Count the Cost/Paying the Price

I got an email today from a dear friend who lives in Cambodia. His email talked about how he had made a mistake and parked his motorbike in a "no parking zone", so to speak. As a result, his bike was taken to the police station, where it must stay for 3 days and he received a fine. The subject of his email read, "I have to pay the price".  In the body of the email he wrote that he wanted to encourage those in his country to obey the laws or they would have to "pay the price". He then went on to ask for help as he was feeling "blue" or down about the incident. He asked for encouragement, prayer, and rides to work & lunch since he wouldn't have his bike for 3 days.

As I began to pray for him I felt like God spoke something to me. Luke 14:25-35 talks about the cost of being a disciple.  If we are to become a disciple of Jesus, we must "count the cost" or be willing to "pay the price". Just like every decision we make in life, there will be consequences or "prices to pay". There will be a price to pay to become His disciple. Jesus paid the "ultimate price" for us, so that we could spend eternity with Him.

God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives, but we must count the cost. Before we marry we must count the cost, before we have children we must count the cost. To move to the mission field I would have to leave my family, my friends, my home, my job, my church, all that I knew as "normal", all that I loved. I needed to count the cost before making that decision.  I thank God for His call on my life and for the wonderful people He has placed in my life to encourage me, counsel me, pray for me, partner with me and strengthen me.  I am also grateful that I have leaders in my life that reminded me that I should count the cost. They didn't want me to jump into this calling without much prayer, counsel and without counting the cost and seriously thinking about it. I am so thankful for each of them.

I am honored and humbled that God wants to use me here in Greece.  I just want to encourage you, God has amazing plans for each of your lives. He wants to use each of you in amazing ways, but it will cost you something..... I believe it will so be worth it all!!!! 

I continue to pray for each of you and asked that you continue to pray for the Celebration Athens Team and Celebration Church Athens.

Ephesians 3:7-8, "By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ." 

Love & Blessings,

Tracy

Love & Mercy....God's Goodness!

This past week, God reminded me daily of the Love, Mercy, & Goodness He has for His children & humanity. Regardless of the present situation or circumstance we may find ourselves in. As I reflect on the divine appointments I encountered this week and each of these gifts He gives us, I am in awe of our Father's love, and so Thankful.  His love is unconditional, regardless of our qualities or our actions. He is merciful & compassionate toward us.  And His goodness toward us is His overflowing love, compassion & desire for us. It is so undeserved, yet freely given. 

My week started out meeting a beautiful woman of God that needed prayer for herself, her children & her husband. She had such a sweet spirit and God just wanted her to realize how much he loved her and believed in her. He wanted her to understand that she was the apple of His eye. After praying with her, we decided to meet for coffee during the week. When we met up, she had invited another friend and her children. We had our first women's small group! It was a wonderful time of encouragement, sharing the word & prayer. I can't wait until we meet up again!

The next divine appointment I want to share, was on the metro. I was riding to meet a friend when a man on a scooter (electric chair) got on. Everyone around him moved away, as though they were afraid they'd catch something.......then they just stared at him, some even pointed. I was told by a Pastor that many people believe people with disabilities are "bad luck." My heart was breaking for this man. Then God said to me, "I love him". I quietly said to God, I know. Then God said to me, "tell him I love him." I suddenly started having an argument in my head with God, "I have to get off at the next metro stop, there isn't time. I don't even know if he speaks english. I don't want him to get the wrong idea....." God just kept saying "tell him I love him." It was so strong...........so I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to me, very stiff, as if he had severe CP. I leaned to his ear and asked him, "Do you understand english?" He nodded "yes". I then said, "God wants me to tell you that He loves you." You would not believe the look on his face. His eyes got real big, and filled with tears. He then asked me as best he could "why?" I said to him, "God just wants you to know, He loves you." As the man got this huge smile on his face & was still cryinging, I put my hand on his shoulder & quietly prayed for him. It was the most wonderful experience.......then the metro doors opened and I stepped off.  I don't know what was going on in this man's life, but I do know that God loves him and he NEEDED to know that!

The last experience I want to share is from a church service that I attended for drug addicts. It was on the roof top of a building where the pastor has been ministering for years to the addicts on the streets of Athens. There were probably 50 people at the service. There was a worship band, the word of God was preached and the people were fed. Many of the people who were there were high and/or drunk.....but God's love & word, is no respecter of persons. God's love meets people where they are. His word is "alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Heb 4:12  The people at this service were being given the love of God and His word was going forth. Many of their lives were forever changed! It was a blessing to see men that a few weeks ago were on the streets on drugs now sitting in a church service sober, with their hands raised giving God glory & honor & praise for the things He has done!

