Walking the Path God Has Set for Us
Judy Hatcher has been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France with her husband John since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
Dear Friends,
How thankful I am to be given the opportunity to share a bit of my heart today. April is a special month for me…my birthday month! I feel blessed to have a Spring birthday because the whole creation emerges after a cold, hard winter to be reborn with color, new life, beauty!
I’m also reminded of my new birth in Christ. As an innocent ten year-old, I had no idea of the wonderful life that was beginning. I also had no idea of the rocks or curves that would be in my road. I did know, however, that the One who gave His life for me would hold my hand, guide me in the dark, share my joys, never leave me and that His ways were above my ways and better than my ways.
Would I have predicted that the year 2020 would hold pandemic (as I child I didn’t even know the word!), unexpected blessings, death, new opportunities, frustration? Not a clue! But I knew the Savior and He has been more than enough! Being locked down physically did not cut me off from my Lord…rather gave me opportunity to focus more on Him. I have had the privilege of standing in awe of my Father as He has rained down unexpected blessing after blessing. He has placed people in our path to help us each step of our way. I have felt His comfort and peace as I watched my sister pass from this old earth to glory. In rather mundane ways, God has given us opportunities to share Him with people that we would have never met if it weren’t for coronavirus. But oh, the frustration! We desire to go home and yet it seems as we pass each step the next sign reads, “two more weeks!” So, once again, I must rest on His chest and realize that, just as in the past, He knows what He is doing! It’s my place to wait, to love, to walk with Him and share His love with those He puts in our path.
So, together, let’s walk the path He has set for us with joy, sharing His love with those who we encounter each step of the way.
Judy
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher@aol.com
Present USA phone 1-812-416-1033
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
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Frustrated with Delays
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.
June 28, 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Folks, life and ministry is just NOT going according to MY plans. I just can’t get a handle on things and it is frustrating me to no end. I have ministry alterations I would like to make and I can’t seem to move forward on them. My plans keep on being delayed and I can’t implement them or even move onward. I thought I would have much to write about this month and I can really only think of one word to write: Stymied. Or maybe, obstructed; blockaded; hindered; impeded. OK, that’s more like five words. But the idea is the same…I am frustrated over the delays. I want to move forward, I want to follow through with the plans I believe are from God, I want to write to you about some of the changes I wish to make and I want to see what God will do. Unfortunately, I think God is the main person I am wrestling with. It’s not that I don’t think the new direction isn’t from God. I do believe He is the one directing me. It’s just that He is not moving forward at the pace I want Him to or according to my timeframe.
You see, the main thing I want to do absolutely, positively cannot be done in my own strength or in my own power. My own ability will get me practically nowhere. Oh, I suppose that by utilizing my own severely limited abilities I might be able to build some kind of temporary human structure. But without the empowering Spirit of God demonstrating His power in this future ministry, it is simply a house of cards waiting to be blown over by the slightest wind or tremor. If there is one thing I’ve learned (I hope), it’s that without the moving of God in a ministry all my human efforts are futile. And I’m tired of starting futile endeavors, building futile ministries and trusting in the futile work of my own hands. And until God allows me to move forward I cannot outline what I think He wants me to do. That makes for a short, uninteresting, frustrating newsletter. But that’s where I’m at.
Afterward: Beloved, I have just read over my newsletter and, while I haven’t changed anything, I realize it sounds angry. I am NOT angry. Just impatient is all. I will be seeking advice from trusted counselors and friends. Grace and peace to you all.
Until next month, beloved.
May God’s peace and joy be with you.
For the glory of God in East Africa,
Roger & Julie Tate (and Amy, Josiah & Chloe)
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
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