Sharing His Kingdom

I got an email today from a friend. She wrote “I am doing good, just in awe of the life you are living. Still do not think I could, especially the physical part, I would have to take up an exercise program. I do feel however that when my job ends here I will move towards the life that is more fulfilling than the one I am leading now. “

It has been running through my spirit all day. What DOES it take to serve God? I love what I am doing, but am I making my friend and others think if you can’t leave the country and hike a mountain you are not significant to the Kingdom of God?

We did hike a mountain, or some very large hills. I think of it dying my way up rather than making my way up the mountain. We were motivated- we had loads of supplies to bring to three widows whose husbands were killed for preaching the gospel. We also had a campaign planned in the church- we brought puppets, and we brought hope. We are taking His Kingdom to the people,” I thought.

We made our way up there and we prayed for the widows, who are still active in the church. Then we made our way to the church. I sat down under a tree near the shade-grown coffee next to a lady and tried to speak with her- I know about 5 words in Tzletal and I was determined to use them all. Your blouse is beautiful, “ I said. She smiled and said “Thank you.” “Did you embroider it?” She nodded. “How long does it take to make a blouse like this? “ Three months,” she answered. I was stunned “Three months? Not three weeks?” She laughed, and we counted up to 90 together…90 days. I knew they sold the blouses when they went down the mountain for $150 pesos- about $13. A while later I was doing something else and she came back to me with a translator.. He told me she wanted to run home, two hills away, and put on her old blouse so she could give me hers- I said "No, no thank you but no, I can’t let her do that!" Through the translator she explained "You don't understand, I have this one and one other! I have two! Who needs two blouses? I want to give this one to you!”

A couple of night later we were ministering to the Lacandone Indians. It was late and there was a woman sitting in front of us who had two little ones. One was wrapped up in her shawl; the other was on her lap. She kept moving like she was uncomfortable. Missy, who came down with the Lubbock group, was sitting next to me and she asked “Do you think she would give me her baby to hold?” “I whispered back “Probably not.” A couple of minutes later I thought “Why not ask her?” I stood and leaned over her and said “She wants to help with your baby, would that be ok?” She nodded gratefully, and Missy took her baby. Soon the invitation came, and I had to leave the area to minister to women who had come forward. When I went back to our seat I found Missy deep in prayer for the baby- and his Mom standing up front with a counselor! When she came back I hugged her and asked “Why did you go up front?” She smiled shyly. “Did you accept the Lord as your Savior?” She nodded “Yes, yes, I did. I’m so happy.”

What does it take to bring the Kingdom to someone? Sometimes it takes leaving your home. And dying your way up a mountain, yes.

But others?

Other times it means giving away your blouse to a stranger because you have two.

Or holding a baby for someone so that she can be free to make a decision that will change her life.

You don’t have to travel the world, or hike, or get sweaty or go deal with snakes to take the Kingdom to others. The Bible- the absolute word on His Kingdom- says “Blessed are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”

My answer to my friend who wrote me and to you who are thinking, “ I love what she’s doing, but I could never do that!” is: You don’t have to do! Share His word, share His Kingdom, share His love with everyone you know wherever you are- start where you are, and keep going! “When we offer ourselves as instruments for God’s purpose, we create opportunities for others to experience God through us.”* There is no feeling like that in the world.

I’m wondering…how can you make yourself available to His Kingdom this very day, right where you are?

Who can you touch in Jesus’ name?

Whose baby can YOU hold?




*e.r.mcmanus.

Lessons from a Pack Trip in the Sierra

A few days ago we packed up a mountain to take supplies to 3 widows and to take some of God’s kingdom to a remote village called “Kantajtic”. We went with a combined mission team from Lubbock and Oklahoma City- an amazing group of people with a true servant’s heart. More about this amazing week later.

The Bible teaches that God wastes nothing of our lives- He saves every tear, takes our mourning and turns it to oil of gladness, our ashes He turns to beauty, He takes up the rags of our despair and he sews them into a garment of praise. Frankly, the 3 hours up and the 1 hour going down these mountains were, for me, 4 of the most physically challenging hours of my life. I want to share with you the lessons He taught me through that excruciating, blessed, awesome day. It’s very possible that you are on a climb of your own, dealing with your own mountains. I pray the lessons He taught me will help you on your climb.



