The Olympics are an incredible example of going against the odds.  So often most of these athletes have been told that what they are seeking to do is impossible.  This is not feasible or affordable, yet in the pursuit of Gold, these men and women choose to ignore the odds and press on to achieve their dreams.  They risk everything, as we tragically experienced in these Winter Olympics in the death of an Olympian. 

The Scriptures clearly tell us it is impossible to please God if we don’t live by faith.  We must not settle for comfortable or safe when God’s work is to be done.  Amazingly, people are willing to spend 8 to 10 hours a day training, eating right, saving every dime and travel half way around the world to be a part of the Olympics and  defy all odds. Yet many of us, as Christians, have never acted on our faith in obedience to God in challenging and difficult situations. 

The story of the woman at the well intrigues me because Jesus was willing to stop and talk to a woman who no one thought was worth the time.  She was a woman of the streets who knew many men.  No respectable man, much less a teacher of the word of God, would talk to her.  Yet Jesus not only met with her at the well, but went out of His way to go to her town, to see that He could share with her the gift of living water, so that she would never thirst again.  Ultimately she came to receive Christ as her Savior and brought her entire village with her to meet Jesus.  Only God knew the potential this woman had to bring her town to the Lord.  He saw in her what she didn’t see in herself.  

How sad it is for those of us who have experienced this same miracle of salvation to quit believing God to work miracles in others lives through us.  The disciples went to the village and transacted with these Samaritans and led no one to Christ.  Oh, to believe God beyond all the odds for His miraculous power to transform others lives, no matter their past, their education, their race or their training.  Would we, the body of Christ, believe God for miracles because He is able?  

This past week I was sharing with a business person about our ministry and seeing the Lord transform former drug dealers, prostitutes, materialistic business men and women, to love God and each other and see them work together to bring glory to God by blessing urban communities in our cities. He said these kinds of results are 1 in a 1,000 and not to expect them to happen very much.  It broke my heart how quickly we back away from the faith to believe God for hundreds of 1 in a 1,000 in one community to bring glory to Him.  For many of you who are battling economic needs, or illness, bankers and doctors have given you percentages and timelines until you are bankrupt or no longer among us.  Let me exhort us all to keep your eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith.  You are not a percentage, a timeline, a bank account, or a failure, but through Christ Jesus you are a new creation, a joint heir, and more than a conquerer.  I pray wherever you find yourself in your walk with God that you will join me in believing God against all odds to be a glorious, loving God who longs to meet our every need, to enable us to expand His love and bring glory to His name.  Let’s remember the Gold we are going for won’t tarnish or ever be forgotten when we lay our crowns before our Savior in heaven. 

Medically I feel great because of your love and sustaining prayers.  We are daily getting to meet new people battling cancer and are praying for them and believing God with them for their healing against all odds.  Please feel free to send me names and numbers of people to pray for and contact if you wish.  You bless me and humble me daily.

We had the joy of hosting the funeral for a dear friend, Viola, in the inner city this past week.  She lived in the Turner Courts Housing Development for over fifteen years.  When I started my first Bible Study in Turner Courts with Velma, Viola was one of the first to be a faithful member of our Encouragement Team.  I remember the day she prayed to receive Christ as her Lord & Savior.  She had such a joy about her and loved life. 

The event that humbled me about her was that after 4 weeks of doing the Bible study at Teena Aycock’s home in Turner Courts, she and the other ladies found out it was my birthday and they each bought me a birthday present.  I was just coming out of my obsession with me and the things of this world and this group of welfare Moms and Grandmothers, living off food stamps, had each purchased a gift for me.  The gift Viola gave was a red gable sweater and was easily one size too small.  It didn’t matter that I would never wear it because it was one of the most precious gifts I had ever received.  I remember giving it to Velma and asking her to give it to someone who it would fit and keep them warm.

