It Didn't Shake Us...

It didn't shake us that it was a rainy, dreary sort of day.
It didn't shake us that we had to move to a different dormitory after only being in Hong Kong for three days.
It didn't shake us that lunch was served in Tupperware.
It didn't shake us that some of us are sick or having inexplicable allergic reactions.
It didn't shake us that the microphones went crazy right when the story started.
It didn't shake us that there were issues to work through with some of the parents.
It didn't shake us that things went wrong or that the kids in the back couldn't hear.

None of this mattered because our confidence lies not in our circumstances, but in promise of certain victory from our God!

"Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." (Joshua 14:6-14)

I love this passage of Scripture and how Caleb spoke with rock-solid confidence and faith. He knew that what God had promised (forty five years before) when he had obediently and faithfully went to Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land was true. God would give him this mountain. This is what made Caleb different from his peers and the other men of Israel. Caleb had faith and vision that nothing... no obstacle, no emotion, no fear, no enemy, no challenge could shake. He saw what other men could not see because He believed God and wholly followed Him.

Tim reminded us this morning in devotions that Hong Kong is another peak on our mountain. This is the mountain we know we will win. We know God is Victor. We know Satan is defeated, and our desire and prayer is to be able to see and walk in that victory. We asked God for eyes that looked beyond what we could physically see: the lights, the buildings and the concrete. We asked for the ability to see the whole island of Hong Kong through the eyes of God and to be able to see souls rather than masses of people. We asked God for more than just a successful week at the CI and Basic Seminar, we asked Him to use our team this week to make an impact that will last not just for the duration of our trip, but that will touch Hong Kong and continue into China for many generations. I believe with all my heart that God will honor those prayers because of the faith of His people.

After devotions today we moved into "Happy Acres" (uh...I mean, Breakthrough Youth Village), because Fok Ying Tung Hall (our original lodging) was only available for the first few days of our stay here. Despite the inconvenience of a mid-week move, I think we're all enjoying the zany family style accommodations after a month of hotel rooms. Our second seminar day here in Hong Kong went well. The International Christian Quality Music School with it's beautiful amphitheater, concert halls and flowered overhangs once again hosts our staff and over 400 Basic Seminar attendees along with 155+ children. We are confident that our God is working here! Sure, there are challenges and there are obstacles, but we believe God and are wholly following Him. We know that just as He was faithful to Caleb, He is faithful to us and will complete His work here. We know that your faithful prayers and support are a huge contribution to the ministry here. Thanks for sharing with us in what God is doing in Taiwan and Hong Kong!

Kristi Cook