July 2017 Newsletter

Simple Obedience to God

July 16, 2017

To know God...and make Him known.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Aloha ,

It was the summer of 2016…

We thought we had everything we had ever dreamed of and more. We had been living in a home that we loved, we had three kids to fill it with, a job that brought fulfillment, we were near to extended family, and we lived in one of the most sought after areas in the United States. All the ingredients were there to put down roots, settle down, and live the American dream. There was just one thing nagging at us…was this God’s dream for us?

Then God spoke…

In July God brought our love for missions to the forefront of our minds. When August rolled around, we knew everything was about to change. There was one thing that was holding me back. I (Chris) couldn’t fathom selling the first house we had ever bought. I loved that house so much and I tried to think of every possible way that I could to keep it in our family.

Has God ever asked you to do something you didn't want to do?

It happened to us when we least expected it. But God clearly said to us, “Sell the house and everything else that you can possibly get rid of and don’t need.” At first, I was devastated. But then, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding began to fall on me like a waterfall.

Fast forward to July 2017.

I (Chris) was making preparations to fly back to Kona to be a part of 21 Project. It is a 21-day intensive training. The purpose is to prepare and equip University Students to live an evangelistic/missional lifestyle as they head back to university. In my preparations, I discovered that I still had the key to our old mailbox in my car. I made a stop at our old house to drop off the key.

Simple Obedience.

As I chatted with the wife of the family that now owned our house, her kids and mother were watching TV in the background. She began to tell me the story of how our obedience to God opened a door of blessing for their family. Their oldest daughter has a hearing disability similar to Malakai. Since they moved into the house, they were able to keep her in the best school for her disability. They are now able to host fellowship gatherings for the congregants of their Hispanic church. She told me that there’s not a gathering that goes by (each week) where they don’t tell the story of how our obedience to God allowed them to move into this home. She told me they’ve been following our story ever since they met us. They update their friends on what we’ve been doing and where we are currently. As we chatted, I knew God wanted me to pray for her and to bless her family in the name of Jesus. I prayed and God lavished his extravagant love upon her. It was a touching moment and one I won’t quickly forget. She thanked me for coming by and told me she was so excited to tell her husband about my visit.

I left our old home marveling at how God always does more than we could ever imagine or hope for in the act of simply obeying Him. The words of King David are ringing in my ears right now. I’m grateful for them.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)

Jesus is the good shepherd.

Rest in the knowledge of that. Rejoice that He is always with you. Let him be your shepherd and follow Him where His voice would beckon you to go.

Lastly, we welcomed over 300 new students to YWAM Kona and it has started off with a bang as Francis Chan spent the majority of the first few days talking about the joy of suffering. Thank you for praying for us as Liz flies back on her own, with the kids, on July 25th!

Peace be with you always,

-Chris, Lizzi, Malakai, Laila, and Rhema-

P.s.- I would love to hear how you have been partnering with God recently.