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When you believe, you are promised the gift of the Spirit
Do you remember the first time you were included in something? How awesome is it to be included! This is our Kenya team. As you can see, we are a pretty fun loving group. What an incredible honor and privilege it was to be included in this trip. Especially when you realize that God hand-picked each of us to go!
As we go thru Paul’s words to Ephesus (the Spiritual Blessings in Christ) we are reminded of what God has done for each of us. Paul speaks first of the blessings we have thru the Father (v3). Then he tells us of those that have come thru His only Son, Jesus Christ (starting in v4). Now, we come to those blessings of the Holy Spirit (v13-14).
As we get to the end of the text (also known as the Doxology), we are reminded that thru faith we are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that if we listen and allow it, will guide our path to God’s will for us.
I can honestly say that going to Africa, without my family during Thanksgiving holiday, was not at the top of my wish list. I would selfishly rather have stayed home. I could have eaten way too much, watched football all day and been a complete sloth. I know it does not sound very appetizing to some, but it does for a guy with a real busy schedule.
Boy, am I glad that I listened to the prompting of the Spirit and put others ahead of myself. If I would have stayed home, I would have missed out on the incredible opportunity to spend eleven days with eighteen amazing brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessing it was to share such an incredible experience with a team that was hand selected by our Lord.
There are far too many stories and experiences to share here. What I would focus on is the camaraderie and love we developed as a group. It can only be explained as a gift. The common dominator we shared is that we all had the message of truth in our hearts, the Spirit leading our way, the willingness to share God’s glory and faith to know He was in control. We were included – PRAISE GOD!!!
Praise God is right for so many reasons! Thank you my dear friend…for your words of encouragement this AM, your friendship, family, and service at CCC. God has blessed my family and me with you and your family…beyond what we deserve.
Love it Rico! I think the photo makes the bond, the inclusion within the group, more evident!
Eddie, I see you knocking out your push ups in the photo, glad to see you were keeping in shape while in Kenya, great discipline
Thanks also for your discipline of heeding God’s call and returning to Africa again! I think of all the callings from God that go unanswered in this world and the evidence of our total depravity is stacked up all around us. Thanks for being a light amidst the darkness as we are all blessed to to know you and your family. Now quit reading all these comments and get back to the front leaning rest position and knock ‘em out soldier!
Thanks Eddie it was great to see the Holy Spirit move each day in our personal lives and that of the team. To think that the Spirit can keep 18 people together on the same page for 11 days is awesome. I know that He can do that with a church 365.