BRYON'S CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

Once again it’s that time of year we all love to celebrate.  Family, friends, and the natural beauty of the season makes wonderful memories each year for all of us.  This year I have been dwelling on a question that was asked me.  Years ago as a young Christian I was in the public school library telling another student, who was an agnostic, about the Lord, when I happened to say that God can do anything but fail.  At that moment the older student looked at me and said, “Oh, Yah, can God make a rock so big he can’t lift it or a chicken that runs so fast he can’t catch it?”  What a conundrum for a new Christian teenager’s mind!  My wife often teases me about taking too long to answer a question, because I ponder every aspect till I am satisfied with the answer.  Well it’s been more than twenty years now since that question was given to me.  I believe that wait is one for the record books.  When I would ask others about the answer they might give, I might get an answer like, “Well, God is infinite and these things are finite, so they don’t go together.”  However, I never liked these answers so I pondered on for an answer whenever it came to my mind.

One day not that long ago it finally occurred to me that the answer is right there in God’s Word.

John 1:1-3,14… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made …..And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth.”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

How marvelous a thought that God made rocks and chickens, then he made Himself so small He couldn’t walk, crawl, or even feed himself, much less catch chickens or lift rocks!!  The reason for Christmas answers the agnostic’s question; God chose to wrap HIMSELF in humble, human flesh to become the Crucified Lamb.  The same God that spoke the worlds into existence, measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, meted out heaven with a span, and weighed the mountains and hills, this God stepped down from His throne, laid aside His crown, and became a helpless baby.  This helpless baby then did for us what no other human could do.  God did just what they thought was impossible.  Are you facing an impossibility in your life?  Remember this Christmas, God truly can do ANYTHING but fail!!

COFFEE, BREAD, AND DICIPLESHIP GO HAND IN HAND???

Food, fellowship, and fun....we hear those three words placed together many times when an invitation is given to one's house in the States.  I've even taking some good natured ribbing from folks in the States about all my foodie pics placed on Facebook since arriving in Peru.  I've heard their teasing remarks, "Hey, Shel, I think you can cut down on some of the food pics now.  We get the picture, that you all eat well over there!"  I laugh and then continue to post more pics of a group of Peruvians and us sitting around a table sometimes laden with food, sometimes with only coffee and bread.  However, there is something very important to realize about the Peruvian culture and it is said best through a Peruvian's own lips.  "Throughout the world certain foods are instinctively about one's culture, but in Peru FOOD IS our culture."  If you were to visit Peru and decide you wanted to go to a "flea market", you would not go looking for old antiques, instead you would go to see all the different plates of food representing the different regions throughout Peru.  There you could buy and enjoy all the wonderful, unique flavors represented by the Peruvian culture.  Food, flavors, colors, matching this meat with this bean, etc. is all very important to the Peruvian people.  In truth, at times it has been overwhelming to me, but one thing we have learned is that friendship around a table and the sharing of food breaks down cultural barriers.  As those barriers begin to crumble the door to presenting the Gospel opens.

We had a wonderful time in Argentina reconnecting with Peruvians we once worked with when we lived in northern Peru.  The Dickinsons treated us all out to wonderful Italian pizza and we all enjoyed the fellowship greatly! Bryon was able to talk with Samuel, a former pastor, about his need to return to the Lord.  After the meal we walked to a park, where Heather served coffee and Paneton (a special Christmas bread).  We ladies visited at a separate park table, while the men talked about the things of God.  Samuel stated 3 times that he needed prayer.  The men had a time of prayer with him.  Please pray for Samuel and his precious family.

We have found from making a special Peruvian dish to share or sending Samuel to deliver homemade muffins around our apartment complex, each gesture of love continues to open doors for discipleship.
Recently a lady who had been very unkind to Samuel responded, "FOR ME??!!" when handed banana bread from Samuel's hand.  He came flying back to the apartment to exclaim, "Mommy, the mean lady hugged me!"

This special time with Percy and Sarah meant a lot to us.  We had graduated Percy years ago in the Bible Institute we were directing.  The evening ended with many tears, counseling, and prayer around this same table that we had fed them a special Peruvian dish.

 

 

We were asked repeatedly to travel each Sunday morning to assist the little holiness church shown above.  After prayer, we decided as God helped us we would travel to assist in any way possible for the Glory of God.  To go and come takes us about 3 hrs. of hard traveling.  The pastor and his wife have very little, but they insist upon feeding us Sunday dinner.  We are very appreciative to have a belly full of hot rice as we head off to hold another house service Sunday afternoon, and then another house service Sunday night at our apartment.

 

 

We were thrilled to finally get to meet Fernando and Mariela.  The Dickinsons have faithfully visited and held services in their home.  God has truly done a work in their hearts and Fernando has a desire to study God's Word.  He has recently been in a terrible accident and by God's mercy was spared.  We were able to bring him a large stack of holiness literature to begin studying.  This precious couple does not have a lot of means, so wonderful Heather hauled hot soup, crackers, coffee, and Paneton on a bus, walking blocks, then a long train ride, then walking more blocks. We were thankful to have the men carry the heavy items of food and drinks.  Everyone enjoyed her good food after our service with them!

The Bible instructs us to show hospitality.  I cannot say that I have jumped through every hoop of hospitality with grace.  God has worked on me in this area.  God's Word also states, "Use hospitality one to another without grudging."  I have found that as I am washing the dishes and putting away the food while Bryon is instructing in some Biblical point, I prayerfully offer my little service to Jesus.  Cooking, cleaning, showing hospitality with Jesus' love is my "perfume" to pour at my Master's feet. Yes, we have found that coffee, bread, and discipleship DO go hand in hand!!