Author: Global Education Ministries

I have been praying about what I should share and I feel that God is wanting me to write about hope. God has been reminding me through a commonly known verse how much He loves me.

“For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the Lord’, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes God places us in different situations in order to refine and grow us. However, the process of refinement is not easy, comfortable, or free of pain. Therefore, we need to completely lean on God and have hope in His ultimate promise of good that comes from challenging and painful circumstances. Knowing this does not mean that we should “fake ‘til we make it” and act as we have all together when we are struggling in the midst of a hard season in life. God calls us, as believers, to reach out to those He places around us, in our community, and to bear each other’s burdens. Through this, we can feel God’s love and be reminded of His promise of never leaving us or forsaking us, by giving us a physical gift of friends who can give hugs, pray with us, and share encouraging words.

I would also like to share the following verse that has been encouraging to me during challenging moments in my life:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

All of this to say, I truly believe that God doesn’t make mistakes and that His plans are way better than anything we try to plan for ourselves. However, I do struggle at times to be content where God has me. Nonetheless, I know that I cannot do this life on my own and need God to guide me every step of the way, even if that means walking through very difficult times. At the end of the day, I know that God doesn’t have plans to hurt me but to give me hope for the future. If any of you reading this is going through a hard time right now, I want to encourage you to leave the hurt at Jesus’ feet and walk in His strength.

– Tracy Frohlich, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Tracy as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!

It all started on a Friday afternoon. A normal 28-week check-up. Two first time parents excited to see their little boy on the ultrasound. And then the words that changed our lives forever; “this baby is not making it to 40 weeks.”

I wish that I could watch the next events take place as if I was watching a movie. I have forgotten so many details of the birth of our son, but there is one moment that has been etched in my heart forever. The morning of September 1, 2018 my husband, Chucho, came to my bedside at the hospital and said, “the doctor has been monitoring Noah’s heartbeat, and it’s been very irregular, and he says that in about an hour you’re going to have a c-section.” I felt excited and nervous (mostly about getting the epidural), but there was no fear. We had updated our family and friends, but I did not realize until many days later the number of people who were praying for us.

I have always known what prayer is, but until this trial, I had never experienced its power. I am generally a slow processor and four months later, looking back, I think, “how could I have been so at peace?!” There I was, without my husband, in a room without a single person who spoke English, about to meet my son who was coming two months early, and I felt not a single ounce of fear.

I have a quote written in my Bible that states, “I want a relationship with God where prayer feels as natural as breathing.” And after this experience, I have seen how powerful the gift of prayer is.

George Mueller, a man known for housing more than 10,000 orphans in his lifetime, is said to have over 50,000 recorded answers to prayer in his journal! He faithfully began each day on his knees worshiping the Savior in prayer.

In this world, it seems that prayer is getting placed on the back burner of a relationship with God. We feel worthy if we physically serve the Lord in some way or if we give time or money to help those in need. That satisfying feeling of accomplishing something in the name of Jesus.

But here comes the challenge, to me and everyone who has taken the time to read these words. Make time to simply talk and listen to Jesus. Whether it’s waking up 30 minutes earlier or choosing those free moments in the day to put down your phone, we need to make the eternal decision that Christ is beyond worthy of our time. I have felt the power of being prayed for, so have faith that your words are not in vain and choose the One who always chooses you.

-Sarah Quigg Santos, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Sarah and be a part of her financial or prayer team, you can do so HERE or contact her directly HERE.

Sometimes Jesus just seems too good.

In the month of December, as I spent time learning and treasuring the story of how Jesus came into this world I had a few moments where my heart couldn’t handle how sweet it all is. I can read about Jesus all day long, my heart and my life are committed to him and I love him so much but I think God gives us special glimpses… He lets us into His glory and it’s almost too good.

As I thought upon Jesus coming into this world and as I watched the Christmas program at Manantial, my heart couldn’t contain the intense awe that came over me. The fact that God came into this world as a baby. This tiny little baby held hope, truth, love, that would change the world. How wonderful. It isn’t the story people guessed or people want to really believe, but it is true.

In Juquila a few weeks ago, my husband and I stood in the town center and we saw three different people crawling into the temple. For those who may not know, the town of Juquila is known for the Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila which houses a 30 cm statue of the Virgin Mary, which has been venerated since the 16th century. In 1633, it survived, completely intact, by a fire that destroyed the village in which it was originally located. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was moved to its current location where the sanctuary was built for it. Thousands visit this Virgin from across the state of Oaxaca, other parts of Mexico and abroad. The people who make the pilgrimage to the virgin believe they will have more favor if they go in by more difficult means. We had heard before that people crawled into the temple but it was crazy to actually see these people right in front of us, looking in so much pain, knees bandaged up, crawling in hopes of receiving favor from this doll.

I just wanted to go pick them up and tell them how loved they were and that Jesus came to fulfill the law and all the things we could never do. God had made a way and there was hope. It’s too good. And it’s all about Jesus and Gods glory. It isn’t about us and something we must do, it’s about the heart of God and what He has done.

It’s hard for us to put down our religion, our works, our efforts. We want to make ourselves right before God. We want to crawl and suffer and be recognized as someone who has made great sacrifice and effort. Jesus and the love story he has written is beautiful. It’s utter humility, and it’s opposite of what this world tells us the way to freedom and being loved is. It seems too good to be true. But when we surrender to what we think or feel the way to the Father should be, there is a sweetness that is better than life.

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” Psalm 63:3

-Annie Balsley, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Brett and Annie as they serve with GEM in Juquila to share the gospel with this unreached town, you can do so HERE. You can also contact them directly to talk further about what it means to be on their support team and find out how you can be praying for them!

