Not just a broken bottle...

"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

Today the team, Yvon, and I visited members of the church in Fedja in their homes. We talked with them, shared our stories, sang songs and prayed with them.
At one of the homes I saw a bottle half buried in the ground by the gate. But, I thought nothing of it. When walking out Pastor Yvon saw this too. He turned back to the women and spoke to her, he then dug it out of the ground spoke a few more words and broke the bottle on a rock.
There is a superstition that if you bury a bottle by your gate it will keep you safe. This is a voodoo practice.
By putting trust in anything other that God alone a person is worshiping an idol. It is Yvon's job. It is my job. It is your job. It is every Christian’s job to dig up the gods. And that might even be a god that is deep inside of us. Yes, it is our job to aid, love and bestow grace on our families, friends, neighbors and coworkers. But we need to use tough love, also. Sometimes we only pray that peoples eyes will be opened. God wants this person to change. He needs us to help them.
What are some idols you know that need to be broken?

Wednesday

All is well here in Haiti. We have been playing with the children every evening. Monday was the first any of them, including the staff, have seen water balloons. We taught them to toss them back and forth like a ball until they dropped them and they broke. They never did just throw them at each other and the innocence of that was very cool to see. They had a blast.
Yesterday we visited church members in their homes talked with them and shared our personal stories. We sang songs of faith and then prayed with them. Yesterday evening we had a fire and set around and sang songs. We made smores and that was a first for them too. Today we planted trees and laid a concrete floor for a widow from the church.

God shows up when not expected. That is so like Him.

When I left last night for house church I took my Bible off of my bookshelf. The one I usually use was packed in my carry on and ready to go. I found a card in the front from a friend. This friend wrote out a few verses on one side and then wrote a note on the other. The date on the top was from Eight years ago. After reading it a smiled and Thanked God. As I put it away I noticed something else. Written in the bottom corner in a very light pencil was Genesis 28:15. Hmm I wonder what this says…

Genesis 28:15 (TNIV)
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Thank You, Father! I know that You will. I have faith and full trust in You. I love You.


Heavenly Father,
I pray for travel mercies today, God. Not just for me but for all of my teams coming. God, I pray that you go before us and prepare a way for us. Mold our hearts. Come in and invade us so that we know we are doing Your work. Lord move in us and through us these times of service to you and your people.
In the name of awesome name of Jesus