Area Director's December Devotional

Relinquishing or Relishing our Call - Today is the 22^nd of November 2012, which happens to be Thanksgiving Day and coincidentally my 63^rd birthday.    Normally, the variety of thoughts that vie for my reflective deliberation covers a wide range including JFK’s assassination on my 14th birthday to the wonderful fact that my granddaughter Avery Elizabeth Comellas was born on my 56^th birthday.   Today however is different.    One thought is capturing my attention.   Will I continue to relish my Call or slowly relinquish that Call as I slip into the “golden years?”  This focused thought was precipitated by an email from AGWM, “Dale, as our missionaries approach retirement age…(etc.).”  I have a choice.   Do I seize the day (Carpe Diem) or fade into insignificance?   I’ve discovered two distinct anointings as I prepare for this day, i.e. Ecclesiastes 9:10 and 2 Kings 20:19.  In Ecclesiastes, the preacher exhorts us, “Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all of your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning...”  This is distinctly different from the sad acquiescence of Hezekiah in Kings.   When his pride led him to flaunt his wealth to envoys from Babylon, Isaiah pronounces a judgment on his descendants to which he responds in essence, "Well that’s good because it won’t happen in my lifetime!"    Today, Thanksgiving 2012 and my birthday, I’ve decided to seize every opportunity to glorify God and live life to the fullest while there is breath in this body.   I hope you’ve made a similar commitment.    Young or old, life will come to an end, so let’s live life with a Divine perspective.

Area Director's November Devotional

Lhamo Tseten, a 24-year-old Tibetan farmer took his politics seriously, dead seriously.  He is one of seven Tibetans who have set themselves on fire this week in protest of Beijing’s heavy-handed rule, as the protesters demand the return of the Dalai Lama, their exiled spiritual leader.     No matter what our reaction to this horrific self-sacrifice, commitment at this level is unsettling.  Baptism by fire was his ultimate attempt to gain empathy for a cause, which sadly may be a lost one.   There is another baptism by fire for a Kingdom that will endure.   John the Baptist declared, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I…  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  (Matt. 3:10-11 NKJV).  Lhamo’s death disturbed me.   If one is willing to commit himself with such total abandonment to a lost cause, how much more should we as believers be willing to give our all to the One whose fire both empowers and purifies us as we give witness to His cause?    As missionaries, let us be on fire with His eternal truth, “since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire”.  (Heb. 12:28-29).

 

Area Director's October Devotional

The upside of being down 

     In 1920 Dr. Frederick Banting’s clinic was a failure.  His dreams were shattered as his clinic faltered and closed in London, Ontario, Canada.  Desperate for an income, he became a part-time assistant to Professor Miller.  One night while helping prepare a lecture on diabetes for the professor, he got intrigued with an article on ‘The islets of Langerhans,” which are regions of the pancreas that contains its endocrine.   Back then diabetes was fatal.   Scientist knew that people with diabetes needed a hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans to balance their blood sugar but no way had been found to extract the hormone and give it to patients.    Banting was consumed with the thought that there must be a way to extract the hormone directly.   Compelled by this thought, he found a way to isolate it, which he later named “insulin,” Latin for “island.”   In 1922, after intense experimentation, a 64-pound dying teenage boy named Leonard was injected with insulin and immediately started gaining his weight back   Banting’s work saved this boy’s life and countless thousands of others in the years to come.   Looking back on his success, Banting said, “Had I not failed in my one year at London, I might never have started my research work.”

     As missionaries, we must put “failure” in Divine perspective.  There is an upside of being down.  As Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9   We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  (NIV)  Nothing, absolutely nothing can rob our joy.   God has a plan.   Always.   Romans 8:28 clearing states, ^“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)   Whatever you are facing today, please remember that it’s not the final chapter of your story.   Years from now, you may reflect on this very moment saying that it was the very catalyst that compelled you to your God-ordained destiny!    God is at work.   He is working out His purposes in your life.   Be encouraged!

Area Director's September Devotional

“Gator aid” or “Gatorade?”

