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Wow. I missed worshiping here.
Can't tell me how many times I've sat in a church in Africa worshiping and been strengthened and encouraged,
remembering worshiping here and remembering that you were here doing the same thing across an ocean.
That song may get me through another year of being over there and remembering that.
So I hope the clerical collar doesn't throw you off too much.
In Africa, I actually work for the Episcopal Church of Sudan in South Sudan,
and this is what we would normally wear when we're over there.
And since I've been back and walking through places like Party City,
I've seen that this actually is sold here as a costume.
So I hope it's not too frightening for you, but I figured with heyday, it kind of serves a dual purpose.
And speaking of heyday, I'm really glad to come back for that, to be here for that kind of fellowship,
that kind of candy.
And also because I assume that since most of you are going, I have until 3 o'clock to preach.
So it'll be just like an African service going all day.
There's been a lot to happen in my life in the last year and a half since I've been over there.
There's a lot to come and tell you about.
A lot to tell you about what God has been doing.
I think I've boiled it down to a little less than three hours, so we'll see.
But for those of you who don't know, back in March in 2014,
I boarded a plane and I headed to Africa.
My plans, since signing up to be a missionary with what was at that time World Harvest and is now called Surge,
were to go and to serve as a pastor in the community of Mundri, South Sudan.
Seemed like a simple plan.
Plans change.
In fact, before I even departed for South Sudan, my plans had changed drastically.
Because in December of 2013, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kir,
accused his former vice president, who he had just fired, Rick Makar, of staging a coup.
Now, whether this happened or not, it did send the country into a civil war.
That is still going on.
South Sudan has been at war for 42 of the last 60 years.
It's kind of something they're used to.
It was not something I was used to.
But since the civil war broke out again,
the team that I had signed up to join also decided to go its different ways
and is now scattered in the States and in Kenya and various other places.
So the team that I wanted to join was no longer on the field,
and the field that I wanted to go to was no longer safe to go to,
and my plans seemed to be falling right and left.
So I came up with a new plan, a lot of them.
And I asked, and they allowed me to go ahead and to move to Nairobi, Kenya,
and to spend some time there waiting for the new team to get ready to come
and waiting for South Sudan to get peaceful enough for me to go in.
And so I joined a team in Nairobi.
I started learning about chronological Bible storytelling
and teaching seminars across Kenya.
I started helping out with the interns
and just really getting adjusted to African life.
It was a great, great experience for those few months,
helping me to ease into life there.
And by the end of July,
they had decided that it was peaceful enough,
safe enough,
for me to go ahead and move into South Sudan.
And so I did.
I went to Mundry to wait on my new team.
I spent several weeks by myself on the compound
waiting for them to come.
And by the end of September,
the whole team was then on the ground,
raring to go,
ready to see the work happen there,
to learn the language,
to get involved with the community,
to start preaching,
start teaching,
start working with everybody there.
And we started to see our plans unfold.
And then we started to see our plans fall apart.
By February,
my team leader and his family
had to be medically evacuated.
And a few weeks later,
the three of us that remained as a team
were evacuated for safety.
As we found out that
new government forces were on their way up to town
and we weren't sure just what they would do,
given their past record of
shooting first and asking questions never.
By the grace of God,
we were evacuated within 24 hours
and back to Kenya,
where we had no idea what we were going to do,
and thankfully God did.
We found work for the three of us
as our team leaders decided to stay in Nairobi
and not go back permanently
for the sake of their family and health.
And the three of us found our way
to a third team for me,
the Kajabi team,
working in the mountains of Kenya,
where it's much colder than South Sudan,
and I did not have any jackets.
We worked teaching at a missionary boarding school there.
And there we were also able to start
making yet another plan
to get back to South Sudan.
And this time we did it in a slightly roundabout way
by going to Uganda first
to look for a permanent backup site,
working with the refugees of our tribal group there,
the Moru tribe.
