Back in the USA!

We are back!

It is something awesome to watch God move and work!! We were able to see Him save 41 people throughout the camp weekend, and He is still working on several more hearts. We are so thankful to once again be a part of God's plan.

As Randy Willis would ask, "What has changed about your world view and perspective due to this trip?"

Well...

1. His perfect plan is really perfect. I know Aimee and I have talked a lot about our plans and dreams and how God is changing that. We are learning that God's plan A is always better for us and His glory. So, with that thought what is God's plan A for us?

2. God really can use my story. He has been involved in my life in several ways. As I share those moments and stories with people the Spirit uses my story to resonate with their souls. It is still a mystery this thing called grace. "Each day I fall on my knees, 'cause Your grace still amazes me!"

3. While I am waiting on God, don't forget to see the details. I'm trying to journal more and review, but I learned on this trip that God is involved in the details not just the big dreams. I may miss some blessing in what I'm going through while I'm waiting on an answer, seeking a direction, or experiencing discipline.

4. "Keep my fork, the best is yet to come." Just like we eagerly await dessert after a meal, so I will wait on my Lord. He tells me the best is yet to come!

5. This is the last but maybe the biggest. Those of you who know me best know that I am type A and I LOVE lists! (Just look at this blog post!) So, Kevin asked me this week what is on my list that God has to get rid of before I can say yes to His will? What do I have there that is not His plan or His best? I'm still making that list so I can die to myself more and more.

So, what is God calling and expecting in my life now? I'm trusting that He will light the way before my feet as I seek, ask, and knock. I know that I need to do this more intentionally and deliberately. It has to be a constant, always sort of thing. It can't be a once every week or month thing if I really want to find His will for our lives.

I am so thankful for those that God puts in my life. This week as I came home with all these thoughts about our future and God's plan our Sunday School prayer list was waiting in my inbox. Here is the verse:

"But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace." Act 20:24

So, while I am waiting, seeking, asking, and knocking God says to keep testifying. How will that work out for me in the future? He knows, and you be watching... The best is yet to come!

Blessings,
Chris Esau

Awesome, Holy, Worthy of All Praise!

Our God is awesome!! I had originally planned for the next blog post to be about the devotional I'm leading in the morning. It's ironic that the devotional is about God's plans and our plan A versus His. I'm writing a slightly different post tonight.

We saw God being 25 new people into His kingdom tonight!! All praise unto the Lamb who sits on the throne. All glory and honor and power and praise!

Aimee, a sweet young lady from L.A., and I got the opportunity to share God's story in our lives. Kevin shared from John about Doubting Thomas. Jesus intersected his life, and he was never the same! I know that I have been changed at each intersection with Him. Have you met our risen Savior?

Pray for rest tonight. It's early in the morning as we wind down. Pray for the next few days as we share about discipleship and living a holy life.

Blessings,
Chris Esau

A picture as we prepared to eat dinner.

God's Faithfulness

This morning I am sitting in a very chilly room writing this post. The weather here is beautiful! It's grey, raining, and cool. Only someone that just left the heat and humidity (and lack of rain) would appreciate the weather here. We do pray that the rain would go away simply so that we can enjoy this place by playing outside with the kids and youth. We are all anxious to see Armand and Jarod play soccer!

We made it safely yesterday.

It was busy day going from the airport to this camp. We had plenty to unpack and sort, plans to discuss, and lots to pray about for this weekend. I am so thankful for how God has already blessed this trip. He brought more people from LA to help do His work. I am anxious to hear more of their stories. It is always good to meet other believers and ones who are learning about God's passion for missions. For most of them this is their first international mission trip, but I can already see that God is going to use them mightily.

There are so many reasons to praise our God, but He gives good gifts just like He said He would. Last night as I was going to sleep I kept thinking about the devtional that Kevin has asked that I lead for the team tomorrow morning. I had written in my notes that I wondered if it should be about adoption and all that Aimee and I have (and are continuing to) learned. This morning I woke up earlier than I really needed to, but that's usual for me. Once I get adjusted my alarm clock gets me up by 6am no matter the zone. As I lay in bed and prayed for the team His words poured over me. I will praise His name because He is faithful! I asked and received. I sought, He answered!!

Once I have given the devotional tomorrow I will post it in more detail. Be praying for today. The families will begin arriving this afternoon, we will have some fun times working with the kids while their parents settle in (pray for the rain to stop so we can be outside), and then Kevin will preach the first service. Pray that hearts will already be softened!

God is good!

Blessings,
Chris

P.S. It is beautiful here! We walked yesterday afternoon a couple miles to a a nearby village just to stretch our legs. I will hopefully have more pictures to post from today.

