Testimonies from Kenya and Uganda

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Carl

These are some of the testimonies that have come in since my arrival back in the US.

From Kitale, Kenya:

Greetings in Jesus name.Hope these email finds you well in the lord there.Thanks very much for coming to Africa.Thanks for speaking to my life prophetically.Today i have been given a lot of Testimonies after i announced yesterday in the church that i have heard the voice of God and he has given me the direction in the ministry that the lord has called me to do.The ministry of worship that he has put on my life.Many of the people have testified on how these ministry of worship has affected their lives and they are wondering how the lord is doing through these worship.We have met with those three pastors today during lunch time,we prayed together and also we prayed for your journey.Apostle Stephen reminded me to tell you that we shall be organizing together pastors and leaders conference here in Kitale town on August.Our target is to have 1000 pastors to come for the conference.I will give you the schedule of august when i finish working together.i have read the book that you gave me and i have come a cross some powerful messages,experience is a good teacher and i have discovered that it is true.I will be sharing with you testimonies as we communicate.Have a safe journey with powerful meditations.

Also from Kitale, Kenya –

We were honored to have you minister in our church during your mission trip to Africa.The lord is continuing to do incredible things in our church.We are seeing great move of God in our church members and church leaders.

From a denominational leader in Uganda –

Greetings in jesus name.Thanks for your message sent to me

Truly you have helped opur people especially in such trainings of bible shool.

I do really see the need to work as a team so as to accomplish what God has planned to do through us.

Please Sir,your input is very essential in such a nation for the welfare of the gospel to go forward.

There are many fields to team up together and allow God to be lifted through us.

Testimonies from Kenya and Uganda –

Thank you for your worm love. We bless the lord for your previous trip to East Africa.We ware tremendously blessed with your ministry. Mary my wife was completely healed from her back pain up to now, she doesn’t complain of any pain like she used to be. She does her regular work without any problem at all. We bless our God for what He did through you in Africa. The lord came before you to prepare the hearts that is why there was open reception of your apostolic teaching and receiving of the revelation of the mystery as referred to Ephesians 3;4-6 We saw the lord doing awesome work in Africa through you as many saints, pastors and church leaders received the grace of revelation and understanding.
Many had a transforming experience in both their lives and ministry as radical as the new birth.
In every meeting you ministered, the people received your teaching and received the lord as he came with conviction, releasing impartation of grace and through confirming signs and wonders.

The man you prayed for him in Uganda testified that the power of God did touch him when he heard your voice through the microphone from a two kilometer distance where he was drinking local brew (alcohol) Something within him told him to leave drinking and run to the church, he run so fast that people though he was mad. He found you had just stopped preaching and came strait to the pulpit and gave his life to Jesus.
This was the power of God. Hell had a blackout in Uganda. Demons and devils trembled as God of Glory moved in these darkest sites of the world. God is begging to raise an army who will match forward in His grace, putting hell in mess and establishing His kingdom in these days. Hallelujah!!

I have received several testimonies of healing, breakthroughs, deliverance, salvation and many incredible things that the lord did across Kenya and Uganda.

I want to share with you one from the pastor in Uganda and I will send to you many soon.

Pastor Stephen-Bukwo PCM church-Uganda
I had never experience the power of the Holy Spirit in my life until the servant of God Rev Carl Willis laid his hands on me and anointed my head with oil. For the first time the power of God touched me. I felt like fire burning from my toes to the head. My body shook terribly and there was an inner peace.
Also for my church we had never witness such a move of God, for the first time the Holy Spirit entered our church in power. He was awesome to see Him deliver a lady who was possessed with evil spirit. Such a thing had never happened in my church.

I saw everybody running in front with desperation of meeting with Jesus. The whole church was prayed for. The last two Sunday, the lord has blessed us tremendously and He has raised different ministries that we never had in our church. We acknowledge that we were so religious and we had never given the Holy Spirit a room. We are now enjoying the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit. We bless the lord for sending you to us. Indeed it was the Macedonia call of Paul.

