Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
When we moved out of our roomy house with all its comforts we knew a significant transition was going to take place in a hurry. Now, with months of living in a travel trailer under our proverbial belts, we can see how much we just did not need.
However, there is one thing though that is mission critical as we daily seek to serve the Lord, share our burden and be a witness around the country. That is to come into the presence of the Lord, to behold His beauty and to enquire in His temple.
My head does not hit the cieling in the temple of the Lord
My family in I are not running into each other every 10 seconds in the temple of the Lord
I dont have to hitch and unhitch, pack and unpack in the temple of the Lord
I certainly get more miles to the gallon in the temple of the Lord, amen?
When God allows us the privilege to approach His throne and wonder at His glory, there is a liberating feeling of being in an endless field of delight, safe in His care, hand firmly clasped in His and forgetful of any miniscule inconvenience based on our previous perception of comfort.
Would to God these were always my thoughts and dwelling places, too often our heart leaves that attitude of prayer and the surroundings suddenly seem marred and constraining.
Daily we must seek to dwell in His house, constrained by the Love of Christ and with excited acknowledgment that our citizenship is in heaven. Here we will find the hope, wisdom and strength to move with fervency toward the work we have been called to.
We are currently in San Antonio and have a moment today to stop and praise God publicly in this blog for giving me a glimpse of His wondrous beauty. We are toward the end of a good conference here and preparing to go to Austin Texas this weekend for the start of another. It is a privilege to be a part of this blessed work.
I rejoice today that I am a rich man with a mansion awaiting me in heaven yet I have access to God's home to dwell in while on this earth - if only I will desire of the Lord to dwell there perpetually.
Pray for the Philippines and may the Lord bless you today.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
October Prayer Letter
Greetings to our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, October, 2009
The Lord has brought a phrase of scripture to my attention and remembrance a number of times in the past few weeks on the road. And while I have felt no liberty to preach from the passage, it has become a theme in our desire for the churches we visit. A cursory look at this phrase could suggest a selfish tone but undoubtedly Paul is recognizing the potential that this church at Corinth could have for the work of global missions should their faith be increased. Here it is, 2 Cor 10:15 … having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you…Would to God that our churches and missionaries would all grow in faith that we might enlarge the coasts of the Kingdom and God for the glory of our risen Saviour! With that thought in mind I have found great encouragement knowing that the Lord has in control who He would have assist in the financial aspect of getting to the Philippines. Our privilege then is that we might, in all churches, encourage God’s people to grow in faith through His perfect Word with expectation that personal involvement in missions would be increased as well as added prayer support for their existing supported families.
To report on our past month or so is to share an account of many miles, many smiles and many wiles, amen?! Miles that were travelled as we made a northern swing back to NY for meetings, smiles as the kids were happily reunited with Grandma and Papa, Aunt Jenny and their cousins and other of our dear friends and wiles as this month has seen some of the heaviest spiritual warfare we have faced on deputation. That said, we praise the Lord for all of your prayer on our behalf as we know that has built a hedge about us in the midst of attacks. Prior to leaving Ocean Springs to go north, Pastor Perkins gave me the privilege to preach the evening service on the day that the church would begin 40 days of prayer and fasting leading to revival. The Lord laid on my heart to preach on, yep, the wiles and subtle tactics of the “devil of desensitization.” I suppose this made us candidates to be an object lesson on the topic but we rejoice in God’s grace, deliverance and protection through it all. We arrived back in Ocean Springs for the week of revival and God moved mightily. Dr. Zeb McDaris preached a number of Spirit filled messages that moved the hearts of God’s people, including ours, praise the Lord! Some were saved, many got right and the devil was displeased when a bunch of his garbage was burned up in two consecutive nights of fires!
We find ourselves at the moment in Franklin, LA with Pastor Donnie Williams and Faith Baptist Church. He has been a gracious host and it has been a privilege to go soul willing with him a couple times in the past few days. We have a goat as our next door neighbor, the kids have been chasing lizards around and we have been trying to spot alligators in the bayou that runs right along the property. The girls have made new friends with their kids and we even eliminated one big snake from the world by running it over with Deputation Dave (our Suburban). We based here for another meeting in Pierre Port which went well and now we will start October with a conference in Zachary, LA and then have meetings all the way to San Antonio for two conferences to end October. Please pray that we would continue to see God increase our faith and our support that we might reach those God has called us to as soon as He would see fit. May the Lord bless your lives and ministries that are dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ. Thank you again for your faithful prayer and support.
Because He Lives,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma
The Lord has brought a phrase of scripture to my attention and remembrance a number of times in the past few weeks on the road. And while I have felt no liberty to preach from the passage, it has become a theme in our desire for the churches we visit. A cursory look at this phrase could suggest a selfish tone but undoubtedly Paul is recognizing the potential that this church at Corinth could have for the work of global missions should their faith be increased. Here it is, 2 Cor 10:15 … having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you…Would to God that our churches and missionaries would all grow in faith that we might enlarge the coasts of the Kingdom and God for the glory of our risen Saviour! With that thought in mind I have found great encouragement knowing that the Lord has in control who He would have assist in the financial aspect of getting to the Philippines. Our privilege then is that we might, in all churches, encourage God’s people to grow in faith through His perfect Word with expectation that personal involvement in missions would be increased as well as added prayer support for their existing supported families.
To report on our past month or so is to share an account of many miles, many smiles and many wiles, amen?! Miles that were travelled as we made a northern swing back to NY for meetings, smiles as the kids were happily reunited with Grandma and Papa, Aunt Jenny and their cousins and other of our dear friends and wiles as this month has seen some of the heaviest spiritual warfare we have faced on deputation. That said, we praise the Lord for all of your prayer on our behalf as we know that has built a hedge about us in the midst of attacks. Prior to leaving Ocean Springs to go north, Pastor Perkins gave me the privilege to preach the evening service on the day that the church would begin 40 days of prayer and fasting leading to revival. The Lord laid on my heart to preach on, yep, the wiles and subtle tactics of the “devil of desensitization.” I suppose this made us candidates to be an object lesson on the topic but we rejoice in God’s grace, deliverance and protection through it all. We arrived back in Ocean Springs for the week of revival and God moved mightily. Dr. Zeb McDaris preached a number of Spirit filled messages that moved the hearts of God’s people, including ours, praise the Lord! Some were saved, many got right and the devil was displeased when a bunch of his garbage was burned up in two consecutive nights of fires!
We find ourselves at the moment in Franklin, LA with Pastor Donnie Williams and Faith Baptist Church. He has been a gracious host and it has been a privilege to go soul willing with him a couple times in the past few days. We have a goat as our next door neighbor, the kids have been chasing lizards around and we have been trying to spot alligators in the bayou that runs right along the property. The girls have made new friends with their kids and we even eliminated one big snake from the world by running it over with Deputation Dave (our Suburban). We based here for another meeting in Pierre Port which went well and now we will start October with a conference in Zachary, LA and then have meetings all the way to San Antonio for two conferences to end October. Please pray that we would continue to see God increase our faith and our support that we might reach those God has called us to as soon as He would see fit. May the Lord bless your lives and ministries that are dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ. Thank you again for your faithful prayer and support.
Because He Lives,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma
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