Jesus Loves You

Romans 5:8 ” But God shows His own love for us in that while we are yet sinners Christ died for Us. “

Friend never doubt the love of Christ that He has then and has now for you. Sure you may have shame, guilt, and remorse for your sin, but remember He went to the cross for you personally. Christ shed His blood for your freedom. He did this because He loves you and there is no thing that can remove you from His love. Try never to forget or doubt. Grow in this understanding and rejoice with this truth!! Friend, Christ loves you, yearns for you to give Him your all and loves you so much. Who else has sacrificed so much that would even die for you?

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord many times I forget the truth and get caught up in this fallen world, and I even take this on as truth. Oh, Lord help me to be free from my self and grow in yearning and understanding Thee. Lord I know You love me yet I do not ” get it ” deep down. Lord show me the truth and reveal your nature to me, none the less, Thy will be done not mine. Amen. “

Loving our Neighbor

Sarah Otonde Omolo

March 2023

Matthew 22:36-39 ” Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law? And he said to them, ” ‘ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ” ‘ This the greatest and most important and the second is like it or the same as, ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ”

Today we thank God and that we were able to serve Sarah Otonde Omolo. Today BFC was informed that Sarah has decided to move away and live with her sister. Sarah has been lonely as her family has passed and she lives alone. So we say God Bless you Sarah as a new venture takes place in your life.

In the meantime Jomo Otieno is seeking another Elder in which BFC can serve in the Migori region of Kenya. Please pray for Jomo as he seeks the correct candidate. Jomo has led this program for the Elders since the February of 2020. Since then BFC has had the priveledge of serving several elders, in medical care, in serving the elders with food and in some cases in serving funeral arrangements. His team is doing the Lord’s work: To feed the hungry, care for the widows and orphans. And so we are grateful we can serve. Amen!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord, Lord, Lord we call out to you!! Help us serve Thee and none other. Lord show us how to empty ourselves and to be of better use to you and your people. And not my will but Thine be done. Abba Father show me how to be a servant and serve, how to love rather than be loved and how to be a peacemaker. Oh God Ii call upon you to help me now!! That Thy will may be done. Amen!!!

Jesus Fasts for 40 days and nights

Homes and Bungalows in N’Djamena, Chad, Africa June 2018

Matthew 4:1&2 ” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights He became hungry.

Christ’s Ministry is about to begin, He has just come up from His baptism and He now is in the desert to fast. Why? Is Jesus preparing for the launch of His Ministry? The Church recalls this season to remember His fast, the season of Lent in which we give up something in our daily lives. We try to spend more time in solitude and pray to the Lord, grow in meditation and thus be led by the spirit and not self.

How is your Season of Lent progressing? Have you grown in a deeper appreciation for what Christ endured because of our sin natures? Think of what Jesus endured for each and every one of us. Try to overcome your egoity, the idea that you are separated from Christ or from one another. The spirit is ever available and is omnipresent. Learn this truth. It is only your illlusional sense of self, your ego, that separates you. In truth God can never be any closer that He is now and shall always be as, God in Omnipresent. Learn to grow in truth. What are you sacrificing or willing to let go of, maybe your self??

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord, over and over I allow this world and my delusional beliefs to impact the truth of who I am in Thee. Lord I need help to understand the truth and to be free. Help me to overcome myself. Help me to be the disciple you have called me to be. May I grow in sacrifice in this season and overcome. Amen!! “

Surrender in Christ

November 2018 Nile beach Hotel grounds in Juba, South Sudan

Luke 9:24 ” For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

So what does it profit to gain the whole world and lose yourself? Learning to surrender your sense of self can be a life long process. The world is always telling us, ” Make it Happen “, ” Keep Striving “. In the end ask your self, ” What am I striving for? ” Who am I in Christ? Sure if we are striving to be more like Christ or to strive to lose ourselves, yet we are striving for the creature comforts of the world. In many cases we are proceeding out of self instead of being led or inspired by The Holy Spirit. Surrender to Christ daily. For today is the day you will only have, so today let go and let God. Today is the day to surrender your self and allow Christ to rule your consciousness, your soul. Be patient and practice surrender.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Many times Lord I have failed to surrender and continue to exercise my will, my way and I fail to serve you. To the world no one cares, yet in you you yearn for all of me. Help me to be more like you and less like the world. Lord may Thy will be done. Help me. Amen!! “

Ash Wednesday

Pic of the Nile River from The Nile Beach Hotel in Juba South Sudan taken October 2018

Daniel 9:3 ” So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sack cloth and ashes. “

Today indicates the beginning of Christ’s fast for 40 days and 40 nights. Many gather to mark this day as Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season. What will you do to mark this event? Meditate upon what the Lord Christ has meant to you as He gave His life for you and all humankind. Do you now take this for granted? Is Christ the single most significant relationship you have or are you still preoccupied with self? Think of these events in Christ’s life and in your life? Are you really a Christian because you say so or are you a true disciple? As you move into this season allow this to be a season of renewal, forgiveness and new beginnings. Make Christ the center of your life and how you may serve in His Kingdom. My friend, be blessed!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord during this Lenten Season help me to use this time to grow closer to Thee, to spend more time in Prayer, Meditation and Study of the Scriptures. Lord I know I am to Love as you love and to Be as you are. Help me to grow more and more in the likeness of Thee. “

