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Delivering Winter Packs

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On our second day in Lesotho, we were ready to go! We were excited to deliver our winter packs to all of the kids!

The next few months (May-September) are rough for our kids in Lesotho as they start getting into the winter months and face the tough reality of having to live in freezing cold temperatures with very little to keep them warm. As I’ve spent the last few years in Lesotho I’ve seen first hand many of the conditions these children have to face … sleeping on cold cement floors, no heat in their homes to keep them warm, and little in the way of warm clothes to wrap themselves in … with this comes the responsibility to help care for these children.

Last month, the students from Up with Down’s helped package 200+ winter packs (blankets, hats, gloves, and scarves) and we were ready to start handing them out!

After receiving their bags, the kids pulled out the blankets and started putting on their hats, gloves, and scarves.

Bags so full of goodies, that the little ones could hardly even carry them!

As always, Nic and Wendy did such a great job loving on our kids and making them feel extra special.

And these two, along with many other kids, walked away with new blankets to wrap themselves in and gloves, hats, and scarves to keep their little bodies warm this winter.

James left us with these words in the Bible … “If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:16-17)

… We want to heed this call and meet those needs! As we strive to make a difference in the life of one child at a time… Thanks for helping us provide winter packs for the children in South Africa!

For more pictures visit our facebook page at (www.facebook.com/anchoryourlife/).

Are you a Priscilla or an Aquila?

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Temple of Apollo in Corinth
Temple of Apollo in Corinth

There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. (NIV) Acts 18:2-3

As Paul entered Corinth, he entered a wealthy, but depraved society. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. To support himself while he was there, Paul worked as a tentmaker. He met “a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” (Acts 18:2-3). Priscilla and Aquila became honored and much-loved friends of Paul. Together with Paul, they formed the nucleus of the young church in Corinth.

Priscilla is often listed before her husband, Aquila, which indicates that perhaps she was from a higher social class than her husband. In any case Priscilla and Aquila played an important role in early Christianity. Paul referred to them as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3). They were workers for God not slackers. The Edict of Claudius had forced them to leave Rome but, in doing so, God placed them in a position to make an impact for Him. The 2 shared Paul’s itinerant ministry. They went to Ephesus and Rome to assist the young churches. As missionaries, they shared the Gospel wherever they went (Acts 18:18; Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19).

Priscilla and Aquila were committed to God and they devoted their lives to sharing His message. How about you? Are you sharing God’s message while you’re in the workplace? At home? At the health club? In your neighborhood? Are you coming alongside one of God’s messengers and encouraging them? Are you obediently following God wherever He may send you? Or are you “bargaining” with Him wanting your own terms? How are you being diligent with expanding God’s Kingdom? Would Paul describe you as one of his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus?” If not, ask God to clearly direct you with becoming more effective in His Kingdom.

On The Road Again

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After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. (NIV) Acts 18:1

Paul traveled by boat from Asia Minor to Greece arriving first at Neapolis. He then set off on foot to Philippi, then to Thessalonica and Berea, and finally to Athens. He experienced opposition in every city. . . beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. . .ejected from Thessalonica because of the turmoil that the gospel caused in the city. . . escorted out of Berea due to an agitated crowd. . .scorned and ridiculed in Athens. He stayed a short time in each city, but then broke that pattern when he traveled to Corinth where he stayed for a year and a half.

In 1 Corinthians 2:3 Paul writes that he went there “in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” Although he was directed by God to share the gospel in Greece (Acts 16:9-10), his journey had not at all gone as he had expected. I imagine that he must have been dejected as he traveled from Athens to Corinth. Was he wondering what more could happen? Was he questioning why God had allowed matters to progress so poorly? On top of it, he was extremely concerned over the difficulties that the new Thessalonian converts were experiencing (1Thessalonians 2:17-3:5).

As he neared Corinth, he would see the acropolis which provided an almost impregnable fortress for the city, on a mountain 1,886 feet high. The city was the seaport leading out to the Aegean Sea from the Adriatic Sea and therefore, had become prosperous because of its strategic land and sea location. It was a large city. Some estimate that over 700,000 people lived there during Paul’s visit.

Corinth was known not only for its wealth, but also for its immorality. The verb “to corinthianize” meant to be sexually immoral. It was the center for worship of the goddess, Aphrodite. Her temple at 1 time boasted that it had over a 1000 sacred prostitutes.  As Paul entered Corinth, he entered into a depraved society.

Can you relate with Paul? Do you feel like you are living in a depraved neighborhood? City? Country? Society? Don’t lose hope! God is at work around you. And He will encourage you as you step out in faith and share His message with those around you!

The Know-Able God

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When Paul reached Athens he spent time in the synagogue teaching and preaching God’s message. Some of the Greeks took issue with what he said. “Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) (Acts 17:19-21)

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:22-23)

Paul goes on to tell the people of Athens that the god they are looking for is the one and only God. . . the God who created the heavens and the earth. . .the God who creates all men and gives each one his life and breath. . .the God who uniquely shaped you in your mother’s womb. . .the God who fashioned your personality, your looks, and your experiences to bring honor to His name. . .the God who determines exactly where and when each one of us should live, who we will be and what we should do. . .the God who delights in you!

Take a few moments today to consider the power of our God. Consider who He is. Think about who you are because of your relationship with Him. And think about what He has done for you, how He has changed you and what He has done in and through you. Clear your mind of all those stray thoughts and focus on God, consider His role in your life. For it is. . .

Because of Him that you live
Because of Him you move
Because of Him you ARE!