From there we saw that it was going to be able
to easier get into South Sudan
on some quick trips,
and by the end of August,
just a couple months ago,
we took one of those trips in
to take some relief to the community there
that had been so devastated by the fighting.
And then we came back,
and the three of us,
Will and Teresa and I,
returned to the States in mid-September,
a lot earlier than we expected,
and came home to regroup,
to refresh,
and to recruit,
if anybody's interested in serving overseas
in a war-torn area.
You can talk to me afterwards.
Especially doctors and engineers.
I know there's a few of those here.
So we're back in the States.
And yet again,
going back to the drawing board,
trying to find a plan
for returning
when we go back in January
to Uganda
and to South Sudan
to work.
And the violence
since we've been home
has increased
and gotten worse.
And much of Mundry
is no longer there.
And sometimes words
just don't come.
And plans don't seem
to be forming.
My teammate, Will,
was reflecting on this recently.
When we make plans
as a team,
generally I'm the one
that's sitting in the back
quiet
and has to be coaxed
into giving the opinion
right at the end.
And we kind of make Will speak first.
And since we think so much alike,
I tend to just say ditto
and go with whatever Will says.
And as Will has been back
reflecting on the same things
and thinking about having no words
but trying to figure out plans,
he wrote a blog recently.
And since he tends to
speak for me anyway,
I figured I'd let him do it
this morning.
So I want to share with you
just a little bit
about what he said
that led me to my passage
for today.
Will said,
in the midst of the uncertainty
and instability,
God has been clear
since we've been back
in the USA.
We're continuing
to pursue life
and ministry in Mundry.
This is the place
where I want to tell you
our great plan
and that it will be
to guarantee success.
But I don't have one.
I've realized recently
that God is more concerned
with my obedience
than my success.
I'm not saying
he doesn't want me
to be successful.
I'm saying my willingness
to be obedient
in the midst of uncertainty
and lack of understanding
is far more important
than having a guarantee
of success.
Paul seems to be
a great example of this.
I doubt he ever got on a boat
or entered a new city
thinking,
success will be
this ship wrecking
or success will only happen
after I've been arrested.
All Paul did
was continue to say yes
when God asked him
to do something.
He let God define success
by being open
to the guidance of the Spirit
and looking for opportunities
to sacrificially love others.
This is our aim,
to continue to say yes
when God asks us
to do something
so we've said yes.
Ditto.
We'll wrap it up
so perfectly
of what we've been feeling,
what we've been thinking
in this time
of waiting on the Lord,
making plans
but waiting for him
to direct them
and just being willing
to say yes.
And as Will and I
have been looking
at the Scriptures
for guidance
since we've been back
is Paul really has been
a great help to study.
And that's what led me
to the passage
I want to share with you
this morning.
Because like us,
like Paul,
I would bet
that there's a number
of you who have seen
your plans change
over the past years
and over the extent
of your life
and a number of you
who have been rocked
by uncertainty.
So I want to look
at how Scripture
deals with that.
How Paul made his plans
despite knowing
that God was likely
to change them.
How Paul surrounded
those plans in prayer
and how all of this
led him
and can lead us
to peace.
So if you would
turn with me
to Romans chapter 15.
Starting in verse 23,
let's see what Paul
has to say
about making plans.
In Romans 15,
Paul says,
but now,
since I no longer
have any room
for work in these regions
and since I've longed
for many years
to come to you,
I hope to see you
in passing
as I go to Spain
and to be helped
on my journey there
by you
once I have enjoyed
your company
for a while.
At present,
however,
I'm going to Jerusalem,
bringing aid
to the saints
from Macedonia
and Achaia
have been pleased
to make some contribution
for the poor
among the saints
in Jerusalem.
For they were pleased
to do it
and indeed
they owe it to them.
For if the Gentiles
have come to share
in the spiritual blessings,
they ought also
to be of service
to them
in material blessings.
When therefore
I have completed this
and have delivered
to them
what has been collected,
I will leave
for Spain
by way of you.
