Consistency is a good thing!

Every time I come home from a mission trip I notice a change in me.   This time however, it was a different kind of change. This time I didn’t just glance across the surface. I wasn’t distracted by all things new- culture, food, cuteness of the children and beautiful smiles of the people. Like a knife cutting through the flesh, it went deeper and I saw “real life” in Kenya.  Coming back to visit this familiar place for the 2^nd time, was good for my soul. Aw the value of consistency-it is good!  I recognized people and many remembered me! I saw the progress of their hard work between visits (four years earlier). I saw their love for the Lord Jesus and recognized spiritual growth in both the older children and the adults. Washing clothes in a bucket, wearing shoes with toes cut out, eating the same thing out of the same bowl every day, waking up to the beat of a drum at 5:00am, going to worship the Lord before walking up the hill to school….this is their life- and they are joyful and content!  How they serve. How they smile. How they love. How they respect their elders. How they are so grateful for what they have. How they don’t complain about the fly on their forehead. How cow poop on the trail is no big deal! How they depend on the crow of the rooster instead of being annoyed with it. How they don’t live by a “to do list” that controls their every waking minute but instead take each day at a time. How they can be content by leaning on the side of their house, made of mud, for however long and never think, “I’m so bored!” How they greet EVERYONE they pass by. How they don’t complain about walking 2 hours (in the rain), to hear someone talk about Jesus-but are grateful for the opportunity! How they live on Kenya time and enjoy the simple life. How knowing Jesus has changed them-this is what I noticed.

Before Jesus ascension, His words were plain to the disciples and now to us. “You will receive power and will tell people everywhere-Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.

On June 9^th, 2013, I left home burdened for the people of Kenya …my Samaria, to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  On June 21^st, 2013, I came home burdened for the people in Cypress, Texas…my Jerusalem- my neighbors, my family, my Cypress, my Houston, and my Texas-to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If I can stand in a market place in Kenya and participate in a skit that shares the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God-shouldn’t I share the same message in the market place here, in my Jerusalem(?); just a thought. One thing’s for sure; I want people to recognize the unconditional love, joy and peace of Jesus Christ- in me. (and you!)I want people who are hopeless, to have hope in Jesus Christ. I want people who are lonely, to know they have a friend in Jesus Christ. People who are broke, to understand they can be rich in Jesus Christ. I want people who need healing, to find it in Jesus Christ. I want Christians to believe what they read in the Word of God is TRUTH. I want them to live it and share it.

This past Sunday morning, I introduced my Bible study message by carrying a globe in a plastic bag over my shoulder. The analogy; God did not create us to carry the weight of the world, but He did create us to love the people who live here.   

Today, look past the surface; look deeper into the lives of those around you. Get to know your neighbor by name. Pray for you Jerusalem (the place where you live), that when people see your love, they will come to know His love for them.

“For God so loved the World, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."  -John 3:16-17

God loves you! God loves your neighbor! God loves your enemy! God loves your relatives.

God loves…THE Whole WORLD! Tell someone that God loves them-TODAY!

Bibles to Kenya- the Miracle!

“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

 Gregg Matte, my pastor, has been teaching through a series titled, "Mission 1:8". His challenge-"say Yes!” when God calls you. So when the request came for me to lead a women’s conference in Kenya, I said, “Yes!”

While evangelism is at the top of the list of reasons to “go” on a mission trip, serving and loving people is equally important.  Our team of 18 was prepared to share personal testimonies, teach and play with children in the orphanage, evangelize and present skits in the market place, and be ready to serve with each opportunity given; like a dance perfectly choreographed, every task was accomplished and detail fulfilled.

While preparing to teach Power(full), (a bible study I’ve written on 2 Timothy), the Holy Spirit prompted me to take a bible for each woman who would attend the conference. I paused, thought about the logistics it would take to locate Swahili Bibles, purchase and deliver them all in three weeks, then quickly dismissed the idea as if there were no possible way that could happen.  But I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. That’s when the Holy Spirit seemed to shine a spot light on the four bibles lying on the table in front of me. I realized I have many bibles while most of the women at the conference have never had even one bible of their own.   I thought about the message of 2 Timothy;  hold on to the pattern of right teaching,  be a good soldier of Christ Jesus, be an approved worker who correctly explains the word of truth, stay away from counterfeit teaching- I could understand why having a bible would be a priceless gift for the ladies of Lamora.  Instantly the possibility of putting a bible in the hand of each lady filled my heart with outrageous joy and I believed by faith it was going to happen.

