Thanks be to God!

We are so thankful for the opportunities we have had over the past few weeks to share what God is doing in our lives. We have spoken to several churches about our calling to Peru. We are praying that God would raise up supporters from these churches to meet our financial needs as well as prayer warriors that will lift us up to our Heavenly Father.

Sabbath Worship

We had amazing sermons from Guy Richard and Jonathan Craig during worship Sunday.

We sang the hymn "Let us Love and Sing and Wonder" I was blown away by the simple power in the words of this hymn by John Newton.

Let us love the Lord who bought us; pitied us when enemies,

called us by his grace, and taught us, gave us ears and gave us eyes:

he has washed us with his blood, he presents our souls to God (v.2)

Let us wonder; grace and justice join and point to mercy's store;

when through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more:

he who washed us with his blood has secured our way to God (v.4)

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. . .

to him be glory and power for ever and ever!

Revelation 1:5,6

MRL

Josiah Hudson Lewis

Josiah Hudson Lewis

January 5, 2010

Juliana and I are so excited (and very late) to announce the birth of our fourth child.

He is truly a blessing and we are so thankful for him.

His body is growing strong, but our prayer is that he will follow after his namesake,

King Josiah from the Old Testament

"who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength"

II Kings 23:25

MRL

Sandwiches, Scouts, and the Sovereignty of God

The kids and I had a great time in Jackson on the weekend of the 7th. God, in His sovereignty gave me a great time to reconnect with old friends and to share a little about what God is doing in our lives. I am always astounded at how God works things so perfectly.

Our purpose in going to Jackson was to speak at Covenant Pres. and Trinity Pres. Both of these churches have had a major impact on my life. I had an opportunity to share with a Sunday School class and the missions committee at Covenant as well as a Missions Prayer Time at Trinity. It was really good to be back at both churches and to see so many loved ones. It even happened to be National Scouting Day at Covenant where I attained Eagle Scout almost fifteen years ago. The Missions Committee really rolled out the red carpet for me by providing lunch and an opportunity to share with them everything that God has been doing to lead us to Peru. After sharing with the saints at Trinity Pres. and being prayed for by them, I was off to my parents to watch the Saints crush the Colts in the Super Bowl. Prefect ending to a wonderful weekend.

I am continually amazed at God's goodness and sovereign control over all of our goings and comings! I am confident that He will bring us to Peru when the time is right. He has worked and is working to provide for our needs. Praise be to God!

MRL

Newsletter Numero Uno

Well, we finally finished our first newsletter. It's a great relief to have it done and mailed. We spent some time as a family praying about mailing out the letters and gave everything to God. It's exciting to know that He will provide what we need to serve Him in Peru. We will be there in His time.
Peru Mission Newsletter #1revised

Doris"mimi" Lewis

4/18/13-11/13/09

We are sad that my grandmother is no longer here with us, but we began grieving for her almost fifteen years ago. She had a long fight against Alzheimer's disease, and now she is with her Lord and Savior. I can't help but be so happy for her. She is now perfected in glory. She is worshipping beside her husband. And now she will be able to remember her wonderful life and her four boys. She is whole again.

Procrastinating

It's been a while since our last post, and a lot of things have happened since then. Things like work, school, church, kids, swine flu, kids with swine flu.

Good times.
Oh, and we found out that we have been accepted to the Christian Missionary Society for a four year commitment to ministry in Peru!!!! Praise God! We waited for what seemed to be forever. God's timing is perfect and I have no doubts that there is a reason for this lesson in patience. It's just been hard because we are so excited about what He is doing in us.
The strange thing is that now that we are finally cleared, I feel almost paralyzed. We have people to contact, letters to write, things to do on the house, and so many other "details" to attend to. And despite my natural tendency to "get the job done" I find myself procrastinating and struggling.
Many people have warned us that Satan's attacks are strongest when God is moving someone out of complacency and into action. I agree with this, but I really think that right now I am my own worst enemy. I am really struggling with the idea that I am going to be a missionary. I see the sin and hypocrisy in my life. I see my own shortcomings and I want to give up. I wonder many times a day "What am I thinking?" "Why should I think that I am the man for this?" My own resounding answer is always that I am not the man I need to be. That my life is a big lie.
The amazing thing is that my thoughts about myself are true. I am not the man I need to be - on my own strength. God has shown me over and over again this past month that Peru is not about me. It is not about what I can do for Peru mission. It is not about what I cannot do for Peru Mission. It is not about me and my abilities at all. Christ has brought men to His Church in Peru to serve and equip His body there. He is bringing me to Peru to serve His Church as well. This is His ministry through me. My insufficiency only serves to magnify the sufficiency of His grace. Though I procrastinate and struggle, and though I am not the man I need to be, His Will will be accomplished. In spite of me.

"He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' " (1 Corinthians 1:30, 31)