#3...Deception

More and more I see the need to ask God to show me the areas in my life that I am being deceived.  I don't want to believe lies about Him, about me, or about others. I thought about this song the other day because it describes our journey so well. 

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Oh,what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is, and he's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,You you'll never win

But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

Here is a link to the video of the song. 
You can pause the music on the mixpod by pushing the ipod pause button to the left.

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

I want to be able to discern what is true and what is a lie.  I want to listen & recognize God's voice...the Voice of TRUTH. 

Pray for Truth 

#2....Division

Since we began raising support to go on the mission field this next "D" has crept into our lives so many times.  Sometimes it is obvious but other times it is so subtle....but so destructive!  The second "D" is division.   Satan wants to create dissension, disunity, and discord in the body of believers.  Division in our marriages, our families, where we work and even at church.  A couple years ago when we faced a struggle in our marriage we began calling our family "team Mowery" because no matter what we are all on the same team.

Luke 11:17

Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

My prayer is that God will help us see when we have reacted or responded "in the flesh" and not in "His Spirit."

Pray for Unity



4 Ways the devil tries to destroy us: The 1st "D"

Recently we were with some friends who shared with us the 4 "D's" that the devil uses to try to "destroy" us. It created good conversation and focused our prayers. The first D: Do you ever struggle wondering if a distraction in your life is from God or from satan?  Sometimes I do.  Recognizing distractions that are FROM God and those that are NOT isn't always easy. 

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

1. Distraction (defintion): something that prevents you from giving your full attention.

It could be any of these things: interruption, disruption, mental confusion, disturbance, diversion, agitation, anxiety.

Lord help us to recognize distraction in our lives. Help us...

To be Focused

To have Clarity

To be alert

Hebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

1 Cor. 16:13 - Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be Strong.

2 Cor. 10:3-5 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Pray for Focus

A Prayer for you today!

I love this prayer. 

It helps me to remember to surrender my day to God and trust His plan.

It's from the book: 

Always True by, James MacDonald

Father, thank you that you are able to accomplish what concerns me today. (Psalm 138:8  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands). 

You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

(Eph. 3:20). 

You are able because you are SOVEREIGN. 

There is nothing too hard for you! 

Continue to engrave on my heart the reality that I am to walk by faith. 

I believe what your word says, that YOU have made some

exceedingly great & precious promises to my heart.  Don't let the enemy snatch away this seed that you have sown, but let my life reflect the stability of knowing that you see and know and are at work on my behalf.

Thank you that YOU are in control.  In Jesus' strong name..... Amen

Looking Through a New Lens

We returned late Friday night from spending eight days with the Back2Back Cancun staff , and a few of those days with two other families, the Calwells and Stantons. This was the first time Julie, Eliza and Nick has seen where we will move to in September. On this trip we had several things we hoped to accomplish: look for housing, ask some logistical questions about visas, etc., serve the kids, and vacation a little.

Our first and biggest project was to mix cement and pour a roof for a family of five. 15 year old Noehmi, is lower-functioning, perhaps mildly mentally disabled. Several months ago Noehmi had a baby (Miriam), and has been receiving some services through the pregnancy resource center that B2B has partnered with through the DIF. Noehmi lives with her younger sister Blanca, who is in sixth grade, and her 17 year old brother who is no longer in school. These three teenagers live with their elderly grandparents and the grandfather in not in good health. Their mother passed away and their father, who had always supported them, has recently been sentenced to prison. Their current one-room house is being loaned to them by the father's former employer.

The house B2B is building is located in a part of town called Tres Reyes, or Three Kings. Families can buy plots of land that are 10 meters x 30 meters deep. It is on the far west outskirts of what is still Cancun, but has no running water, electricity, or sewage. Nonetheless, families who are able to buy land there are excited because it is a fresh start for them; it's something they can actually own and take ownership of.

It was hard work, mixing and hauling the concrete, and we were "good tired" at the end of the day. I think we probably moved some 100+ buckets of wet cement up a ladder to the mason, Enrique, who was on the roof.

We also had the privilege of taking the 14 kids from Casa Hogar San Jose, to the beach for the day. On the way to the beach the kids were screaming "La playa! La playa!" (the beach!) We were all responsible for one child to play with and keep track of, and we all had a great time.

The New Lens.....

Looking for housing - an apartment - required us to think differently than we ever have before, as we discussed what we'd need/want and where we would like to live. We narrowed our search down to two apts within walking distance of the Coopers and Davillas, which was a high priority for us, so we could feel like one team. We now pray that one of these two complexes will have a two-bedroom apt available for us in Sept.

It is a bit strange thinking that we will soon call Mexico home. Right now it feels like a ways off, but on this trip, it moved exponentially closer. The weather (hot and humid), the language (much to learn), the food (delicious), the people (LOVE them!).... Along with the excitement of moving to what God has called us to, is the aching feeling of leaving so much here. Admittedly, I try not to think too deep about the friends and family we will leave some 3000+ miles away. And yes, we do sometimes get blindsided by fear and questions and uncertainty. But it's these times when we remember who we call God, how He has equipped us and will continue to do so, and what an awesome adventure He's allowing us to live as we join Back2Back carrying out the work He has begun in Cancun, MX. I'm again reminded of the quote from Frederich Buechner.

The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

Thank you God, for calling us to be part of the story you continue to write about how much you love and want to rescue the weak and fatherless.

Waiting, Trusting, Hoping

by: Erick Mowery

Sarah Young wrote a book: Jesus Calling. It's a kind of devotional book, and it has really encouraged and challenged me. Saturday's reading started with these words: WAITING - TRUSTING - HOPING. Let me share some of the reading with you. It captured me. It's written as if God is speaking...

Waiting, Trusting and Hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand because it is the response from my children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you really do trust Me.

She goes on to say:
If you mouth the words "I trust you" while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words will ring hollow.

God, I pray my words WON'T ring hollow.
"To you O Lord, I lift my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame." (Ps. 25:1-2)

He is our Rock...