    Long before the University of Florida (Gators) developed “Gatorade” in 1965 as a sports drink to replenish the carbohydrates and electrolytes of the school’s student-athletes, an enterprising lieutenant* had his own version of ‘gator aid.’   In the early 1940’s in a sweltering hot Florida training camp preparing GIs for World War II, the lieutenant had a real quandary.  On the final stretch of the endurance test designed to strengthen the men’s resolve, they were to cross a rope strung across a shallow pool of water.  Increasingly, as the men saw the inviting water below them, instead of pressing through their discomfort to cross the pool, they purposely let go of the rope mid-way.    The problem was quickly resolved when the lieutenant made the pool home for a large alligator.  From that day on, the recruits left the ground 15 feet from the water’s edge and fell sprawling in the dust on the other side.  

    How insensitive could this lieutenant be when judged from the perspective of comfort!  Fortunately for those recruits, the goal wasn’t comfort but battle readiness and survival.   How often do we as believers complain when God allows the alligators of our lives to threaten us and push us to the other side of the pool?    But wait!  His design and purpose for our lives is not comfort but conformity, i.e. He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-30).    It’s not about your comfort but your growth.   Don’t waste your trials.  Grow. Grow up and grow in Him.    As the Psalmist said,  ‘My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees (Psalms 119:71 NLT).   Whatever alligators may be threatening from below chose to set your gaze heavenward.   God is preparing you for the battlefield.     Souls weigh in the balance.

 

*The story of the lieutenant was taken from July 3, 1997 Daily Bread

August Devotional from Area Director

Weeding and Weeping 

After being gone 5 weeks, I was amazed at how green our lawn looked except for the few places where the grass was dying leaving patches of dirt.  Upon closer inspection, the stark realization hit me: the green I saw wasn’t the grass but the weeds!   Deceptively, the weeds were growing under the grass, killing the grass but everything looked good.   The most treacherous weeds had grown comfortably under the cloak of the healthy grass and were multiplying with a vengeance.

With weeding on my mind, I went to church and heard a message on repentance. That’s when it hit me:  weeding and weeping have a lot in common.  Joel 2:12-13 states: “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting and with weeping…rend your heart and not your garments.” NKJV

As missionaries we do have a public self (garments) and a private self (our heart) to attend.   Although they are both important, God is more concerned about our hearts than the image the public has of us.   Or as Joel states it, “rend your heart and not your garments.”   God help us to be broken and to weep during these critical days in which we live.    Don’t allow weeds of bitterness, despair, anger or doubt to be hidden by your missionary mystic.   Be real.  Weed your garden because everything that really matters flows from the issues of the heart.

Area Director's July Devotional

A Moment to Cherish, a Fire to Rekindle

Although missionary renewal this year had a diversity of speakers, the Spirit orchestrated their testimonies into one dominant theme: Be in awe of God and His destiny for our lives.  We were challenged by Greg Mundis to keep it focused and real.   We were moved by Judy Graner to magnify God and choose joy despite pain and suffering.   We were reminded by Bryan Jarrett to have a sense of wonder in God’s call, His destiny for our lives.   We were invited by Paul Trementozzi to declare to all the random trash heaps of our lives that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.   Tonight, it all came together as we commissioned the new missionaries.   As we prayed and laid our hands on those Called by God, we could sense the fresh fire of God.   It was a moment to cherish.   For all, it was a reminder to rekindle that fire as we stood in awe that God has a Call and a Destiny for each one of us.  As Paul said to Timothy “I often think of that genuine faith of yours….I now remind you to stir up that inner fire which God gave you at your ordination.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 J.B. Phillips

What is in a name?

 

What’s in a name?  In the annals of history the name “Geronimo” is synonymous with being a real fighter.  Geronimo was a fearless Apache war chief who fought to defend his people.  His real name wasn’t Geronimo; it was Goyathlay, “One Who Yawns”.  The seminal event that changed his name was a vicious attack by Mexican soldiers that killed his family.  Goyathlay, the yawner becomes Geronimo, the warrior.    

The seminal event in the believer’s life is just as dramatic though not necessarily as tragic as Geronimo’s.  The call of God disrupts our former life and awakens us to God’s destiny for our lives as we spend quality time with Jesus. 

When Simon Peter answers Jesus’ question of Who He was, Peter responds: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Peter knew who Jesus was, because he had spent time with Him and God gave him divine insight.  Jesus affirms him, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church”.  Mat 16:18

What’s in a name?  Our God-given identity.  As we spend time with Jesus, He tells us who we really are.  He whispers our new names.  He awakens us to His divine purpose for our lives.  Energized believers are how he builds His church.

