I just returned from a two week mission trip in Belize. I visited several villages, was greeted and hugged by some familiar faces, as well as met many new folks in this small Central American country. There are many stories to tell, but for now I would share only this one which occurred at one of the Mayan ruins on the one free day our team had.

I had climbed the ruins two years ago with another team, but because of a knee injury that occurred a few months ago that is still healing, I choose the smaller mound in the photos.

Once I reached the top I took a few steps into the trees and quickly caught movement of something in my peripheral vision. I turned and there seated on the ground leaning against a tree trunk was a soldier holding an automatic rifle. I said hello, he responded with a head nod and then I walked over to introduce myself which I could tell by his facial expression was not the norm. His name was Phillip, he has been in the army for nine years and his assignment now was providing security for the visitors to the ruins protecting them from bandits that sometimes cross the Belize Guatemala border to rob tourists. I asked if I could take his photo but he declined and clutched his rifle. I’m not sure what he meant by that action, but I thought putting the camera away might  be a good idea.

Not much time passed before I was sitting a few feet away from him on the ground exchanging stories and asking questions about his job and family, to which he became open, receptive, and even smiling.  In a few minutes more the husband and father of two little girls was sharing requests and letting me pray for him, his family, and his future. After I said amen, through a grateful smile he thanked me and asked if I would return and visit him again.

We are all on mission, and  if we will be a little open and discerning, we can contribute to someones life in a valuable way. We do not have to have the attention of thousands or be the center of media attention, though if that is the Lord’s leading, there is certainly nothing wrong with that. There are no minor or lesser important side roads when it comes to following the leading of the Lord. Every task or mission that is God led carries great value. When we are led by and obedient to the Holy Spirit, what may seem a side road to us, is still a main and good highway to God.

“Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my words to you.” (Jer 18:1)

These are words once given by God to a prophet named Jeremiah. It was necessary for Jeremiah to act on them in order to know the next step he was to take in a very important mission God had selected for him to carry out.  Jeremiah did just as the Lord had instructed and once he arrived at the potter’s house and watched what the potter was doing, he received a vivid illustration for a message God wanted to deliver to His people Israel through him.

I have often been asked the question, “How can I know what God wants me to do?”   I have to admit I have often wanted to reply with, “Go down to the potter’s house.” But I realize that would make no sense to most people. For me the potter’s house represents getting in the presence of God by reading the Bible and drawing from it His desires for my life, and then once having done that begin to pray for the particular details and steps for application. How can I ever know the details of His incredible plans for me if I spend most my time in other places and looking in other sources? Can God speak through anything? Of course He can, He even used a donkey once, but if I know where He abides, shouldn’t I be seeking Him there?

My earthly father lives in Louisville, Kentucky.  I have always enjoyed hearing stories about things from his life from his friends. When I am talking to other family members I ask how he is doing or enjoy hearing them tell me what he’s been up to recently, but what I love most is being in his presence, hanging out with him, and getting information directly from the source.

God has given us opportunity to learn more about Him, what He desires for us, and the details of how to live the best earth life possible. We can learn about Him from others, visit dozens of other places and sources to get a bit of information here and there, nothing wrong with that, unless it’s a substitute for going to His house, the place where He abides. We can see movies about God, read novels about God, hear the experiences of others and what they think about God, or we can seek His presence and live our own experience with Him.

There is a potter’s house for each of us, and there we will hear from the Lord, but we have to make the effort to get there.

Have you ever been part of a late night conversation about what’s significant in life? I have several times.  Conversations around a table with empty coffee cups and half filled water glasses, napkins scribbled with a word here and there or a rough drawing to illustrate something.

Conversations where the subject of what really matters in life is being seriously considered and attempted to be better defined.

For the older ones around the table the comments are often reminiscent in nature and about how to best use the time left. For the younger it’s fulfilling dreams, avoiding pitfalls, and what will make a difference in the world?

For me significance is a pretty deep word, and it probably should be for all of us. Start asking friends and acquaintances about what is significant and you discover varying answers.

My hope is that deep in all our hearts most want to do the things in life that will contribute to helping others and to see them connect with the Giver of Life. There may be varying answers, but I can give you at least one significant thing to do today if you’re not already involved in something truly significant for the day.

The little girl in the picture is Matha Balita, she lives in Uganda and wants to attend school, but her parents have no work and cannot afford for her to go. Prayer matters and can be significant to this little girls future, please pray for her.

What is good for a cold winter’s morning Friday January 13th? A good word from God’s Word!

