Back from Mexico

Our mission team had an amazing trip to Matamoros, Mexico where we worked closely alongside Pastor Lalo Castro and his wife, Patty. The days were filled meeting with Pastor Lalo and listening to him describe what God is doing in Matamoros as the church moves to a new location and builds an orphanage on the outskirts of town. The evenings were filled with praise and worship and members of our team were asked to bring messages each night and then pray for members of their church.

What I observed most from the church was their incredible hunger to experience the power and presence of God in their lives. They didn't have a lot of resources to "do church" but what they had was a longing to see God at work. And where there's that longing, amazingly, God shows up providing exactly what's needed to love and minister to others.

Isn't that awesome? When we find ourselves being extended beyond our abilities and resources to do what God has placed before us, God shows up to help us do what we can't do ourselves. The glory then is God's glory and not our own. The big question is - Are we extending in faith toward that calling? Are we hungry for God to move through us? To work through us? To minister through us?

The question applies to us individually (are we risking so that we have to rely on God?) and as a church (are we reaching out past our walls and saying whatever you have for us God, we gladly receive!). I know that the times I've grown in a big way in my faith are those times I said yes to the invitation to walk in unkown, unmapped places and put my trust in God's leading and provision to see me through. When we do this we will always grow. It might stretch us a little. It might stretch us a lot. But God is growing inside of us the heart of a warrior - ready to do battle, ready to bring the peace, ready to risk it all for God's eternal kingdom. Don't become cynical or despairing when these growing times occur. Keep your sights focused on the promise of God's goodness and trust in what God is building in you.