Missionary Renewal 2012

The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Studies during Missionary Renewal will NOT be at Maranatha Chapel this year but will be at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.   The dates for Regional Studies are Monday, June 25 - Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

Please note the change.  This is for Caribbean and U.S. Based Missionaries that are scheduled to attend Missionary Renewal in 2012.   

o   CBC – Chapel – Monday, June 25, 2012   1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

o   CBC – Evans Hall – Tuesday, June 26,  2012  1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Area meetings with your Area Directors Dale and Patti Coad 

o   CBC – Chapel – Wednesday, June 27, 2012    1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Area Director Dale Coad

Has anyone robbed your dreams?    The stark realities of life can squelch your dreams.   Regardless of your age, there still are kingdoms to conquer.    Caleb was sent out with others to explore Canaan, which God declared He was giving to Israel.   When Caleb came back he boldly proclaimed, “We should go up and take possession of the land!”   The others were frightened and insisted, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”  [Num 13]  Dream killers.  Budgets, time pressure, colleagues, doubting friends who boldly declare, ‘It can’t be done!’   Sometimes, “It can’t be done” is a matter of historical perspective.   The inventor of the telephone, Alexander G. Bell, offered to sell his invention to Western Union.   The committee responded, “...he claims to have discovered an instrument of great practical value in communication.  The central exchange alone would represent a huge outlay to say nothing of the electrical equipment.    Any development of this kind which Bell so fondly imagines is utterly out of the question.”   History vindicated Bell’s dream and exposed Western Union’s folly.   In Acts 2:17 God declares that we will dream dreams as He pours out His spirit.  Let’s keep dreaming bigger dreams.  Don’t let the naysayers rob you of the dreams that God has put in your heart.  

Area Director Dale Coad

The Midnight ride of William Dawes.   On April 18, 1775 two men were sent on a dangerous mission to warn of the impending British invasion of the American Colonies.  Longfellow immortalizes only Paul Revere while William Dawes fades into obscurity.  Incensed by the injustice, Helen Moore wrote a poem on behalf of Dawes: “I am a wandering, bitter shade, never of me was a hero made…this all very well for the children to hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere; but why should my name be quite forgot….why should I ask?   The reason is clear—My name was Dawes and his Revere.”  Perhaps you identify with Dawes.  Some of you labor in obscure fields where your names won’t make the history books.   I want to encourage you.    God knows your heart and sees your labor.  “Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  I Cor. 15:58 NIV

Area Director's March Devotional

Keep the main thing, the main thing 

Festus didn’t know what to do with Paul, purported by the Jews be a pestilent fellow.   What really stirred them was Paul’s belief in the resurrection.   Festus, trying to explain the situation to King Agrippa declares “their accusation turned out to be nothing more than arguments about ….a dead man named Jesus, who the prison claimed was alive (Acts 25:19 MSG).   When everything else is said and done, are WE still that clear about our message?   No matter the specific ministry that we have, our priority MUST remain crystal clear.   We bring the hope of the resurrection to a world that has none.   Dear colleague, I encourage to stay energized in your ministry while rooting that ministry in Jesus’ resurrection.    “Christ has been raised from the dead.  He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. “   1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT

News from the Coads

Patti and I were at a church recently that had reached a point of real stagnation.     The new pastor was trying to inspire the congregation to start dreaming again to not just maintain the status quo but to grow.    Two ceiling to floor banners declared: “Thrive!”    During the service, I had this thought.    2012 is going to be a banner year.    If I am alive, I want to do more than just survive.    I want to thrive.   For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  2 Timothy 1:6  NIV 

Dale Coad's Greetings

Dear Missionary Colleagues,

At the retreat we were reminded how God’s Call breaks through barriers. In an atmosphere of holy vulnerability, our colleagues shared how the power of God broke through difficult circumstances as they fixed their eyes on Jesus.  I count it a real privilege to serve with men and women of integrity whose passion for God, love for each other and ardent pursuit of God’s best compels them to excel in fulfilling His Call.  I encourage you to pray for one another in 2012 as you “spur one another toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24-26

Dale and Patti Coad

 Caribbean Area Directors