The enemy lives to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) and when we are in the midst of struggle he applies pressure. He desires to kill our momentum, to destroy our hope and steal our faith. But Jesus said He has come to give us Life Abundantly . Most of us have a good understanding of what struggles and pressures look and feel like, but do we know what “life abundantly” looks and feels like?
In this season that we are in, God has Blessed us through a handful of people and their generosity. This has allowed us to relocate to Texas to be near a much larger ministry and church that we partner with so we can be immersed in God’s Word and we can, in turn, lift up others. If you’ve ever run on “E” spiritually, then you understand why it is so vital to be connected with a church and ministries that nourish and disciple freely.
According to Ephesians 4:11-16 God has given the Body of Christ those that are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. This five-fold ministry anointing is responsible for the raising up of the Body of Christ from babes to mature believers. It is vital to be involved with all five, hopefully through those ministries that are partnered with the home church and in line with the Word of God.
We have a lot of respect for these ministry gifts and those that operate in them according to the Word of God and are called to it by God. Now all that was said to reinforce that it is vital to be connected with a church and ministries that nourish and disciple freely.
Our vision of Patriot Drive, a disaster relief mission being birthed under the True Patriot Ministries umbrella, is always before us, every time we see a Super C motorhome or a mobile kitchen (concession) trailer, or a piece of land with a shop on it, we talk about what it is going to look like when it all comes together. We have begun to share about this on our Facebook page and on X (formerly Twitter) so if that’s where you catch up on things, then be sure to follow us.
We’ve been in a hotel since the 1st of June waiting for an apartment to open up later this month. We wait patiently upon the Lord to reveal to us our next move in His plan for us and our ministry. By the way, patiently waiting is an action and will look different for each of us and for each situation, even King David didn’t assume that God would move the same way every time. For us, patiently waiting has looked like applying for jobs, attending and getting involved in different events in the church.
He has called us to this area of Texas and He provided a way to get here. In the natural, the enemy comes and applies pressure on us, much like he does you. The typical area for a lot of missionaries is in their finances, when they answer the call, they often don’t have the finances to do what they are called to do.
So while He supplied us to get here, we have still had to put our Faith to work for a roof over our heads, food on the table, and for our finances to be covered. We have had to trust in the Lord because He is the One that opens and closes doors, He is the One that directs the ram on its journey to the thicket. The enemy has definitely applied pressure, but we are the ones that must choose Faith in God over the fear that the devil wants us to take on, we are the ones that must walk out the Blessing of Abraham promised us in the Word of God. It hasn’t been easy, and Jesus did warn us that we would have tribulation, but they are nothing compared to what He took for us.
Recently we met a young woman at a store who was asking about my “Jesus, the Healer” T-Shirt. We had a great conversation and talked about different ministries, including one at her church which the church funds through their coffee shop. She quoted this scripture:
If a brother or sister is naked and lacking daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” and yet you give them nothing that the body needs, what does it profit? James 2:15-16.
Her testimony about how the church-run cafe helped supply a men’s and a women’s home was a pleasant reminder to us that God does provide. The devil may bring pressure to quit, but it is God who richly supplies. This young woman’s conversation with us gave us hope and encouraged us, just as we hope it encourages you.
In Proverbs 16:9 NKJV it says “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Much as God directed the steps of a ram to be at the right place, at the right time, to become Abraham’s much needed supply, He is guiding your supply, and ours, to the proper intersection of time, location, and need. Stay in Faith and apply God’s Word to the pressure in your life. Pat, my wife, and I pray the Lord Blesses you richly in your endeavors and that He causes your necessary supply to overtake you suddenly.
We’ll leave you with 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 AMPC, this is a set of scriptures that we keep before us constantly as they speak directly to and about one of our greatest desires, maybe it will speak to yours also.
“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. [9] As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! [10] And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. [11] Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.”