How do I share with you the amazing joy and peace we have experienced in our first year in Mexico? How do I impart to you the vision and faith for your own future, as God has done for me, for both Phil & I? I have been struggling with this question for over a month and today I have a way to begin…
I feel like Matteo in this picture…all this for ME??? God you have really surprised me in 2021 and you did it for ME? Wow God, What are you going to do now?
Daily Phil looks at me and says, “we are so blessed in this life.” We relish sailing and fishing in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, without the work and expense of owning our own boat! We love to sail and the Mahi Mahi is amazing.
Snorkling and enjoying God’s amazing underwater creation of colorful fish and sea creatures, relaxing days at the beach and a walk through downtown for an evening of music are simple pleaures afforded free of charge here! Our simple lives allow us to have daily Bible study and prayer times TOGETHER creating rich intimacy, body, soul and spirit. The simple life in Mexico affords all these pleasures and more.
2 years ago we road our bikes to Panera Bread in Franklin, Tennessee and sat on the patio with a coffee and a spinach and bacon souffle. We talked of our future as senior citizens, what defined us, what we love and God’s plans for our future. We knew first and foremost we wanted to live debt free, and within our means; together forever :0) Our move to Mexico has checked all those boxes and more.
My friend Barbara Bird and I have been meeting twice a week for prayer and encouragement since 2017, we are on our 5th year! Barbara is from South Africa but has lived in Canada for over 20 years.
Her friendship is such an encouragement especially because she too has lived in foreign cultures and learned other languages, and we have seen God answer many prayers. We have each been sharing the highlights of 2021 month by month. This morning I shared that my greatest joy in March of 2021 was the privilege of leading my 24-year-old physical therapist Susy to faith in Jesus Christ.
Susy and I met weekly to study the Bible for 2 hours each week from March through December. We studied John, Proverbs, Revelations, Matthew and Romans and wandered through other parts as she asked questions.
Susy’s first comment to me after accepting Jesus was “I am thirsty to know God.”
Thirsty For God!
I didn’t know it, but I was thirsty too! In this last year God has satisfied my thirst…
My thirst for seeing God work through me is satisfied in a new way as I see God moving on the hearts of the Mexican people. Our time in Santa Maria, helping plant a church, teaching and discipling women. Hearing 2 different women say, “I had a dream about 2 white people coming and talking to me and helping me, and when I saw you, I knew you were those people.”
My thirst for community has been satisfied in a Mexican neighborhood where no one speaks English, and we are learning Spanish. Where our neighbors consider us family.
My thirst for a home has been satisfied through this casita, which checks off every box on my personal list as a woman and a wife.
My thirst for connection with children is satisfied by our English class on Wednesday nights and the hugs we receive when we see the children on the street.
My thirst for true Christian faith has been both satisfied and challenged as I am connected with Christians living simple lives in joy and faith.
I was sharing these revelations with Barbara, and wondering over the total devotion I’ve seen, of those who follow Christ here. She was thinking out loud to a very profound end thought…
What is the common denominator of a life fully devoted to Jesus Christ?
Barbara said it is the same in areas of her home in South Africa, when someone commits to Christ, they commit all…a fully devoted life. A life that thirsts to know God. Continuing to think out loud, she said, “the common denominator of a fully devoted life is less, it is living simply.” Hence, the common denominator of a divided heart, one that is not fully committed to Christ is a life of more, more things, more money, more worries.
Too often the MORE we have, the LESS our hearts are turned towards following Christ. How can they be? Think about this…when our minds are full of taking care of things, wanting things, protecting things, earning money to buy things…fear of someone controlling our things…our hearts are full of worry or covetessness, our time is full of caring for things and making money to protect all these things. Jesus said, “where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
This is a good challenge for me and possibly for you…What are you thirsty for?
Are you fully devoted to following Jesus or do you have a divided heart?
If your life is full of “MORE”…what can you dispose of? Things? Money? Worry? Fear? Pride?
I am certainly far from perfect but I want less of stuff, worry, fear and MORE of Jesus, MORE of the joy and the suprises that I could never have even imagined!
My prayer for you and for us is that we are Thirsty for God and we continue to experience HIS satisfaction. That our hearts are full of MORE of Him and His Word and less of the things of this world. I pray for you to receive surprises from Him, wonders you could never imagine!
So now I say, Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the amazing ways you have satisfied me this year…and I say Wow God, What are you going to do now?
Have you read The Place of the Open Door?
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