ONLY GOD CAN OPEN HIS DOORS

                                                                                                                              copyright(c) 2016 Daneille Gray Snowden

                                                                                                                                                     2016

ONLY GOD CAN OPEN HIS DOORS

AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT...Is. 22:22

Going to Africa from spending 29 years in the ministry here in the United States; I have seen others struggle with the 'open-door' the Lord has laid out for our family.

Have you ever been there? God has led you to do something different than what others anticipated for your life. Question is, should we allow this to HINDER what the Lord is leading?

How do you see yourself?

It is how we IDENTIFY who we are, how we want others to see us and then how we see ourselves. First of all, we must see WE ARE NOT OUR OWN... "know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"  I Cor. 6:19  Thus, if we identify WHO'S WE ARE...the God of the Universe's CHILD... then we must know His Purpose far usurps our own, and others.

We do tend to want to 'please' others and do our 'duty' per say. Then as we are walking through life, we feel a dryness come, an unfulfilled and  yearning as well. Retrospect then speaks out and brings us back to becoming that zealous warrior God called out years before.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];
I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jer. 1:5

When people cannot wrap their minds around this NEW path you obeyed to walk on; just point to Jesus and continue. Recognize the hindrance when it comes.

*HINDRANCES of hurt when the one's even closest to you are unsupportive of your call.

*HINDRANCES of others lack of faith, and only see depravity...for it doesn't 'fit-into' the perfect human ideals of working 9-5 retaining a weekly paycheck.

*HINDRANCES from others not doing what would be such a 'help' for you to go forward. [Remember, only God can close and open doors.]

*HINDRANCES of fear: The 'what-ifs' must totally be surrendered and left in order to be able to march on with ease and speed into God's Door of ministry.

Notice how God has prepared you as well is presently preparing you for this 'OPEN DOOR'. He just doesn't throw you out into this new life, and calling without be prepped for it. [As we do not do this to a small baby.] I think of certain prophets in the Bible; how they were raised, especially with the difficulties they grew up in; how that strengthened them to be powerful men and woman of God. Look back, and see this in your own life; it is so true.

Personally, being Pastors all of these past 25 years (and for myself my entire life), being bi-vocational and definitely NOT well-to-do; God prepped us to minister to the Pastors of one of the poorest countries on this planet! My degree is in missions; yet...the path I took (although many times I sure didn't understand) was preparation to identify with my fellow ministers (& their wives).

Along with this; my husband being seriously ill, pushing him in a wheel chair - simply struggling with day to day life. On our missions team there is a ministry for the disabled.

HELPING HANDS-  Mãos Ajudando

Our church was small, so our girls minister to the children. This birthed a 'LOVE' to minister to kids (i.e.: a calling to children's ministry) for one of my daughters. There is a ministry to children on our missions team in Mozambique.

Chosen Generation

Another daughter has been on our worship team at

church since she was 11 years old. We lost our pianist and she had to step in. Guess, what...God called her into Music Worship Ministry AND is going to use this in Africa as well.

Do you feel a DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY has opened for you? Always know:

*God will not contradict His Word. -It will be confirmed through His Word and leading.

*It will be a:  ^" ...good thing given and every perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17

*As it states in Rom. 8:31 "If God is for us, then who can be against us." HE IS FOR YOU!

*Are you saying: "I can't do this on my own." Well, that is good; for the Lord God is a relational God. He wants us to rely on Him-i.e.: Walk of Faith. Thus, He gets the glory, for as we, "LIFT HIM UP, ALL MEN WILL BE ADDED UNTO HIM." Jn. 12:32

Lately, the Lord has been encouraging me to step away

from the 'THINGS FAMILIER - THAT BRING SECURITY'. Into a new realm; a place where God has purposed for me to THRIVE and live out my calling. That means, stepping out, clogging my hearts ears when others do not respond in coming along (joining with us as team members in support). WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! Glory to God!!!

Allow me to encourage you to do the same; step out if He is calling you. Trust your loving Father; He's got you...just go forward ONE step at a time.

BEYOND THE OPEN DOOR

listen

Don't forget to click on the side column to link up with our missions page. You will see descriptions of who we are and what we will do in Mozambique through One Missions Society.