Gods Of Our Own Making

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While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. (NIV) Acts 17:16

After trouble in Berea, the Christians immediately send Paul to the coast and then on to Athens. While Paul is waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens, he becomes greatly distressed because the city is full of idols. The Greeks worshiped many gods. Diversity was tolerated within their culture. There were male and female deities, high and low gods, and temples and sacrifices. Gods like Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and sexual desire. . .Artemis, goddess of childbirth, of nature, and of the harvest. . . Hermes, the messenger of the gods and the protector of travelers, thieves, and merchants. . .Poseidon, the god of the sea. . . and Zeus, the ruler of the gods.

Before we’re too quick to judge, who are the gods in your life? Who or what do you really worship? If we were to look at your checkbook and your calendar, what gods would they reveal?

Although we may not have modern day temples dedicated to gods, we have manufactured our own gods.

  • Gods like the pursuit of money. . .the accumulation of possessions. . . the obsession with shopping. . . the desire to have more than your neighbors.
  • Gods like the pursuit of getting the next promotion. . .the accumulation of honors and recognition. . . the obsession with being the best. . . the desire to be successful.
  • Gods like the pursuit of finding a mate to meet all your needs . . .the accumulation of people around us to quench the loneliness. . . the obsession with trying to “fix” someone you love. . . the desire to have relationships that fill unmet needs.

Gods, or idols, are anything or anyone that replaces God Almighty as the highest priority in life. Stop and ask God to reveal to you what gods are in your life. Then run to the foot of the cross, confess them, and allow Him to have the rightful place that only He deserves in your life.

Are You A Noble Berean?

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Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (NIV) Acts 17:11

In the dark of the night, Paul and Silas are sent from Thessalonica to Berea. There had been trouble in Thessalonica – turmoil because of their teaching of God’s Word and people coming to faith in Christ. Their time with the early church in Thessalonica was cut short and they travel south to Berea. Upon arriving there, they go to the Jewish synagogue and find something unique, the Bereans.

Luke writes that the Bereans were of noble character. They were open to God’s Word. They received Paul’s message with great eagerness. The reason why – they were serious about their Bible study.  They were diligent about wanting to learn what God has to say in his Word. Day by day they searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying aligned with the Word. They knew the Old Testament so they recognized their Savior when Paul spoke of Jesus. They believed because they knew God’s Word!

For the Bereans, the Bible was not some dusty old scroll or book occasionally pulled off the shelf. They believed. . .

That it contained Wisdom, Truth and Life.
That it was living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.
That it contained all that they needed for life and godliness.
That it revealed the very nature of God Himself.

How about you? Are you known for your noble character? For your diligence in studying God’s Word? For your eagerness to verify the Word of God? For your daily examination of Scripture? If you’re not a Berean, why not start today?

Guilty By Association

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After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas travel 33 miles southwest on the Via Egnatia through Amphipolis and Apollonia, on their way to Thessalonica. They were consistent as they found a synagogue and shared God’s Word with the people.  Some of the Jews were persuaded as were “a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.” (Acts 17:4).

But, other Jews became jealous.  They went into the marketplace where the idle unemployed were rounded up, formed into a mob, and they stirred up a riot in the city. With these rabble-rousers, the Jews go to Jason’s house with the goal of capturing Paul and Silas to bring them before the city officials. But, the mob could not find Paul and Silas. So instead, they drag Jason and some other Christian before the officials.

The accusations: “These men (Paul and Silas) who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house.”  As their host, Jason is held responsible for their actions and for their proclamation of the Gospel. Guilty by association! The crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. What did Jason do? He did not join the jealous Jews. . .or the rabble-rousing mob.  He did not deny his association with Paul. . .or his faith.

The officials ordered Jason and the others to post bond for the missionaries, thus assuring them that there would be no further trouble. Because of his faith, and his association with Paul, Jason was held responsible for the “turmoil” caused by people becoming Christians. In essence, he was guilty because of association. . .guilty because of his association with Christ!

Would you be held “guilty” in the world’s eyes because of your association with Christ? Or do you look like everyone else? How does your lifestyle reflect Jesus to others? When has your life persuaded others to look closer at God?

Who are you more like – the jealous Jews? The easily influenced mob? Or Jason?

A Strange Way To Build A Church

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After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. (NIV) Acts 16:40

One thing that I’ve learned in my nearly 40 years of being a Christian is that God seldom works the way that I expect Him to work. Paul and his team saw God bring salvation to Lydia and her household. Now, as they are traveling to a place of prayer, they are met by a demon possessed slave girl. Luke writes that she had a “Python spirit.” Python was a mythical serpent that guarded the temple of Apollo at Delphi. The slave girl had become the enemies’ mouthpiece. . .and God’s tool to expand His church in Philippi.

The girl kept following Paul and his companions saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” (Acts 16:17). Day after day she kept this up. Annoying? Most likely. But, also free “publicity” for Paul and company. “Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.” (Acts 16:18). Presumably, another added to God’s church!

Things get messier for Paul and Silas. With the loss of income from the slave girl, her owners drag Paul and Silas before the town magistrates, order them stripped and beaten, then thrown into jail fastening their feet in the stocks. Enough to cause most of us to despair, but not Paul and Silas.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:25-26).

“The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.” (Acts 16:27) Under Roman law a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was liable to the same penalty the prisoner would have suffered. This jailer had no hope until he heard Paul shout, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:28). In response to the jailer’s question – “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” – Paul and Silas share the Gospel with him and as a result the jailer and his household are saved!

As Paul and Silas leave Philippi their hearts must have been filled with joy. God had planted His church there.  A small church, but His mighty presence. It began with Lydia and her household. . . then the demon possessed slave girl. . . and a jailer and his household.  Kind of a bizarre way to grow a church! But, God’s embryonic church at Philippi grew in strength and numbers.

How are you trying to fit God into a box? How are you imposing your expectations on Him and hindering His work? Why not trust that God is God, that you are not, and allow Him to work His way!?!

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