Joseph has always been one of my favorite people in the Bible because of the way he handled the tough circumstances in his life.  I think we have all been through times where we can identify with Joseph in some way.  We can find the key to getting through these trials and coming out on top, as Joseph did, when we look at the characteristics of his heart that are reflected in each of these trials.

• A Faithful Heart:  When faced with temptation, Joseph declared that he would not sin against his God.  Joseph kept his heart faithful to following God, even when he may not have been caught.  When we keep our heart faithful to God, we can be sure that He will work everything for our good.

• A Forgiving Heart:  I think any of us, when put in Joseph’s situation of being falsely accused, would justify being angry at the one who hurt us.  Our natural inclination would be to sulk, and cry out until justice is done.  Joseph, however, did the opposite; he moved on.  Joseph refused to hold on to bitterness and resentment, and chose instead to continue to work with excellence.

• A Focused Heart:  Finally, we see that Joseph had a heart focused on OTHERS!  Instead of focusing on himself, he focused on others which led him to his encounter with the servants of Pharaoh.  It says that Joseph noticed the dejected look on the baker and the cupbearer; he then cared to ask what was wrong.  Had Joseph only been concerned about himself, he would have never helped the servants and possibly never made it out the prison.  Caring for others is the key to getting out of your prison!

Whatever you are going through, there is a way out!  The key, though, is more about our heart than our actions.  Let the Lord change your heart, and you will be elevated from the prison to the palace!

I always love the start of a new year and all the potential it holds.  January 1st always feels like a new beginning, another chance to wipe the slate clean (the good and the bad) and have a fresh start.  Throwing away the past mistakes, failures and disappointments that would keep us from trying again, and not letting past victories and successes keep us from pushing on the new things.  I am entering into this new year with a lot expectation that this is really going the be a great year!

I was reading in Genesis about Creation, and thought about how it starts with the Earth being "formless and void".  How many of us feel like that at times?  For me, I  have areas where I feel very accomplished, and while there is still room for growth I feel satisfied with the progress.  Then they are other areas where I wonder "God, is anything ever going to happen here?".  Maybe you feel like that in some areas, or maybe it's a season where everything feels void, but don't be discouraged!  Even though the earth was formless and void, it only took a word from the Creator to be filled with light, life and everything needed to prosper.  No matter how dark your situation may seem, or how long you have been waiting for things to change, know that with just one word from your Creator changes everything.  The darkness will give way to light, what is void will be filled with life and you will prosper!  I encourage you at the beginning of this new year and new decade to seek the Lord and let Him speak into your situation.  

Looking back at 2009, it was a great year and I am thankful for all the accomplishments and the developments in my life and ministry.  I am excited for this new year, but I believe that what has already happend is only the beginning of the great things to come!

I’ve been back in the States since Thanksgiving and it’s been a wonderful visiting with family again.  I got in just in time to be there for the birth of my newest nephew (Judah makes it eight nieces and nephews!).  I will be ending my time here with the wedding of my younger sister, and I will be able to see the newlyweds before they head off to China for eight months.  I didn’t know about these events when I began to plan my trip, but I sure am glad I made it back when  I did!

It has been great to see everyone.  I have enjoyed times of fellowship with old and new friends, sharing what God has been doing in Lebanon and in my life and ministry.  It's always good to have this time away to be able to step back and see everything from a bigger perspective. I am so excited about what God has been doing, and i am really looking forward to being back in Lebanon to see what is ahead!

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

After spending the first half of this year traveling to different regions of the world, I felt these last few months would be a season of prayer for the nations.  Of course, I am staying very busy with the church; but, in this time I am not pushing for more travelling but staying back and praying for the nations.  My heart is to see God’s glory fill the Arab nations.  I feel God doing a new work in my heart and stirring a fresh passion for reaching this region, especially for women who are held in bondage by a culture dominated by an oppressive religion.  With what I have seen - here in the Middle East and in the places I have traveled – I know there is so much need, multitudes without God and without hope.  There are several believers here who are sensing the same call to pray.  The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effect, and I know that we are starting the work of reaching the multitudes by praying for the harvest.

A few weeks ago, I was reading in 2 Corinthians and came across the verse quoted above.  What stood out to me is that God commanded “let there be light in the darkness” and this light is the glory of God.  This is my prayer for the Arab nations, “Let there be light in the darkness!”, that the glory of God is filling this dark region.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk 2:14

Abundant Life Church is now holding two services on Sunday, one in the morning and one evening. We began the weekend after the conference and we are believing that we are making room for a double harvest!  Its been interesting working out the changes and while we do so, many of our leaders and helpers are serving double time.  We know that it is worth the extra effort as we enter into this new season.  We are excited at the opportunites this is opening up for us as a church.  Please pray for us in this time, for wisdom as we are taking this new direction, and for all of the servants, that they do not grow weary, but remain refreshed and encouraged  in the Holy Ghost!

