So much of life is waiting! How this drives me crazy, I am the worst at waiting. I would rather take side roads when driving and keep moving than sit on the highway in traffic. Often these side streets do not go where I am going and simply give me the impression of progress but really are dead ends. With the advent of GPS I am thankful for that voice that says, “do a u turn as soon as possible.” In October, 2009 we went to Los Angeles to have surgery to remove the cancer. The answer was “no” and was one of the most difficult days in this battle because the cancer had spread microscopically to my lymph nodes in the media sternum. That was a day when I was desperate for God. He alone carried us through that day with a strong word, “delayed but not denied.”
The doctors said “no” but Jesus said “wait.”

The next day we had the joy of driving to a Housing Development in Los Angeles and praying with drug dealers who were signaling us how much the drugs cost. I remember clearly, as we prayed with these 8 to 10 drug dealers, asking them to pray for my healing and that by God’s grace we would return to them to begin the ministry of H.I.S. BridgeBuilders in Los Angeles. After much prayer and counsel of all of our doctors, the Lord has opened the door for us to return to Los Angeles to have surgery to remove a wedge from my lung where the cancer began and the lymph nodes from our media sternum. The scan we had last week was completely clear of cancer. This means that the cancer, if it still there, is so small that it doesn’t show on the P.E.T. scan. We are not shrinking back and are believing God for His glory that we are healed, but that we must take this step of faith to remove the site where the cancer began. This is a God sized miracle that He has opened a door for us. Equally as miraculous is that we will be going to the same Housing Development on Monday before our surgery on Feb. 1st. to tell these brothers their prayers have been answered and we are now seeking how we can work with them in our ministry. The Lord has led a dear brother in Christ to fly to Los Angeles just to walk with us in the inner city and seek how God may plant our work there.

God’s timing is perfect. I rejoice when the Apostle Paul sought to go to Asia, that the Holy Spirit said “no”, only to say “yes” in God’s timing for His glory. We are expectant of all that God has planned and are thankful that “they that wait (expect in God) upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” We are believing, as I turn 50 on Feb. 3rd., that we will be cancer free and planting a seed of hope in the hearts of men and women in the inner city of Los Angeles. What an awesome God we serve, whose timing is perfect. Remember, we are often prepared, through waiting, for a greater purpose in God’s kingdom.

One of the great struggles of my life is being under authority. There is in each of our hearts a rebellious nature that daily fights against the rule of Christ in our lives. Many want to be saved but few want to be led. There is a great lesson that Ron Proctor taught me years ago and it is the blessing of being under authority. He said we could picture it like an umbrella of God’s covering as we are first under God’s authority and His word and then under the authority He has set over us for our good. These authorities are the Elder/Pastor of the church, the father of a family, the husband in marriage, the employer and the government. In each of these instances, I would challenge you to consider your submission to an invisible God if you won’t submit to your employer, obey the speed limit, or hear a word of exhortation from your Pastor.

Recently while we were in Romania with a group from Prestonwood North, I had the opportunity to pray for a man named Costica who was filled with cancer. I remember while praying for him that we prayed in the authority of Jesus Name for his healing. for by His stripes we are healed. We have no authority apart from God and His word. Weeks passed since we saw him and I just received this e-mail from our Romania Pastor. “I have good news, you know Costica, the man with cancer, he was today at the doctor for treatment and the doctor says he doesn’t need to do any more medicine because his cancer is gone.” This is a miracle because the doctors said it was impossible. God is good and healed him so we praise Him. Costica is a good witness in the valley of God’s grace.

So often we look at the negative of being under authority. I implore you today to look at the positive, like the Centurion in Matthew 8 who believe God’s word with absolute faith and God did a miracle in response to him believing in Jesus as Lord. He said, “Lord, only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority.” Get under the covering of God’s authority and watch the miracles come raining down. He is waiting for us to be men and women under authority to fulfill His purpose and bring greater glory to our great God.

Our theme this year as a ministry is “Do Not Shrink Back”, taken from Heb. 10:39. The verse says, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.” This great choice is one we must all make to live by faith in our great God for salvation, through hardship, and for the sake of the Gospel. Whether it is great suffering, public attacks, like our brothers and sisters just experienced in Egypt, or great personal affliction, we will not shrink back from the Gospel.

This year we, as a ministry, are launching out into one of our greatest ministry endeavors. We have just signed the lease on a 62,000 square foot facility in West Dallas that will be H.I.S. BridgeBuilders’ Economic Development Center. This center will house social micro businesses to help sustain the ministry, i.e. solar screens, automobile repair and salvage, cabinet assembly, etc., as well as bring resource into the south and west Dallas community through job opportunities.

It will also be the home of our Employment Training where over 150 people each year can come and be trained and then sent out to employers. Each trainee will be paired with a mentor to walk with them for 1 year, to make a disciple, a friend, and a new family member. We estimate in a year that we are asking someone to invest 48 hours to change a life, a family, a community and our city for Christ. Many of you have said in your hearts this is the year you want to be used greatly by God. This is your opportunity.

We need dentists for our Dental Clinic, business men and women for our micro businesses, volunteers to serve in our upcoming counseling center, Bible study leaders and mentors. This is your time to “not shrink back” from what God is leading you to do. The Lord has asked us to take a huge step of faith to build a bridge for each of you to be used by God to transform our city for Christ.

If you would like information on the Economic Development center or business opportunities, please contact Steve Owen at sowen@hisbb.org. If you would like information regarding mentoring, please contact Michael Fechner, Jr. at mfechnerjr@hisbb.org. This is your time to join us and together believe God for Great Miracles for God’s Glory!

Do not shrink back!