Pastor's Page

My Living Strong thought this week is coming from a missionary family who serves with YWAM in Taiwan. Tim and Joann Bauer are part of the Victory family, but have spent most of their adult life oversees serving Christ. I have had the privilege to join Tim and Joann on occasions in some of the countries where they were serving at that time. They have a deep and abiding trust in God, and this has been evident in all the years I have known them.

Here is what Tim sent me just a couple of days ago as he and Joann prepare to enter 2015. I want to pass it on to you:

Dear Friends,

Have a Blessed New Year and may your year be filled with great joy!

As I was asking the Lord for His thoughts for the New Year, I was reminded of - Isaiah 40:31 -

But those who Trust in the LORD will find new strength.

    They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

    They will walk and not faint.

God DESIRES to carry us on eagles wings, to give us strength to "run our race well". How? Trust Him.

Trust defined: complete dependence on the character, ability, strength of someone.

Some years ago, when a family member saw how I was traveling the world, learning languages, and living in far off lands he said: "You have really become independent".  But in reality I know how dependent I was on the One who had "called me out of darkness into His marvelous light".

It is only as we trust in Him as dependent sons/daughters that we can truly fulfill His purpose for us namely: to enjoy Him and to complete the works He prepared for us. We each have a "race to run" and at times it is not at all easy, requiring endurance and choosing "not my will but yours" because we KNOW and TRUST His character - that His will is GOOD.

This year, God is calling me to a deeper trust in Him. Join me if you would like in this New Year's prayer:

"We trust you Lord, we know your character, ability, and strength, and WE TRUST YOU. We place our self and our family in your hands. We are dependent on you alone... "Let’s soar on wings of eagles...."

Thanks Tim for the Encouragement!!!