God doesn't care where we are. He will meet us there. Whether we live on the streets in a cardboard box or in a mansion on a hill. He doesn't care that we are not perfect, that we have made numerous mistakes. He doesn't care if we have no money or if we are millionaires. He loves us and he wants us to know that. 

As Christians, the body of Christ, we must pursue a revelation of God's love. We must love Him back with all our heart, our soul, our mind & our strength so that from the overflow of this love, we can love those that he brings across our path. Those that the world sees as lovable & those that the world sees as unlovable. We must love them the way He loves them, unconditionally. We are His hands and feet! Opportunities are all around us daily. Don't miss the chance to shine His light and share His love with those around you today!

"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!" Ps 107:1

Hosting A Team-Sharing His Love

We just got done hosting our first mission team to Celebration Athens! Although when the week was over I was exhausted, it was a wonderful feeling. To serve along side this great group of missionaries from Celebration Church Jacksonville was an honor. They touched many lives in their week here, with the unconditional love of Jesus. 

Their first night in Athens the team had a traditional Greek home cooked meal prepared with love by our friends & family in Christ, Dimitris & Sophia. The food was amazing and the fellowship was even better!

After a good night sleep we started Friday morning hearing from Phil who runs A21 in Greece. He shared with us some staggering statistics, also how A21 is fighting human trafficking right now, some of their plans for the future and then some wonderful stories of women who had been rescued, nurtured with the love of Jesus & given hope & a new life! It is so exciting to be partnering with such an amazing organization that is bringing awareness to trafficking and helping to abolish this slavery in the 21st century!

Friday evening we all went out to dinner in Agia Paraskevi. It was a divine appointment! There was a rave party going on in the square with many young people drinking and doing drugs. We were able to hang out, talk to people & pray throughout the square.

Saturday we served at Helping Hands all day. This is a ministry that loves on & helps care for, the refugees in the city of Athens, most who live on the streets. They are from many countries, Iran, Afghanistan, Northern Africa, just to name a few and here at Helping Hands they are loved, encouraged and given hope. We spent time doing crafts with the children, serving tea to the men & women, playing checkers & chess with the teens & adults and talking with them, listening to their stories, many which were heartbreaking. God opened the door for a couple of team members to be able to share their testimony with the refugees and that was a blessing!

Sunday we went to a church where Pastor Darren preached a great message on believing. Sunday evening we went to Hellenic Ministries young adult worship service. It was a great service. The worship, which was in both Greek & English, was amazing & the presence of God was tangible. Jonathan(from H M) gave a great word & we met many new friends, including a ywam team from England. 

On Monday we served at the Greek Bible Institute clearing tree branches from the fence line, washing windows, & other outdoor jobs. Then on Monday night we served food at Hellenic Ministries "Love Meals" to 100's of refugees who would otherwise not have a meal. Hellenic Ministries touches so many lives here in Greece, especially the refugee population. Please keep all of these men & women in your prayers.

                                                      

Tuesday morning we went to chapel service with the students here at the bible college. We participated in worship & then the students shared about what God did over the Easter holiday. Then the mission team shared a little with the students about themselves. We then had coffee & fellowship before heading out to Pastor Darren & Katie's new home to serve them. We cleaned their new home, clean up the street, trimmed the trees & shrubs & then we all prayed through their house. I'm so excited for them to get settled in & make it their own!           



On Wednesday morning we went on a prayer walk with Nea Zoi through the streets of Athens in and around the brothels. Nea Zoi is an organization that ministers to prostitutes (men & women), offering care, information, alternatives for their lives, as well as emotional support. A place where they can find restoration and new life if they want it. We witnessed first hand girls working the streets and men that were there to purchase services. Please pray that God changes the hearts of these men and breaks this cycle that is so natural and accepted in this culture.

Wednesday afternoon we did some site seeing, because early Thursday morning the team would be leaving. We visited the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum as well as many shops so the team could purchase souvenirs.

It was an amazing week spent with a great group of people both from our Celebration Team and from the other ministries we served with. I feel blessed and honored to serve along side each and every one of them sharing the love of Jesus with those who are hurting, hopeless, and lost.  Isaiah 58:10 says, "If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday." To extend one's soul is to help another person, heart to heart. No distance, no differences, just one human being reaching out and touching another with love. The breach is repaired, bridges are built, trust is gained and hearts are restored. Then God's light is shown and darkness flees. I believe this is what will make a difference in Greece and around the world. Meeting people where they are, heart to heart, shining the light of His love. Please continue to pray for the Celebration Athens team and the country of Greece and we will continue to pray for you. 

Love & Blessings,

Tracy