More testimonies from Uganda –

The lord is still healing and delivering.there is this lady who attended our our meeting and invited us for a diner.Whose son got saved,the one came running to recieve jesus Christ.She had been abundoned by her husband for 30 years.The family you prayed with them at night whose daughter has been cribbled.

She shared with me that her husband came back to her.She is not only happy for her husband but also for the salvation of her son.

people are so happy for what the lord did.

There is this lady also from kenya who had growth in her stomatch.She had gone to many hospitals seeking for medical solutions but it never beared any fruit.She took your word by faith.

She got healed.She is now eating the foods she was told not test or eat.She has resummed to her work.She is a primary teacher.And many Rev that pen can not write.

Services, Graduation, etc…

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Carl

The following links are from the services and conferences I led during my time in Kenya and Uganda.

May 8th evening in Kitale

May 9th evening in Kitale

May 10th morning in Kitale

Youth & Leader’s conferences May 10th afternoon

Kitale Pastor’s Conference May 11th

May 12th & 13th services in Kapchesoy, Uganda

May 14th in Kapchesoy, Uganda

May 16th first graduating class of Redeemer Bible College in Bukwo District, Uganda

No lights, no pavement, no internet…

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Carl

The lengths a man will go to in his search for internet service

I just returned to Kitale this evening after 5 days in Uganda. My time in Uganda was amazing and the Western side of this country is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We entered into Uganda after crossing the Suam river. The pavement on the Kenya side stops 30-40 KM prior to the Ugandan border. This is also the rainy season in Eastern Africa, and so our drive into Uganda was more like a mud run…I was really yearning for my pickup. Not to worry though, my driver John is the best wheel man in East Africa if not the world. John is very patient and very good with his vehicle, even in the most unusual places we continued to find ourselves. Not only is John a great driver, but he is also an amazing believer in Christ and one of the greatest encouragements I have had on this trip.

Ugandan children and John Juma my driver

As we arrived in Uganda last Tuesday evening, it was raining heavily, so our arrival in Kapsechoy was delayed. When we got to the church in Kapsechoy, the church was still about half full of people worshipping, singing and dancing. The amazing part of this whole scene was the fact that they were doing this in the dark. Eventually we hooked up a light bulb to a generator and I spoke for a few moments of introduction. We then returned to our guest house located in a national forest along the Uganda/Kenya border. Interestingly enough this is also a military outpost, so I always had park rangers and soldiers stationed around the premises.

Wednesday we began our first full day of services with the church in Kapchesoy. The Spirit of God was moving so strongly, that Pastor Adams asked me to preach again immediately after the invitation. During this service many came forward for prayer. In the coming days, we would hear of many miracles that had happened as God touched the lives in that service.

The other highlight of Wednesday was the great “Marathon Chicken” incident. Pastor Adams had prepared me that the chicken I would be eating in Uganda was known long distance running, just like their people. He had prepared me that the chicken is some of the toughest you could ever eat. On Wednesday, he saw a young man carrying a rooster, so we stopped and Pastor Adams offered to buy it. When we got into Suam, he went to pay the young man for the chicken. The door to the van was opened and when I looked over the backseat, I could see the chicken still walking around. As soon as Pastor Adams returned to the van, the chicken made a run for it and the great chicken chase was on. Pastor Adams was outwitted many times by the chicken and none of the locals would help, because they were too busy looking at the white man. Fortunately for Pastor Adams, the chicken ran into a store and was finally captured. We both are certain we heard the chicken yelling….”The muzungu won’t eat me…the muzungu won’t eat me.”

Pastor Adams recovers the runaway marathon chicken

On Thursday I was taken on a tour of Bukwo District. A couple of things really stand out as you tour the country. Again the beauty of the land is breathtaking. Also you begin to see the fear that has dominated the lives of many of these people. Bukwo District is home to the Sebei tribe of people. Across the Kenyan border is a rival tribe call the Poikot. The Poikot are known for walking around completely naked. In 2003, a Poikot raiding party violated a peace agreement between the two tribes and entered into Bukwo District. They ended up burning down many homes and killing 25 people. It was because of this action that Bukwo District was formed and the military outpost was established. Even with these measures may of the Sebei refuse to build permenant housing for themselves fearing another raid. On a lighter note, is the fascination that Ugandan people have with a white man. As we would drive down the road you would repeatedly hear kids yelling “muzungu, muzungu.” I was so humored by it that I wrote the “Muzungu Song” for those riding in the van with me.

