Postings: Treasuring God’s Word 💎

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
~ Matthew 24:35 ~

I read an amazing testimony recently. A house in the Gadsup language group in Papua New Guinea (PNG) was burned down during a fight. They lost EVERYTHING!

House Burnt Down
Burnt remains of the house

Everything, that is, except their Bible. They found the Bible in a bilum (string bag) full of clothes. The bilum AND the clothes were burnt, but the Bible was safe under the thick ashes!

Even though the front cover had melted:

Bible Cover Melted
Melted Bible cover

The inner pages were saved!

Bible Saved Cropped
God’s Word remained!

What a miracle! Our God is amazing! He promises that His words will NEVER pass away, and this story gives us a powerful picture of this reality. He can preserve His Living Word, even through a devastating fire.

Job 23:12b says, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” God is giving us just a taste of just how important His Word is! It’s more important than food, it’s more important than clothing, it’s more important that our material possessions.

A girl prays holding her new Bible.
Girl praying while holding her new Bible – photo courtesy M. Ewell

How much do you and I treasure God’s Word and spending time WITH Him in it? Do we treat His Word like the daily spiritual food that God intends for it to be? Do we thirst for His presence like we yearn for water, or our favorite drink? Does our spirit feel dry when we haven’t spent time with the Lord, soaking up the truths found in His Word, and being transformed by His Spirit?

Oh Lord, may we earnestly seek you, may our souls thirst for you, may our whole bodies long for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water! (Psalm 63:1)

What if you didn’t HAVE a Bible??

While it is common in our nation for families to have multiple physical copies of the Bible, and countless digital Bibles available at the tap of a finger or the click of a button, many families in thousands of languages throughout the world don’t even have a single Bible. 😥 And millions of people still don’t have a single word of Scripture in a language they can clearly understand.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” – Romans 10:14-15

This video gives us a glimpse of the importance of having God’s Word in a language and format we can understand.

God desperately wants to be in connection, in relationship, with all of the people He created. It’s through the truth of His Word, the power of His Holy Spirit, and the witness of His people that He does this. Please pray that His Word would go forth to all the nations, that it would cross cultural boundaries, and that lives would be transformed as a result.

Scripture Dedications in 2023 🎉

Please join us in praising God for these Scripture dedications that took place so far this year!

  • New Testaments: Aja, Bramar*, Bena, Budu-Koya, Budu-Nita, Godie, Ikoma, Kabwa, Komo, North Gumuz, Northern Nuni, Nyiha, Ñandeva, Omi
  • Full Bibles: Branchu*, Ibaloy, Ticuna

*Name changed.

These language groups represent over 4.4 MILLION people throughout the world that now have access to the living and active Word of God in their own language! The smiles of people receiving God’s Word are priceless!

Keliko Man NT Marc Ewell
Keliko man holding a New Testament – photo courtesy M. Ewell
Naro NT Zeke du Plessis
Naro woman holding a New Testament – photo courtesy Z. du Plessis
A young girl reads the Quechua Bible she has just received in a literacy class.
Girl reading her Quechua Bible – photo courtesy M. Ewell

Please pray that these Scriptures will be used and result in transformed lives.

🙏 Prayer and Praise 🙌

  • Prayer: That we would all treasure and engage with God through His Word.
  • Praise: Our shipment arrived from PNG!
  • Prayer: For us to sell our house in PNG.
  • Prayer: Improved health for James and Christina
  • Praise: Gramma Rachie and Grandpa Doug, and Uncle Evan got to visit!

Thank you for helping make it possible for God’s Word to go to the nations!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Photo Highlights

Click the collage images to see recent family photo highlights.

2023 07 Family Photo Highlights 2

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