Coming in 2015!
After turning 60 years old in 2014, I realized two thirds of my life have now passed. I found myself many times reflecting on where I have been and where I am going. Not only for my personal life but also for the ministry God has given to me. We learn from our mistakes, we trust God for His amazing love and grace in our lives and we do our best to serve Him each day. There is a song by Plumb, called Lord I’m Ready Now, and in this song are these words, “Time is running out and I want to make this count.” Those words have really resonated with my heart as I look forward to the next 30 years. I really do want to make my life count and I hope you do as well. I can’t think of a better way of doing that than by giving God and His Kingdom my very best.
As I look to 2015 there are so many opportunities for this ministry on the horizon. I believe God is going to open some incredible new doors this coming year. I am also looking forward to maintaining many of the relationships I have been able to establish over the years and trust that through those relationships we will impact the lives of more people and that many new people will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Here are some exciting things just around the corner. In December, I will be working with a company here in Colorado called Starstream Productions. They will be helping me put together seven two-minute videos for our web page. These videos will focus on the ministry as a whole and then look at different areas where God is using Empty Tomb Ministries to minister throughout the world. I have never done anything like this before; please pray for God’s wisdom and creativity to help us with this project. You can be looking for these videos on our web page in January. Also in January, I will be back at Arkansas Valley Prison with my friend Jeff Monson. We have had tremendous fruit in this prison and looking forward to the Holy Spirit as He heals the hearts of these men who desperately need hope to cope with their past and the pressures of facing prison life each day. And then the first part of February I will be back in Uganda ministering with Pastor Fred Muyimba.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support in this coming year. It is my prayer that God will richly bless you and use you like never before. Time is running out, may you make each day count for Him!
Last year we raised the funds necessary to bring all the pastors together for leadership training and personal discipleship.
Next Trip to Uganda!
I am humbled and honored to be able to be a Kingdom Ambassador for Jesus on this earth. When each of us surrenders our lives to Him, He not only becomes Savior He also becomes Lord. In other words, He is in charge and we work for Him. Through Empty Tomb Ministries I have had so many incredible opportunities to go and share with others around the work about the life and person of Jesus. Is it not always easy, there are many challenges that you face, yet through it all the Holy Spirit gives you the power and wisdom to see it through.
This February I will have the privilege of traveling to Uganda for the 11th time. It is there where I will once again link arms with my friend and co-worker Pastor Fred Muyimba. Pastor Fred has done an amazing work in Uganda, not only at his church in the capital city of Kampala but also in the many village churches that he has planted over the years. We will once again be ministering in the villages and working with the pastors and their leaders as they develop their leadership gifts. As they grow as leaders and Ambassadors for Christ they too can help others become gifted followers of Christ.
Pastor Fred has built a school, orphanage and church in the village where he grew up. It truly is a miracle from God that a young village boy could grow up and accomplish so much for the Kingdom of God. I could use your help! A trip like this is not cheap but the eternal dividends are amazing! Would you prayerfully consider investing in this work? By your giving, you are investing into the lives of Pastor Fred and the many pastors who are under his leadership. I am humbled that Pastor Fred would look to me for some pastoral oversight in his life and the life of so many other leaders throughout Uganda.
Good News of Great Joy!
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Every time I read this story I find myself thanking God for His amazing gift to mankind. Whenever I read the stories in the Bible I try and place myself in the middle of that story, trying to experience the moment and what it must have been like to be there. Here were the shepherds, doing what they always do, keeping watch over their flocks. And then out of nowhere appears this angel from Heaven. The shepherds went from watching their flocks to seeing the glory of the Lord, no wonder they were somewhat terrified. What would I do? What would you do? The angel wasn’t lost, he was on a mission, and he had a message to the world that he was delivering to some simple, ordinary shepherds. When Heaven speaks to us, sometimes being afraid can cause us to want to run and hide. We need not fear, but trust. And this news was about Great Joy, not only for those shepherds, but for all people, in all places and for all times. The Savior had arrived on earth. Not as some superstar but as a servant of God. This was not just any baby, this was the Son of God, delivered to earth, the greatest gift ever given.
As we prepare to celebrate another Christmas on earth, may we never lose sight of what took place 2,000 years ago. The Savior is still the same, the message is still the same and the gift is ours for all eternity. One day you and I will see the Savior Jesus in all His glory. May each of us remember the true meaning of Christmas and may it always bring us Great Joy!
You are a gift from God!
Since it is Christmas time and we are all thinking about blessing others with special gifts. I want to remind you that you are this amazing gift from Heaven, created by God in your mother’s womb. You are not some after-thought; you were formed and sent to earth with a destiny written in Heaven. God your creator has placed you here on earth, to be used by Him for His glory. To be His hands, feet, eyes and voice. That you would shine like the stars in the universe. You are that special, that important! Don’t be afraid to let others open you and enjoy who you are and the amazing gifts that God has placed in your hearts. Thank you for being you and for helping make this earth a better place to be. You are God’s gift to a lost and dying world!