Kapsechoy Church

Thursday afternoon, I preached again at the church in Kapchesoy and also enjoyed a meal in the home of the pastor David and his wife Violet. During the afternoon service, a young man stepped forward to give his life to Christ. The church erupted in celebration. The pastor informed me that this young man was the most notorious troublemaker in his village, known for drunkeness and violence. In the evening I preached our first service in Suam. Suam is the border town at the Kenya/Uganda border. It is known primarily for the cooking of alcohol and rampant drunkneness. During this service two women came forward to give their lives to Christ. I later learned that one of the women was the most well known prostitute in the village. I found Suam to be very spiritually oppressive when I preached and actually have come to recognize it spiritually as the most difficult place in the world that I have ever spoken.

Friday we toured some additional areas of Bukwo and had lunch with Robert, one of the Bible College students in his home. Friday afternoon we once again returned to the church in Kapsechoy. Before I began preaching I asked for testimonies. Immediately two men came up to give their lives to Christ, their decision influenced by their friend the day before. Once again the church erupted into celebration. As I gave the invitation that afternoon, another woman came and fell on her face weeping, seeking to know the saving love of Jesus. That evening I preached again in Suam. No one responded to the invitation and one came seeking prayer…a hardened place indeeed.

Saturday was the day I had come to be a part of. It was time for our Bible College graduates to be recognized. The principal of the college had borrowed gowns from a college in Kitale, mine of course was about 2 sizes two small…what do you expect, I’m 2 sizes too big. There was great excitement with this event. Government officials came, leaders of denominations came and many friends and family. The Bible College is the first institution of higher learning of any kind to ever come to Bukwo District. One government official said he never thought he would see the garments of graduates in this district. He also pledged to become a student in the next year’s session. In all 30 students graduated. The class had originally started with 72, so this was indeed a tremendous milestone.

Graduates of Redeemer Bible College

The other highlight for me Saturday was the arrival of my friend Kibunga Stephen from Kalege Baptist Church on the other side of Uganda. Stephen and I have been communicating back and forth online for about 5 years now. I told him, I was going to be in Uganda, and so he made a very sacrificial effort to join me. We have had a wonderful time talking face to face for the first time.

Kibunga Steven and I at Bukwo PCM

I was finally able to get cell phone service on Saturday and talked to Carol for the first time in 4 days and Collin and Caitlyn for the first time since I had left the US.

Sunday was another busy day. I started the morning by preaching the early service at the Suam PCM Church. The Lord gave me a deeply moving word for the church and when the invitation was given, nearly 20 people came forward weeping, seeking to return to their first love. This was the first time I had felt any type of true spiritual breakthrough in this village. We left Suam and returned to Bukwo, where I preached at the Bukwo PCM church. The pastor commented that he never in his life would have imagined a white man visiting their church. This church has a giving spirit that is evidenced in their willingness to host the Bible College. The service was full and the presence of God was once again overwhelming. When I began praying for those coming forward, the whole front of the church was full. As I was praying I laid hands on a woman, who immediately began to writhe and scream as I anointed her head with oil. She began rolling around on the floor violently, at which time Pastor Adams rebuked the demon within her to leave. By the time she sat up she was calm and in her right mind. This time of prayer lasted nearly 45 minutes, because so many were coming forward. In the afternoon, I spent my time with the local pastors. The graduation of the Bible College had been the first time they had come together, this was the second.

The Kenya/Uganda border

I am now once again in Kitale, Kenya and reflecting on the past 12 days. I see that my role here has been two-fold. God has used me to bring revival to places that desperately needed a fresh touch from the Lord. More importantly the Lord has allowed me to be the catalyst to join the servants of God together for the common work of the Kingdom.