I discovered 6 rich keys for proceeding through 2012 from John 20:19-22.
“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As  the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”  Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

The 6 keys are:

1. Do not fear anything but the Lord. If  loving God with our whole heart and serving Him is our goal, we are not to hide behind locked doors spiritually.

2. There is peace in His presence. As soon as he was present with them He spoke peace over them. Christ has liberated humankind for all those who believe and receive Him, given internal peace, eternal life, and a beautiful flawless plan to follow Him with. Stay in His presence through reading the Bible, praying, and getting with strong brothers and sisters in Christ, and obeying Him.

3. He confirms His trustworthiness. He revealed His wounds verifying  His authenticity and irreversible  victory over satan’s plan of ultimate destruction for humanity which was death and separation from the Father in heaven. Each of us through confession of Christ and walking in repentance are liberated from the evil one’s death grip. We can trust Him with every day of our life.

4.He is our joy. When those gathered in the room saw Jesus, realized who He was and the implications of what He had accomplished, they were filled with joy. Not the shallow temporal world’s offering from some substance, material possession, or human accolade, but the deep running internalized joy emanating from the Creator of heaven and earth. “How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.” (Ps 128:1,2)

5. He sends us. We are all on mission with Jesus, how incredible is that? We as Christians have the story and experience live life as it was intended by Jehovah God,  and to share it with a world hungry to know what real life is. We have the message of the Kingdom of God to speak with our lips and live with our lives.

6. He empowers the mission. Again, no need to worry about how we will succeed in His mission He sends us on. As soon as Jesus said, “As the father sent me so I am sending you” he breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t merely tell us what to do and leave us to our own abilities, he supplies us with the power and authority to get the job done through His Holy Spirit.

God has given us destiny, purpose, a plan, and the resources for His success.  This year as well as every year is the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Take the life message of freedom He has given you and go into the world with the confidence of His preeminence and your success.

Uganda with a population of 31 million has an estimate of one million people infected with HIV/AIDS and total orphan population of 2.3 million of which one million is due to HIV/AIDS. The children pictured below are fortunate enough to be ministered to in the Grace School provided by Pastor Nsimbi George and his wife Rose.

Many of us in the west struggle with the issue of, “how much is too much” when it comes to need verses want. I have heard some pretty intense conversations and justifications around this topic. The millionaire points to the billionaire and insinuates excess and imbalance. The person living in a small apartment in the inner city shouts, “Materialist!”  to those making six digit incomes. I have even seen some in poverty accuse someone else in the same situation of excessiveness as they were both being given free food from a local food pantry.

Left unchecked most of us can lean toward excessiveness. I think Jesus has an opinion and solution concerning the topic if we would be courageous enough to ask Him, and I also think His reply might vary from situation to situation. One thing I do know, when we fail to seek His direction concerning our possessions and accumulation of them, we fail.

Jesus is our example to follow in order to experience a life well lived, and He was a giver. When we ask how to live, what to give, and who to give it to, I think we cause His heart to soar. And what of us?  We become recipients of imperishable treasure because we have chosen selflessness over selfishness.

The children in this picture  are able to attend a kindergarten and preschool provided by a small church in Uganda cared for by a Ugandan pastor and his wife. This group of children represent thousands in the region of Kampala many whose parents are unable to properly care for them. The children above are now being helped through the efforts of this devoted pastor and his wife, and are one of the focuses of Village2Village.

With so much need and injustice in the world today, it can often be overwhelming when attempting to determine where and how to begin to help and assist those in need. As individuals we can’t help everyone, but we can focus on a few and actually make a difference in their lives.

If you don’t currently have a mission organization you help support, then please consider helping us at www.village2village.co by giving a gift. It will be much appreciated.

A simple picture of a narrow worn dirt path through some brush. Not exactly an award winning photo, or even a very exciting or incredibly interesting one. Every picture tells a story though and this one is no exception.

At the top of the hill where this path begins sits a small village where less than 180 people live. In fact it was the first established village in its country. The villagers are of Hispanic, African, and Kekchi descent. The inhabitants are very poor with most living in dwellings not much larger than the garden sheds many of us have in our suburban backyards.

Most of the villagers raise a few crops to exist, some work on the farms of others, but unless something extraordinary happens these people will have little chance of breaking from the poverty cycle  in which they currently live.

