Midwifery SEPTEMBER 2010 VOLUME 37

Times

What’s the point? I’m willing to bet there are a number of Christians that think they need to work hard to go to heaven. They have a long checklist of things to do and don’t to be saved. If they don’t get to everything on their list, then they feel guilty --they might even question their salvation. Sad but understandable. For I was that person. As a new Christian, I must have gone forward to accept Christ a dozen times. Every time I failed or sinned in some way, I was convinced God couldn’t love me. So I had to ‘get saved’ again.... and again. It took me years to understand that God loved me ... and died for me

WHILE YET A SINNER. (Rom 5:8 ) He didn’t offer me heaven because I had somehow done more good than bad in my life. He didn’t love me because I was better than mass murderers and serial rapists. He loved me despite my sin -regardless of my frailty. The religious of Jesus’ day were trying to be good enough --wearing the right clothes and hanging with all the right people. They :13 I Cor 13 were deeply offended by Jesus’ supposed “lawlessness”. When Jesus had the audacity to heal a man’s withered arm on the Sabbath, they were aghast. How can he break the Sabbath and be a righteous

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man, they argued. Testing his critics, he asked, “Should I do good on the Sabbath or evil?” But they didn’t answer. Instead they plotted his murder. (Matt 12:14 ) Here’s the thing. Yes. It is better to do good then to do evil. But doing good isn’t going to save you. Knowing Him and being known by Him is what it’s all about. The religious got so lost in the minutia of the law that they completely missed the point. The same can be true of us today. We can be so busy reading our Bibles, going to prayer meetings and even... being missionaries, that we forget to spend time with Jesus. Let that never be true of us! Don’t miss the point!

~ Stephanie

Please check out my blog for more stories! midwife4jesus.blogspot.com

Pastor Training~ I’ve often heard “The church in Africa is a mile wide but an inch deep”. I didn’t fully understand what that meant until coming here. So many people claim to be Christians but often what comes out of their mouths and the evidence of their lives is conflicting. What is more, Pastors are eager but ill equipped. They have a zeal to teach and preach but little understanding. God is using them in wonderful ways... but they struggle to rightly divide the Word of God. With this in mind, In Deed and Truth started teaching local Sudanese pastors sound doctrine. I’m told some pastors resist Biblical teachings preferring the traditions of men. But not all. There are a dozen or more pastors currently coming to IDAT for training. And they are a great crew.

While studying the book of Acts, I was told that more than one pastor was surprised to learn that Israel is a real place. Imagine that! We are so privileged to be so well educated and have access to resources like maps and concordances. These pastors shepherd large churches -- some with over 500 members. But ... but they don’t know simple truths. I’m glad they have a place where they can learn. Their next session starts in a week or so. They’ll be diving into the 13 books of Paul. Please pray for these pastors as the enemy constantly tests their faith. Often they are sick or cannot come because of trials back home. The enemy would keep them ignorant of God’s word and bound by superstition. Instead lets pray for His Spirit to work powerfully to instruct and deliver.

Pastors praying with my pregnant ladies before the clinic opens.

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Mailing Address:

Support Address:

Po Box 4513 00100 Nairobi GPO Kenya AFRICA (Do NOT send packages to this address, email me for details) [email protected] Midwife4Jesus.blogspot.com

In Deed and Truth Ministries Po Box 51253 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 (Write my name in Memo Line) 760/ 707-7367 Donate online at: www.indeedandtruth.org

Pray! Pray! Pray! STAFF: We are having staff issues at the clinic. Finding solid, qualified Sudanese help is proving tricky. Pray for our employees... to know Jesus! :- ) CLINIC: Building the clinic is a slow and painstaking process. It’s not like building something in the U.S. For one, we have to make our own bricks! Recently, we purchased a brick maker from Uganda! PTL! Pray the clinic can be built quickly and well! We need the space. REVIVAL: I find myself in a place of renewal and refreshing. I want to know God in new ways and live my life in such a way that those I come in contact with would see Jesus! Pray that my heart would be right before Him and my life a living example of God’s grace and love. LANGUAGE: I’m tired of making excuses. I want to study Dinka and Arabic well. But I’m finding life so busy and distracting. Pray I am able to make the time and effort.

Birthday Month Personally I like to celebrate the whole month of my birth. Why settle for just one day? :- ) As it happens, I’m in Kenya for R&R during this month, which is good timing. Now I can celebrate with ice cream! I went to dinner with friends and a massage. Delicious and divine. Thanks for all your Birthday wishes!