I was talking with Rivers of the World’s (ROW) DRC Program Director Omba Ngandu when suddenly I heard gunfire on the other end of the telephone. He whispered to me that there were people outside lighting tires on fire and placing them in the middle of the road. Omba then said, “There’s shooting all around me and I must try and get home.”

We had to immediately relocate our ship, the Mama Mickie, from Kinshasa to Brazzaville on the other side of the Congo River in the Republic of the Congo. We also had to hide our new engine for the Mama Mickie on top of a friend’s ship. There is a lot of unrest throughout this region of the world and it is a very dangerous time for some of our ROW staff and their families.

It is quite difficult for many Americans to even fathom this level of ongoing violence that exists in the DRC. We may experience the freedom to cast our ballot on election day without fear of persecution, however, many people in our great nation who live without Christ are not living with true freedom. We are told in 2 Corinthians 3:17:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

When we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we experience freedom from the power of sin, from the condemnation of our past and from eternal death. Take a few moments today to pray for the people of the DRC and for America, that genuine freedom would be experienced throughout both nations.

Now, imagine all of us gathered around the dinner table trying to enjoy our meal and having to yell at each other! When we finally figured out that Nan had tricked us, we all just howled and screamed with laughter.

I don’t know about you but I am so very thankful that the Lord hears us no matter how soft or loud we speak. We have a wonderful promise found in Psalm 34:15 (NKJV):

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.”

Do you realize that Jesus is as close to you as your next heartbeat? Whether you close your eyes, bow your knees before Him or simply sit in silence before the Lord, He hears you. He knows you so intimately that during those times when you cannot find the words to even whisper a prayer, Jesus still hears and answers because His ears attentively listen to the very depths of your heart.

How do you expect to learn about the wonder and the glory of our God if you don’t ask Him questions?The best way to get to know somebody is to spend time with them and ask them questions. The same is true about God. Answers to our questions can be found in Scripture, through revelation from the Holy Spirit and from those who are wiser in the faith. Answers can also be discovered when we are serving the Lord.

We are encouraged in Matthew 7:7-8:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Try viewing your walk with the Lord as one who is searching for a precious jewel. Dig deep into the Word and ask God lots of questions. Spend time with Jesus, seeking to know Him intimately. Sharpen your ability to sense the Holy Spirit knocking on your heart’s door. Our prayers are not supposed to be one-time petitions. We are to persistently ask, seek and knock and the more we do so, the more knowledge the Lord will impart to us, the more wisdom will develop within us and the greater our faith will grow.

Did you know that you also have been dedicated to the Lord? He has set you apart for a very specific and holy purpose. Part of our joy each day is discovering how God wants us to serve Him and to live our lives consecrated unto Him. Jeremiah heard directly from the Lord what his divine purpose was, as detailed in Jeremiah 1:4-5 (Amplified):

“Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Your divine purpose may not be to serve God as a prophet, although He does indeed still call people in that capacity. One thing is for certain, you have been set apart for a great work as ordained by God that only you can accomplish.

While you’re doing some housecleaning, take some time to examine some of your possessions. Do they generally reflect God in your life or would they indicate to others that Christ is only a part of your life and not Lord? We are instructed in Romans 12:2:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As you are cleaning up your office, garage, backyard or some other area in your home, pray while you’re cleaning and throwing things away. Ask God if there are any areas in your life that need cleaning up. Are there some habits that need to be thrown away? Are there some attitudes that need refining? Perhaps you should make it a goal to do a spiritual cleaning once a month so that issues never grow to the point of needing a complete overhaul.

Since learning of Dorcas’ situation, I began to pray that God would enable her to be strong, that He would shield her from getting an infection and that she would be healed and able to walk out of that hospital room. I wish that I could be the bearer of good news and report that my prayers were answered. The reality is that Dorcas died, went home to be with the Lord and was buried a few weeks ago.

It has been a very difficult time at ROW, and especially for Omba and his family. The pain and the sorrow are very real. Death hurts those who are left behind to grieve. However, death is a part of life. Being born, growing up, living your alloted amount of time here on earth and then going to be with the Lord is merely the cycle of life. We all have the same plan for our lives. The only difference is the choice we make in this life as to where we will spend eternity.

Do not think for a second that the Lord takes lightly the dying of his children. We are precious in His sight, regardless if we are serving Him or not. For those of us who have made Jesus the Lord of our lives, we can find comfort in Psalm 116:15 when one of our loved ones goes through the doorway to eternity. This verse says:

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Although we certainly rejoice in the memory of Dorcas and in knowing she is healed and safe in the arms of Jesus, we still ask that you take time to remember her family in prayer. This precious family is part of the ROW family and when they hurt, we hurt.

Dorcas Ngandu sings for ROW

The latest team traveled to Barahona, Dominican Republic in November and was able to complete many tasks on the orphanage. They removed construction debris from the building and then transported over 1,100 concrete blocks to the third floor of the orphanage. As if that wasn’t enough, the team also had to haul enough sand and water to the third floor to make the mortar in order to lay the 1,100 concrete blocks! While in Barahona, the team was also able to sand and paint walls in the orphanage.

