Focus on God, Not the Problems

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As believers Jesus tells us that, “In the world you will have tribulation.”. In that same verse though he tells us to, “take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Whether it be the isolation caused by the Covid virus, or the unrest that is happening around the world, it can be far too easy to fall into a place of depression and navel gazing. That is one of the reasons I reckon I have struggled to put out another episode of the YWAM News Show in the last few months. It’s been a struggle for me to know what to talk about and what to focus on during this time …

While meditating on how to work out of this “funk” I was reminded of Philippians 4:8, which says:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

One of the main things that I did to try to work my way out of this was to quit Facebook for about a month.

That in and of itself was a bit of a relief. Facebook can be so many different things, so since I got back on it I’m doing what I can to make a place where I will actually be uplifted, rather than dragged down. This includes:

  • Culling or muting some “friends”
  • Un-following many pages
  • Leaving some groups
  • Adding a filter to my browser that removes posts that contain certain terms from my Facebook feed

It’s not enough to pull out the weeds, we also need to plant something good to grow. We need to think about the things that God tells us to think about. To review what those are:

  • Whatever is true
  • Whatever is noble
  • Whatever is right
  • Whatever is pure
  • Whatever is lovely
  • Whatever is admirable

In addition to trying to weed my Facebook “garden”, I’m also working on reducing main stream media consumption, and instead consuming content that is uplifting, like the video that was in my last post.

YWAM Global Communications

Despite there not being a YWAM News Show recently, I have continued to work on the YWAM Global Prayer letter, sending that out each month to over 10,000 people, and distributing it as an audio letter / podcast as well. We spent two months praying for the Coronavirus, and then last month praying about online evangelism.

I have also been listening to uplifting music as often as I can. So before I head to bed tonight I want to leave you with this song and story. I hope you will find as uplifting as I do and see what God can do through all of us …

I for one and looking forward to connecting again with the people at Church, and chatting with some of the other parents at our children’s school once we are allowed back on the school grounds. Isolation isn’t good for any of us …

How Are You Affected by Covid-19?

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I reckon that we have all been affected differently by the Covid-19 pandemic. For us the three biggest changes have been:

  1. Online schooling for our children and having them home with us almost ALL the time
  2. Not seeing friends or family for Jessica and Elijah’s birthdays or while our kids have been off school
  3. Doing on-line church services instead of visiting our home church every Sunday here in Adelaide

As a missions agency Youth With A Mission has been significantly impacted. Many of our courses have been closed down with students sent home and outreaches cancelled. Quite a few of our staff have had to leave the countries they have been serving in, and others have been isolated in their ministry locations of homes for quite a few weeks, with severe restrictions in place.

At the same time though there has been a lot of need that many of our missionaries have been able to meet during this time. The last two monthly prayer times for YWAM have focused on the Coronavirus and I have been able to continue to assist in the distribution of these prayer letters during this time …

It’s a challenge to know how, as believers, we are to respond to the pandemic. This video has been something that has spoken to me during this time …

In case you don’t have the time to watch the video, some of the key takeaways that I got out of it are:

  • We need to trust God during this time
  • Have patience, trust, and peace in God
  • Love and serve our neighbours
  • Only repeat things that think are true
    • You might end up being wrong, but don’t lie
  • Do not give into the temptation to “weaponize” the situation against people outside of our own “tribe” or group

Romans 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I want to follow up by asking you a few questions:

  1. How are you doing?
  2. What’s going on in your life?
  3. How can I pray for you?

For now I will leave it there and I look forward to hearing from you about how I can pray for you …

YWAM Podcasts – 2019

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Last year there were over 100,000 downloads of the various podcasts that I produce for Youth With A Mission. The various shows that I’m producing are:

  • YWAM News Show Podcast
  • YWAM Teaching Podcast
  • YWAM Global Prayer Podcast – The Invitation

The podcast episode with the most downloads is our show about “Mobilizing Two-Thirds-World Missionaries“.

In addition to the podcasts I also help to manage the YWAM Global e-mail which is in touch with over 30,000 people every month, and which we sent out over 550,000 emails last year. This audience has about doubled over the course of 2019, so we are able to connect more people with what God is doing around the world with Youth With A Mission.

It is exciting to be able to have that connection with so many people.

As I shared in my last letter, “New Decade – New Challenges“, we are facing some financial challenges as a family in missions. To continue with God’s ministry with Youth With A Mission we are needing to see a break through in financial support and sponsorship.

Please prayerfully consider if partnering in this ministry is something that God has for you during this season…

New Decade – New Challenges

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This year has been a tough start already. In August last year I wrote about how we were struggling financially with only $2500 per month in financial support. We were blessed with an increase in support after that appeal, but then in December we lost significant support when our original sending church had to suspend their financial support.

Loosing the support of our sending church, after having been in missions for 21-years, is disheartening to say the least …

Currently our monthly support is only $2250.

Next week I’ll be sending out another email sharing what impact we’ve been able to have with the YWAM Podcasts and our ministry with the YWAM Global Communications team.

At the moment, while you anxiously await that email, I ask that you would pray we would find solutions for our current financial crunch.

How School Works Here in Australia

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I have had a few questions recently from our friends in Canada about how school works here in Australia. We have three children currently attending school here, so I thought that it would be worth providing you with a short video produced by a film production group …

It’s a pretty good breakdown of how it’s working for my own children, and I’m happy to say that according to the standards of that video our kids are heading towards receiving an “A”!