As I write this blog the New Year is upon us. My daily reading started at Luke 8:22 where I see Jesus saying to his disciples, “Lets go over to the other side of the Lake.” How appropriate for me in my position at Singing Oaks! I was reminded of a sermon I heard on this text many years ago, one that I really liked, took notes on and stuck in my Bible. I wondered if I still had them. I pulled out a thick stack of old notes from the pocket of my Bible, and there it was right on the top (pretty amazing for me). This text applies so much to me personally, my job at Singing Oaks and what I would like 2020 to be about for us.
Jesus was going with them to the gentile side of the lake, the region of the Gerasenes. He was taking them on an eventful short-term mission trip, eventful in both the journey and an encounter with a man possessed with demons! It was truly an eye-opening experience for all of them and dangerous because of the storms they encountered. But in the end, Jesus rebukes the storm by the word of his mouth and all was calm. Amazing! But their faith had wavered. Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?”
O how I can identify with the disciples. On mission trips and on the journey of life I have been in both what I perceived to be and what were dangerous situations. Where was my faith? Jesus has saved me over and over again. I have to remember that He has always been there, and delivered me. He is always with me on the journey. He is with me “in the boat” in all situations as I take Him and His word of salvation to the “other side.”
At Singing Oaks we are also going to the “other side” in 2020. We have 10 trips going around the world to Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia. This is more than we have ever had and my hope is that we double the number people going out to show the love of Jesus and carry His good news of the kingdom. We go in faith believing that He is with us.
I know that going on one of our International Go Trips is not the only way to Go for Jesus. There are many many more ways that most of us can Go for Him every day right here in Denton. Satan wants us to be distracted, complacent and comfortable but I am hoping for a renewed interest in reaching out to others with the love of Christ. I hope for more going both here and afar in 2020 resulting in more sowing and more reaping for the glory of God.
I also know that going without abiding is NOT the way to go. We must abide in Jesus (John 15). We must know Him, grow in Him, walk with Him, sit with Him, be still with Him, listen to Him, look to Him, and trust Him as we follow Him. We cannot bear fruit apart from Jesus. Our zeal to Go should flow out of our relationship with Him.
In the end the disciples arrived safely to the other side and a demon possessed man was saved, a man who became a missionary to his own region. And through that one convert many others were saved. As a practical matter, we Go about our daily lives of sowing the seeds of the kingdom looking for that one receptive person to help become a fruitful follower of Jesus. I am praying for that one person. It could make a huge difference for us.
Indeed, I am hoping for God to do something new among us as we Go this year. As you consider Going with us either on one of our International Go Trips or locally be encouraged by this scripture by what God will do for you and our church in the New Year.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:18-21
