God’s ways are not our ways!!!
August 9th, 2008
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
I have seen these past few months the Lord has definitely been trying my faith… showing me how and who to put my trust in. That no matter what happens, no matter what you go through, no matter how hard things get, no matter how tough the spirirtual warfare is, no matter how impossible it seems; Jeremy, “Trust in ME.”
First off, sorry for not updateing everyone in all the things that have been going on here, which soon I will get those updates out b/c the lord has done great things this summer and so much has happened that I want you all to know about, but right now I would like to share a little bit of what the Lord has doing in me right now.
This summer has honestly been the toughest but as well some of the greatest times with the Lord personal. I have felt so much spiritual warfare, attacks from the enemy, but all along the Lord has been right by my side, His hand wide open, loving, and gracious through it all, as well with all the prayers that all of you have giving out.
Truly, “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…” difficult is the way that leads to life; eternally speaking. Something we don’t see but hope for and what we hope for we believe by faith. Before we hitting that end goal; eternal life, we go through things we don’t understand, we hit difficult times we don’t like, whether trials, persecutions, testings and etc… all for the better but at the moment of it all we think for the worse until afterwards we sit and say, “oh now I see why.”
It’s funny how when going through all this, it seems like you are at the end of your life you can’t go on but then right when you are at that point, God comes in and lifts us up, what we thought, He forgot about us, He was truly there but just seeing and desiring for us to put our faith and trust in Him. All God wants is our hearts and for us to believe and trust in Him; to give complete control of our lives to Him. If He is the one that created us then why can’t we trust Him in with our lives?
In these months the lord has really gotten a hold of my heart, truly in a place of brokenessbefore Him. It seems that trial after trial has come my way and as well with the enemy at my foot steps pulling me ever which way, with my thoughts, with my actions, my pride, and so forth… Really it has shown me what an ugly dude I am and how much of a SAVIOR I need and His grace.
So why was the Lord having me go through so much, why do we always go through trials…? “But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” I Peter 5:10
For me personally, I felt He wanted to break me (Psalms 34:17-19) and allow me to see how much I need to put all my trust in Him, no matter what, and to grow spiritually in my walk with the Lord and in character.
A short story and prayer request to close with, Albert left for lima Sunday the 3rd for a class, a team of three were coming on the 4th to help out here for a week and one of them was going to help translate for when me when I teach while Albert was gone. Yeah, well that didn’t happen b/c they had missed there flight thinking it was in the afternoon when it was in the morning, and there tickets are non-refundable.
Then that night after going to bed b/c I had to get up early to leave at six to go to Panguanafor a huge Medical Clinic that we were helping with, 20 doctors, a dentist, nurses, tons and tons of medicine to give out, and evangilism. Well the night before i got a call from Pastor Jose telling me I can’t go, there is no more space. Man was I bummed but I thought to myself, “well the Lord knows why. Maybe I need to stay back and study for Wednesday, since I am going to have to teach in Spanish for the first time, b/c Albert is in Lima and that team didn’t make it.” So I said, “Ok,” but really in my heart wanting to go. After that I went back up stairs and said to the Lord, “Why Lord, what next are you going to bring my way now, I’m waiting.”
Through the summer of getting hit hard spiritual, to now the team not coming (which it was a missionary from Lima and two others), not having someone to translate for me on Wednesday night, Saturday night and the following Wednesday night, to not going to Panguana for this huge event, and…. well so I went to bed after that and woke up to what I thought was my alarm going off at 5:30am, but was the door bell ringing, and ringing, and ringing. To find out it was Pastor Jose saying, “Jeremy you got to go with me, I need you there with me, no matter if there is space or not, we will work it out.” So told him, ”I have not idea what to do, with all that has happen lately, so you tell me what is best, should I stay back and study for church or do I need to go.” And of course his answer was, “go.” So I went and had an awesome time, (another update on that.)