I know that
when I come to you,
I will come
in the fullness
of the blessing
of Christ.
And I appeal
to you,
brothers,
by our Lord
Jesus Christ,
by the love
of the Spirit
to strive together
with me
in your prayers
to God
on my behalf,
that I may be
delivered from
the unbelievers
in Judea,
and that my service
for Jerusalem
may be acceptable
to the saints,
so that by God's will
I may come to you
with joy
and be refreshed
in your company.
May the God
of peace
be with you all.
Amen.
It's the word
of the Lord.
There's so much
in this passage
that has meant
so much to me.
In the first half
of it,
more than just
the first half of it,
we see Paul
making his plans.
For a much more
detailed description
of these plans,
feel free to turn
to the book of Acts
and just read
the whole thing.
There you'll find
all that Paul planned
and all that God
changed in his plans,
which was a whole
lot of it.
So here,
he doesn't get
so much into the details.
He gives just
a bit of a rough
outline to the Romans
talking about
what he hopes to do,
what he's done,
what kind of part
they'll play
in those plans,
and then he asks
for prayer.
He doesn't get
into the details
of the ups and downs
of his journeys
across Macedonia,
of Greece,
and Asia Minor.
He only indicates
that he sees
his work there
as being done.
The seeds
have been planted.
Paul was a church planter.
That job was done.
And he left
the church there
in the capable hands
of others
to tend to it
and to help it grow.
And in fact,
we can actually see
some of that growth
of those churches
that he's planted
right here
as Paul speaks
immediately of his plan
to take aid
to the poor in Jerusalem,
to take relief
that has been given
to him by the churches
that he planted.
The fruits
of their spiritual growth
are manifesting
in the fruits
of their labors
being shared
with this universal church.
Coming home
as a missionary,
it would be really easy
to look at this passage
and take it out of context
and preach it
to my benefit
and talk about
financial support
and caring for the needy
and for those
going on these journeys,
to preach a health
and wealth gospel
and tell you
you'll do really well
if you give all your money
away to a starving missionary
and Africans.
But that's not
what he's saying here.
It's not about
just financial support.
That's not why
he tells the church
in Rome
that he's going
to Jerusalem.
He's not doing it
to guilt them
into saying,
oh, look what
the new churches did.
They gave to the poor.
What about you,
Church of Rome?
You've got to have
a lot of money over there.
Why don't you start giving?
He's not guilt-tripping
the church
and telling them
to give more money.
He's not doing it
just to make himself
look good
and say,
when I come see you,
you better be ready
to celebrate me
because I'm the one
out taking care
of these people.
It's not for his own
celebration.
He's telling the church
of Rome
his plans
to take aid
to the poor
because he needs
their help
on a different level.
Because he wants them
to join him
in this trip
spiritually.
He wants them
to come together.
You know,
Paul uses phrase
like they owe it
to them
and if we were
to preach that
in such a demanding way
without looking
at the love behind it
that compels
this duty
and this obligation,
we would make
idols of our works
and set them up
for our own salvation
instead of Christ.
Paul does stress
a moral obligation here
but if we fail
to emphasize
the love
that compels
this act,
we miss everything.
Paul doesn't leave it
at simple obligation.
He points out
what a spiritual joy
it is for them
to come together
with him.
He asks for them
to pray for him
in this,
to come together
in the struggle
and fight in prayer
and he asks for them
to come together
so that when he is
face to face
they may share
in the joy
of this message,
the joy of hearing
your prayers worked,
God's word
is planted
in the hearts
of many.
God's church
is growing
despite the struggles.
He tells the church
so that they
can share
in the joy of it.
One of the reasons
I've come home
to tell you
about the seeds
that have been planted,
to share
and make that joy
complete.
Paul's work
is not going
to be over
with just one trip.
the church
is going
to continue
to grow
and the church
is going
to continue
to struggle
then just
as it is now.