Today I will be travelling to Nairobi with Pastor Adams and John. John made us a remarkable offer to take me to Nairobi, so he could spend a little more time with me. We will spend our time today fellowshipping and tomorrow we will strategize for the future. Tomorrow evening I catch a plane bound for Amsterdam and began counting the moments until I am reunited with my loved ones.

Filling in the blanks

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Carl

I’ve now had some time to process the events of the weekend and wanted to share them with you.

After Pastor Adams and I left the museum on Saturday we went to the church where I preached an afternoon session on temptation, using the temptation of Jesus as the passage to teach from. During the afternoon session several came forward to make commitments of renewal and repentance. When I was done preaching, a local pastor from the mountains, Apostle Musa Kibet, stood and began to speak. He taught the congregation a Swahili song he had written that talks about the greatness of God, being greater than all other things.

As Musa was singing, the Lord impressed upon me two things that needed to happen in the evening. The first was that Musa needed to lead the congregation in that song and that he needed to lead out in worship. The second thing was that I needed to solicit the testimonies of the people as part of the worship. When this service was over the people were asking if we could just go straight through until the next service later in the evening; however, it was decided that we should break for dinner.

While we were at dinner the Lord prompted me that I needed to preach on the healing of Naaman. The Lord also directed me that I needed to get alone with Him in prayer. I informed my hosts, that as soon as possible I needed to return to the church and spend some time before the Lord, that I believed something great was going to happen.

After dinner we returned to the church. Pastor Adams, Pastor Wachira and his wife Esther joined me, each of us praying individually. I could hear Pastor Adams weeping and his prayers in English were just as clear as if he were a native English speaker. In his prayers I could hear him weeping.

As I was praying the Lord told me that He would reveal His healing presence in the service tonight. He told me to not be intimidated by any condition, but to trust that His hand would be at work. He also told me that the Esther had a word for me. When I inquired of Esther as to what the Lord had been speaking to her, she responded that He had shown her that His Spirit was falling upon the people and that miracles would occur during this service.

We then joined hands and consecrated ourselves as vessels in the Lord’s hands.

When I walked out to the platform, I observed the worship team on their knees with their faces to the floor, weeping as they were singing. I was overcome with an overpowering joy and began to weep, the only words coming from my mouth were “Thank You Jesus.”

The people were visibly moved by the presence of God. Some were prostrate, others had their hands raised, many were weeping.

Once the worship in music was finished, many came forward giving testimonies of God removing obstacles, so they could attend. Many talked of delivery from physical symptoms and others talked about the birthing of revival in their hearts. As I prepared to speak, Pastor Musa approached me and said: “You are to pray for the sick tonight, God is going to use the testimonies of healing from this service tonight, to fuel His the worship of His presence tomorrow.”

Before I spoke the Lord led me to pray for the removal of the spirit of stubbornness and the spirit of unbelief. Applause rang out as this prayer was prayed. I then proceeded to teach for the next hour on the healing of Naaman and the importance of his obedience in seeing the power of God in his life.

When it was over the Lord directed me to begin praying for the sick and those who needed deliverance. The Lord prompted me to have Pastor Musa, Pastor Wachira and Pastor Adams lay hands on the sick with me, as I prayed.

The second person I laid hands immediately fell when I said “In Jesus name…”

I have seen God do many amazing things, but have never had anyone become dead weight under my hands. In this first round of prayer, I prayed over some 40 people…this falling out occurred one other time as I prayed over the sick.

As I finished praying, Pastor Adams said that we needed to call everyone forward to pray for the fire of revival to take hold in each of their lives. As he called them forward, Pastor Musa began to lead worship in song. One woman screamed out and began to weep. Then each of the minister went through the crowd touching each person, asking for the fire of revival to come upon each one. As these prayers were prayed weeping was heard throughout the congregation and 2 or 3 others went to the floor.

As I finished praying all I could do was weep and cry out “Thank You Jesus.” It was now 11:30PM and many were crying out, could we continue on. We told them to go and testify, so that others would be present on Sunday morning.

When I got back to my room, I found myself weeping again. I could not even record my video journal, I was so shaken…I told the Lord, I don’t know what just happened there…but I have never felt You so strongly. Please let me continue to walk in the intensity of your presence.

