I’m still pinching myself to see if this is real! After these many months of waiting (Feb 2020-Dec 2022), I am back home in Metro-Manila. I couldn’t be happier!
“Unplanned place and an unplanned pace” …
A quarantine reflection from John Piper, The God Who Strengthens His People | Desiring God (tinyurl.com/yyc9ej4k). God directed me to this message and it was perfect for this season in time, probably for all of us. One section was about an unplanned place and an unplanned pace. What do you do when what you planned on and the timing you had determined for that plan absolutely isn’t going to happen. My pandemic story is not at all unique, but I never would have thought that being locked out of my mission and ministry location in the Philippines for nearly two years could in any way bring about any good thing. However, looking back, I see God’s fingerprints and his wisdom everywhere and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Banaba House Ministries, next step …
Another quarantine reflection from Joshua 4, Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan. God instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe, and they were to go to the middle of the Jordan River where the ark of the Lord had passed and each man collect one stone and take it to the place where they would lodge on the other side of the river. Joshua took the stones there and piled them up. It was meant to be that whenever someone would ask about this pile of stones, the stories of God’s mighty deliverance through the Jordan as well as the Red sea would be recited and they would become stones of remembrance. Our next step at Banaba House is to look back in remembrance and recount the mighty hand of God making a way for our ministry and then to look forward with hearts full of anticipation for all that is yet to come. My great desire in this season, as the tatay (father) of Banaba House, is that we turn fully toward God and find our rest, our hope, our provision and inspiration from him.
How to pray …
● God’s presence as we reconnect and come together as a ministry team after our long separation.
● Thankful hearts as we recount God’s goodness to us
● Discerning wisdom for decisions that will be being made in regards to where, when, and in what way we can join the Lord in what he is already doing in our urban and rural poor communities.
● Courageous faith to believe God for the immeasurably more he has in store for us.
My personal prayer for BHM,
Our Heavenly Father. Help Banaba House to be a beautiful reflection of your heart and a representation of your ability to exceed our greatest prayers, hopes, thoughts, and dreams. We desire to be ambassadors of your Son, Jesus Christ, brightly shining in the darkness. We strive also, with your help, to be a part of your church reflecting the beauty of Christ. We pray to be both salt and light where you have already established us and in the places you have yet prepared for us to serve.
We pray these things in the powerful name of Jesus, and with a heart of thanksgiving. Amen.
As I look back in remembrance, each of your names, churches, and small groups could be placed among these stones of remembrance. Each of you in some meaningful way have been with me/us on this journey. I’m grateful, thank you.
In closing, my prayer today is that … “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Blessings!
Gary