Paul lived
this way,
lived out
his love
because he saw
it as his obligation,
his duty,
his only way
of living.
Bids me come
and die
and find
that I might
truly live,
we sang.
that's what
Paul is living here.
That's what
he has lived
before the churches
in Greece
and Asia Minor
that are giving
because they
followed Paul's example
even as he follows
the example of Christ
just as Paul told
the Corinthian church
to do.
Paul lived
that example
of love
and wants
the church of Rome
to live that example
of love.
He wants to
eventually go to Spain
so that he can live
that example
of love
so that little
by little
more of this world
can know the love
of Christ
who died
that we might live
that love.
He plans
to live this way
everywhere he goes.
He plans
and he plans
and it'd be easy
to focus on
the contents
of those plans
to not look
underneath
to say
okay well Paul
is a church planter
and then also
takes time
to see to the needs
of the poor
and those sound
like really good things
so let's go back
to our church
and what we should do
is we should start
a Pauline program
and that program
is going to be really good
we'll church plant
and we'll take money
to the poor
and that'll be good
everybody will like us.
If we only focused
on the content
if we only focused
on the programs
and didn't dig
deeper and deeper
into the heart
that was behind Paul
didn't dig
into the love
that compelled him
to live
then we miss
everything in these plans.
See Paul has learned
not only to live
a life of love
but to make those plans
founded completely
on faith.
He lives in a bit
of a paradox.
He lives being certain
and uncertain
about everything
at the same time.
Paul has seen
so many of his plans
change.
He knows
these new ones
are bound to plan
to change as well.
He opens his letter
to the Romans
in chapter 1
talking about
these same things
saying that
he hopes by the will
of God
that he will at last
finally be able to come
and see the church
of Rome.
He's got many friends
there but he's never
been able to see it.
But he says
by God's will
at last.
If you look deeper
at it you see
how he is unsure
that he'll even make it.
When you look at
the prayer later
in our passage
you see how unsure
he is
and he's right
to be unsure
of this.
There are people
in Jerusalem
people across the world
where he's been ministering
that want to kill him
that are out
to take his life.
And if it weren't
just people looking out
to kill him
he's got to travel
all over the world
in not terribly
safe conditions.
He's not sure
that he'll make it
to Jerusalem
let alone
all the way back
to Rome again.
But he plans
on it anyway.
He plans on it
because the foundation
of his plan
is the phrase
thy will be done
Lord.
He's unsure
about what will happen
but he's sure
absolutely sure
that whatever happens
he's got to follow
God in it.
And when he does
God will be there.
What a way
to make a plan.
I can't say
that all the plans
that I've made
in the last two years
have been made this way
but I can definitely
tell you
I have seen
God's will
triumph in all of them.
And that has helped
greatly
in knowing that
whatever is about
to happen
as I try to return
to Africa in January
God's will
will triumph still.
It wasn't my plan
to go to Nairobi.
When they first
recruited me
they told me
about Nairobi
and I kind of
pushed it away
not thinking
I would be really
interested in
chronological Bible
storytelling.
And when I got there
I was amazed
by what a great
tool it is
for preaching
the gospel.
And that method
would go on
to help me greatly
as I took those stories
and had my
my tutor
translate some
into Arabic
so that I could
start ministering
in the community
both in South Sudan
and again with refugees
in Uganda.
And if I hadn't
gone to Kenya
and learned that method
I never would have
been prepared
to preach in that way.
More than just that
I met a team
that surrounded me
with community
and helped me
to adjust to Africa
that loved me
and that would
be there
and be familiar
in loving me
when I had to evacuate
a year later.
I didn't think
I'd ever return
to Kenya
and Nairobi
when I left them.
Certainly didn't plan
to evacuate.
I didn't plan
to go into
South Sudan
and live on the compound
for a little over
a month by myself.
I was excited
that Serge
is so
adamant
about having teams
and community
and loving one another
and building one another up.
