Praise & Prayer–January 2014

Praise and Prayer—January 2014

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 4:4-7

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I desire, and I believe each of us as believers desires, to be known as wise, understanding, reasonable, of good conduct–even righteous; and to be filled with the peace of God that guards my/our heart and mind against fear and anxiety.. But, if I am honest, the wisdom I seek and follow is so often earthly, unspiritual, demonic. It is driven by jealousy (even bitter jealousy) and selfish ambitions. Rather than rejoicing in my circumstances and expressing my dependence on Father by making my requests known to him and trusting him for answers and direction, I begin to manipulate circumstances and other people to get ahead and fulfill selfish ambitions—all of this couched in spiritual language and overtones. The result is agitation, quarreling, and even fighting; as James goes on to express in chapter 4. All of this a result of being a friend with the world–asking in order to fulfill my passions rather than God’s purposes—’Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’!

Peace is the supreme indicator/measure that we are aligned with and moving in the wisdom from above, and not in wisdom driven out of jealousy or selfish ambitions. Peace is the check that Father provides us—his beloved children! It is the check to keep us from running before (ahead of) God’s guidance and his wisdom—the check that makes us aware that we need to act to prevent bitter jealousy and selfish ambition from being the drivers (the wisdom) behind our thoughts, behaviors, and actions! Peace is a confirmation that internal martyrdom has taken place—that I have come to the end of myself and my self-sufficiency and am relying on his sufficiency in the particulars of my life. The ‘peace that surpasses my understanding’ is the assurance that wisdom from above is in the driver’s seat of my life—my thoughts, behaviors, actions; and ultimately—my destiny! If there is doubt, anxiety, fear—I am not walking/moving in the wisdom and guidance from above. When there is doubt, fear, anxiety—DON’T!

Here’s the ‘check’ for wisdom from above! Am I pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere? ‘A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.’

Praise
-for the opportunity to spend time with our kids during the holidays! Aaron & Bethany were with us in Arkansas for Thanksgiving and stayed on into early December. They spent Christmas with Bethany’s family in Washington state and are now back at her parent’s home in California packing and preparing to move to Colorado in order to begin studies at Denver Seminary. Audrey and Francis welcomed Debbie on the 14th to their apartment in the old farm house in Dublin, Pennsylvania. Together they celebrated Audrey’s birthday. Abbie, Bo & Timothy drove from Columbia, South Carolina and I flew in from Arkansas to join them in time for Christmas.

-for the opportunities to be involved in ‘networking’ toward practical responses to some of the crisis situations (war & instability) and development possibilities in Central Africa—CAR, S. Sudan, DRCongo! These include aid and relief initiatives to those affected by war and insecurity; as well as agriculture projects for widows and orphans (food security, and even biodiesel potential) linked with road rehabilitation (enabling sustenance farmers to get produce to viable markets).

-for the provision of funding, welcome from AIM Central Region, and a miracle in last minute flight arrangements that allowed me to leave Philadelphia on the 27th and arrive in Entebbe at 11pm on the 28th. I was able to join the other members of AIM’s Central Region on the 29th at CR’s conference at the Ankrah Foundation facilities in Mukono. Connecting with those we have known and worked with for many years, as well as many new members, was very special. It was especially encouraging to be introduced to a number of families who have arrived since we left in 2010. Being a Disciple of Jesus and Making Disciples of Jesus was the theme of the conference. By combining the content of several of the messages from VERGE13 with small group discussion focused on issues/questions related to the messages, personally being and making disciples of Jesus was made practical with significant impact.

-that Samuel Mungbandi Gambolipai (primary school director from Dikuma) has been cleared to return home to Banda. The plaster needs to remain on his leg for another 3 weeks for further healing to take place. It then can be removed at Banda hospital. MAF has a flight to Banda on the 13th. Pray that seats will be available for both him and his son on that flight. Pray particularly that he will recognize Jesus as the healer—both physically and spiritually! Pray that there will be a sweet reunion with his wife and children. They have been separated for more than 7 months following the motorcycle accident in which his leg was fractured.

