Rags or Riches

It has been a few weeks and we are really settling into our new house. We were in the old house for almost one and half years. When looking at photo’s one would think “why did we stay so long”???
Two reasons, one; relationship, the owners of the house are incredible people! So kind, loving…. And Relationship is very important in Africa. The whole culture is relationship based.
Two; The compound of that house was twice the size of any of our friends, and so beautiful!! Mango trees, papaya, banana, avocado, oh it was nice.

It is what you call a very simple African estate.

The back yard...

Now just look at the comparison, can a picture really say a thousand words?? I doubt it….. Believe it or not the price difference is less than $100.. God is Good!!!!

Some would say “how can you live like that?” “what about all those poor people you are trying to reach?”
“I thought you were a missionary..” “Shouldn't you live more simple?”
Oh believe me I could go on and on!!!

Tell me where did we get in our heads that as Christians we need to except simple, second best, or live with the crap? Is that what we call humility? Or stupidity?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not glorifying materialism! We are to have things, not things have us! Fine line…
Where does it start and where does it stop? It’s so hard! Why even start?? I will just except the crap, live with it and hope to love it. It is probably easier to just fight the feelings of envy, jealousy, and coveting.

As a Missionary, oh lets not go there…. That is to live the simplest life of all!!(right??) That is where every one when sending (care) packages goes through their closets to see what is old and warn out or just not warn or in style any longer, Or how about emptying out the pantry or shelves in the Kitchen of stuff that one would not really use? Sad but believe me this does happen!! Lets face it there are people who feel and act that Missionaries don’t need the nice, or new stuff. There are even missionaries who feel and act this way. They are more than happy to sit down with the second or third hand things. My thought is, what I call, old school thinking. What is a missionary any way?You can read my earlier Blog “lets redefine, shall we…”

The time we have been here in Rwanda, we have been extremely blessed.

God has placed around us, an incredible group of people. From friends, family, to intercessors etc., the Lord has really used these people to help sustain us. Through their prayers, encouraging words, care packages, etc.. My family and I are warring fashionable cloths, are able to enjoy some comforts (food, snacks, and candies) from time to time.

I don’t know how to say thank you enough, I am so blessed and through the generosity of others have been able to greatly bless the people of this beautiful Nation.
The Lord has been pouring out his spirit on these beautiful people and setting them free… Thank you God!!!
Blessing in the practical and in the spiritual!

So why the all the blessing? Why is it that we have been seeing so much favor yet so much opposition lately? Please allow me to throw some thoughts down on this. Mat. 7:8-11, Ps. 37:3-4, bottom line is God wants to bless us, he wants to give his children not just good but great gifts, I believe that one of the main reasons we are experiencing Gods favor and blessing upon our ministry and upon our life is that we are tithing a great deal, sowing back into Gods kingdom. We are not just tithing out of what we get but in faith giving what we feel the lord has laid on our hearts to give. Amazing enough that amount has always been there when it is time to give. It’s not a surprise, it’s a biblical principal… Give and it shall be given unto you Luke 6:38. Now this is not a formula I don’t think there are ABC’s or 123’s to figure out God. The Lord is sovereign meaning he is in full control and does what he wants when he wants and how he wants, but that should not stop us from living out his principals we do not give to get but in faith give to see his kingdom expand, and at the same time we pray out Malachi 3:10-12.

Of course we also have an enemy who wants to side track, discourage, steal, kill and destroy all that the Lord wants to do in and through our lives. This would be spiritual warfare!! Thus the opposition…. But we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

Therefore we focus not on what is seen, but what is unseen for what is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal. God will always take care of his children! Rags or Riches…..