a ministry of ACTION
Written by BJ and Andrea Lopez Monday, 05 April 2010 00:00
"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3 John 4)
Dear Family and Friends,
We hope you had a blessed Easter as you celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with your family and friends! Just think all around the world Believers were celebrating the glorious truth that He has Risen! Risen indeed! This morning we just wanted to give you an quick update on our lives in Cambodia.
In the Bible, the apostle John writes in his 3rd letter in verse 4, “I have no greater joy, then to hear that my children are walking in the truth” and boy isn’t that the truth. To see your children trusting the Lord and walking in the truth stirs up the unspeakable joy that we find in believing in our Great Savior Jesus Christ. On the other hand there is no greater pain and discouragement to see one of your children walking away from the Lord and watching them exchange the truth for a lie. It’s like not having enough oxygen to breath…like someone hitting you in the gut. The last few months have been very challenging and our hearts are very heavy as we continue to trust and wait on the Lord. On January 1st one of our girls, Borei, ran away from our home. Over the past year, Andrea and I have been working with her in dealing with some very deep strongholds in her life. Instead of working through the issues, Borei ran away.
After about a week of desperately searching for her, we found her living in the middle of destruction and chaos. In talking to her, she told us that she hated God and all that He has done for her. She told us that she wanted the power to do what was right in her own eyes. You can only imagine how we all pleaded with her to come to her senses and to stay. We prayed for her as a family and continued to plead with her to stay, but in the end, she decided to leave. Needless to say, we have been perplexed and discouraged to see her fall so far from grace. We are thankful for God’s grace and for the Holy Spirit who has directed, guided, and given us discernment as we have attempted to shepherd, teach, exhort, and encourage Borei in her battle against sin and the strongholds in her life and point her to the One who is her refuge, peace, and lover of her soul. Although her actions and behavior do not surprise us, they continue to reflect the turmoil of her heart. Please pray for Borei’s heart and that while He is accomplishing His perfect will for her that He would prepare our hearts to receive her when He chooses to bring her back.
Although our hearts are heavy and burdened for Borei, we are rejoicing as a family because in the midst of this trial the kids have told us they have been provoked to look back at their own lives and see the invisible hand of God become visible in all that He has accomplished and moved to bring them into the household of faith. In fact, one of our girls, Wejeka, in hearing Borei say that she “hated God” was immediately convicted that she was also a hater of God, but didn’t have the courage to admit it like Borei. Wejeka told us that when she heard those words from her older sister, she was instantly convicted of her own pridefullness, disobedience, and rebellion against God and His authority. She went on to say, “how in the world can I hate the God who has brought me into a loving family, a God who has given me the opportunity to study and hear His word everyday for the last 3 ½ years…what will be my judgment if I continue to harden my heart, so I confessed my sin and repented and surrendered my heart, mind and soul to the only One who can save me.”
A week later Wejeka asked me at the dinner table, “Daddy, I was reading in the book of Acts this morning for my quiet time and I believe that the first act of obedience in following Jesus is baptism, and I know it doesn’t save me, but it’s what the word of God commands…is there any reason why I cannot be baptized soon?” I almost fell off my chair and choked on the food in my mouthJ I looked at Andrea and we both looked at each other and looked at Wejeka and said in unison, “God is so amazing!” That weekend I had the privilege to baptize our youngest daughter. Please continue to pray for Wejeka and look for our next newsletter in hearing about her transformation.
So this morning as I write this email I am filled with both joy and sadness. There is sadness because one of our daughters has chosen the wide path of life that may lead to death and destruction. Yet on the other hand, I am filled with joy to see one of our daughters being transformed by the word of God and walking in His truth.
In the midst of trials and tribulation we rejoice in knowing our God reigns! And like the old hymn,
I STAND AMAZED…
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for us!
Blessings on you,
BJ & Andrea Lopez
Hebrews 12:1-2
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BJ and Andrea serve the Khmer people of Cambodia in southeast Asia. They are working to provide Biblical resources, training, and one-on-one discipleship to Cambodian believers for the purpose of making Christ known throughout the world. They have started a family style discipleship home called Mordecai’s Courage where they have taken in seven Cambodian children, Tabitha, Borei, Ponleu, Tola, Eat, Wejeka & Sarah.
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