Almost every day at some point the villagers walk down the trail in this picture to the bank of the Belize River. Sometimes it’s to gather water for their gardens or to wash clothing. Sometimes it’s to bath or to just swim and cool off.  One day while visiting the village I walked down this familiar path to the river and there not far from the bank perched on a huge tree trunk stuck in the shallow part of the river and floating about twenty or so feet from the bank sat a father and two of his sons.  Just as I arrived at waters edge, both young boys stood up dove into the deep green tropical river water and began playing, a couple seconds later their father joined them.  Except for their splashing and laughing, it was quiet and peaceful; the end of another day in this small remote riverside village in Central America.

A path leading from a small village to a river is a scene repeated countless times around our planet. Small villages like the one I just described that most of us have never heard of with people we most likely will never meet or even see in our lifetime.  Each one though has a story and within each village are people who are important to God. There is more need around the world than we will be able to meet. In fact I have heard people say before, “Why get involved in other places in the world when we have so many problems in our own back yard?” I agree we should get involved in our own back yard. In fact for far too long most of us have ignored our own back yards, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be involved in other parts of our planet also.

The story of this picture communicates several things to us.  First,  no matter who we are, where we live, rich or poor, we all have one thing in common, our deepest need can only be met by Jesus Christ.  Second, we may not be able to address all the worlds need, but we can make a real difference for some like the people who live in the village at the top of the path in this picture if we only will.

I wish I could express all I felt the first time I visited this village over two years ago as well as several like it. I am trying to make a difference in the lives of people where I live as well as the precious folks like ones who live at the top of this path.

Please visit www.village2village.co and consider getting involved.

Thanks,

Craig Smith

Recently I was sitting outside a downtown hotel cafe in one of our larger cities.  It was very early, the morning commute had not begun, so it was still quiet as I was reading.  I glanced up when I turned to the next page in the book and I noticed across the street what appeared to be a homeless man.  He had long stringy brown hair, camo -shorts, a dirty lime green T-shirt, and some much worn tennis shoes.  He was walking slowly, looking down on to the sidewalk, then into the gutter, and occasionally kicking items in hope of finding something he deemed of value. Spotting something he reached down in the gutter picked up a used cigarette and lit it from one he was already smoking, and then tossed the shorter one to the ground.

Fifty feet away another man briskly exited the hotel’s main entrance catching my attention; he hardly slowed his pace as he tipped the uniformed doorman, jumped in the driver’s side of a new Jaguar and sped off. The next thing that popped into my mind was the stark difference in the lifestyles of these two men. I am not saying either one was right, wrong, good, or bad, just that there was a vast contrast in the two, at least at a glance. Then I looked up to see where the homeless man was, but he had disappeared around the corner and out of my sight.

I didn’t know these men or their stories, and the homeless man vanished before I could even think to walk across the street and give him some breakfast money. My next thought was, “Craig, you missed your chance, you should have gotten up and given the guy across the street something while you could.”

I could not count the number of occasions I have missed to minister to someone over the years by not acting soon enough, but I am trying to be much more sensitive to the opportunities that seem to have my name on them to act.

I may not have the Jag, but there is a lot I can do, and a lot God wants me to do. If we would all try to be more sensitive to the still small voice of God trying to speak and lead us, we could change some things, at least the things that have our names on them to act.
“…be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.” Eph. 5:15-18

My typical morning is to get out of bed before sunrise, make my way to the kitchen to make coffee, step outside for a moment to enjoy the peace and stillness, and then find some place to read my Bible, pray, and journal a bit. However I made the mistake this morning of glancing at the news on my computer while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.

It only took a minute of reading about national and international threats, financial instability, record breaking weather occurrences and destruction, political corruption, and mind boggling crimes to change a good morning into a spirit of hopelessness. Then I wisely turned to the Word of God, specifically Psalm 67:1-4.

May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us.
May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
Let the whole world sing for joy,
because you govern the nations with justice
and guide the people of the whole world.

Indeed the final act in the global theater is drawing nearer, but those embracing Christ and His Kingdom are but visitors on this planet and according to the Bible our citizenship is in heaven. He has always comforted His people by telling us to not trust in the things of the world which will eventually all pass away, but to trust in Him.

He is a faithful, merciful, and gracious God to those who abide in His care, and we are still on His mission.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isa.41:10)

“…I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. “(Ps 59:16,17; NIV)

Before becoming a believer in Christ and in my younger years, I use to dread getting up early. Over the years though I have developed a deep appreciation for the predawn and early morning hours. There is a peace and lack of clutter to be experienced seldom available at any other time of the day, at least for me.  I understand why Jesus often rose and searched out a place of solitude before His day unfolded.

In a lot of ways I feel like each morning offers us the opportunity of a new beginning, let’s take advantage of it.

Blessings,

Craig