When ROW starts a project, we do our best to see it through to completion in as timely and cost efficient manner as possible. We are reminded in Philippians 1:6 (Amplified) of a wonderful promise from God regarding completing a work that has begun:

“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”

We must be faithful to fight the good fight of faith each day and continue to do so until the Lord calls us home or until He returns. This may include seasons of doing nothing but being faithful to the same routine tasks each day. It may also include seasons in our lives where the Lord requires us to take steps of faith and move outside of our comfort zones. Would you consider praying and asking the Lord how you can help ROW complete the orphanage in the Dominican Republic?

Being an intelligent German Shepherd, Max unlocked the cage during the night and then proceeded to open the back door of the porch. When the Wilsons woke up the next morning, they found Max sitting in the backyard with his back to the lake and forest, facing the house. Max’s face appeared to be saying, “Okay, this is my home and the Lord has sent me here to protect the general and his family. That is my job and I will do it well.”

I’ve been around Max many times and believe me, he indeed does his job well! It may be second nature for many of us to guard and protect our families. We work hard at our jobs to protect our financial future. We may even consciously look after the resources, time and talents God provides us. I wonder, though, do we ever think about guarding our salvation? We are warned in 2 Timothy 1:14:

“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

With salvation comes the responsibility of protecting the priceless gift God has given us, grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. We guard with all diligence our salvation by feasting upon His Word daily, entering into His presence and coming before the throne of grace continually, gathering often with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and shielding our hearts and minds from anything that is contrary to His teachings. Guard your salvation as if it were a priceless gift, for indeed, it is.

I just love that and I hope you really appreciate just how much God loves you. You are the apple of His eye. He loves you so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins. We may read this plaque and easily apply it to our spouse or someone special in our lives. However, can you honestly say that you love the Lord more than anyone or anything on earth? Do you filter your plans, thoughts and decisions through what you believe is pleasing to God?

We should emulate the Apostle Paul’s view of his life in light of Christ’s sacrifice, found in Philippians 3:7-8:

“But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One).”

We indeed have a priceless privilege in knowing Christ as our Savior and growing in the likeness and knowledge of Him.

I spent the Thanksgiving holiday in the Dominican Republic and one of the stops I made was at the orphanage. The walls are up, they have been stuccoed and the building looks like a million bucks. The wiring and plumbing must first get finished before we can even begin to think about bringing in beds, towels, sheets, clothes and the children. We need your help in finishing this project and getting these children off the streets of Barahona in the Dominican Republic.

I would dare say many of us are able to envision dreams for our future and we might even be pretty good at laying out plans to make those dreams come true. However, how many of us are good at actually following through and seeing those dreams become reality?

The same instructions Paul gave the church in Corinth as found in 2 Corinthians 8:11-12 still applies to us today:

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

Let us choose today to follow through with our good intentions. Take all that passion, drive, motivation and willingness and allow God to bring to life those unfinished plans, those half completed projects and those well meaning promises. Partner with us today to complete this orphanage and by doing so you will be fulfilling the dreams of these children, which is to have a home they can call their own.

We brought down the house, or at least we had a good time trying! This experience reminds me how important it is for us to get out there and try something we have never done or at least haven’t tried in a long time. Go do something new and exciting and don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. I think it’s good to get that blood rushing up into your face as your cheeks turn red in utter embarrassment.

Scripture is full of passages that tell us to make a joyful noise, to praise the Lord and to rejoice. One example is found in Psalm 68:3 (Amplified), which says:

“But let the [uncompromisingly] righteous be glad; let them be in high spirits and glory before God, yes, let them [jubilantly] rejoice!”

If you have accepted Christ as your Savior then you have many reasons to rejoice. Our lives should be a testimony of His wondrous grace, love and mercy. We don’t just praise God on Sundays in church. We praise Him with our lives by enjoying the life He has provided, by cherishing family and friends He allows us to spend time with and by finding joy in the simple pleasures He bestows upon us each day. Live your life to the fullest by fully living the life Christ has given you.

Many of us are still full from today’s meal, however, I would encourage you to really ponder the question, “Which is more important, being thankful or giving? Or, are both equally as important.” Before you dash out tomorrow and start charging all the latest gadgets on your credit cards, perhaps you should settle that question in your heart.

God blesses His children because He dearly loves us and because He desires us to be a blessing to others. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11:

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Whether you have been blessed abundantly with material possessions and financial wealth or you have very little and not enough income to survive from month to month, use what God has provided and sow into the lives of others. This may may mean taking your spiritual wealth and encouraging someone who is weaker in the faith. You may be blessed with good health and strength, use it to assist someone less fortunate. Thanks and giving go hand in hand. When are so thankful for God’s blessings it should compel us to give, and give and give.