BEING OPEN AND REAL

BEING OPEN AND REAL

from Daneille

I have been pondering on how the Lord has been sending His strength and encouragement to me lately.

Serving in a foreign land; one faces many different challenges. Nothing is close to simple. 

A lot is more than difficult.

Some is physical, quite a bit is mental and physical and a whole bunch is spiritual. 

Being consistent in prayer and in God's Word is the way to be able to move forward even though one may be moving as fast as a turtle.

In my case as fast as a snail!

I could tell people were praying for us. 

I found it so encouraging when ones would write and say the Lord woke me up to pray for you.

We were blessed to come to the U.S. to attend and be a part of our son's wedding. Such a GIFT FROM GOD and a total miracle.

We also came home because our daughter was struck suddenly by an illness as we served in Africa.

When we flew back, I myself have been struck with an illness as well. 

BOTH ARE A MYSTERY STILL TO THE DOCTORS. 

Felecia's is a head pain and mine is my eyes are going blurry on me. Some moments are worse than others.

Also this past year I have been 'hurt' deeply. That pain has been my biggest battle to overcome. I am greatly humbled saying this; but feeling I need to be REAL. 

We pastored for 27 years and in the ministry for 31 years together. In the ministry; amazing, wonderful victories do come. But, unfortunately dark valleys are a place all pastors and missionaries walk in. It's nothing new to myself and my husband. 

As we are on medical leave; I find God is working and healing my heart too. I have been trying to feast on His Word, and wait in His Presence to hear Him speak. 

The Lord has sent people, messages, scriptures and His precious Holy Spirit to send me simple words of love and encouragement. Such as:

"Look to Jesus, keep your eyes focused on Him."

"Rest, just rest in Him."

"I've sent you in the valley to speak my Hope there."

"It's NOT your fault."

"I got you, trust this...!"

"Enjoy this life, relax in my arms and enjoy living for and with me."

"He's going to finish what He started."

And how about that old hymn: 

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow the chorus:

"There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand."

I realize we are facing what is called  'SPIRITUAL WARFARE' - we know this! 

We also know: 'Greater is He that is within me than He that is within the world!' (1 Jn. 4:4). 

I am not sure what is going on right now. 

I do know everything is BEYOND OUR CONTROL! 

Yet...guess Who's control I believe we're in? Our God's!

  Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Job 12:10 - In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Psalms 22:28 - For the kingdom [is] the LORD'S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.

Psalms 115:3 - But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Isaiah 14:24 - The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:

I know God is working His Plan; He is using us in the midst of this valley too.

I ask you to do 2 things:

(1) Pray for us!

(2) Send me your prayer requests (so I can pray for you). 

Others have joined us on Wednesday afternoons to pray and fast for:

Healing

Spiritual Renewal

Salvations

Spiritual and emotional breakthroughs (issues that have caused hurts)

Revival

Would you like to join with us? Please do! We need miracles here. 

Contact me on email, or facebook and send me your requests. 

WHERE IS MISSIONS?

copyright(c) Daneille Gray Snowden

2018

WHERE IS MISSIONS?

by the Holy Spirit through His Child -Daneille Gray Snowden

 

QUESTIONS: Is missions geography or geometry? Is it the location; or is it the 'people-groups?'

Is God constantly calling people to ones who are in crisis,  deep pain,  and loneliness all over the globe?

Everyone who has surrender their hearts and all of their lives to Jesus; this indeed is something we all must ponder. For all of us have been given character traits, gifting's, skills, and lessons that were learned during our own time of sufferings. 

The answer can be as complex as the question; or is it? 
I graduated with a degree in Cross Cultural Communications and just knew I was going to India as a missionary. God did give me the opportunity for a summer internship; yet I never did return. 

As my husband and I worked in the pastoral ministry in the U.S.A. in my naïve mind; I still felt so pulled to  the mission field. I still felt it was a PLACE. Then the Lord while in my 30's, OPENED MY EYES and caused me to intently peer into the heart of my neighbors, church members, relatives and strangers. 

Missionary is defined in the dictionary as: 'sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities /  prompted by the desire to persuade or convert others.'

QUESTION: Does it say a PLACE? 

An area could be a place, or a specific time (like when people face catastrophic events), it could be to widows, prisoners, elderly etc... It could be with those in cultic beliefs, the poor, and any who have NOT heard the Gospel. {The list can go on and on.}

Many times we are called to people of whom our testimony, and sufferings of whom we can identify with. For example; I have seen woman who were raped, and abused; who today minister to woman who are ministering to those in the human trafficking slavery realm. 

 

Others write books sharing the biblical lessons they gleaned, as they faced certain trials -which touches hundreds to thousands of lives. 

God called us (Brad & Daneille) in particular from pastoring here in the United States; facing many hardships in this ministry to Pastoring the Pastors in Africa! We struggled with our own personal trials, poverty, loneliness, backstabbing, confusion, spiritual attacks and so on. In it; we really didn't feel we had someone to come alongside to build up and affirm. [Although we did receive much encouragement from a pastor who is my earthly father.] 

God also used what we went through with Brad's serious illness as he was bedfast most days, in a wheelchair and in great pain. We will minister to the disabled as well in Africa. God knew & planned this all along the way!  

Yes, for us we are leaving one place geographically and moving to another. Yet, God is doing geometry {which deals with rationships of points, lines, angles, and figures in space from their defining conditions.} He also multiplies...oh yes, He always multiplies!   

He heard the heart cry of the Pastors in Africa; (like Brad & I cried) for someone to come and encourage and help them. He heard the heart of our exhausted missionaries for someone to come along to be there for them!

What about you? What have you been through that God can use YOU to BE A MISSIONARY to others? It may be next door, your work place or in AFRICA! 👀 (smile)

A key to being healed is to reach out to the hearts of others even in your pain!

Let me tell ya what GOD CAN'T USE as you take this step out: FEAR! Fear is not of HIM...it is not FROM HIM! It apposes HIM and His Call for your life. It has to be squashed! Release it  in total surrender! We even must repent to owning up to fear. 

I write this to say; God cannot speak to one's clinging to fear; because they shut Him out. This is in regard to surrendering their desires for their lives, what they want to do and then what the 

COST may be! 

OUCH!

What is holding you back in fulfilling God's Purpose/Call upon your life? Is it separation from family, comfortable life style, learning a new culture and language? Is it having to get shots, facing mosquitos that carry malaria?  Is it that some places may 'smell', ya don't understand them and are afraid? 

FIRST - "Draw Near to God and He will draw near to you!" (James 4:7-8)

SECOND - Repent for being afraid. 

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

THIRD - Surrender your will! Totally lay it all down. The closer we come to Jesus; the more we want to do this. Nothing else matters!

Prov. 23:26 "My son give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."

NOW JOIN ME IN THIS BELOVED HYMN 

SING WITH A PRAYERFUL HEART...

'I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS!'

SEND US TO MOZAMBIQUE!

click here: 

Send the Snowden's to Africa

https://www.onemissionsociety.org/give/TheSnowdens