Sunday morning as I came to the platform, there was a line of visitors standing in front of the church. Each one was stating that they had come, because they had heard of the miracles that had happened as the “man of God” had spoken.

Following a lengthy time of worship many came and gave testimonies of new commitments, new insights into God’s Word and testimonies of healing. One of these testimonies was from Pastor Wachira’s oldest son. Immediately when I had prayed for him, the holes in his diseased teeth had filled in.

As the testimonies were ending one of the elders placed a clock on the podium. I told Pastor Adams: “I hope that me, because I won’t be looking at it.” Pastor Wachira laughed as I told him, that I would quit speaking when God was finished.

I preached on the healing of the blind man, and Jesus revelation to him, that He was the Messiah. I reminded the congregation, that the purpose of God’s miracles is to remind us that He is fully capable of cleansing us from our sin and unrighteousness. The purpose of the miracle is to strengthen our faith and bear witness to the lost.

At the invitation another 6-8 people came forward for prayer and commitment.

During the afternoon I spoke with teenagers and church leaders. My time of teaching with the church leaders was so life impacting that Pastor Wachira made notes for each of his church leaders.

Yesterday morning and afternoon I met with approximately 30 church leaders. Pastor Adams again had me speak from the things I had taught the previous afternoon. I could see many pastors taking notes and I later learned that this was the first meeting of this kind attended by that many local pastors in Kitale. I spoke greatly to them about their need to co-labor with one another for the sake of God’s Kingdom. I took them through practical exercises of accountability, co-laboring and mentoring.

During my teaching on co-laboring, I shared my own victories and defeats and then I invited others to share. Pastor Musa spoke up and shared that his heart was torn. He was struggling with preaching and teaching, wondering if he was even truly called to be a minister. I asked others to speak into his life and the room was silent, when all of the sudden the Lord prompted me. I told Pastor Musa that I believed he was truly called of the Lord, but that he was not operating in the strength of his call. I went on to tell him, that I saw in him a passion for worship and a capability to bring groups of people to the throne of the Lord through song. I told him, that although he has a shepherd’s heart, the preaching ministry was not his call and was therefore causing him inner turmoil. I challenged him to groom a Timothy to take over the preaching duties. I then asked the group, since many knew him if I was speaking truth? Their heads nodded in agreement. Pastor Musa then cried out to a friend and mentor to speak what he and his wife had already told Musa. It was exactly what I had spoken.

2 Days and Counting

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Carl

It is hard to believe that in 2 days I will board a plane here in Corpus Christi and spend the next 24 hours making my way to Africa. This trip has me lit up with anticipation of all that God seeks to do in Kenya and Uganda, but more importantly in me. This is not my first mission trip overseas alone, but there is a difference this time. I have a greater awareness this go around of my full dependence upon God.

Those who pray for me and give regular counsel are all saying similar things. Each one reiterating the understanding that this trip is the Lord’s doorway into the next chapter of my ministry call and my walk with Him. The Lord has spent the last several months taking me through the process of complete surrender to Him. Every step of faith has been a practical exercise in drawing closer to Him.

The word the Lord has given me for this journey is “steadfastness.” I will be speaking to these Christian leaders about examples of standing firm…Moses, Joseph, Daniel and others. This word is also for me. The Lord has been teaching me how to stand firm, even when it seems nearly impossible.

When I return, we will be considering our next steps as a ministry. The Lord has been speaking to me about “mobility” in serving the body and we find ourselves through the transitions of life once again honed down to a core nucleus in our ministry. The Lord is at work, but He has not yet fully revealed His plan for Simplicity in the days to come.

Living in a War Zone

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Carl

We often forget that the lives we know are really in the middle of a battle zone for the soul. Jesus has already won the victory, but not everyone knows that and so the enemy does his best to lure, deceive and taunt. His lies are smooth, but they have destructive result.

