The Power of HIS great name

As a family, we try to read through a missionary biography each months.  David Livingstone, Amy Charmichael, Cameron Townsend, Nate Saint to name a few.  We just finished reading the story of Gladys Aylward who was a missionary in China for many years. Her life and story are challenging to consider as we read how she stood for Christ in the face of serious opposition and difficulty. I also recently finished listening to a book about the life of Dietrich Bonheoffer. Again I was stuck with how this man stood for Christ when all was against him.

Tonight as we finished the Gladys Aylward book one of our daughters stated that she did not feel she could stand up for Christ in the way so many of these missionaries had, saying “it would be too hard!”  Josh and I were thankful for her honesty and talked with her about how we each need to pray that God would give us the grace to stand up for him when called to do that. Our daughter began to cry and was broken over the cost of being a disciple of Christ and in her human sinful nature she understood how difficult that would be.   She was realizing that in her own strength she could not stand for Christ.   The truth is none of us can!

As we were sitting in our living room later in the evening preparing for family prayer time we were listening and singing along to the song “Your Great Name” (which is posted above in English and Spanish if you want to listen). I was reminded that it is only in the name of Jesus with his strength and mercy on our lives that we can stand in trials for His name.

Your Great Name (English)

 

Tu Gran Nombre (Spanish)

 

 At times, as we seek to serve the Lord here in Zacatecas, Mexico, it is easy to get caught up trying to serve the Lord in our own strength and we wonder why we fail or feel empty.   We must remember that we are His tools to be used by Him and on our own we are nothing. As it says in John 15:5 “Abide in me and I in you and you will bear much fruit but apart from me you can do nothing.” Our lives must be marked by abiding in Christ day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute. As we do this He will be there to hold us up and to keep us from turning away when the trials of lif,e whether big or small, are before us.

 As you have time to pray for our family please pray as we begin a new school year at home and a new youth Bible study on Saturday nights. Also pray for continued understanding and ability to use the Spanish language especially for me (Heather) and the girls. We are making a lot of contacts here daily and we would ask for prayer that there would be open doors to build relationships and share the gospel.

As a family we try to pray 3-4 times each week in the evening and we have a little "Prayer Box" where we put your prayer requests and needs. Please tell us how we can pray for you so we can add it to our box and be praying! It encourages us to share in your joys and trials through prayer as a part of the family of Christ.

for His glory,

Heather Dunn

Also there are new pictures in our gallery!