The five day miracle!

·         The team met the following day and we began to pray the Lord would provide Bibles.

·         There was no conference registration but 200 bibles came to mind.

·         We got to work and made phone calls to resources we had.

·         Sunday, I shared the idea with Day Spring, my ladies Bible Study Class at Houston’s First Baptist and before the hour was over the ladies had given $450.00 toward the cause.

·         Gregg Matte’s @HoustonsFirstBaptist, message that Sunday was Pray for a Miracle!

·         On Monday I called the mission’s office at HFB to see if they could help locate Bibles. They agreed and began the search.

·         Tuesday, Lane, from the team called to tell me that Pastor Willie Dengler, from South Africa, had located 200 Bibles in Swahili! Like a kid on Christmas morning I was jumping for Jesus in my kitchen, praising the Lord!

·         I emailed Houston’s First Mission Office to share the news and thanked them for joining in on the search.  I closed the email with these words-“Now we’re praying by faith that the finances to pay for the Bibles will come through.” At the time I had the $450.00.

·         Wednesday morning I got a call from Carolyn O’Neal (Women’s Ministry Director at HFB), who shared the exciting news. “HFB will pay the remaining balance of the Bibles!”

·         The next day we found out the cost of the Bibles was two hundred dollars more than we expected. No surprise to God. That day, two hundred dollars came in from a class member of Day Spring!

God gave the idea. I shared it by faith, believing He would make it happen.  The team of ladies believed with me.  God’s people came together. God’s people gave. Now two hundred Bibles are in the hands of believers in a remote village of Africa! 

God wasn’t finished! We witnessed another miracle! While our team sat around the dinner table the night before we would present the bibles to the ladies, it came to our attention that most of the Pastors who were graduating from the World Hope Bible Institute (the first graduating class), also did not have Bibles in their language. We were happy God provided bibles for the women but felt burdened to know many of the pastors needed a bible, too.

 God had a plan! Although we had 130 women come and go at the conference on different days, the last day when we were presenting the bibles, it poured down rain after lunch and only 106 ladies came back for the last session.  That evening we were amazed when we asked, “How many Pastors will be graduating? The reply- 94! Do the math. 106 women plus 94 pastors=200! You should have seen the rejoicing when each of the graduates received a bible after receiving their diploma. They were so grateful! They held the bibles to their chest; kissed them! It was a wonderful site.

Can you see how each step of this mission was ordered by God? Because those who heard said “Yes!” we witnessed a miracle! God used us to help Him accomplish His greater plan. He’s not finished!

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17) It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. -2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Over 1000 people trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during our 12 day trip. Gods doing a work in Kenya!  Pray with me that people in America will open their hearts to the Good News of Jesus Christ and that many will develop a personal relationship with Him. We need more people shining for Jesus in America and …to the ends of the earth!

When God calls you to “go” what will you say? 

 

Chandra Peele

www.chandrapeele.com

Welcome to my BLOG-post weddings!

 

Hello friends!

Let me welcome you to my Blog -POST weddings. Wow! It's been too long since my last post! Lindsey and Bryan, and Holly and Caleb have already celebrated their one year anniversaries!

AND... Holly and Caleb are expecting a baby girl in November! Praise Jesus! Bruce and I are just a little excited about that! Life is sweet and the Lord continues to bless our family. I pray you too are blessed with good health and much happiness. If you, however, are going through a storm right now, remember that God changes us through the storms of life. He’s walking with you through the storm.  Hold on to Jesus…He’s holding on to you.

What else is new? We are excited to share the new and improved website which is now compatible with the latest technology and can be seen on your smart device. If you haven't taken a look, be my guest and head on over to www.chandrapeele.com. And if you need a new web site…contact Jarod at FlyRock Media!

On the site is a link to my Blog so I'm now committed to write and post at least once a month; my hope is twice a month. This will be a fun way to stay connected with my readers on day to day, real life!

Visit me here often. Share what you like with your friends. Pray for me and I’ll be praying the stories and words I share will encourage and build you up.

A friend shared this with me this morning. Now I’d like to share it with you.

“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble.

But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and

not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

-Max Lucado