It was twenty years ago today...

I remember the days leading up to my July 1992 trip to Haiti.  It had been easy to talk to people about what I was going to do...move to Haiti and be a missionary.  It was exciting.  But then at night...alone...I'd have these conversations.  "What are you THINKING?  Who do you think you are?  This missionary stuff is all YOUR idea.  Your on your own, buddy."  I've recognized over the years that it was a voice of Discouragement talking to me...the Enemy.  Had I turned around and 'played it safe', I would have missed these last 20 twenty years of ministry.

Well, what voice do you think has been visiting me again this week?  He may have actually been effective because this is a whole new ball game for me again...being in the mission field 'on my own'.  The argument was convincing: "You don't know what you're doing!  You're gonne be stuck!"  

I've compared 1992 to that moment in skiing when you crest the top of the hill and begin going down.  There's no more turning back.  I crested that hill in 1992 and was the better for it.  Now, in 2012 there's a brand new slope.  I almost thought about turning myself around.  But God has been tooooo faithful for me to doubt Him now.   

Yesterday I taught.  Today I taught.  Tomorrow, I'll teach.  May my teaching be gentle rain that comforts, strengthens, encourages and empowers.