-for the delivery (in time for this trip) of the MP3 players from Audio Scripture Ministries (ASM) with ‘God’s Story’ and the NT in Fulfuldde. These are specifically destined for outreach to the Mbororo in CAR and NE DRCongo. Reports from the pastors who have been ‘testing’ these with the Mbororo is that the Mbororo are asking where they can get some of these players to purchase for themselves. Pray for wisdom from above in knowing how to most effectively use this tool to introduce these people to Jesus and His kingdom. Praise too for the work that ASM has undertaken to put the Zande New Testament into an MP3 format. Praise that some funding has become available for some of these as soon as they are ready.
Prayer
-that Debbie and I will know the peace of God as we make our requests known to God through prayer and thanksgiving; and that when doubt, fear, and anxiety come we will take stock of where the wisdom we are depending on is based; and courageously wait!

-for Debbie as she packs and moves from the river cabin while I am in Africa. Although we don’t yet know where Father is moving us on to, we have peace–that ‘peace that surpasses our understanding’. Pray that Debbie will know where to move and/or store our things, and that together we will know the next steps Father has planned for us. We have been incredibly blessed and are thankful for the time spent in the river cabin. Father has etched deep spiritual markers in our lives through our extended time in the Orcutt/Torres river cabin. It will always have a special place in our hearts as a haven and command center for prayer. The times of fellowship (cups of chai) and mutual encouragement through prayer with Marshall have marked us deeply and played a significant part in enabling us to persevere. We have seen Father move through our regular times of prayer together! My ‘jerking’ and ‘squirming’ (earthly wisdom) has often been met with; “Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness in preparation for what Father had in mind for him—you’ve been here how long?” and “You have to get ‘neutral’ (not care where you end up—Africa, America, ???) so Father can place you and use you as he determines best—not how you think best!” As we have waited for Debbie’s healing* and sought wisdom from above (Father) for guidance and direction, Father has been actively at work in our inner beings—molding and shaping us! We are thankful and blessed! *(The infection and the pain directly related to it were miraculously healed one morning in November 2012. Debbie continues to seek to control the residual chronic pain and fatigue through the balancing of stretches, exercise, and rest. We continue to bring our request for complete healing from the pain and fatigue to Father, trusting him for grace for each day until that becomes a reality.

-for Debbie as she plans, prepares, and facilitates a ‘Healing the Wounds of Trauma’ seminar with those interested in Siloam Springs. And for our involvement with this through the American Bible Society’s global initiatives and opportunities—particularly in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa.

-for ‘wisdom from above’ in knowing, planning for, and putting in place the logistical arrangements for this trip—return to USA, Feb. 25 1) Father has provided the necessary funds to make the discipleship training of the 35-38 military chaplains from the 906th Regiment operating in the area affected by the LRA in Congo a reality. As soon as all the logistical pieces are in place the training will begin at Bangadi. Pray! 2) Funds to put doors and windows, pour a floor, and plaster the walls of a home for Pastor Nyadria are available. He suffered a stroke in 2009 while serving as the President of the Aru Church District. Pray that this home will be completed quickly and that he and his family will be able to settle in it very soon! 3) Visiting Banda to begin to put in place arrangements for housing for team members scheduled to arrive later in the year to begin ministry among the Zande and Mbororo. 4) Visits to Zemio and Ango to assist in the relocation of Congolese refugees back from Zemio, CAR to Assa 5) Discussions with church leaders related to cross-cultural indigenous missions initiatives, discipleship, trauma & reconciliation seminars, etc.,

-for CAR and S. Sudan; that the leaders will be brought face to face with ‘the wisdom that is from above’. Both of these countries are being torn apart by internal strife and insecurity, driven by earthy, unspiritual, demonic wisdom (bitter jealousy and selfish ambition) that is manifested through both religious and political agendas.The result is the ‘disorder’ and ‘every vile practice’ that is being carried out against innocent people. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have had and are having their lives and livelihood thrust into upheaval and destroyed as they are forced to abandon everything, run for their lives, and seek shelter in ‘safe’ environments. Check out this link:
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-africa-25594002 >

Jesus died that I might live: I die that He might live through me! Simply a ‘taxi’ through which Holy Spirit can have his way!

Redeemed to redeem!

Steve & Debbie

Doing for Jesus vs Being with Jesus
Working for Jesus vs Working with Jesus
Knowing about Jesus vs Knowing (intimate relationship) Jesus
A Fan of Jesus vs A Follower (Disciple/Apprentice) of Jesus
An Acquaintance of Jesus vs A Friend (identity in though, heart, & spirit) of Jesus “I have called you friends”
Stephen & Deborah Wolcott
19212 Fisher Ford Rd.
Siloam Springs, AR. 72761

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269