And then I
went to the community
by myself.
But being there
by myself
that community
surrounded me
with love
and instantly
came to take care
of me.
I'd have the boys
coming up to the compound
every day
or every other day
not simply to eat
my food
but also just
to check on me
not sure that
this new guy
would even be able
to tie his own shoes
if they didn't
come and help.
And I was brought
into the community
instantly
seeing their love
for me
and building
such a deep love
for them
quickly.
And then my new team
came.
Certainly didn't plan
for my team leaders
to have to be evacuated
for medical reasons
or for the rest
of the three of us
to have to evacuate
at all.
But God had plans
even there.
Had the whole team
been on the ground
when we needed
to evacuate
space on the plane
would have been
a little tough
for getting all of us
out at the same time.
But because our team
leaders went first
they were in Nairobi
able to help us
make plans
when we couldn't.
And the three of us
got out.
Not only that
the three of us
would become
the whole team
and those weeks
together
that evacuation
together
was a great
bonding experience.
A foundational
peace
in what's
building up
our team.
When we came
to Kajabi
we definitely
didn't see ourselves
as coming to Africa
to teach missionaries
kids.
We had no idea
what would happen
since we couldn't
go back in the country
but God did.
It wasn't just
that three jobs
opened up
at Rift Valley Academy
it was that three jobs
perfectly opened up
at the last minute
the week before
the term was supposed
to start
we moved up
to teach
because three teachers
had emergencies
a kindergarten teacher
a PE teacher
and an AP English teacher
and Teresa just happens
to be a primary educator
Will is far better shape
and much more patient
with small kids
to teach PE
to elementary students
and I was an AP English
teacher in the states.
How could we deny
that God's hand
was in preparing
for us
even in Kajabi?
More than that
Kajabi was the home
to our area director
and to former teammates
from South Sudan
who would be able
to come and see us
face to face
to help us get through this
and to make plans
for our next steps.
Plans that haven't
exactly worked out
but they were there.
When we went to Uganda
we never expected
to meet a missionary community
that would take us in
provide us a home
provide us a way
into Moondry
that was safer
and faster.
I never planned
to come home
this early
but God knew
that the three of us
would need
to come home
and be refreshed
after this year and a half.
That we would need
the body of Christ
again around us
in a familiar place
to love us
to strengthen us
so that we could go back
and do it again.
So here I am
back in the States
back making plans again
waiting on the Lord
to direct them.
We tend
to want to wait
on the Lord
and think that
that phrase means
that we should be inactive
that we get frustrated
seeing so many
of our plans fail
and we start to think
that
I'll just wait on Him
He'll do all the work
I'll just sit back
and wait.
Being stagnant
is not waiting.
Stagnant waters
breed disease
they breed death.
We need living
moving waters.
We want instead
to learn
as Paul has learned here
to be actively
waiting on the Lord.
Well think about it
this way
and for those of you
who know me
way too well
try not to laugh
too much
at this illustration.
Think about a guy
who's finally got the nerve
up to ask a girl
on a date
and she says yes.
What if he prepared
for that date
the whole week
by sitting on his couch
and being stagnant?
He just says
alright she said yes
good I'll go home
and wait for the day
to come
and he sits on his couch
he dreams of all
the great things
that could happen
on the date
he worries over
every bad thing
that could happen
on the date
but he doesn't
actually get ready
he does nothing
but sit there.
Doesn't even take
a shower
and get dressed up
or ready for the date
or make any plans
just knows
the date's coming
so something
will happen
that day.
I'd imagine
that date
doesn't go very well
and doesn't go very long
especially after
she starts to smell him.
But what if instead
he was active
in his waiting?
What if she said yes
and for that whole week
leading up to it
he used that joy
to actively wake
to make plans?
He started thinking about
well what would her
favorite activity be
or what would her
favorite music be
and he decides to
set up a picnic
in the park
or decides to
find dinner
and a concert
at her favorite music.