Tonight was one of those nights in our home. Our house guest just wanted to stay in bed this evening, even though we were supposed to be at Organic Group. She became rebellious and defiant with Carol and would not speak to me. It was time for Carol and I to gird ourselves up and stand in the gap. The triggering mechanism was a lies of hopelessness and the need for comfort…”a cigarette sure would help, you can’t make it without them.”

For nearly an hour we spoke truth and prayed over our guest. At one point she told me she wanted to return to the street, because she couldn’t handle it anymore. After an exhausting exchange, love won out. The Lord once again broke through the lies and darkness, allowing our guest to see the truth of the love around her. She broke down in tears, having trouble understanding how people could love her enough to fight for her.

Of course the enemy wasn’t quite done yet. Our Organic Group host and her brother are both smokers. Bless his heart, he has a learning disability and in his charming, simple way he offered our guest a cigarette. She stood firm…battle #1 over and done. She then went to the kitchen to get more coffee and there on the counter was a pack of cigarettes. She began to tailspin once again. So we gathered around her, prayed and got beyond it. On the way home, she began to realize that she had been under the influence of a spirit that was not hers and she also recognized that she had been victorious.

Our guest doesn’t know much about God or Jesus, but He is showing her great things about His love for her. After our guest went to bed, I had to remind my wife that she too was victorious. We are both being stretched. This is not the ministry assignment we originally signed up for, but it is the one God has given us and for that we are grateful.

In the Presence of Witnesses

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Carl

Today, I found myself wrestling with the question of mycall and my role in it. The Lord has been calling me to focus more attention on the call, but I have been fearful that because of our current difficult circumstances, I was being neglectful in my role as a father and husband.

This morning I was ministered to by a council of Godly co-laborers. One dear brother, as he was leaving looked at me and said: “1 Peter 5:10.” One of the other men asked, “Why did he say that to you?” I responded, “We’re about to find out…”

1 Peter 5:10 (NASB)

10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

We then began to talk about our yoking to Jesus and how our burdens are lessened as we work in tandem with Him. Another man then shared a story of a friend who followed the Lord’s direction, but continued to miss what he thought he was looking for. It was pointed out that faithfulness and obedience was what the Lord was seeking…not the completion of a task. Many times the difficult places and circumstances we find ourselves in are not due to bad choices, sin or any other heinous action. The real reason we find ourselves in that place is because we have simply followed Jesus there.

Over the course of the afternoon, I found my resolve being wishy-washy. Carol began to speak to me about the refinement process and its preparation of my life for the things ahead, but she emphasized my calling and my work were already clearly defined. During our Organic Group tonight, I asked “Where do you most need to experience the powerful presence of God in your life tonight?” Carol’s answer once again returned to the refinement process and call of our previous conversation. Carol asked the Lord to empower me with a committed Spirit that would not waver under an adversity to the work He has already laid before me.

As we spent a few moments in silence, I was reminded of Elisha:

1 Kings 19:19-21 (NASB)

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

It was very clear to me as the old hymn says: “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.” With this prompting from the Lord I made a public commitment to throw myself wholeheartedly into the task He has given me and to discontinue asking about other “work.” The Lord impressed upon me that I needed to have the group annoint my head with oil and pray over me in affirmation of this commitment.

By the way, today’s miraculous provision was the bed of my pickup full of groceries while I was praying with the council of Godly men.

At Least the Rent is Paid

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Carl

Today was another day of seeing God’s amazing provisions at work. We woke up this morning unsure of whether or not we would be able to pay the rent and God provided. There are still needs that are before Him in prayer, but hey at least we can continue to enjoy the provision of a home.

Over the past few days the Lord has been giving me a vision for South Bluff Park and the neighborhood in which Simplicity is located. I had the opportunity to share these thoughts with a like minded acquaintance and his eyes lit up as we talked.

The principles of the vision are pretty “simple”…imagine that. First and foremost is the need to live out authentic Christian community in front of the neighborhood. My thoughts are gravitating towards weekly worship in the park, led by a variety of churches. Each week would conclude with a meal and then care and maintenance of the park.

The second part of this vision is revitalization of the area through volunteerism. My thoughts here are to join with the city to form an enterprise zone. Any business that is willing to located in this part of town would be offered tax incentives and volunteer help for cleaning, painting, sheet rock, etc… by local church volunteers.

