« January 2008 | Main | May 2008 »

February 02, 2008

What an amazing year

Dear Friends,
Yes what an amazing year because of what God has done in all of our lives! I am out of town for a couple of days. God has touched me this morning with these verses as I think about the year that ended from Isaiah 45
8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
God is briging rightousness and justice to people who have been rejected and opressed. As much as much men should and try to bring rightousness it is ultimately God who brings justice. His justice is in the context of mercy and grace. That is why there is healing when God brings justice. You can read that in Luke 4 when Jesus proclaimed the year of Jubliee. In the book of Esther when the Jews were faced with injustice God brought justice in a woman in the palace whose Jewishness was a secret. That has been a challenge to many of us whom God has put us in a place where we can serve the less fortunate. We are working with more than 103 families and the numbere is growing. That is what happened in the last year. We did not try to bring justice on our standards we look for justice always in the context or mercy.

My life has been marked by an invitation to cross by the merciful Lord every single day. With all of its challenge crossing is the most joyful thing that has happened to me. I am so thankful. God helped me to "Rise Together" with those whom he brought in my life. I am filled with deep gratitude because God has used me to bring justice in the context of mercy to those who need it.
God gave me a wife who is gracious and who stood by me even in difficult times. Praise Jesus!
We just finished two successful semisters of tutoring in partnership with Firm Foundation Turoring.
Our Communal Mentoring program is taking a new shape but up until now the kids see us as a safe place and people to talk to them even when they are in trouble. God has used us as a chnnels of his love and we are thankful for that.
We have been blessed with many friends who are willing to be where we are at and cross to where we are at. We are very thankful.
Does this mean life was without difficulty? No, not at all, There were days, becaue of the painful difficulties, I wondered whether the Lord has called me to the work I am doing. Every step of the way, regardless of the sin and challenge in and around me, God has been deeply loving and immesurably gracious in confirming his will in my life. That love of God made me to extend Justice in the context of mercy to those who may not deserved it or who has been so far from it up until now.
In the mid of 2007, at one point, because of the challenge I was in the midst of, confused if God has called me to the ministry. I am hurting and crying for help. Mercy and justice seemed very far. I was feeling useless. It looked like God has take a vaccation. I was really confused! I had a dream that night which confirmed God, truly called me to the work I am doing. I do not know what you think about dreams. Belive me I have my reservations. But this was more than clear and that was what I needed. God is a god of mercy and Justice.

My God is an amazing God. Though I literally disowned by my father many years ago he became my father and brought justice in the context of mercy in everything I have done. I want that justice to be contagious and touch many people.

Believe me, cross-cultural ministry is not an easy work: there were, and still are, times I would be levelled, there were times I was truly insulted, there were many times I felt alone in the midst of many people, there were times I felt a guest in the midst of God's people. But because God stayed with me I stayed with the people he has called me to serve. Thank you Jesus! God's mercy and justice is vaster than the sea.

There was a day myself and my wife did not have any money to the ministry and to ourselves. But God came in the midst of that. One of those times was just about three months ago. We needed a sizable amount of money. But we did not know where to get it. Before we go to bed, I remember praying, saying to God he has provided so far and we will trust him to continue to provide. The next day God provided the money for my wife as a refund from her company for the money she already spent on education and which she really did not expect. The money is almost four times more than we expected. Yes Crossing is difficult. But When God is there the waters will divide into two walls making a way for God and his people to move on.

We are making some important changes in our ministry in the coming days. We are inviting all of you who have been given spercial gift, who are in the place of privilage, in the place of leadersship to help us and stand by us as we make these mature and right changes. Just as God used queen Esther to bring Mercy sang Justice to the Jewish people he wants to use you:

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"


God brings justice whether we respond to his call or not. As Merodicai told Esther. It is a privilage to try to bring God's mercy and Justice to the most undesrved ones this past year. I hope you will see it as a privilage not as a burden to serve people who may not be fortunate otherwise.
Let the showers of mercy and justice fall on all of the people who have been levelled and rejected.
Happy New Year!
Jesus Come Again!

Posted by kishawork2 at 11:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack