Being Fully-Devoted in Wooster: Free meals & Box of food in the car

Last week, I learned a couple of things about what is available in Wooster when you come across those in need.  There are free meals available in our community. I praise God for the ministries listed below. Wooster Grace does not offer what they do.  Way to go churches of Wooster!

So, if you cross paths with someone who needs a meal. Please recall this list and send them to a place where a free meal awaits.  Share this resource with others.  

Free Meals Wooster:

• Trinity United Church 150 E. North Wooster (330) 264-9250 Breakfast daily 8:30-9:30
• Salvation Army 437 S. Market Wooster (330) 264-4704 Lunch daily 12:00
• Wooster United Methodist Church 243 N. Market Woosetr (330) 262-5641 Dinner Thursdays 5:30-7:30
• Second Baptist Church 245 S. Grant Wooster (330) 264-6033 Dinner Friday 5:30-7:30   
• Zion Lutheran Church 301 N. Market Wooster (330) 262-5606 Sunday Dinner 5:45-6:15

One of our Sowing Hope Coordinators,Connie Benchoff, also alerted me to the be prepared task of putting in your vehicle a bag or box of canned goods to give to someone in need.  It may happen spontaneously.  But having food to give away may be the best thing you can do for others in need.  I am so glad for a community of churches who care for others. I wonder what you'd suggest to include in a box of canned goods. 

What do you give towards?

image from poldavo
I don't know about you.. But my struggle compounds when I begin considering what I am going to give towards. Out of the many things to give towards, which one is the best for my gift?

In addition, I struggle with the amount to give up. How much do I want to give? How much am I willing to give up? What am I giving towards?

I can tend to gather a plethora of questions, offer excuses, and end up doing nothing. I can procrastinate. I can rationalize. I can lie. But this time, for this one month, I want to have an open hand and give something up to give.

You may not be like me. But if you are, then you need some direction.

I offer the following: Before you define your goal, write it down, make it S.M.A.R.T. or follow the 3 W’s, and secure accountability, I ask that you pray.

First, ask God to give you insight into WHY you are going to join the fast. Make time to be quiet and contemplate what He prompts. Write down what He prompts and pray over it. He may prompt you to do less than the $3 per day goal. Or He may want you to just start and learn to grow towards greater things for the future.

But the bottom line is, be quiet in prayer.  Jot down what comes to mind.

Read James 1:5-8. 

In fact, memorize it. Then when God clarifies what He wants you to do then proceed with the goal. Clarify that this fast is one where we give up something to focus on what God wants. Not just another thing to do out of duty, but one thing to engage with devotion to God.

Well, that’s what I am going to do. I go to my prayer closet to get direction. I think you should too. I wonder where your “prayer closet” is. Mine is a notebook, a journal for recording God’s promptings or reviewing what God is teaching me. I will post on what God prompts. I want to ask God for three things: why am I seeking to do this? What am I going to give towards? How much can I give up to give towards that goal?

WeShare: Open Hand 2 Give

photo from zenobia_joy
You might be like me. As I begin this weSHARE journey, to give up something in order to give something to God, I can easily succumb to duty over devotion.

My struggle is more with duty. I "have-to" versus I "want-to." I wonder if your challenge is the same.

You can easily give up anything without too much discomfort. But I have a hard time giving up anything. I find that my hands are clenched. Unlike the picture at the beginning of this post. 

Our contemporary worship leader, Pastor Matt Carter, wrote a great song on the disc As We Wait, entitled "Teach me to give."  The most convicting lyrics come at the beginning of the chorus, "Teach me to give just as I've received Unclench my firsts and empty my pockets Not even this life is mine to keep."  I need to be retaught how to give by rehearsing what God has already given me.

Another song that came to my mind and out of my lips is a chorus that I learned years ago, "Freely, freely (God forgave my sin)" The words challenge me as if Jesus were talking, "Freely, freely you have received, Freely, freely give."  Jesus said this in Matthew 10:7-9.  Take the message and freely give. 

It's about attitude.  As I engage this WeShare journey, I need to recalibrate my attitude. Just as our missionary partners are willing to go. They need you and I to share the load with them.

