When the Spirit of Truth comes

This was an email deviotional I get each day. I thought this was exactly how I wanted to pray today.

When the Spirit of Truth comes
by Carolyn Baker



Today, I’ve asked my friend, Carolyn Baker, to provide us with a devotional based upon John 16:13-14. This is written to be read like a prayer. – jw

But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (John 16: 13-14 NIV)

My God, today I look deep within, seeking to understand the mysteries of my faith. Your Word is true and deep – yet my meager understanding only grasps bits and pieces. Your Holy Spirit is my hope for unlocking what I cannot discern with my own human understanding – and I cry out for your help! As I cry, I hear your call to rest in your peace!

Thank you, Lord, that your love is so great for those who have yet to find you – and that even though there is a great unrest afoot, you are at work causing “all things to work together for good.” What an awesome God we serve!

I am praying for all of my brothers and sisters, Lord, that they will stand their ground. For those you have called as your leaders, now is the time to dig their feet in and stand on your truths and on your power to accomplish all things according to your will. I hear you remind me that you will keep us safe and strong. You have always had your eyes on us from the moment of our birth. We have never been alone, even when we felt alone.

May your angels of protection follow my brothers and sisters all around the world, into every country and village. May the presence of our Lord and Savior be apparent to all with eyes to see and ears to hear, and may every stronghold within the sound of our prayers be brought down as many new brothers and sisters are brought safely into the family of God.

I know you do not expect perfection. I know you use struggles to grow and refine us. I also know we are not to fear struggles – and we are to anticipate your greatness and your victories, no matter what circumstances we face. Draw us all to yourself so we can see you as you are, which in itself will wipe away the fears.

I humble myself before you, my God, knowing you are who you say you are. It is a sobering and exhilarating experience to look to you as you are. I do not understand it all, but my faith is not blind. You are revealing yourself to all of us in these days – if we will just look in Your direction.

I cry out to your Holy Spirit, needing your help! I cannot continue on as you have called me without a deeper, more intimate walk with you. My human side can only understand and comprehend so much, but my spiritual being is built to last forever – and can absorb all the Holy Spirit has to share.

Even though, with each passing day, the challenges seem to get a little harder, my peace seems to increase. I appear to have less and less “head knowledge” ruling my life, and more and more spiritual learnings that are absorbing into my inner being. Only your Holy Spirit can accomplish such a thing!

I also know that, left to my own devices, I would easily fall victim to the fears and struggles of this world. That is why my dependence on your Holy Spirit is so vital. Without the presence of your Holy Spirit guiding and directing me, I would have been sidelined years ago. Yet, here I sit, beaten up and bruised, yes, but even more determined to fight the fight of faith.

I cry out today for a deeper faith – a stronger trust – and greater dependence on the Holy Spirit and your Word. I cannot live in this world any longer without your wisdom. Spiritually, I am so very hungry, and I know the people you have placed me with are the same. To say we need a fresh new wind of your Spirit is to put it very mildly.

For myself, I cannot take one more step unless you shine your light on it. In these days especially, I need your wisdom and discernment. I have many decisions to make, so I humble myself under your sovereign hand and ask the Holy Spirit to shine his light on my path so I do not misstep. Help me my God – I am in desperate need!

So what?

•God is mighty, all powerful, loving and compassionate - and God is spirit. You were created to have fellowship with him. Because of this, you have a deep inner need for a intimate, personal spiritual relationship with your Creator.

•It truly is possible to walk closely with God every single day of your life. You can learn to listen and hear his “still, small voice,” and as you do your confidence will grow and your hope will increase. As you surrender to his lordship, he will increase your understanding of his truths, and over time you will gain his wisdom and his discernment.

•Being able to see with the eyes of God’s heart changes everything. It makes all thing possible and allows you to be a living, breathing witness of a truth that will set this world free from fear and struggle.

•Ask yourself what is stopping you from reaching out to him in “spirit and in truth?”

Some shots of those crazy Interns!!!

Those Crazy Interns!!!

Well we sent off our first college students from the summer. Unfortunately it was winter here. They arrived a few days before our volunteer group from the states. They fell right in step with the group and ministered with them for about ten days in total. After, they worked with me teaching English classes. We had planned to let them work with the youth here but that didn't work out. We were able to do some prayer walking and Gospel distribution. That generated some interest along with opening a door to work with some kids in another barrio. The girls did a great job adapting to the culture. We were able to share and show how difficult it is to share with such a hard culture. They were a blessing to us and two very Godly young ladies. My prayer is that they continue seeking God's face and I have no doubts God has some big plans for them.
I'm not sure if the photos will be below or above this article but enjoy just the same.

"All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten"

I guess one of the drawbacks of have technology is being able to keep up with all the world and national news. I'm just amazed at all the bickering, fussing and fitting that is going on. I read a book years ago on the subject of "All I Really Need to Know I learned In Kindergarten" or you could say Sunday School but I didn't grow up in church but my parents did and taught me a lot of what I'm going to list. So here it goes...



1. Share everything
2. Play fair.
3. Don't hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. Clean up you own mess.
6. Don't take things that aren't yours.
7. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned--the biggest word of all--LOOK.
This is from the author...
"Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. the Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life of our work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all -- the whole world -- had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are -- when you go our into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together."
I have had this book now for better than 15 years. I can't help to think about it when I see how the world is getting so complicated. When all they have to do is look back to what they learned as a child. (Well most anyway.)

Another Update,

It has been a few days, I guess you have been wondering where we have been. I don't have the time to go into details. We have been busy with the two girls from Mississippi. Laura and Melissa have been great here with us. Things have not gone as planned but we have done a few things. This being are first college students we have had during their summer break, I feel it has been a good experiences. Once they leave I will give a recap of their time with pictures and a few videos.
Some have heard that I cut my finger and want to know how bad. Well it was not that bad but bad enough for a few stitches. You'll see in the picture. The doctor said I was lucky. I was using a busting ax or mallet to cut up some small kinlin. I miss judged and you can see the results. Till next time, Chao...

June recap!!!

Wow, June has been a busy month. I have sat down several times to jot down a recap but something has always come up. So here goes a little recap.
We started out traveling and getting our two interns for the summer break. They arrived safely and to their surprize we didn't live in huts. That was on the 2nd of June. on the 5th the Clements Baptist group was to arrive but were delayed in Dallas due to weather.
Once they arrived we hit the ground running. Worked three days in Minas doing mini VBS. Finishing on Friday night with a Evangelistic movie. It was a great shot in the arm for the new work that is starting there. We traveled on to our home town to have a special time with some kids in a comunity where I am teaching English. It was a great success. Sunday morning we did Sunday School at the local Baptist church. Follow up on Monday traveling back to Montevideo to prep for the groups travel home. We have continued working here with the interns. We have went back to visit the work in Minas to encourage and worship. Monday, July 2 we traveled to a new work in a small town called Santa Clara. We held the first service with a new believer and a few others.
Tomorrow we will celebrate the 4th with the interns. We are thinking of going hiking and getting away for the day. Who knows what God has instore for us.
Garrett is enjoying his break from school. Teresa is trying to finish up with Corabeth. With her breaks during the groups visits and taking some time off for the summer break, they have been scrambling to finish up before the next year starts.
Gracias a Dios we have been healthy. My herniated disc is still pretty bad. but God had blessed relief when I've needed it. I plan on ordering some gravity boots soon. trying to find some way of rehabilitating it.
I would like to thank the Clements Baptist Church for their commitment to full fill the Great Commission.