While I was speaking at the funeral the snow was falling on a field that used to be Turner Courts Housing Development where she lived for 15 years.  I loved how the snow so amazingly makes everything that is brown and dead look so alive….like Jesus making our sins white as snow.  This gift of snow was covering all of Viola’s past with the present blessing of God’s grace through Jesus Christ and His righteousness.  All her past was forgiven because of her faith in Jesus and she is now in heaven worshiping the Lord in her new mansion.  God taught me much through Viola and her generosity.  It is the same gift of giving that the Bible speaks of regarding the Macedonians, a very poor congregation  who gave beyond their ability.  I have done funerals where hundreds have attended but none was as sweet as this service with 14 or 15 people honoring one of God’s choice servants.  Many of the miracles of God’s redemption of this same community where Turner Courts is located is because of the faith of women like Viola who came to know Christ and realized that there is greater joy in giving than in taking.  Viola taught me so much in my early days in the ministry.  I am excited that, although she died with very few of the things of this world that she is now in her new body and mansion worshiping Jesus forever after hearing the words, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”  She is my modern day story of the widow’s mite.  I pray that those of us with much would learn to give the way so many with so little do, beyond our ability.  Then we too can be unexpected gifts to those around us.  Ask God to open your eyes to the needs of others and allow you to be the very answer to their prayers.  I know I am the grateful recipient of many of your prayers and love and am hopeful that I will remember with you, that to whom much is given, much is required!

This past week I was thankful for the gift of another birthday.  It is amazing how my perspective has changed about getting older.  I used to dread certain aspects of aging and now I look forward to all that God has planned for this day and every day to follow.  Recently I was thinking about the scriptures that tell us to put on the whole armor of God. Eph. 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” 

These verses have captivated my heart as I know they have a clear picture of how we are to suit up by faith for the battlefield of life.  I remember sharing with a neighbor, years ago, he was a motorcycle policeman and had gotten off his motorcycle to give someone a ticket and was hit by another car passing by.  He said he normally takes his helmet off but this time he didn’t.  It made the verse about the helmet of salvation become very real as his wearing his helmet saved his life.  I love the fact that for many of us battling, we desire to have victory and that comes through Christ and the word of God.  I don’t want to just play defense but to have an offensive attack against the enemy.  The scripture is very clear that our weapon is the sword of the Spirit or “The Word of God.”  I love when people tell me there is no cure or that this cancer is terminal, to go to the Word.  “With God all things are possible” or “By His stripes we are healed” or simply “to count it all joy.”  The last verse has been on my heart, as years ago I asked God how I could truly expect joy in my life.  I was a Christian but I was not living clothed in the armor of God.  He led me to a very simple outline of my priorities if I lived for Jesus first, others second and self last, I could expect true joy….Jesus, Others, You!  I have been seeking to experience this ever since.  This past week as I was reflecting on these verses of the armor of God, there came a realization.  When we are part of God’s army, clothed in His armor and about His assignment we lose all self identity.  We are covered and you can only see our eyes and our actions.  We no longer live for self but for our Savior.  We are simply the vessel He uses to advance His kingdom.  Count it all joy is much about losing our self focus and focusing on Jesus and others before ourselves.  I am thankful for many of you who have joined us to focus on the Lord and the least through our ministry and especially to join us as a BridgeBuilders 300.  We are now at 135 BridgeBuilders 300′s of people who are praying for my healing and are giving $100 per month to H.I.S. BridgeBuilders.  This is another example of so many who are giving of themselves to be in God’s army to take back our inner cities one soul and one street at a time.  Please pray about joining us as we are almost half way to our goal.  You may join by contacting Mary Anderwald at 972-715-8401 (manderwald@hisbb.org) or Laura Fechner 972-715-8441 (lfechner@hisbb.org).  

Medically, I feel great and am thankful for God’s continued sustenance.  The treatments from Germany are definitely diminishing the side effects from the Tarceva.  I am grateful for each day and this continued journey of counting it all joy as I continue to learn to be clothed in the armor of God and about His agenda and not mine.  Thank you for your love and prayers.