I need an attitude adjustment.  I need realignment.  I need to get ready to share.  To share is part of a believing community's DNA (Acts 2:42ff).  What do you need to give up to share with those in need?  What will I give up to share with those in need?  I wonder if you struggle with the same things that I do.  Please leave a comment, or a song that challenges you, or even another Scripture reference that moves you forward. I'd love to hear from you.

Pray for Mandy who goes to El Salvador

Mandy Isaacson leaves for El Salvador (thanks to Flags of the World website for image) for a missions trip over Spring Break with David & Debbie Hawk of the World Gospel Mission in Jacuapa.  From March 27-April 5, the team will serve in many ways, including, but not limited to, conducting a VBS while the children are on "Semana Santa,"or Holy Week, helping with construction projects for the new medical clinic, and sharing drama, puppet, and music presentations at church gatherings as needed. 

Taylor University expects students to experience the world through service.  Their Spring Break Missions Trips dovetail with our mission as a church--develop all people into fully devoted followers of Christ in all the nations of the world, to all the nations of the world.

I find it inspiring that students from our church seek to attend schools where the value of reaching out to others and acting in service for others is practiced.  May the Lord we serve always get the glory for all we do.  

Mandy shared with me the following prayer requests: 

1. "That my heart will be prepared for the trip and I will be sensitive to God's leading 
2. I'm going to a Spanish speaking country and I speak very little Spanish. Please pray that I will be able to connect with the people there despite the language barrier.
3. That I will contribute to my team in some way.

Thank you for your prayers!

-Mandy Isaacson"

Please join me in praying for her and the team.  I would add one more request that I am going to pray for her:

• Ask the Lord to bring her home challenged with greater love for God and greater service for God.  

You can check out a couple of pictures and a few comments on the host missionaries blog.  

Going to a party in Thailand--itinerary and prayer

Wooster Grace is sending a team of four on a short-term missions trip to Cambodia and Thailand. Pictured from left to right are: Pastor Ivanildo Trindade, Nathan Harley, Jeana Harley, Pastor Bob Doerr. 

I love the fact that we are sending a multi-generational team spanning various roles and seasons of life: a high school freshman, a mom, pastors who are fathers.  Each will have a unique perspective. God will speak to each one differently.  I can't wait to see and to hear how this trip unfolds. 

The highlights of the itinerary include, but are not limited to:

• Meet up with Faa Choemue
• Visit with our kids at Grace Place Battambang
• Visit with Kevin & Jill Kane in Battambang
• Introduction to micro-enterprise projects in Cambodia
  
• Tour Toul Sleng Museum, Dump People, a State-run orphanage
• Visit other Asia's Hope orphanages in Cambodia
• Visit with G.R.O.W. children in Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Tour ministries targeting rescue of street children from slave trade, sex trade, & AIDS.
• Celebrate dedication of Grace Place Thailand
  

Please pray for the following requests:

• Team flight schedule--make connections without duress or profound stress
  
• Team safety in danger and unity of purpose
• Humility to serve from a grateful heart every person they encounter
• Celebrate with joy the dedication of Grace Place Thailand
• Sustain stamina and great health throughout the trip
• Serve with a sense of priority

You can follow the team by visiting the short term missions blog at www.woostercar.blogspot.com.

Drink water to never thirst again

Wooster Grace has partnered with Kevin and Jill Kane to fund and to resource the drilling of a water well for drinking and cooking in one of the unreached people groups in Cambodia.  Linda Kline recently visited the Kane's and also got to see the finished well.

On the photo, the inscription comes from the words of Jesus,

¹³Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Thanks to our Children's Church who helped give to fund this well.  May God use this as a helpful resource for the whole community and for establishing a spiritual community in that village.

A Picture from Burkina Faso

Here is the front of Andrew's new home. As he cites on his blog, this is his new "mom," Amy for the next few weeks.  He took this picture yesterday in Burkina Faso. I wonder what David Livingstone would think.  

Not Slug Bug, but Pray Bug

I was reading the comments on Andrew Simms' blog. Allison shared how her girls used a Beetle Bug as a prayer prompt to say a prayer for Andrew. I love that idea!  Thanks Allison!

