An Unlikely Gift at the Best Time

For the last few months our financial support has been low. We had to pay Youth Ministry International back for the plane ticket to the YMI Summit in France, and our reserve funds have disappeared. I was speaking about this with Anna, the administrative assistant at YMI, and she reminded me that God would provide for our needs.

A few days later, I received a message from her telling me that we had received a $400 special gift for our ministry. Her message (although she didn’t say it) had “I told you to trust” written all over it. I thank God for reminding me that He is in control and that He will provide for all our needs. He is faithful to us always.

Pray…that He will send them out

"Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field." – Matthew 9:38

I've been studying this passage this week in preparation for a sermon I'm preaching on Sunday and tonight is the first time I have realized that this verse (38) shows us that the desired prayer is that God would send out workers. It isn't that those workers be called. It isn't that they would feel a need, although all of that is included in sending out. The prayer is for the Lord to send them (the amplified Bible uses the word 'thrust'). 

I guess my position right now of raising new support for ministry has helped me understand from this point of view that the prayer is that the Lord of the harvest would SEND OUT the laborers into the harvest. Our prayer is that God will send them. That includes all the support they need. That is to be our prayer. I am praying for God to send us back to Mexico fully funded and able to reap His harvest.  

http://read.ly/Matt9.38.ESV

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By the way, it’s November, which is Videoblogging month. It coincides with National Novel Writing Month. Some people try to write a novel in a month. Others try to post a video everyday for a month. I might try the video thing again. Here’s my first video for November. Keep up with it on Mexico Movies, my videoblog.

The Economy of the Day of the Dead

The Economy of the Day of the Dead

I just read on Vivir Mexico about the Economics of the Day of the Dead in Mexico (Spanish link). Mexico is a country that spends big money on its parties. The Day of the Dead is no exception.

The Commerce department says that approximately 700 million pesos (Spanish link) will be spent to celebrate all Saints Day, the Day of the Dead, and Halloween.

Here are the businesses that see the most boom in their business:

  • Flower shops and candle stores: 80% more profit
  • Costume shops: 40% more
  • Stationary stores: 50% more sales
  • Museums: 40% more ticket sales
  • Bread shops, candy shops, and makeup stores: 15-35% more sales

(Photo by: DavidDennisphotos.com on flickr.com)