Thank You!

GOING TO AFRICA...WHAAAAAT????

                                                                                                         Copyright(c) 2016 Daneille Gray Snowden

                                                                                                                                                                                        2016

 

GOING TO AFRICA...WHAAAAAT????

From Daneille

 

 Ya, you heard it RIGHT: We are going to Africa! Most of whom we have shared our testimony of  this HUGE open door are baffled. Majority have known us as Pastors, Construction workers, who home school our children. Also, in the past several years all have known us as a family battling a horrendous sickness; appearing to take the life of my husband, Brad.

 

Yet, the path our Lord has cleared for our family to take has been revealed. I still shake my head in amazement recalling as I exclaim: "Who am I Lord, (as the Psalmist declared) that He should choose me (and my family)?" Then as in Isaiah's answer to our God's call...I share the same heartfelt words:

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

 

Campus of One Mission Society - Greenwood, IN

My husband and I had always felt the burden to one day 'GO' into the foreign field as missionaries. That particular door just didn't open; YET...another door did as Pastors to the Mission Field of America. God led us to people and places that were unique, and needed His Love- pure and simple. We were honored to lead many to Christ, disciple, teach all of them through out our 28 years in the ministry.  
 

Accompanied with Pastoring, my husband has been able to have his own Roofing & Construction Company. This truly has been the main source of our income. Then over six years ago he became gravely ill; this resulted him not being able to work, being pushed in a wheel chair and spending countless days bedfast. Many growing lessens (in seeing the faithfulness of our God) did arise. Deeper we grew, (although it didn't feel that way); as well as used in unique avenues ministering  to countless lives throughout our trial.

 

God drew our families heart again to missions in the past year. Deeper than ever, we felt compelled to pray for His leading. In that, we also had a tremendous burden for pastors all over the globe. Knowing their true needs, and even desires being pastors ourselves; we just felt a longing to come alongside them to be an encouragement, also to affirm them in countless ways to 'go-forward' in their CALL from God.

 

In the midst of our SEEKING GOD...an OPEN DOOR was made clear for us to SEE. We found a 'JOB-DESCRIPTION' - for Pastoral Support to Pastors in Mozambique, Africa. It aligned perfectly with our hearts.

 

Months went on by; and it came to another point in time when we were spending time as a family in prayer and fasting. This is when we received a phone call from the same agency that posted this incredible job description. That week, we set up two appointments in the same day; one with One Mission Society and the other with my husband's specialist for the chronic illness he was fighting. 

 

First we went to see Brad's doctor; who after we asked did say his health was declining quickly and well, it didn't look like he may even survive. An hour later, we found ourselves at OMS headquarters; an amazing missions organization that is over 115 years old.

 

We took the tour, learning about this great agency. It was a big day for our family; what to do and how to; did enter our minds. We prayed and couldn't help but go ahead and start the application process. As we did, Brad's symptoms week by week, month by month disappeared. I must also say; thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ had been praying for a miracle for Brad. That is what we got too! About the same time we were 'official' ALL OF BRAD'S SYMPTOMS HAD LEFT! [click link of full story here]

 

He no longer is in a wheel chair, no pain, breathes great and is WORKING AGAIN!

Brad & our daughter at OMS headquarters.

 

Now, we are going FULL THRODDLE to raise support to be able to minister to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in Africa!  Hudson Taylor famously said, “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.”  We rest in this truth, it's a huge endeavor -- Yet, I am reminded I serve a GREAT GOD...the only TRUE GOD; our Creator and King.

 

Will you join us? Please pray for us as we go about this new walk...excitedly WALKING FORWARD - with Purpose; telling others of the Ministry that lays before us.

 

We cannot do it without the BODY, joining along with your prayers and monthly support. As you pray, I just ask - will you ask the Lord if He wants you to PLEDGE to financially support this ministry. Just listen to His guidance; that is all we ask.  [SUPPORT LINK - CLICK]

 

Thanks for reading along...I promise the future blogs will not be 'as-long'. Just wanted to share with you the BEGINNING of our journey.