I wish I could report how the big key caper ended, but two things prevent me. First, it is not yet over; the keys are still lost. Second, it involves personal information about others I cannot disclose. Suffice it to say that spiritual warfare is at hand.
May I take a moment to preach to my friends? DO NOT ALLOW ANY UNRESOLVED JUDGMENT OF OTHERS TO TAINT YOUR SOUL. It invites demons and decimates our faith. We must examine our hearts and if there are people or groups that cause us pain, we must repent of our attitude towards them.
Sorry for the sermon, but I love my friends and cannot bear to think that bitterness is eroding grace out of their lives. I will now step off my soapbox and let Jesus have the final word on the subject:
Mt 18:32 –Mt 18:35 NIV
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Moving on… Since the last report I gave on the ills of Dave’s Land Rover, the power steering and clutch have now also gone out. We finally jimmy-rigged the ignition to bypass the lost keys; however, the beast sits incapacitated with no money to resurrect it.
Life in Zimbabwe continues to challenge in many ways. Only ten percent of the farmland is in use, hostility between groups rages on, and electric power has been out in Doma for ten days and counting.
Last week our group of friends was sitting outside listening to the night sounds and watching fireflies when Dawn Aylward retired to the house next door for the night. A man sneaked behind her and into the doorway with a long iron bar raised.
In a burst of courage, Dawn grabbed the bar and prevented the intruder from striking. Then she screamed like the Israelites when they brought down the walls of Jericho.
We heard the yell and ran to the house to find the criminal gone and Dawn understandably shaken, but unharmed. We praised Jesus that he had given Dawn the wherewithal to yell the criminal right out of the house.
In a multiplicity of ways, I see this world without Jesus is a horrible scary place.
On to happier subjects, I am glad to say the 18 hours I spent with Dave’s staff in training seems to have been productive. When tested, most were able to repeat the major themes of the lessons and with evidence of personal integration.
Friends in ministry who struggle in the physical aspects of daily life, as well as facing spiritual battles, need others to come along and strengthen them once in a while. Months ago I asked Father if I should accept the invitation to return to Zimbabwe. I felt he said yes; but was not 100 percent sure. Now I am sure. I see clearly why he asked me to come.
What a joy to be in the service of Jesus Christ who directs our steps, empowers ministry, and delivers results. To him belongs all the glory. Paul said it much better:
1Co 3:7 –1Co 3:8 NIV
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Among the pictures I am posting with this entry, are some animal shots. As Dave and I traveled about visiting the black Africans he works with, we were privileged to see duiker, springbuck, a nine-foot black mamba, a troupe of baboons, a lake otter, a rare sighting of a bush baby, a stick bug, and a monitor that Dave nearly sat on (a funny moment).
This will be the last entry for this trip, so let me thank you again for your love and prayers. I do not take either for granted, but am deeply grateful for them both.
Hugs and prayers,
JDC--
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