Lord Your name....

is higher than the Heavens
Your Name is higher than all created things
Higher than hope
Higher than dreams
the Name of the Lord

this is a time of many broken dreams and unmet hopes My time here has not been what I had hoped for or dreamed of. Perhaps you can relate to that today?

but....the NAME OF OUR LORD
- must be higher
- should be what we seek
- is always faithful
- never changes
- knows our needs, our wants, and HE CARES!

He sees us. As we put our trust in Him, He will lead us through these dark days.

So I pray to You
God of my salvation
Lifter of my head
Teach me how to live oh Lord
in Your righteousness

I pray that each one of you will find refuge in the Name that is above all Names! JESUS!

lots of love from the Congo,
Doreen

(lyrics from Hilsong 'One Thing')

As human beings, we should always be learning.

I would like to share with you my lesson today. 

Perhaps it will help somebody else?

It is difficult to fully explain those times when God speaks to you, but I will try.…

Yesterday, as we drove back home, we passed a young boy on the side of the street. He was dragging himself through the dust with one leg trailing behind him…..

I was the passenger in an air-conditioned vehicle! My eyes remained fixed on his progress as we passed by. The contrast wreaks havoc in my heart and leaves my mind with such images. I think you can imagine how disturbing that can be. 

One refuge is that through TBA and supporters like you, we have been able to respond to many, many of those who are suffering.

Of course, we are unable to reach everyone, and it is heartbreaking!

Today, I was sharing this with Pastor Raha. He responded by telling me that we must allow ourselves to have joy! Such wisdom!

Gal 5:22 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”

Joy isn’t something that is just nice to have. Joy is a necessity. 

But, this joy is not a response to circumstances. This is a joy greater than what is going on around us.

Without joy, circumstances can crush our spirits.

Nehemiah 8:10 “……the joy of the Lord is your strength”

I need strength! So I need joy also!

Could you use a little more of this joy in your life? Have you been relying on your circumstances to keep you feeling good?

Don’t let circumstances steal your joy.

Give yourself permission to have joy!

=========

Please do not think that means turning away from the poor. NO! The opposite is true, it gives strength with which to respond.

In John 12:8, Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 

He was revealing the fact that the very next day, He would be crucified. 

He was certainly NOT, NO HOW, NO WAY giving a life sentence of poverty to the poor.

He was quoting Deuteronomy 15:11

The disciples would have been very familiar with the Scripture, and therefore would have known the REST of the verse....

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

The biblical response to poverty is openhandedness. 

The persistence of poverty is not a reason to ignore the plight of the poor but to draw near to them with generosity.

You are successfully reaching the needy through TBA! 

Thank you so much!

Be blessed!