Friends of Root of Hope,
“ Now without faith it is impossible to please the LORD,..”- Heb 13:6
You may or may not agree that often enough we agree with religious statements without having assurance if those are truthful or not. Faith is one of the words mentioned a lot in the religious community and we may have a false sense of what it really means. It’s not a “it”. Tracing back to it’s origins, the word faith has the meaning of a rock. Its is solid. It’s not a simple word, a mere statement, but instead requires action. Are you praying for a job? For higher income? What do you do? Pray harder and do nothing? Are you looking for a source of income or are you confident that your words will act by themselves without any input in your part? Can you work a bit harder and perhaps get a little raise? Let me say this and it applies in this case, and I’m in it: Someone is in need, we pray about it, we could fulfill that need but do you know what we do must of the time? We pray about it and by this I’m saying “Lord, I’m not going to do it. Let someone else do it for me.” Don’t some of us do this? This type of prayer has nothing to do with faith but selfishness and not wanting to help the person in lack. Of course, I hear you, we cant help everyone but everyone can help.
I believe that even the Lord, after creating a beautiful world did not sit around but made sure that what he conceived was working properly. No one in his right mind would build something and then let it go downhill. Would you? Would the Lord just relax on the seventh day and do nothing? The LORD GOD had plans and so must we. We are not living in a fantasy world. As the Lord planned he worked for it to be accomplished. He knew how to masterfully bring to reality an idea. “ For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first calculate the cost? (Luke 14:28) “ is a verse that we read many times but we don’t practice it. Since the Scriptures are inspired by the Lord I can have the assurance that since he made us, and we know him, he has all the resources I need to do his work. If there is faith, there are plans. If there are plans, the Lord will establish them ( Prov 16:9). We must have our confidence in Him and not to rely so much in our own understanding. If we have him guiding us in everything, he will correct us when we do wrong ( Prov 3:5,6).
This is how the Lord works. The Lord loves those that love him and he will be sure that what we do ends up the way he wants it ( Ps 16:9) To build anything preparation is a requirement ( Prov. 24: 27) and so this is the procedure to follow when we want to do the “Lord’s work”. It’s my desire to know the way I must follow, and for me to be successful I just appeal to him ( Ps 143:8). This is what makes us do it!
With the Lord’s blessings in 4 months time we will be visiting our Mozambican brothers again. With us, a young lady, Paloma, will be back again. Somehow, he did something on her during the first time two years ago, that she wants to dive in and see what else does he have. It requires more than faith. Paloma and us need to work hard, save heavily and trust the Lord for this trip to become a reality. Our experiences are like sprinkles of water that make our faith grow. We speak with the Lord, we approach men and the Lord provides what’s needed. Its not effortless, sacrifices are real, tears and sometimes vibrant discussions. This is all about the Lord’s love for us and we must share it with others. There is a multitude that knew Jesus, knows Jesus and will know Jesus because we believe in what he called us and so many others to do : sow his love on fertile grounds.
The school year started. One hundred and ten children are being fed spiritually, physically and also learning how to read and write. We cannot just sit on the church pews or our own home and throw everything on the words we declare. Imagine if these kinds were dependent on some else? They would have no help. But they have you, my friends that pray and perhaps so many times give sacrificially. With joy in my heart I can only say “Kanimambo”(Thank you) for what you do for them and by doing so we feel so blessed, too. May our Father keep on richly give you all that you need.
Root of Hope 