before us. And I see God´s prevailing power as I reflect that HE HAS ALREADY WON THE VICTORY, despite the sin infected world which we are working and in which we all live, both at home and here in Ecuador.

The realization of this stronghold which sin so easily entangles these people (and could easily entangle each of us as believers as well) is not a new reality! In fact Philippians 3 says, "For many, as I have often told you even now with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown Stand FIRM thus in the Lord, my beloved." I have always known of sin in the world but now I realize even with tears, as Paul said here, how ruthlessly unsatisfying this destruction is. SO many walk as enemies of the cross. BUT we have hope! We can not get discouraged or back off from telling everyone! This realization only makes the need all the more urgent!!! "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful...we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls" (Hebrews 10:23, 39.)