Your Prayers Are Felt in Belize !

That's right - your prayers - from the U.S., from the Philippines, from Great Britain, from India, from Sri Lanka and other places around the world, are felt right here in Belize.

On a recent Sunday, we went to church. No, that is not the answer to prayer! 

This particular Sunday I really did not 'feel' like preaching. I just wanted to go be a part of the congregation, sit back, enjoy the service...you know, as more of a spectator.

The thing is, here in Belize, whenever I go to a church, I usually am asked to speak. It doesn't matter if I am prepared or not. It doesn't matter if I taught for 8 hours straight the 2 days before going to church. It doesn't matter if the heat has taken a toll on me and I am feeling a bit weary. 

None of that matters.

It does not even matter that I am not here in Belize to pastor, but to train pastors. No, what matters is my response when asked to preach that morning. I did not want to - I knew I did not want to  - but I smiled and said    "Yes."

Then I began praying...again. I had already begun this conversation with God, anticipating being asked to preach on a day when I felt like I had nothing to give. I had asked Him while driving to the church, "What could I say?" "What could I preach on today, to this congregation?"

Fortunately, two things were on my side:

    1) God knows the people in that congregation 

    2) and others were praying for me.

Without going into details, can I just give YOU a huge "Thank you!"

and give God the glory for what He accomplished that morning?!

I prayed right up until I stood up - then began to open up the small idea I had for a message.

It was then that I "felt" your prayers...

Seriously, even as Becki and I have "felt" your prayers before when in South Asia, I realized in those moments as a wonderful message came together, that this was not my doing. This was the clear result of others doing the real work while I was simply a mouthpiece.

Thank you ---- and Praise our Father in Heaven for how wonderfully He worked. The Spirit of Christ within me was able to serve the people that morning just what they needed.

How refreshing to be reminded that it is not about me. 

That there is a much greater force at work here than any of us fully realizes. 

    Much more powerful, 

              much more loving, 

                        much more directly connected to the hearts of the people, 

                                    much more able to do all that is needed...

in any moment, 

in any place,

in any fashion,

whether I feel like it or not.

Praise God!

And seriously - "Thank you" for your ongoing prayers.

Ephesians 6:18 says it well: 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Ray & Becki