Tired and sleeplessness

I wanted to write another post while there seems to be a little down time. I'm starting this on the flight, and I'll probably finish and post it either from the airport in Amsterdam or our camp (where we will be blessed with WiFi). Of course I'm a little tired. You can't be on a flight for nine hours where you change 7 time zones and not feel a little jet-lagged. But, I am so excited to see what God is going to do! I have been running over and over in my head a lot of things, but there are a few things I've been praying and thinking about.

I serve a mighty and awesome God! He has changed me and allowed me to be a vessel for His glory. I have spent some time on this flight making some additional notes for my testimony. As many of you know now, my paternal grandpa was diagnosed this week with stage 4 terminal cancer. How great to know this hope that we have. And how great to know that God can take a prodigal and use him to lead people to be His disciples.

God, how do I show these people your love? I know some of the situations and problems that are occurring, but how do I be God's love to these people? In the Disciple's Cross there is a resource that stems from the verses John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." God, help me to love them no matter their (or my) circumstances just as you have loved me.

Lord, give me your words. As seems to be happening more, I have been given several opportunities to speak. I will give my testimony, share the Disciple's Cross, and lead a devotional for our team. Through all of these I pray that I speak nothing but truth guided by the Spirit. I also pray that if there is another opportunity that His Spirit will fill my heart and guide my tongue.

God, go before us. You are our champion and Savior. You can change the hearts of people long before we are on the ground. I pray that the ground that we scatter the seed of your Word on is fertile. When the seed is planted, water it. Draw people unto You as we continue to praise you and lift up the name of your Son.

Blessings,
Chris Esau

Mission for our Family

Tomorrow is travel day. We leave late in the afternoon, fly all night, and arrive late morning on Thursday in the Netherlands. We're excited to once again have this opportunity to serve God and others. It was easier to say 'Yes' to God about missions this year, but God has been stretching Aimee and me to begin saying yes to new things. "Do you want to follow me?" he asks. So, what does it mean to say yes? What will we have to give up? What do we gain?

When I wrote about our mission trip a couple days ago I shared a couple verses that may not have clicked with all we are doing (unless you know the 'rest of the story'). I want to share part of that with you today and how it fits in with our mission in a few weeks.

These verses talk about how God's heart and calling for us is to serve widows, orphans, and those in the world who are hurting. God led us to work with the Armenians because He also led us to adopt, but also because the Armenian people are hurting and lost. I've written about the situations these people are living under. God says we are supposed to be a voice crying out for those that can't cry out for themselves. This means praying for them, but it also means getting our feet and hands dirty by going and doing. So, these verses are a calling on Aimee's and my life to serve the Armenians this coming week, but they are also our calling as Christians to stand up for orphans and the oppressed.

What greater way to learn about God's love for us as His adopted children than to have the opportunity and calling to adopt? We've said "YES!" to God's prompting. It's not been easy. We've read the Bible, read blogs, perused books, listened to sermons... all pointing us to this simple truth: "God wants us to love the little treasures He made." Saying yes to God has meant that we follow His plan for our lives and for those He would lead us to adopt. Our part in living out our 'yes' or staying in our sweet spot means that we sacrifice dreams of our 'plan' for a family. We give them up for a greater purpose (and joy) of God's plan.

So, what have I been reading? There are two ideas that have been slinging around in my head for this year. How do I live God's will and plan for my life? How do I fulfill His purpose?

1. Live within your "yes": Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, "But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one." Think about this beyond your word as a Christian. This means more than doing what you say you will do. This means that God has a purpose for your life. If you aren't living His 'yes' for your life, your are in sin! I've been seeking God's 'yes' for my life and making sure that I stay away from the no (even if they're good things!).
2. Stay in your sweet spot: Steven Furtick says that people have innate talents and gifts that are our comfort zone. These are easy to do, but they don't stretch us. He then says that there is 'la-la land'. This is outside any purpose of God in our life. It might be good things, but they aren't what God intends for us. The 'sweet spot' is where God has gifted us as Christians. The sweet spot is more than we can do on our own. It can be very uncomfortable, but it's where we knock it out of the park! It's where the Spirit takes over. Where is my sweet spot? What is it that I'm really good at because God has gifted me through His Spirit? Where can I knock it out of the park for His glory and fame? 

So, this year I'm looking to knock it out of the park by living God's purpose for my life. That means crying out to Him for the widows, orphans, and oppressed of the world. That means adopting little treasures into our family. That means standing up for the downtrodden.

This "Mission for Our Family" title has two meanings: It's about Aimee and me as a family, but it also means our mission as the family of God.

If you would like more information on what I've been reading, please see Mike Glenn's blog and book over at http://www.mikeglennonline.com/ or see Steven Furtick's excellent video clip of his message at http://www.stevenfurtick.com/sermon-clips/the-secret-to-staying-in-your-sweet-spot/.

We'll post more pictures and entries while we're away. Be looking for them!

