The trips to Costa Rica and France were incredible and God’s divine timing! It has been remarkable and creates a blog worth reading. Let me step back a few weeks to where the journey began. My good friends, the Rolands, invited me to Rodney Howard Brown’s meetings in Tampa. The outpouring of the Spirit of God for the lost was overwhelming! As I watched men weep for those who did not know Christ, I had to ask myself what was wrong with me because I did not share this concern? Had I developed a hard heart? Was I so self-focused? Or was I “ministry ” driven? What were my motives? What was my heart before the Lord?

The books I had been reading prior to this have been very focused on the actions and motives of those in the body of Christ. Some of the thoughts were as follows: could you give it all up to follow the Lord, if the Master had need of it (ie: your money, life, time)? Would you be willing to have radical obedience and obey? WOW! The gospel of prosperity, self-indulgence, self-gratification never prepared me for these questions. However, I believe in the gospel of prosperity and know that this message needed to come forth to the body of Christ so we could believe for finances and favor for the work of the Lord. The problem is that many turned this gospel into one of self-indulgence, which God is now exposing! Do not get me wrong, I believe in prosperity because we can’t preach the gospel and reach the masses without finances. It would be impossible!

Back to the meetings in Tampa. Phillip Smethhurst, founder of Overland Missions spoke in the mornings. I sat spellbound listing to his adventures with Christ in the bush county of Africa. He gave it all up like the Apostle Paul to work for the Lord. No personal agenda. He doesn’t try to rape the church financially for his lifestyle. How refreshing! How radical! He just believes God and trusts in His Word. His dedication to Christ challenged me to step out in faith and believe. How about you? Your dreams? Your desires? His fulfillment for your life? Isn’t it time we begin to shake off the dust and move into the purpose by FAITH?

A few days later, I left for my engagement in Costa Rica. I was speaking for Pastor Dennis Rosales at Maranatha Church in Limon, Costa Rica. We have been friends and co-laborers for 13 years. I was so blessed by this man’s faithfulness to the call. He graduated with an engineering degree and had a successful job. BUT… God had other plans for his life. He was to go back to his small, nonprogressive home town and start a church. In the beginning, it was only his family in attendance. He had to persevere through much to be where he is today. He owns a radio station, television station, the only church in town with air conditioning, he has a successful Christian school, and his children are all in the university or heading that way! He and his wife are great people of faith. They know their God and shall do exploits!

It was amazing to me to see how God has supernaturally supplied for these families and what they have been able to do for the Lord! It made me reflect… am I directing God or is He directing me?

Just a scripture to ponder: Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt MEDITATE therein day and night that thou mayest OBSERVE to DO according to ALL that is written therein: for THEN thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Passion will drive you to do what is unexpected! This past week I attended a conference that ignited my passion for the lost.

I never truly looked at the lives of those in the Bible as men and women of sacrifice. It’s more than just a book filled with great stories that we are to model our lives after. Realizing this, we are to be the continuation of the message, however, we think this process will be easier because of the time we are living. I never really thought about all those, who risk their lives to tell others the good news in this day and time. I heard so many stories of sacrifice for the furtherance of the gospel message. People who would go into the bush of Africa with only a tent, sleeping bag and a Bible to evangelize unreached tribes with a message of hope. Meanwhile, we in the United States debate on the intrusion of being politically correct and try not to offend others.  WOW!  Passion needs to rule our lives as we sell out to our cause and our message.  We should be lovingly millitant for the restortation of mankind to their Creator! We need to give someone the opportunity to object or to accept the message. This is not done alone, but through the power of the Holy Spirit and the angels of heaven who are commissioned to work with us in our mission!

Please make a effort to ask the Lord about your daily assignment. Who does He want you to speak to, pray for, or witness to? Post your results. God will use us to change the world one person at a time. Let the Passion for Christ compel you. Quit making excuses! Just do it! Be one who will sacrifice all to do God’s work!