Food 4 Puyo Project

Here is an informational video about my upcoming missions trip to Ecuador. I leave March 6th and return the 17th. Please be in prayer for me. Check out the teams blog at food4puyo.blogspot.com

If you would like to donate, send a check to:

East Auburn Baptist Church
560 Park Avenue
Auburn, ME 04210
Just write in the memo line: March Puyo, Ecuador trip.

Thank you for partnering with us to bring Hope to the Hopeless!!!

His Compassion, Our Commission

In the past I never thought God would or was calling me to South America, yet here am I only 6 weeks away from taking my second trip to Ecuador with in a year's time. It's remarkable of how God as taken me to this point. I was nine when I first gave my life to the Lord. I remember praying, "here I am, Lord. Send me." I didn't know what He would do with my prayer at the time but with child-like faith I trusted Him. Today, I see God's hand leading me to surrender even more and to allow Him to work in my life. I still don't know how God will continue to use me but I say, "here I am." The prayer of my heart can be expressed in a song written by a staff member, Dick Grout, of Elim Bible Institute where I attended college. I will leave you with that :-)
His compassion, our commission.Reveal to me Your heart for the nations.His compassion, our commission. As I follow You, send me. I don't know where this yes will lead me,but I am saying yes to You, I want to obey.Yes, I love You. Yes, I trust You. Yes, I'll follow You all the way.His compassion, our commission.Reveal to me Your heart for the nations.His compassion, our commission. As I follow You, send me.

The Power of Your Name

A Threefold Cord

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
--Ecclesiastes 4:10

I have realized over the years that I easily take on traits of those around me. Once, when I lived with a few Canadians I began saying "A?" at the end of every sentence and I continued to do this for the next 4 months. In high school I sat next to a guy that tapped his foot throughout the whole class period and by the end of the semester I was tapping along with him. It's kinda scary to me how easily I do this. In light of this realization I am more careful/aware of who I am around and for how long I am around them. It also begs the question, "Who do I want to become like?"

My first answer to the above question is "Christ." As a Christian, I desire to be Christ-like, to be His hands and feet in a dying and lost world. The more time I spend with God, in His Word and in prayer, the more I will take on His traits. Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace….the outcome of spending time with God is godliness. However, while I am on this earth, God is not the only person influencing my life.

My family, friends, and community (church, school, & media) also influence the kind of fruit or personality traits I may produce. Now I should clarify that I am not saying I have no personality at all or that I lack character and integrity but I am simply examining this one thought. Those who are close to me should be men and women of God who demonstrate godly traits that will influence and encourage me in my personal walk with the Lord. Now to get to why I put the verses from Ecc. at the top of this blog…

God lead and guided Efra and Danielle to be my co-leaders on the NYC missions trip and for that I am thankful. I have known each of them for a couple of years and we were part of the team to Ecuador this past June. We have the same circle of friends and common interests and now they are beginning to influence me too. Lately I have been finding myself saying "common man" in my texts and conversations…which is something Efra says a lot. I also find myself noticing purses and the color pick much more…which are two things Danielle likes. But my hope is that they will influence me on even a deeper level.

I work with Efra at the church and every week I see him serve with such patience and loyalty. I want to be like that. When I see his good attitude and hard work, it put my bad attitude into check. The time I spend with Danielle, I see how nurturing she is and how she sees the good in people. I seem to think the worse of people and I am so task oriented that I forget to be nurturing. When I am around Danielle I am reminded that I need to work on those aspects of my life. Not only do I hope that Efra and Danielle's good behavior rubs off on me but I also know that their behavior has and will continue to bring me to the feet of Jesus. (It was God who gave Efra and Danielle those character traits to begin with, so I might as well go to the Source.) While I wait on God to develop these good characteristics in myself, it is good for me to be around Efra and Danielle especially when I lead a team.


I think of the old cartoon, Captain Plant, and what they use to say, "With our powers combined…" As I lead the NYC team I saw areas where I was weak but those were the areas that Danielle and Efra were strong. It was the combining of our strengths and the leading of the Holy Spirit (the giver of our strengths) that help us during the week in NYC. It was God who put the team together in order that we may bring Him glory together...that is the Body of Christ (the Church). I look forward to this new year with great expectations, as God continues to strengthen my friendship with Danielle, Efra, and the whole Atmosphere leader's team. Together we will be stronger and more apt to defeat our enemy, produce good fruit, and bring glory to God.

A Day of Giving Thanks To God

~Happy Thanksgiving~

from my family to yours!

For You I Wait All The Day Long

This verse has recently brought me comfort. In stanza six I feel like the author is stealing the words right out of my mouth! This passage is so rich with depth; I would like to meditate on it more to find its full meaning and application to my life/situation....but for now I simply want to share it with you.

Psalm 25

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, non who wait for You shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are treacherous.

Make me to know Your ways, O LORD;
teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
for You I wait all the day long.

Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to Your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will He instruct in the way that He should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him,
and He makes known to them His covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for You.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Weighed Down By Revelation

This week I was asked to lead my small groups Bible study. We had just finished a series on the Book of Jonah and I was put in charge of picking another book of the Bible to study. Someone suggested Revelation, "yeah right" I thought to myself. But then the results of our presidential election was given...Barak Obama won. I have heard many comments from Christians that Obama is the "anti-Christ" or the one world leader that many say Revelation predicts. Regardless of these theories I stick with what Jesus said....we will not know the hour or the time of His return.
This got me thinking...if this truly is the last days and perhaps my generation will be raptured then, what should I do with the days I have remaining?

I opened the book of Revelation and read through chapters 1 to 3. I came face to face with the glorified Jesus and His last words to the Church. As I read I noticed over and over familiar phrases and symbols found in other books of the Bible. I took out my reference Bible and looked up each cross-reference for the verses in chapter 1.

I am amazed at how packed that first chapter is with evidence, hope, and instruction. I didn't get to move on to chapters 2+3 but I suppose that will be for next week. I realize that God does not say anything in vain; each verse is full of meaning and significants. The description of Jesus is incredible! His mighty look of white hair and robe. The powerful voice and piercing eyes. Jesus is might and He holds the keys to Hades and death. No wonder John fell like dead at the feet of Jesus. If I were only to remember who Jesus is perhaps I would sin less and worship more.