Blessings!
Chris Esau

The Netherlands and the Armenian People

Last time I wrote here we are struggling with where we should go on mission. I wrote posts from my trip to Paris and the Netherlands. Last year we were able to travel to Paris in the summer to assist the Han Chinese reach their community. We can’t thank you enough for your support (both through prayers and financial gifts). We love the church there and are excited about all God is doing to bring people out of some very terrible situations and to build house churches. However, God is leading us this year to work with another group of people in Europe. We will travel (again in July) to work with the Armenian people in the Netherlands.

Let me explain a little about who we are ministering to. The Armenians are considered the first Christian nation. We are going to minister to a people who believe that Christianity is their birthright not a personal relationship. Also, these people lived many years under Soviet rule, and now, though they are called a democratic nation, the country runs like an oligarchy of several mob families. The corruption in government is deep and wide-spread. This is a situation many are attempting to escape for there is little hope for them and their families.

The Netherlands is a country where they have an ‘open’ policy for immigration. This policy looks good to the Europeans, but let us explain exactly what conditions they are under (and why we are looking forward to sharing with them the hope of Christ and His love). When people apply for Dutch asylum or citizen status they are put into camps which have many bungalows. When I was over there earlier this year they were bringing in more trailer homes put close together to support the number of people. Inside these bungalows are 3 rooms, one bathroom, and a common living/kitchen area. Often there are 3 families in these bungalows each of a different nationality. They are not allowed to travel very far or to even work. They are given food and shelter while they wait for the government to decide if they will be granted citizenship. 

They wait in these camps with little to do, some for 10 years, before hearing their fate. When they get a ‘yes’ they are given an apartment, a job, and assistance to meet all citizenship requirements. When they get a ‘no’ the country moves them to a prison near the Rotterdam airport to await extradition back to their country of origin. Yes, whole families are in these prisons.

Can you imagine a dad working and saving to get his family out of Armenia and the situations there just to wait for 4 to 10 years for small hope of asylum? Can you imagine their sadness and brokenness when denied that hope? For us this trip is about loving on families, showing them there is love and hope by spending time with them, and of course sharing true eternal hope with Jesus.

We will have a whole weekend where we ‘check out’ about 160 people from these camps, bring them to a retreat where we cook with them, play sports, sing and share Bible stories with them. It will be like the big family reunion my family does every two years. We will also get to visit an individual camp for door to door witnessing after the weekend retreat.

The Armenian people are SO loving. I got to go to the Netherlands earlier this year to begin laying the groundwork for the trips to Paris and the Netherlands this year. While there I saw the love of the people, how much family and hospitality meant to them, how in need of hope they are, and just how must they yearn for an answer. One family he met is being split (the mother and one son are staying, the father and another son were denied), another family is dealing with cancer, but praise God He has put 3 young, passionate Christian men in that camp. These young men (of Bungalow 90) are such a blessing! We are excited to meet them again to see how God is using them to reach the Dronten camp.

God is faithful! He has blessed our lives so much through missions, through His Word, and through everything He is teaching us. We long to be doing only the work He has for us each and every day. We give thanks to Him for strength, power, blessing, mercy, and direction.

Our verse for this year is found in Psalm 68. Unless you know the rest of our story this won't make complete sense. (There will be another blog post about that shortly.) However, this verse for the mission trip means that we are are seeking to honor God by being a champion for those people who don't have a voice. These Armenian people need to hear hope, see love, and know that God is there for them. You can see that these people don't have homes (though the government gives them a shelter), the feel deserted, and they are often distressed. 

“God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity.” Psalm 68: 5-6a

Another verse that follows closely is found in James.

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27

Blessings!

Chris Esau

Where?

Where should we go?

That question has been on my mind and heart since returning from my trip. Aimee and I are praying and seeking that answer. I've had the privilege to share with some what amazing things God did on this trip. But, I think one of the most amazing things for me is that God began to show me what Jesus meant in Luke 11:9-10.

"So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9, 10 HCSB)

I know that the answer is always to do and be in God's will, so I am earnestly seeking that. Jesus spoke in Luke 11 about asking, searching, and knocking. He said it takes persistence. God wants to give us good gifts. He wants to answer our questions. He wants to reveal His will. But are we really seeking it out? Do we out any effort into knowing and finding out where God is at work?

Is our search like the term paper in college that we put off until the last moment? We frantically try and find all the references and then fill in the pages with drivel (striving for a passing grade but with no real learning). I have to be honest. I didn't prepare for this trip as deeply as I wanted to. The cares of this world often got in the way so that I didn't take the time. Paise God that he was still faithful to answer my small prayers with big blessings.

Or is our search like falling in love with the spouse God gifted to you? You can't spend enough time with them as you get to know each aspect of their life and history. You ask questions to see the other person's character and how they respond. You seek to understand their love language. You pursue passionately.

How is my love for God acting out lately? I will pursue with passion and fervor these answers and treasures until they are mine to share with a dying world.

Instead of asking where should we go, maybe the question is where will God take us? And will we say yes to wherever He leads?

Chris