1. Don’t go alone- take a guide who has been there before. The One ahead of you knows the way, make sure you follow and stay on the right path.

2. Take small steps. You have longer legs and feel like it would be easier to take larger steps- the One you’re following knows you must take small steps, because it’s the only way you’ll make it.

3. You feel like you can’t breathe; like you’re not going to make it- you want to give up and go back. Take heart: He’s taking you places you have never been before- places you could never go without Him. Keep going.

4. Don’t look up at the top of the mountain- keep your eyes on the footprints of the One you are following. If you do in a moment of weakness look up- don’t let fear tell you how big that mountain is. Tell the mountain how big your God is!

5. That man ahead of you who is telling you this is the last of the steep climbs- He’s probably lying; the God who tells you no matter how many steep climbs there are ahead, He will get you through them- He is Truth. Listen to Him.

6. God really does inhabit the praises of His people. When you can’t breathe- praise. When you can’t see- praise. When you think you can’t go on- keep praising. He is there- and He will show up and give you the strength to keep going.

7. What feels excruciating to you may not be as hard for others. Stop comparing yourself and keep going. They may be 30 years younger or 30 lbs lighter. When God called YOU to this mountain He knew you weren't a Russian gymnast- and yet He has promised to fulfill His purpose through you.

8. When you get to the top, stop for a moment. Look back in wonder and thanksgiving and admire the incredible view. Few people ever get the chance to hear the birds sing this way, to experience this kind of view, to feel that fragrance laden-breeze upon their face. Bask in His presence and…. look forward again- because there is always another mountain.

But the One who got you this far is ready….. and waiting. And the view from that next mountain awaits you.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like....

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard….. “

...so begins a story in Matthew 20 about a man who hired people early in the morning to work for him. And then later in the day he went back for more, and again later, for more. Even at the 11^th hour, he went back for more. At the end of the day he paid the all for a fll day’s wage. But the people who had worked all day were upset because he paid the ones who began to work late in the day the same amount as he paid those who began to work early! They were paid what he promised, but the thought it was unfair that the workers who came later were also paid that amount. The landowner answered: 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

God called me to ministry when I was 17 and I said “No.” I didn’t want to be in the jungles, I didn’t want to live by ‘faith’. I wanted to have ‘nice things’ and I wanted to be a ‘normal’ Christian.

How thankful I am that like the landowner, God returned later in the day and called me again- he gave me another chance to work for Him.

And I get a full measure of blessing, of joy, of abundant living.

Unmerited.

Undeserved.

A perfect picture of grace.

This week, we get to seek His kingdom in many different places! We have a group from the US here, and we will keep them- and us- busy! We are going to a state prison, we are going to a refugee village, we are packing up into the ‘sierra” as the jungles around here are called, to take food and supplies and some of His kingdom to 5 widows. We will be doing VBS and ministering to Lacandone Indians- people who still hunt with home-made bows and arrows and for whom the Kingdom of heaven is still either unknown or a dream they have no idea is available to them.

I can’t wait to see what God will do…

I cherish your prayers! When we return I will be back here to share with you the glimpses of His Kingdom we have seen along the way.

Kingdom heroes...

One of my heroes of God's Kingdom is Manuel. He used to get drunk and party with his friends. When he met Jesus all that changed and he began to preach to all his friends. They hated that! One night they got together and attacked him with machetes, they cut off his arm, cut his face up, and left him for dead. God spared his life- he is one of the HEA native church planters- he alone has planted over 25 churches! With the help of a wonderful family, we were able to supply him with an artificial left arm. Shown in this picture are Manuel and I, along with Michele McLanahan- another Kingdom hero! more about her later!

Why a blog?

This blog is not about me- it's about God, and His Kingdom, and what He's doing on this earth. The Bible says "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness..." This blog is about that, seeking His Kingdom and sharing where it's found!

Thanks for stopping by.... catch glimpses of His Kingdom with me!