Hi all, here we are with Week 31! I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine. I'm afraid I am not a fan of the heat... but I know I'm in the minority! I'm sharing from my friend Azaria this week; she reflects how God uses us in the lives of others and invites us to participate in the work He is doing there. May we all be seeking more opportunities to join in!
In Azaria's words...
A few days ago, I had one of those lovely, life-giving, long phone calls with a close friend. It was one of those truly beautiful, deep and very much needed conversations. A time to reconnect, share and simply be us together. We laughed together, cried together and put the world to rights. Even though we had not connected for some time in some ways it was as if no time had passed at all. Distance can make maintaining friendships and relationships a little challenging and it requires intentionality and commitment. Having said that there are some friendships that run deeper, and you just know will last a lifetime.
All this to say that during this phone call we were able to encourage each other in various ways and I feel like God used each one of us to bless the other. I was richly blessed and encouraged by my friend’s insights into married life, which was very valuable as a newlywed. And I feel like I was able to encourage her by reminding her of her worthiness in God’s eyes despite some recent painful life experiences. We can all struggle to not allow the world around us, its opinions and expectations, to define us at times.
It was even more encouraging when today I received a message sharing a photo of a stone my friend had found on a walk that had the words ‘you are worthy’ painted on it. A wonderful ‘ribbon and bows’ moment! Where God speaks to us about the same thing in more than one way to encourage or challenge us; tying up His message with a brightly coloured ribbon and finishing it off with a beautiful bow!
As I sat reading, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa Kruger, I was reminded of the importance of allowing God to use us. Melissa encourages her readers to ask God daily to show them opportunities to share their faith with others and to be open to being used by God. She mentions the joy we can share in when we clearly see that God has worked through us to help someone else in their walk with Him. It is a real blessing to know that God invites us to be part of what He is doing in the lives of others, whether that be people who do not yet know Him or fellow believers who need encouragement or support in their faith.
After reading Melissa’s words and experiencing God use my friend and I to mutually bless one another, I have been challenged to try and be more intentional about seeking God and following the opportunities He gives me to share and bless others as one of His witnesses in the world. Also to be part of mutual discipleship as we walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Always trying to remember that it is not us, but God through us at work. That He is choosing to invite us to join Him in His mission and to be used to build His kingdom. All this by and through grace. How wonderful that we can all be part of this!
Azaria Spencer De Pocasangre is a fellow Brit from the beautiful Yorkshire Dales who happens to live in Guatemala. She is a Mission Partner with Church Mission Society (CMS) and has been living in Guatemala for over 6 years. Before heading off to Guatemala she studied her BA Hons degree in Theology for Ministry with a special interest in cross-cultural mission. She recently, November 2023, married her husband David Pocasangre and they now serve in mission and ministry together through the local Guatemalan church, working with vulnerable communities, mentoring and worship.
Thank you all so much for reading this story of God connecting with his people. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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