There's no thing
he can do
no one thing
that makes that day
come any faster.
There's no one thing
he can do
that will ensure
that all of his plans
actually work.
Sometimes things
just go wrong.
But when he gets
to that day
and when they go out
on that picnic
if it rains
so what?
And if he forgets
the tickets to the concert
and they end up
taking a walk
in the park instead
and talking all night
so what?
She can see
that these plans
were made
that he prepared
himself
out of that puppy dog love
he got ready
because that was
what he was looking
forward to.
It drove him
to wait on that day.
How much more
does God look down
on us with joy
as we're making
these plans
when we say
Lord my plan
is to serve you
now here's how
I'm going to do it
and he stops listening
after the
Lord I'm going to serve you
and kicks in
with his own plans
but what joy
he takes.
It's like the father
whose son
at five
wants to come in
and sees his dad
shaving
and wants to come in
and imitate his father
so the father
and son stand
side by side
in front of the
bathroom mirror
and the son
gets all
lathered up
dad gives him
the little
bladeless razor
and they slowly
mimic each other's moves
and his dad
slowly scrapes
down one side
his son scrapes
knocks off
the shaving cream
and it's not really
doing any good
his son doesn't
need to shave
but he wants
to be like his dad
and doing it
showing him
how to be
like his father
is helping him
to grow up
that way
it's helping
in the long run
whether he can
see it now
or not
what delight
our father
takes in us
as he looks
down at his child
and says
that's my boy
imitate me
follow my example
our plans
don't have
to work out
because his do
and because he
takes great delight
in the love
that drives us
to make those plans
and to serve him
no matter what
happens
it's that kind
of love
that imitating
life
that Paul
wants for himself
and that Paul
wants the church
to act out
here in Rome
and everywhere he goes
to act out
a life of love
to have faith
enough to realize
that we may
plan our course
but the Lord
determines our steps
and that's really good
to that end
Paul doesn't
just make plans
he makes sure
that they're
bathed in prayer
Paul knows
that his path
is difficult
instead of living
in fear
he fights
in faith
look at verse 30
he appeals
to the church
in Rome
to pray for him
he says
strive with me
struggle
wrestle with me
fight with me
in prayer
this prayer
he's living
it's not your standard
southern blessing
of a meal
of good bread
good meat
good God
let's eat
this is
this is a prayer
of a passionate
heart-wrenching
broken man
going down
a broken road
knowing the detours
and the pitfalls
are well worth
the home
with his savior
that lies at the end
so he beseeches
the church
to fight
with them
in prayer
he knows
that his life
is under threat
that there are
those
where he has been
and preached
that want to kill him
for what he has preached
and he prays
that his work
be made acceptable
to the saints there
he's not trying
to please the saints
with acceptable works
he's trying
to see that life
of love
break down the wall
between the Jews
in Jerusalem
and the Gentiles
sending them support
he's trying
to make sure
that pray
that when these Gentiles
who have now learned
the gospel
send their love
to this church
that this church
responds and says
they really are part
of the body of Christ
and that love
in those gifts
breaks down the walls
that are keeping
the church apart
between Jew and Gentile
he wants the church
in Jerusalem
not only to have
their needs taken care of
but to have their hearts
realize
that the body of Christ
is a beautiful thing
strikes me the most
though
is perhaps that
his greatest desire
in this
is that
the church
share in his joy
and be refreshed
by one another
missions is a huge
part of this
but it's not just
missions
it's fellowship
that he wants
to focus on
he focuses on
mutually encouraging
each other
as iron sharpens iron
so one man
builds another up
but it's not just
about preparing
for the fight
it's softening
the blows
in the fight
it's taking care
and binding up
the wounds
after the fight
it's standing together
as one body
Paul plans
he prays
he does all of this
so that joy
may be complete
that joy of the Lord
be his strength
and he does it all
by the
God's will
saying that
would be a scary thought
for all of us
if we didn't know
who God was
the one who loves us
