Abundant Living

"Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice...Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
   “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
    “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Yesterday, we were asked to pray and do some relational evangelism (a fancy phrase that just means sharing life and building relatioships with neighbors, all the while bringing the love and gospel of Christ). After a slow start, two friends and I ended up going on an adventure in the jungala that led us to some very God blessed opportunities. We were able to visit with some families near our barrio who had never before been visited by missionaries; they were overjoyed to welcome us into their homes and talk with us. The story of a kind woman named Daniela particularly touched my heart. She is no longer married; her husband and one of her children now live in Guatemala City. She and her two of her sons (both around ten years old) live in a one-room house without floors or doors. She supports them by working at a funeral home near the port. She then shared with us that her youngest son was adopted by an American family when he was six years old because she couldn't afford to provide for her entire family. By giving him up, she was giving him a better life. Her brokenness was evident in her voice as she explained to us that she is not able to communicate with him because he no longer remembers Spanish (she doesn't speak English). She loved her child enough to selflessly give him to a family who could provide more adequately for him, even though it meant she would lose him completely. 

After she told us this story, I felt led to share the scripture from John 10 with her about Jesus being the good shepherd. Sidenote: I have recently been reading through John. When I read those verses, I knew that God was going to use them to speak to someone I would encounter; I had no idea it would be her. But as I read them, she listened attentively. When I had finished reading to her, she seemed quite pleased and grateful. I asked if she enjoyed reading the Bible, and she informed me that she had never learned how to read. It makes me wonder if she had ever before been read to from the Bible. We explained a bit more of this passage to her, reminding her that God never ever lets go of His flock; no matter where we go or what we do, He constantly pursues us. This seemed to really move her. We prayed over her, for her children and her peace; once we finished, we saw that tears were gently rolling down her cheeks. She told us that she wants us to return as soon as possible. Even though we have only a week remaining here in Puerto Barrios, it's our personal priority to go back into her home. We hope to see her again tomorrow morning, and we're taking rice, beans, and our Spanish Bible with us. Only the Lord knows what He has in store!

These verses also reminded me of something glorious: He came to give us abundant life. Not mundane life, not depressed life, not painful or fearful or stagnant life. The life He gives us is abundant. Sure, there will be troubles. But turning to Him allows us to have beautiful, peaceful, exciting, plentiful, radiant life. And it's all because of Him; how could I live for less?


Please pray for Daniela and for her children. Also, pray that the Lord would move in big ways in her life; I know He wants to! With only a week remaining, please pray that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on this place. We will be doing prositute ministry, dump ministry, orphanage visits, and elderly home visits for the last time here in the next four days. Ask that God would move mightily. We want to see lives changed, but not nearly as much as He does. 


"I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14


Thank you for your continued support in prayer!


May His abundance fill you to overflowing,
Meg