Hello Friends

This Update letter is a little longer and a little different that usual. We want to share with you how God is speaking to us about our need for increased faith.

Little David stood with sling in hand, in the shadow of the ominous giant from Gath. This image firmly fixed in mind I reflected on faith in action. This scene makes no sense at all, a little boy? Pitted against a man! – A man warrior! - A giant warrior of a man standing over 9 feet tall. Prior to approaching Goliath, David proclaimed "This day the Lord will hand you over to me" and concluded with "the battle is the Lords". David then ran toward the giant, and with one fail swoop defeated the enemy.

Saul questioned David's stature "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him you are only a boy". David responded by chronicling how while tending sheep he was able to defend them when confronted by an attack from a lion or a bear. He then credited God "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine".

David reflected on how God had worked in the past and trusted that God would work in the present in similar ways. By experiencing Gods faithfulness, David's faith was increased and he was able face new circumstances that demanded increased faith to trust that God would provide.

I love what George Muller once said "Real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances." Echoing the truth of Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." David was able to see beyond the circumstances and trust God for victory.

Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common-sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ's statements when the facts of your common-sense life shout- "It's a lie" On the mount it is easy to say-'Oh yes, I believe God can do it'; but you have to come down into the demon possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my program of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or weather I will sink back to something lower. Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into personal possession only through conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me." The final thing is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith, and the last great test is death. May God keep us in fighting trim! Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us.

Oswald Chambers

At present we are making preparations for our transition from the states to Gabon. We see God at work through his provision in many ways and trust that God will provide all that is necessary in His time. Yet there is a temptation to look at the circumstances and question His workings. There is one obstacle (the sale of our house) that stands in the way of taking the next step, and which we are unable to do anything about other than to pray and wait for Gods provision.

We have come to realize that waiting for God to do what we can not, is in part itself preparing us to develop the faith necessary to take the next step. Like David we can look and see how God has provided in the past and trust that he will make all the provisions necessary to accomplish His purposes today.

To HIS Glory,
Tim and Amanda

Tim and Amanda Kelly    (860) 482-5254    Email: Kellys@STMOGabon.org