Pastor Randy stopped by my office. I shared with him this idea, then he said, "Rather than a slug bug, a pray bug."  We laughed and I made it the headline for this post.

So everytime you see a Beetle Bug say a prayer for Andrew.  His latest prayer request is receive God's discernment clearly and in tune with God's Word. 

If you can, take a picture of a Beetle Bug that crosses your path, post it with a note to pray for Andrew, then let me know at dbutler@woostergrace.org.  You can also post it on your Facebook page and tag me (Daron Butler) and we can spread prayers for Andrew Simms. 

I'll try to do the same and post it here.  Whether you find one or not, please pray for Andrew. You can subscribe to his updates from his blog. 

Happy hunting and praying!

Short term missionaries in their own words

Wooster Grace is proud of those who are giving up their new year's to minister to others.  Please find the following links below to read about and to pray for our short term missionaries:

• Andrew Simms blog
• Team blog: Holly Moomaw, Jacoby Gessel, Sarah Roseler

 
 

Short term Missions Deployment

Three trips are taking place during Christmas and New Years:

• CAMBODIA: Linda Kline left December 17, returns December 31
• PERU: Jacoby Gessel, Holly Moomaw, & Sarah Roseler depart for Lima, PERU on Thu Dec 31
• BURKINA FASO: Andrew Simms goes to Ougadougau, BURKINA FASO on Fri Jan 1.

One ABF took time out of their class to send Andrew with a prayer of commissioning.  This is a short clip of a fifteen minute prayer time.  What a great God we serve who prompts His people to go make disciples of all nations!  

Burkina Faso?

For those of you who do not know where this country is, it is in Western Africa.  My friend, Andrew Simms, departs for Africa on January 1, 2010 for a six week short term missions trip.  The Nehlsens have served in Burkina Faso for many years.  Steve & Amy will oversee his missions experience.

I am so thrilled for Andrew to explore God's will for his life.  He is processing this "as it comes." It is an organic journey, emerging as he wakes up to each new day.  I am so glad to be alive to witness God at work in people's lives. 

Andrew's ministry exploration trip begins January 1 and concludes on February 12.  His verse on his prayer card is from Psalm 32:8, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

You can follow his trip on his yet-to-be established blog.  Once it is up, visit and pray for him often. I'll post a link later. 

Andrew asks that you pray for him to follow God's will no matter how different or hard it may be.  Ask God to empower him to be a blessing and a help to the Nehlsen's and their ministry. 

On her way to Phenom Phenh

Linda Kline leaves on Thursday, December 17 for Cambodia.  Her desire is to encourage our missionary partners, Kevin & Jill Kane. 

Her prayer requests are:

• Ask God for safety, good health, and uncomplicated travel connections.
• Ask God to empower Linda to encourage and be a blessing to Kevin & Jill
• Ask God for opportunities to share Christ with anyone on her journey
• Ask God to help her see things as God sees things
• Ask God to catalyze her life as she returns challenged to greater service
• Ask God to allow her to relate her experiences with others upon her return. 
  

What to give at Christmas? One gift that always works

On Sunday, when I was given the opportunity to preach with Pastor Ivanildo.  I was so grateful to have such a great outline and resources to use for preaching.

My application of the sermon was to lead my family to give a gift to help those in poverty.  I gathered my family and we opened two great catalogs.  We designated how much we could give as a family by dividing that amount among our children.  Then we asked each child to choose from the catalogs what to give.  My wife noted how each child chose something that fits them:  one chose chicks, one chose dental work, one chose musical instruments, and the last child chose something I forget right now. 

It was hard to set aside money to give to others when in the past I have only focused on me, my immediate family, and extended family.  Yet I want to follow God more fully. So this Christmas the Butler's are gonna give gifts to those who need it most.  I believe this Christmas will be different from all others.  May God get the glory for working in our lives and showing us how we can make a difference in the world.  You should consider doing the same. I wonder what you are doing to give a gift to those who need it most. 

Two places to peruse are here for your viewing:

• GBIM
• WorldVision