[My brother recently stayed with me in Lebanon for three weeks.  We had a great time touring Lebanon, and he was also a great help to us with the kids and youth ministry.  I asked him  to share about his experience in Lebanon, below are his thoughts about his time here.]

  Before I came to Lebanon, I set avery high goal to achieve during my trip. I wanted to be a different person upon return from my trip than the one that began the journey.  I can say that after three weeks in Lebanon, my mind is not the same.  When I arrived in Lebanon and saw the place that I would stay and the area around it, my first thought was that this is normally the area that I try to avoid in the states.  That experience describes how I though  during the first week.  I looked at everything at a very surface level.  I noted how the buildings looked and how beautiful the mountains were on thesea.  All I wanted to know was the next place that I would be going to see and my most common thought was that I hope nothing happens in Lebanon that could mess up my plans for departure. 

  During the second week, I went to a conference in Aqaba, Jordan and I would say that a change in my heart took place here.  A change that made me look beyond the surface and look to what actually makes a city or a nation, and that is the people.  During my third week, I learned what drives my sister to do what she does.  I was invited to have dinner at a few of the church members’ homes.  I saw how God has taken people out of the surrounding darkness and brought them into the light and made them into a family.  I saw a soldier that was transformed by Jesus Christ and no longer just wants to solve things with his fists, but his desire is to be there for his family and fellowship with God and His people. 

  Before I came, I thought that my sister was going to be my host, and although she was a great one, I was surprised to see the people step out and take me in.  Several people sacrificed their time in order to help me enjoy my time.  In a place where there is so much going on around them, each other is what they have and they hold on to each other, encourage and help each other to keep on fighting for the work of God.  I see now that my sister is a part of that family, a helper in the harvest.   Even though I miss her being around at myhome, I know that she is needed in this place.  My prayer for her is that God gives her the strength to continue and the eyes to see and the ears to hear His will.

  When it came time for my departure, I would be lying if i said that no part of me was ready to go back to the comforts that I have come to appreciate about America, but I was sad to leave as l waved goodbye one last time to my sister.  As I waited for the plane to fly away, I could only sit there and think about the wonderful times that I had, the amazing people that I met and how I will cherish every bit of the past three weeks with my only regrets being the times that my thoughts were only on leaving at my planned time.

D.J. Thoms 

I spent some "quality time"with the older girls in our children's ministry.  We wanted  to have fellowship with  them outside of the church.  One of the ministry leaders  and I took them to McDonald's; about 6 girls,ages 10-12.  We had a really good time, but it was quite eye-opening when we started discussing the issues they are dealing with.  I guess with each generation the kids mature earlier, but I really had no idea these girls were dealing with some of these things already (i was still seeing them as "kids").  I do know that I left with a whole new heart for these girls. Reaching them at this age is critical, before they are pulled away by the world.  These girls are really precious to me, and I am praying for wisdom and love so that I can be someone they can confide in during the years ahead.  I know that God has a unique plan for each of them, and I am happy to be a part of seeing them fulfill their God-given destiny.

March 21^st is Mother’s Day in Lebanon.  Our women’s ministry held a special conference for the women of ALC to minister to their spiritual and emotional needs.  The theme of the conference was “Entering the Rest of the KING”  The were blessed by teachings on who our King is, how to enter His presence, avoiding things that keep us from his presence, and finding rest in his presence.

The Saturday night of the conference we held a special dinner for the women.  They dressed up and we treated them as queens!  The women were touched to be able to switch roles and be the ones served.  We finished the conference on Mother’s Day by letting them know that God sees all they do as mothers and that it is important. 

The women were really blessed by this conference.  We believe that future conferences will not only bless the women of Abundant Life Church, but all of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Middle East!

I was showing someone in Lebanon my website, and i realized that it's been a LOOOONG time since i have updated everything.  I promise I am going to work on that! 

i am going to put up new pictures and blogs and a newsletter soon.  i just wanted to let you know that  i haven't forgotten about keeping all of you updated.  i am really sorry, but time has passed so quickly

 check back soon, and also feel free to leave comments; i enjoy hearing from you too

 ( gotta go now, preparing for kids ministry!)

blessings,

mary beth

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!