From childhood, I felt special to God. I felt he loved me, cared for me and would guide me into a plan that would bless me and please him. He would never leave me and would always move me into His will for my life. Not even cancer could destroy this conviction, but it did cause me to think more clearly about what that meant. First, I learned that his promised presence did not mean I would “feel” it in the midst of my struggles with the disease and its side effects. My God-given faith did enable me to hold fast to his written promises, hidden deep within my heart in spite of the lack of feelings.

Second, it became clear that I will die! I might be special, but that would not keep me from this fixed end to my life. Of course, I knew that, but I did not really accept it as a real and certain end not far away. I have said this many times, “I am not dead yet, but I can see it from where I am.” This has caused me to seriously prioritize my remaining days. I have asked the Lord for guidance and here is, to the best of my ability, how I would devote myself to in the years He has sovereignly laid out for me. Here is what I came up with:

1. To prepare our ministry in Malawi, Mudzi Owala, for my leaving to see Jesus, I have sought out and discipled men of faith, who love Jesus and his Word, who will continue our purpose to “display the beauty of Jesus by serving the most-needy of Malawi through words of truth and works of love.” I have attempted to put structure and policy into place that would maintain our high view of God and His Word. We are also praying for God honoring, Word loving missionaries to take our place in Malawi.
2. I have begun a study for the purpose of writing a book, which takes up the subject of what does it mean to seek the Lord. Throughout the scriptures, there are invitations, commands, and testimonies that reveal that seeking God’s face is at the center of our life’s purpose. That desire, that hunger, that joy, is not only our purpose on earth but will be extended into eternity. So, I ask: Why do we seek? What does seeking his face mean? How are we to seek? Where are we to seek? What are the obstacles to our seeking? What will we discover when we seek and find?
3. I have attempted to prepare a group study guide that will accompany my writing called, “Give Me That Book.” I confess, this renewed project caused me to read the book for the first time since it was released in 2013. I was impressed. I told Barbara: With some surprise, “This is really good!” I said that with as much humility and honesty as I could muster. I believe that the Lord set me aside for four years so that I could do my best to honor Jesus and His Word. Therefore, I decided that more lovers of God and his Word could be edified if GMTB would make the effort to promote its contents and supply this added help now.
4. I have spent several years engaged with Psalm 119, in daily devotions, memorizing and re-memorizing, meditating, journaling, praying, applying and loving its contents. With David I can say, “Oh, how I love thy law, I meditate upon it day and night;” (97) and, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path;” and, “If your law had not been my delight I would have perished in affliction;” (92) and, “I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free;” (32) and, “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold;” and, “Great peace have they who love thy law and nothing can make them stumble.” So, in this project I want to share some five years of listening and learning through what God has been saying to me through David’s love of God and His law.
5. Finally, I also desire to establish a GMTB podcast that focuses upon the beauty of Jesus as seen through the lenses of God’s Holy Word. It will be an attempt to teach the blessings and the benefits of beating upon That Book until the treasures God has hidden in this gold mine of delight are uncovered.
6. I am developing what I have called A Plan for Bible Beating. I have attempted to map out an effective strategy for doing Bible study.
First, there is a three-step plan to fellowship with Jesus as He speaks to the earnest disciple through His Word. 1) There is the meeting with Jesus every morning, alone, with the Scriptures open and the heart hungry. 2) There is the beating on a selected passage for long periods of time, praying, meditating and squeezing until every drop of sweet nectar of God’s glorious truth is tasted and enjoyed. 3) There is repeating God’s Word until it is stored in the armory of the mind, ready to be used as a spiritual sword in the battle for faith and joy in Jesus.
Second, there is a five-step strategy for a deliberate and devoted attempt to seek, find and apply God’s truth to the battle at hand.

a. Prayer: We make this time personal. We begin every study with a prayer to the Lord, who by promise is present, asking for divine help. “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts that I may meditate upon your wonders.” (Psalm 119:27, 12, 18, 124)
b. Principles: We identify unchanging, unshakeable truth that God reveals which shows us who He is, who we are, and how we are to live before Him. These become the granite-like foundation that we build our lives upon. “Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.” (Psalm 119:142)
c. Promises: We seek out the promises that give us life transforming hope no matter what we are facing. They supply present power based upon past promises of future provision. “Your promises have been thoroughly tested and your servant loved them.” (Psalm 119:140)
d. Practices: We look for specific acts that we make a part of our daily attempt to grow in our passion to please the Lord in our discipleship. “Direct my footsteps according to your Word; Let no sin rule over me.” (Psalm 119:133)
e. Pray: We make this time practical. We ask the Lord to enable us to apply what we have learned as we seek to run in such a way that we display his glory in the way we live our lives. “I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free.” (Psalm 119:32)

We hope that these last days will be a time of rejoicing as we pray and expect the Lord to continue what he has allowed us to plant in Ntcheu, Malawi. A big thank you for those of you who have supported our mission with prayers and giving. We thank God for you.

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)