These thoughts are very much in their infancy, but the Lord gave me an example to pattern after when I was in Pittsburgh, through the ministry of John Stanley and the Uncommon Grounds Cafe.

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding…

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Carl

For the past 6-8 weeks or so, the Lord has continued to give Carol, myself and our intercessor the same passage of scripture as we would go before Him.

Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.

This scripture always seemed to be present when we were praying about our housing situation. Every time we would hear this verse we would see so many different ways it could be applied to our search, but we just weren’t getting any further clarity on where we needed to be looking.

A few weeks ago, my business partner asked me if I would consider living in a mobile home and he even went so far as to go on a fact finding mission for me at a local mobile home park. As doors continued to close in front of Carol and I we decided to explore this option. Last night Carol and the kids toured several parks, but came away without a real sense of peace about any of the trailers they looked at. So today, being our only real day to look we decided to go back to one of the parks after looking at some houses this morning that just didn’t fit.

She showed me the trailer she had looked at the night before, but both of us came away with the same sense that this particular trailer wasn’t our answer. As we were driving away, she pointed out an attractive double-wide that was for sale by owner at the far end of the trailer park. We called the number on the sign, and low and behold they were home (I must warn you, there is a twist in the unfolding of events…you haven’t solved the case yet Sherlock Holmes). We went inside and met the owners who were moving due to the husband’s terminal illness and his need for in home care. As I looked around, the trailer was nice, but there were large gaps between the two halves of the trailer and part of the ceiling was breaking away from water damage. This wasn’t it either.

Carol and I left, dumbfounded and asking ourselves “now what?” As we were driving away, the phone rang. It was the wife from the trailer we had just been in. She told Carol that her sister, who had been at the trailer when we were there, had a house on Padre Island that had been wrecked by the previous tenants. She said that if we were willing to paint and clean carpets she would be willing to reduce the rental. As we turned back around, I told Carol: “this sounds like a God thing taking shape.”

When we returned to the trailer, we were met by the sister of the trailer owner’s wife. She jumped in the van and said, “let me show you the house.” As we drove towards Padre Island, we learned that her husband had passed away a couple of years ago and that she didn’t want to live there anymore. She said the previous tenants had ruined the carpets and the walls, requiring a lot of elbow grease.

When we arrived, we found a 4 bedroom brick home with a pool and ample space for our Organic Groups. The work needed was primarily clean up and cosmetic. When I asked her what she wanted for rent and she named what our price range was. When I asked her what the work was worth, she indicated that it was worth at least one month’s rent, but she also stated her need for some rental income from it. I told her what we were currently paying and asked her if we could pay her that same amount for February and March, discounting for the clean up work. We agreed to begin paying the full rental amount in April. She suggested we put it in writing, so on a notepad we drew up those terms and she handed us the key. No pet deposit, no rental deposit and just what we needed when we need it.

God being the loving Father that He is, went far above what we needed. Placing us 3 blocks from my favorite fishing spot, giving me a place to exercise daily with my favorite activity…swimming! And by positioning us on the Island, our ministry now has placement in 3 key areas of Corpus Christi.

God is so awesome…please take a moment and give Him your best “just gotta praise You dance.”

Caution…Contents Under Extreme Pressure!

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Carl

I have now come to refer to the year 2008 as my year of deconstruction. It was during 2008 that the Lord took me through the most painful, yet most freeing journey of my spiritual life with one question: “Am I the Lord of every kingdom of your heart.” 2008 was so painful and so challenging on so many levels that I was ready to breathe easier as the calendar rolled to 2009; however, as we come towards the home stretch of January, I am quickly realizing that there are miles to go before I am ready to fit the vision that God has given me for Simplicity.

We have known for some time that we would need to move at the end of January. As we have been praying for God’s clear direction for our next place, the suggestions have been many. Move here, do this, try this, go this way, etc… Some seemed as though they were of God’s leading, but as we followed their path, we did not find God’s provision at the end. So here we are 8 days away from needing to move. We have no clear direction, $60 in our bank account, a vacant house in Pennsylvania and the list goes on. These first weeks of our business endeavors drain more money than they bring in and our peace has been fragile at best.