A friend recently encouraged me to choose a word, one word, to really focus on in 2019. I realized that this past year, I had a prayer for the year that focused on two words: joy and health. Throughout 2018, I saw the Lord answer my prayer to experience deeper joy in Him and to be healthier–spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, etc. Because of that, I was really challenged to sit, process, and pray through what one word I would choose for this year.

After some time, one word kept coming to the forefront of my mind–pursue. While there were plenty of other characteristics I want to grow in, I believe that “pursue” is the word for 2019. This year, I want to pursue God deeper and more intentionally than I ever have before. I want to pursue people for the sake of the gospel, and I want to pursue others in a way that reflects how I have been ultimately pursued by God through Jesus Christ. Jesus humbled Himself and stepped out of heaven in order that we may know God. Jesus emptied Himself for our sake, and through Jesus’ humility, God pursued His people.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11

This year, I want to pursue people, but my prayer is that any pursuit of others will come out of a deeper understanding and love for the One that has first pursued me.

A neat part about choosing one word for this year is that this one word leads to so many other words. If I pursue God and others, I will (Lord-willing) be growing in humility, intentionality, love, selflessness, obedience (to God), compassion, and more. While I know this one word could bring some growing pains, I eagerly await to see how God will reveal more of Himself through this word this year and how He will cultivate my heart more to pursue those around me.

I know my one word. I want to challenge you, my friend, what one word might the Lord have for you this year?

I love New Year’s Eve and all that comes with the day and the days after. There is a lot of excitement about leaving behind bad experiences and memories from the current year and looking forward to what’s next. The New Year is also accompanied by thousands of resolutions on what to improve on or how to live this next year in a way that will make life better. I like the New Year because it represents a new start. It is a reminder that things can change and we can always improve.

I believe that we have been created with the desire for new starts, new opportunities, and the ability to change and grow from the way things have been. We have been created with the desire of all things being new. From the very beginning of the story of God, everything was made perfect. Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with each other and with creation. They were living in the way the world was meant to be. However, sin has broken the peace, and our hearts know it. We long for the day that all things will be made new. We long for the day when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14)”. I believe that God has put the desire to grow and change in our hearts.  Because of this, every Christian should take action and reflect on what God has done in and through his or her life this year. Over the past few days, my wife and I have done two things: prayerfully reflect and plan. Below I want to share a little bit about what this has looked like for us.

First, over the past few days, we have taken time to reflect on this past year. We reflect by asking questions that help us to look over the many experiences of our year, the good and the bad. Reflection allows us to remember the good and the bad and praise God for both. It helps us to think deeply about our year and leads us to hopeful change. As Christians, we reflect because we are constantly looking to Christ as the one who changes us.  We look to Him on how to live and we seek to walk in His ways so that the world will see and know how good and amazing He is because of our lives. Our reflection is vital for us to change.

The second thing we have done is to make a plan based on our reflection. Based on this past year, in what ways can we continued to make much of Christ in our lives? What steps am I going to take to take my reflections from 2018 and put them to practice in 2019? What is my theme for this year and what steps will I take weekly to live this out?  Our hope is that we don’t move forward without reflecting on this past year. We believe that we will be greater ambassadors of Christ as we make intentional efforts to live out our calling as disciples of Jesus. As we move into 2019, how can we all make much of Jesus in our lives?

*Below are some questions that we used to help us reflect and think about 2019. These questions have come from www.saturatetheworld.com.

• What were the lowlights and hard things last year?
• What were the highlights and clear blessings last year?
• What did we see God doing last year (in personal life, family, work, community, church, etc.)? 
• What is God doing in our lives right now? What do we see as our purpose? Why are you where you are and doing what you’re doing? 
• What is unresolved from last year? What pains, struggles, and doubts do we carry into this year? 
• What hopes and dreams do we carry into this new year? 
• What do we hope to see happen this next year? 
• What things do we pray for God to do within us this next year? 
• What are our fears with this next year? 
• How do you hope and pray to be transformed this next year?

-Daniel McDonald, GEM Missionary 

As I sit writing, I am mere days from the completion of my master’s degree. It has been a while in the making. It is hard to remember not being in school at this point. And it has sure been full of challenges… In many ways, more than had I taken a more traditional route to get here.

Nearly reaching this long-awaited accomplishment, I have been thinking of other things I hope and yearn for. Christmas break is just around the corner. Time with family and friend’s is something I look forward to each year.

Then I think about my 7-year-old baby girl. She is a fighter. Doctors said she would be lucky to see her 5^th birthday. She was born with a rare type of leukodystrophy. It is a white matter brain disorder. She is unable to walk, use the bathroom, feed herself, talk. She is very limited in her ability to express herself. Despite this, there are so many times I see genuine joy and connection emanating from this little girl. I have hoped and prayed and yearned for God to heal her. It hasn’t happened yet, but I know one day it will. It just may not be here on Earth.

I hope for family and friends far from Christ to know Him. To be released from the weight of their own sins and free in the love of God.

There are so many things I hope for each day. Some are trivial and fleeting, while others are important and enduring. The sense of accomplishment and relief from completing my master’s program will pass when the next thing comes along. It will become a long-forgotten memory. Time with friend’s and family will be cherished, but the memories will fade, and they will become the past. My baby may never be healed this side of heaven. I may never see those I love come to know Christ in my lifetime.

Despite this, I know a greater hope. A hope that is assured. An enduring hope. I can set aside the fleeting hopes for eternity.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:1-5

– Angela Fontanelli, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Angela as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!