Then to my surprize when coming back that night I got a huge headache so went to bed shortly after eating dinner. But the next morning I woke up to major stomach problems, yeah the joys of being a missionary. So I toughed it out that day b/c we had another Medical Clinic but was in Iquitos and I was helping them with it, but thank the Lord I was surrounded by doctors and medicine was able to take some. I was good the whole day but still in pain at times but took it like a man, hahaha, until I got home.
Didn’t got to church which I was supose to b/c I was teaching but Jose told me that I could stay home and rest which I really needed it b/c of my stomach and he was going to just have a time of prayer with the church which went good, but for me on my part, yeah another story. Up till 1:30am, pretty much living in the bathroom until the pain was so bad that I thought I should go to the hospital, don’t forget I am home alone. Praying, asking the Lord what to do, really couldn’t think much or even the thought of trying to get to the hospital b/c of the pain. But then all the sudden everything that I had in my stomach and what felft like my brains coming up… and out…., if you know what I mean without getting into details. And with relief I praise the Lord with only a little pain but not to much to where I couldn’t sleep, I was able to sleep till the morning. So as I said before, ”What next Lord…” (Side not, who wants to be a missionary? hahahaha)
So as of this Saturday through all those crazy events, I am left here with one thing, that is of trusting the Lord. Why? B/c the Lord has left me with no translator but only HIM and for the first time I am having to teach in spanish by myself, of course I have shared the gospel and lived everyday living in spanish here but when coming to teaching that I haven’t done yet. Thinking to myself, “there is no way I can do this,” and that’s right I can’t but God can. So with excitement and nervousness the Lord has put me in a place to where I have to Trust in Him, my faith needs to be in Him.
So if you could pray for me Saturday night with the youth, and as well Wednesday night with the church as I teach. With the word’s of Paul I cling to,“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I Corinthtians 2:4-5
As crazy as this email might sound and everything in it, just to say that God is at work and continue’s to work no matter what. May we all allow the Lord to work in us and have His way in us, all for the glory of our KING!!!
Thanks truly for everything!!!









August 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Jeremy,
Please let us know how things went for you with your messages in spanish and how you are feeling. I pray the Lord would continue to be your guide and that your faith and trust in Him would grow more and more each day.
Praying for you…
Stephanie
August 11th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Man, thanks for keeping us posted. We love you bro. Love the pictures. Love the stories. Love the words from the scripture. Sorry I haven’t been dropping much on the blog lately. Been reading it just not commenting.
I heard something the other day that reminded me of you. Here it is…”We can’t speak the gospel to a situation unless we are willing to enter the suffering of that situation.” Example… Someone’s family member dies. We typically quote some easy bible verse like “god works all things for good…” or “I know the plans I have for you…” which in the situation is usually just never received. Or when we see a homeless person on the street and we say something like ” there are soup kitchens you can go to” or “if you would quit drinking you might be able to get a job.” We never have the time to walk in the shoes of someone else. To enter into their pain. We always want to SAY something. I think we have to “enter the suffering” to be able to say anything at all, or better yet, not say anything. So I thought of you and how you are willing to enter. To walk in the shoes of someone else to be able to point to how the gospel is the answer to every question. Thanks for being a great example bro.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Thanks for keeping us posted on how you are doing. Hey bro you are a huge encouragement to me Jeremy.
I am thankful to God for your faith. Hang tough, trust in Him, He is good.
Nissa and I have a new little boy, his name is Peyton. Pray for him that he would chase after God his entire life. Please pray for Nissa to heal she is having some difficulty. Let me know on facebook if my email is still not working. Nissa and I love you Jeremy and love how you love our God. Thanks again
September 5th, 2008 at 3:18 am
I wish i lived in a place where i could really see all the lessons around me. It seems living in America that it is to easy get blinded by all that is around us that we never see the things God is trying to teach us until those few moments where we finally take the time to just get away and listen. So the learning and growing process seems to take a lot longer therefore we learn so much less. I am so glad you are there and that those people have someone so dedicated to Loving them and showing what Jesus really looks like in everyday life. Even though you are my little bro. you teach me so much! I love you!