God Opens Doors

Sovereignty of God

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily,

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not til the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful in the skilled Weaver's hand,

as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

Anonymous taken from Corrie Ten Boom's, Tramp for the Lord

Photo Blog

Mozambique

Our team returned from Mozambique last Tuesday.  We have been pondering a lot about what we saw and learned.  I think each of us were in awe that the Lord allowed us to go.  It was an honor to spend time with both the missionaries and the nationals.  We were able to pray for many people and we were humbled by the simplicity of life in one of the poorest nations in the earth. 

We worked with Iris Ministries and their base in Pemba.  The missionaries were awesome and are giving away their lives that some might be saved.  Iris has a missions school twice a year at their Pemba base where they train both Mozambican Christians and Christians around the world.  We were able to visit the village of one of their pastors.  He has six children and one on the way.  Iris has been teaching the pastors that they have to be the example for their people.  He and his wife are now taking in 12 abandoned children.  Iris's vision is that the pastors they train receive the children who are abandoned where they can be raised by their people.  The only promise the pastor has for help is with rice and beans - and what he receives will be just enough as the village children in his area are starving as well.  He has no salary, no vehicle, no expense account, no retirement package, nothing but Jesus! Iris teaches that we as Christians should lay it all down for Jesus, giving our lives away for the cause of Christ.  Iris didn't invent this idea, it is what the Bible teaches.  As it is written, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been comitted, of him they will ask for more."  You don't have to be a scholar to understand the simplicity of what the life of a believer should look like.  The Bible has made it clear and simple.  May we all live a life worthy of the calling we have received!

I will post some pictures soon.  I hoped to have them up today, but I have had some technical glitches.  Thank you for praying for us!

1 Day to Mozambique

This is really my last post before we leave!  I can't express how excited and honored we are to go to Africa for Jesus.  We told Jesus a long time ago that we would go anywhere for Him.  It's kind of different when He calls you in on what you say you will do.  Big deep breath.  Jesus is worthy, worthy, worthy.  We are like in our forties now.  Aren't we supposed to be storing up for old age??  Hmm.  Nope, His word doesn't describe our lives as storing up here so we will be comfortable in our old age.  Jesus does stay store your treasures in heaven.  Since we can't take homes, cars, money, books, pools, etc. with us, I think we can all figure out Jesus is talking about the type of treasure which does not rust or decay.  

Now that I am 40 - and the Bible describes giving a man 70 years (well, my grandmother died at 94) - I am really thinking a lot about the other half of my life.  How will I spend each day the Lord gives me?  Days turn in to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years.  And we find ourselves saying, "Where did the time go?"  May the Lord find me faithful storing up heaven's treasure and live the second half better than the first.

One day to Mozambique.  All we can say is WOW!  We ask for your prayers as we go.  We are going to have the awesome opportunity to sit and listen to African pastors who have no treasures in this life but Jesus.  They serve under extreme persecution where their tongues are cut out for sharing the gospel.  However, there is always another pastor waiting to step in the last one's shoes.  WOW!  We want to be changed and completed stripped of all of OUR ideas and just learn from these servants of our King.

We will update when we can.  Thank you, thank you for your prayers.

Going to Africa

We are still not on the internet, so we are only able to check it here and there.  This is most likely my last post until we return (Lord willing).  Please pray for us and the team.  A group of 17 including our family will be flying out to Mozambique, Africa this Wednesday, November 18th.  Our return is scheduled for November 30th. 

Please pray for safe travel, on-time flights, luggage arrival to our destination (we have lots of things for the missionaries there), health for every team member, unity among the team, salvations, healings, deliverances, encouragement for the misisonaries who serve there, and that Jesus will be glorified!!  We are all very excited and are honored to join Jesus where He is working in the earth.

Our team still lacks $7,000 in funds.  If you an interested in helping, you can make a donation online through Paypal to We Will Go Ministries - please indicate the donation is for Mozambique (Bridges), or you can send a check to We Will Go at 799 N. Congress Street, Jackson, Ms. 39202.  All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you in advance for your prayers.  We look forward to sharing about our trip soon!

We're Here in the US of A!

I just wanted to take a minute to post a blog. Or maybe it's blog a post.  I get confused about the whole thing!  Anyway, we are taking a little time off.  Our flights were perfect and we arrived safe and sound last Wednesday.  It has been kind of a whirlwind getting settled.  Some quick thoughts to update you:

• Our calendar is starting to get full so if you want us to speak, it's now or never.  You can reach us at 601-824-7398, our e-mail, rkbridges@gmail.com, or my cell is 601-750-0242.  (I hope that's right.  I will check it and revise if not.)  It is difficult to know if we should contact people or they should contact us because we don't want to bug anybody.  The Lord knows where and when we are supposed to speak.
• Please pray for our upcoming Africa trip November 18-December 1.  We are still raising funds and have about 2 weeks before flying out.
• It feels very good being here. Things are not easy, but we sense strongly we are in the timing of the Lord.  Please pray for big, big doors for our sharing the gospel and preaching while in the States.

I guess that's it.  I had more to share, but the thoughts escape me at the moment.  My boys are waiting on me.  Have a blessed week with Jesus and I will share more soon!

Just a Few Days

In just a few days, we will be heading to the States.  Five days to be exact.  We are busy painting and packing.  Tomorrow we will make our last trip to Tacna before we leave.  The boys have to get their braces adjusted and I have one last filling which needs to be changed.  We are so blessed to be able to have fillings replaced for about $30!  The young lady who we go to has changed all of my 25+ year old fillings but one.  The others I had replaced without anesthesia.  It was uncomfortable, but I wanted to see if I could really do it.  The last one is the worst...I will get anesthesia for it.  I couldn't stand for to be cleaned on our last trip.  Having dental work overseas is not always cut and dry. You have to be concerned with hygiene and whether or not the person is really licensed.  You definitely go to someone who is recommended.   

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday we will be finishing up cleaning and moving our things.  Tuesday we will head out in the afternoon.  We would appreciate your prayers as we being traveling.  We will travel from Arica - Santaigo - Miami - Dallas - Jackson.  Please pray for on-time flights, rest, and that all of our luggage will arrive with us.  Most of our suitcases are full with homeschool material.  We wouldn't want to have to replace it!

Thank you for praying for us!