Christ is Risen

Beautiful Pic of the Nile River in South Sudan City of Juba

Luke 24:6 ” He is not here, but He has Risen “

Next week will begin the season of Lent. Let us prepare our hearts, our lives and our prayer lives as we prepare for our sacrifice of 40 days of fasting that our Lord endured. And as you turn within to a deeper level seek ways in which you can celebrate this Easter season. He is not not here but has risen gives us the not only the hope, but the miracle of His resurrection. That the suffering He endured, the power in the resurrection brings to you a new and renewed dedication to love the Lord Thy God with new meaning. Seek, ask and knock how you may grow during this time of Easter tide. He has indeed risen and is alive today. His arms and hands are open to all your burdens and concerns and cares. For Christ is Love.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord help me to learn to grow closer to you by my surrender. Help me and reveal to me the iniquity that continues to separate me from Thee. Help me to release, repent, confess and accept Thy forgiveness as I grow deeper in Thee. Lord help my unbelief and help me to let go of self-sufficiently. Father God help me. Amen!!

We do not understand His Ways

The Grounds of the CMA Conference Center in Ahmedabad, India.

Isaiah 55:8,9,11 ” For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. “

It is so important that we do not try to challenge or figure out what God is doing, providing and protecting. Our roles are that of servanthood. Many of us struggle with this, especially in the United States. As if we can tell God what to do as if He is a bubble gum machine. Rather, let us rejoice that He even uses us to accomplish His purpose. And let us rise in worship at the foot of His cross for He is our redeemer, our first and the One that is always listening. His ways are not my ways and we do not know how to ” play God. ” Let us rather grow in humility knowing He is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. For He is our way-maker and miracle worker. Press into this understanding and love God with all your heart. Peace to you!!

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord over and over again I try to play the role of God over my life. I fail, I am hurting and I am miserable. Lord help me to overcome these self-reliant ways and come into a greater understanding that you are the ruler over all of me. Teach me how to surrender and how to work unto Thee in Servanthood and humility. Amen!! “

God is our Refuge

Some of the Elders of the BFC Elderly Care Program

Psalm 71:7 ” I have become a portent to many; but you are my refuge and my strength

For many, as you speak to your friends, loved ones and even those in whom you meet, you have a message that is relevant for our current era and circumstances. And, so you find this important to discuss what is on your heart because you are honoring the command to love Thy neighbor. Portent in this context gives meaning, or importance to what you have to say. And The Holy Spirit may even be using you and revealing to you, yet always remember this, you are not God and most likely your message is not unique. Always, always know that God is your refuge, God is your strength and stay away from self reliance or self importance. For in truth, God can use anyone to deliver a message even the greatest sinner has message for us, do NOT follow my ways. God is God and that is that and we are but disciples and followers. Stay right sized in all you do.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord please use me mightily if it is Thy will, but Lord help me to stay right sized knowing you are God and I am not. Father help me to carry your message of love, always giving you and you alone the glory. Forgive me for my haughtiness and arrogance. Help me to be more and more useful to you and others through Thy Love. Amen!!! “

Be Not Afraid

Children at Asapalli learning new Worship Songs at October VBS

Psalm 3:6 ” I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me “

Sometimes in the face of persecution, adversity and difficulty you must preserver and do what the Lord has called you to do. And so deepen your Holy Listening and move forward regardless of the opposition. It may be great, and this may be the test that Lord is seeking to see and test your fortitude. In other words, how dedicated are you to the cause of Kingdom building, of loving others regardless of their sin? Remember, in your worst days the Lord loved you as much as He loves you today. So who are you not to love those sickest, sinners around you. For we all fall short of His glory and He loves you just as you are, were and shall always be. Sure it might be difficult, maybe the task at hand will stretch your faith, spend your money and cause fear. But remember God did not give you that fear for He has given you a spirit of love, power and sound mind. So forge ahead and serve the Lord out of love, kindness and peace. knowing that no matter where you are He is with you for you are made in His nature. That is the

Mid-Week Prayer: ” You know Lord I struggle with loving others regardless of who they are, what they have done and who they are now. Yet I know deep down in us all is the truth that we are all made in Thine Image. Oh Lord help me to overcome this world knowing that I am to live in this world and not to be of this world. Lord Help me to love others. Amen”

Unity of the Spirit

Children at Asapalli in Assam, India coming together in Worship at VBS

Ephesians 4:1-4 ” The calling with which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all through all in all. “

There is a lot to unpack, but what we can understand is the oneness, the unity of the spirit in us all. It is the egoity that caused the idea that we are separate; yet in God we are all one, in His spirit we are one. To increase this knowing is the key through deep meditation in Christ. In the silence of His love, His peace we grow in unity and understanding. This can not be realized through worship but through devotion and solitude. Examine the time you are alone in Christ and the time you spend in prayer, reflection, repentance and mediation. Always remember you are now, have always been and shall always be made in the divine image of He who presides over us all. And in that nature you are free, you one in God.

Mid-Week Prayer: ” Lord I seek greater understanding of this theme of oneness in Thee. I sometimes wonder if I ever understand the level of peace, of joy , of kindness that is in Thee and in me. Lord I tend to identify with the shallowness of my self and what I perceive through me fine senses. Lord help me to go deeper. Father help me to see Thee in all and to experience Thee in all. Amen!!”