The Lord has had me in the book of James this week, and I can say reading it has made me all the more thankful for the opportunity set before Billy and me to be able to share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ with those around us.
Since being here we have had the ability to be able to spend more time in worship, the word, and prayer than we have been in recent times past, and it is making me even more and more hungry for the word, and a lifestyle of Faith. I think so often we get caught up in just doing the things we are “supposed” to do as Christians. Make sure you read the word every day, make sure you are praying, etc…, but then once that is done you go on about living your day, forgetting all that you read and often don’t put it into practice. We go to church on Sunday and then don’t consider the lesson taught anymore throughout the week. We fall into the trap of it being a box to check off a list, rather than taking part in a relationship with the Son of God. This section in James has really struck me this week. James 1:22-25 (22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. )
I don’t want to be only a hearer of the Word. I want to be a doer. Life is so different here than back home. Here I consider everything I do as ministry. If I am on the bus, or at the grocery store- “Father, is there someone you want me to pray for, someone that needs your encouragement today?” I feel a little guilty that the Lord had to get me to move to another country to live like that. I am so thankful that Billy and I are here to be able to sow into the lives of others, by sharing the love of Jesus with them, encouraging them, and fellowshipping with them. We are getting the opportunity not to just be a hearer of the Word but a doer.
This week we had the opportunity to share at New Life Community Church in Yeadon, and the Holy Spirit really moved. We got to pray over several people. Billy and I prophesied over one young girl, and she remarked after the service how spot-on the word for her was. She wants to meet for coffee in a few weeks to delve into the topic. The Holy Spirit also gave me a word about “words”. I felt like there were a few in the congregation that had been hurt by “words” that had been spoken over them in the past, either by words that someone else had spoken over them, or words they had allowed the enemy to condemn them with. I had the opportunity to pray over a few women who responded to the call. I am always overwhelmed when the Lord uses me in that way. There is no greater fulfillment on earth than when you are walking out the call of God on your life and doing the will of the Father.
Then our work at Fountains speaks to my heart just so much. The past 2 times at Renew Wellbeing I have taken over the prayer sessions, and I enjoy it so much. Billy and I were able to help a new believer in his theology a bit, using the analogy of a tree, its roots, and its fruit, and how being saved is not based on good works. It is so amazing to watch the light bulb go off in someone else’s eyes when they get a new revelation in Christ about themselves. Then we also got to praise God with someone else for another day clean and speak into her life as well.
There are days where we feel like we just came in and inserted ourselves in the lives of the people here who are already doing such good work, and I feel bad for even writing about the things that go on there because we feel like we have had so little to do with it, but we know the Lord has placed us here for this season. He teaches us something every day, and we are so grateful for this time with Him. We are learning to rely on Him for even the little things, and He, in turn, has blessed us beyond measure. We don’t know where the visas will come from, and we try not to worry about them. For now, we live each day by faith, knowing that we have been called here for this season in time. Please pray with us for clear direction about visas and our future. We don’t have accommodations booked past June and we are really trying to seek the Lord on where he would have us go next to stay.
We are so thankful for those of you who have partnered with us on this journey! We cannot say thank you enough! If you are being led to sow into our ministry here, we have Zelle at (864) 477-0648, Cash App at $thehillsgo, Venmo @thehillsgo, and Paypal at paypal.me/thehillsgo as options, as well as a non-profit donation through our church, God’s Way Church of SC – be sure to select “The Hills Ministry” for the Fund.
Thank you all for your prayers! We feel them. I encourage you all to go out this week and be not only a “hearer” of the word, but also a “doer.” Love you all!