It’s always a treat for me when visitors come because it means that it will get a break from my routine and enjoy some time showing people the sites of my beloved Lebanon.  For this year’s conference we had several visitors from my home church, so it was a special treat.  My senior pastor, Larry Stockstill, and his daughter Melissa arrived in Lebanon two days early to be able to see the cedars of Lebanon.  I had not yet been, so I got to tag along for the tour.  It was really amazing to see these trees, some they say have been there 6,000 years, even surviving the flood!  These trees have grown large and plant roots, not in a fertile valley, but on arid mountaintops; their persitance to survive in this condition is amazing!

We had several other speakers for our conference, and one of them, Tony Foster, had been my youth pastor for several years at Bethany.  His wife, Margaret, has discipled me the past few years, keeping up with me while I am in Lebanon.  I visited them in Malaysia where they are now missionaries, so having Tony in Lebanon was like having family here.  We took several of the speakers for a tour around Lebanon.  While these sites I have seen several times, it’s always nice to see the tourist side of this beautiful nation.

It had been a while since I’ve taken a break from the city life and took time to see Lebanon.  As always, I am amazed at the beauty of this nation, and I am so proud to call it home!

We had a powerful time ministering to young ladies in the nations of Liberia and Ivory Coast.  Rana and I used the life of Esther to  give hope and encouragement.  The recurring theme in each of our messages was “leaving your past and fulfilling your destiny”.  We encouraged them to not let your past determine your future.  Esther did not come from the best background, yet despite her circumstances she became queen.  Rana pointed out that if Esther had not entered the competition, she would have never been chosen.  This may seem like a simple enough revelation, but how many times do we not enter because we have decided that we will lose before we even begin.  Don’t quit before you get started, but believe that despite what you feel, God will use you for His glory!

One thing in Esthe,r’s life that challenged me, and that I shared in the conference was that when Esther was given the chance to choose whatever jewelry she liked, she decided to chose only what Hegai suggested.  With Hegai representing the work of the Holy Spirit in oulives, we have to shoos what the Holy Spirit is telling us, for He is showing us what pleases the King.  We may be choosing things for our life that pleases us, or it looks real good to the people, maybe even looks real “spiritual”; but, it is not pleasing the King.  We have to make the decision to not choose what only looks good, or just what pleases us; but we have to choose only that which pleases the King.

There was so much that was shared in these conferences, I wish that I had the time to share everything with you.  Many were challenged and encouraged that God will use them in His harvest.  There is so much need in West Africa, and it was an honor for us to be a part of encouraging and equipping the laborers.

We finished our time in Abidjan by ministering in the Sunday morning services  Rana   shared in Pastor Agnus’s on the importance of having a secret place with God. Afterwards, we prayed a prayer of blessing over each member of the church. 

I had the opportunity to minister in a church that I visited seven years ago.  On my first visit, though, there was not building but only dirt.  Our team had prayed for this pastor and the church that would be there.  So, it was a great joy to be able to minister to this congregation of Harvesters Miracle Church.  This trip showed me so much the faithfulness of God.  I was so encouraged to see the work that has continued in these seven years, and I was also encouraged by the work that God has done in my life since then.  Many times on this trip I was reminded of old dreams that I had (when I thought I would one day live in Africa), and many times I felt like I was   through these dreams.  I was encouraged to see that things that I only dreamed of are now a reality before my eyes.  Just has God has caused these hopes and dreams come to pass.  I know that the dreams I still hold in my heart, for my life and ministry, and for God’s work in the Middle East – I will see as a reality before my eyes!

      For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
      But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
      Though it tarries, wait for it;
      Because it will surely come,
      It will not tarry.

      Habakkuk 2:3

We flew from Liberia over to the neighboring country of the Ivory Coast.  I spent two weeks in this nation seven years ago and I was more than happy to be back.  Rana and I were working with Gregory Bangura and his wife, Agnus, to hold our second Esther’s conference in their church, and also to minister to the youth of the church.  The conference was really great, and even though it was the same theme, we could see how the Holy Spirit was speaking specific things to this group.  We held the sessions in the evenings, and the attendees were coming from work, and some nights coming in heavy rains, to be in the meetings.  We had a smaller crowd in Abidjan, and we were happy minister this group.  We were able to spend personal time with the attendees and get to know them and their lives and minister to their specific needs.

We had a fellowship with the youth and spent time getting to know them, what they are doing and their plans for the future.  Several shared with me their desire to travel and be missionaries in neighboring African countries.  It really blesses me to see Africans who have a desire, not to go to a better country, but to countries inn more need than theirs.  I shared with them lessons I’ve learned, and the work that God has done in me to prepare me to be a missionary.  I am looking forward to hearing about what God does in their lives!  I know that God will do great things in with this group of young people!