beyond measure
who gave his son
up for us
that by his grace
we might be refreshed
and see peace
that passes
all understanding
and that's what
all of this leads to
a life of peace
at heart
looking at this
and finding that peace
one commentator
stood out to me
this week
as I was studying
that I want to bring
to you
he says
grace brings peace
the latter is both
a state
that of reconciliation
with God
and a condition
the inner conviction
that consequently
all is well
it's the great blessing
which Christ
by his atoning sacrifice
bestowed upon the church
it surpasses
all understanding
it's not the reflection
of an unclouded sky
and tranquil waters
of a picturesque lake
rather it's the cleft
of the rock
in which the Lord
hides his children
when the storm is raging
it's the hiding place
under the wings
to which the hen
gathers her broods
that the little chicks
are safe
while the storm
bursts loose
in all its fury
upon herself
we're reconciled
to God
we're at peace
with him
have you ever been
in a pickup game
of soccer
and your team
is doing so miserably
poor
and you have nothing
added
and the other team
is just trouncing you
and all of a sudden
they decide to
stop and be merciful
and switch one player out
and all of a sudden
you end up
on the winning team
despite having
done nothing
God's reconciling
us to him
after being at war
with him
and broken by sin
is even greater
nothing of our own
and yet he trades places
and puts us
on the winning side
he makes us
at peace with him
and being at peace
with him
gives us a peace
within
it's such a rich word
to Paul
and to the Romans
and to the church
itself
the very greeting
of the Jews
at the day
peace be with you
and it's because of it
that we're able
to come before him
to live for him
I pray for peace
in Moondry
every day
I pray for peace
of my own heart
especially on those days
when I get angry
at the evils
that are being done there
and yet
things are getting worse
Moondry's in ashes
burned to the ground
my friends have fled
so how can I say
that I'm at peace
I can't every day
am I nothing more
than the duck
on water
who looks calm
at top
but is kicking
furiously underneath
or truly
what does it take
to be able to say
whatever my lot
God has taught me
to say
it is well
with my soul
it's my friends
in Moondry
who have really
taught that to me
because every time
I call them
despite how bad
things are
they tell me
two things
first they say
don't stop praying
for us
and second
they say
God
is greater
and because
they know
who he is
they have a peace
within
despite
never having
peace without
and we can have
that too
if we know
who he is
and stand
together for it
I don't
know what
your story is
for the last
two years
or for your lives
I don't know
what plans
you've had
that have changed
I do know
that you have
a God
who is there
for you
no matter what
I know
that all
those friends
who have been
spread across
the world
and spread
across South Sudan
and scattered
like seeds
are still
in the hands
of the one
who can cause
them to grow
wherever they are
whether they're
in an IDP camp
or a refugee
settlement
God will spread
the gospel
even in this
that he will
cause it to grow
if we are willing
to say yes
to serve
yes to pray
for one another
to build one another
up
and to trust
in him
and be at peace
so let me
reassure you
by joining
my voice
to Paul
because a lot
of these stories
from South Sudan
can be pretty heavy
if you don't
remember
the joy
of the Lord
being the one
controlling them all
I've come home
that we might
be mutually
encouraged
be refreshed
by the fellowship
of this body
and the joy
of his spirit
dwelling in you
and me
crying out
to rejoice
and be glad
knowing that he
is a good God
that he will guide you
in the path
of righteousness
for his name's sake
so may the God
of peace
be with you all
amen
will you pray
with me
Father almighty
what a great gift
it is to know
that you are
a good God
that you are
a father
who cares
about his child
that lets us
come to you
and in your name
ask whatever
in it be given
we ask
that Lord
you bring peace
to Moondry
that you bring
peace to our hearts
that you help us
to remember
that you are
a good God
to live by faith
and to live
your love
that this world
might know you
and not ourselves
that they may know
your son
and he be glorified
we ask in your son's
precious name
amen
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