Excitement Grows and Be of Good Courage.....

We have had registration open now for nearly 3 weeks for Southeast Asia. We have 35 women registered with only 15 more positions open before we go to our waiting list sign up. Just shows you the need that is out there to minister to our frontline workers to help keep them on the front lines. We also already have 22 women sponsored which means we only have 28 left to sponsor for this trip. If God is moving on your heart to give, please be obedient as He leads. Thank you for those of you who have already poured into this trip financially and those who will. 

We have another team member that we picked up this last week as well. Please pray for the team to continue to come together. Yes, we could leave the country with the ladies we have now and minister to the women in Southeast Asia. However, I just happen to believe there are several more of you out there who are supposed to be on this team. So please be sensitive to the Father on this issue, too.

This morning in my quiet time as I sat beside the lake reading 2 Samuel 10:1-19 I couldn’t help but think, I know so many people who feel like Joab felt in the battle David had sent him into with the Ammonites and Syrians. This battle was provoked by King Hanun of the Ammonites when he listened to poor counsel. You must read 2 Samuel 10:1-19 to get the full picture.

For our purposes today I want to pick up the story in 2 Samuel 10:9-14

2 Samuel 10:9-14 (ESV)
9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.  10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

Do you feel like the battle has been set against you in the front and in the rear? Feel like you are hemmed in and there doesn’t appear to be a way out? I love Joab’s strategy…he might as well have said, we are in this together brother! If you need help I’ll come to you. If I need help you come to me. Can I ask you something? Do you need help in your circumstances right now? Have you asked for help? Made plans for it? And are you aware if a sister or brother in Christ around you who needs help? Are you extending yourself to them? 

And then the verse... Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him. I love this too, because it simply says.... Do not be deterred no matter the circumstances; let us fight for what God has given us families, neighbors, friends, for God’s people everywhere and trust God to act on His behalf. And I also love it that Joab says and may the LORD do what seems good to him. When is the last time in the middle of your circumstance did you just say to God, LORD do what seems good to you?

His,
Vickie