Yesterday, as I learned of a costly mistake I had made in our finances, that fragile peace fell apart. A few more hailstones of bad news were lobbed into the mix and once again, I found myself like Peter, drowning in a sea of circumstances. It isn’t where I wanted to be…I was begging forgiveness even as I was sinking, because I knew my eyes were off of the Master. Try as I might, I could not get my eyes locked on, all I could do was gasp and hurt.

Yesterday afternoon, I spent time with some of the wisest men I know or have ever had the privilege of interacting with. For the past two years, this group of men has walked together, each of us sharpening one another. During our time, one of my closest advisers, brought our attention back to a passage that has captivated him for years (I’ve underlined the part that was meant for me in these days of refining):

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NASB)

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;
10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

These words were both comforting and distressing at the same time. This is the Apostle Paul speaking to us…being very transparent. In Carl’s loose translation he is saying: “We were so over our heads, that we didn’t want to live anymore…” Utter despair, overwhelmed by circumstance and paralyzed by fear…the place I’ve found myself in these past few weeks.

Well meaning people tell you…”just give it to the Lord.” I’m finding that there are times that you don’t even have strength to give it to the Lord. This also rang true with me in these words of Paul…it took a death sentence to self to bring about trust. What I find happening in my life right now seems very similar. God is putting to death all of the things that I trust in besides Him. Many of these things I never knew were there, I thought they were conquered. Unfortunately it takes severe upheaval to flesh those things out and sadly for me, it usually takes more than once.

This morning was no exception. I awoke, determined to live in God’s peace once again, but quickly found myself helplessly and ashamedly adrift on the same sea once again. God, however, did something different today as I cried and begged for peace, mercy and new focus. He didn’t immediately extend His saving hand to me, but instead He allowed the despair to run its course. From deep within flowed accusations, self righteous defiance, and challenges to God’s love for me. Even though I knew my words were wrong, I continued to shake my indignant finger and chastise the “injustice” in my life. A tidal wave of frustration, emotion, rage and fleshly sinfulness spewed forth from deep within the closets of my heart. I wanted to quit life, quit the ministry, lash out against those who have taken careless liberties with my life…my spirit grieving, knowing these things to be lies from the pit of hell, and yet they were gushing out of my inner man. As the gusher began to subside, brokenness consumed me, I wept with such pain, covered in the guilt and shame of my fleshly response….that which had been churning below the surface was now in full view and the only choice left was honesty and repentance.

These past few weeks, I have been teaching on Jesus’ interactions with the disciples. This week it was Peter’s water walking adventure. When I see Peter’s life, I find myself reflected. A man who will risk anything for God, but doesn’t always understand the cost. Why did Peter jump out of the boat? Because He being with Jesus was worth the risk. Why did he sink and why did he run? He wasn’t dead to himself at that point. Yet, Jesus knew all of this about Peter and these experiences were preparing him for the call ahead. Jesus was looking for a man who would risk everything to declare the message of Jesus, in Peter He found such a man. It would take a near drowning, 3 denials and a host of other hits, runs and errors to prepare him. Add the filling of the Holy Spirit and Peter moved from loose cannon to being the “rock” upon which Jesus established His church.

In that flood of despair this morning came an impassioned confession, that I am tapped out. My supply of strength, endurance and resources is gone. I am watching my inner strength flatline, I have no other option, but to allow God to carry me the next step.

Tonight I am seeing things through new eyes once again. These past 24 hours have truly been a failure of the flesh, but they have also been a victory of the Spirit. God cleaned out some hidden closets, crawl spaces and attic hideaways today. He allowed me to crash harder than I can remember in my lifetime. He has allowed me to see the pain in the eyes of my wife that I could not comfort and the uncertainty in the face of my children that I could not alleviate. Those things have been necessary to remind me of Paul’s words: “That we should not trust in ourselves.”

I share these things, not for your sympathy, but instead so you will watch my life to see the One 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us…once again.

Journey To Simplicity