Angel Wings

Recently, Paul and Melanie Billings, missionary friends of mine who live in Kyrgyzstan, recently wrote an update on their prayer request. They had been waiting for several months to receive official permission to begin religious work in Kyrgyzstan. Many phone calls later and going back and forth to the officals office, they finally received ‘verbal” permission but were awaiting the “official paperwork with the official stamp” . With Kyrgyzstan being a former Soviet country, some of us who have been missionaries in the former Soviet countries for some time, understood the waiting, the going back and forth to the officials office, more waiting, promises from officials. Ah ~ the list could go on. And so it seemed that Paul and Melanie might be stuck in the “Soviet system.” Would they really get their official paperwork? Or would they constantly heare empty promises from the officials. But, many around the world who know or have become acquainted with Paul and Melanie, continued steadfastly in prayer. As did Paul and Melanie. Then, yesterday the word came, “It’s official! They rec’vd the “official paperwork with the offical stamp” HURRAH HURRAH HURRAH! Praise God Praise God Praise God!!!! Three months and 3 days of waiting, praying, etc.

So you may be thinking, “why are you writing about Paul and Melanie?” Well, I’ll tell you why.

After I reading their email, and Praising God for the good news, the Lord impressed upon me that this process wasn’t just for Paul and Melanie, but an example to me, to you, to those who had been praying for them, of His faithfulness and bountiful blessings. You see, it would have been very easy for Paul and Melanie to give up and return to Ukraine. Melanie has been sick all through her pregnancy and I am sure there are times when she would have liked to be closer to her family (in a physical sense). And Paul could have gotten tired of going back and forth, calling, and only hearing “come back tomorrow” again and again. But no, they hung in there, they continued in earnest to pray steadfastly. I even heard that Melanie’s father, Pastor George Markey, prayed for them first thing every morning when he arose. Many continued all over the world, steadfastly in prayer. And the result? An abundance of blessing, the fruit of waiting on the Lord. You see, the Lord just didn’t bless them with the “official permission” but He blessed them with the DATE of the “official permission” starting from yesterday (usually, whenever a person applies and then receives official documentation, passport, visa, etc. the date begins on the date in which you applied, not the date in which you rec’vd). That was blessing #1. Blessing #2 is that because the “official date” begins on the day they rec’vd their paperwork, they now have four more months PAST the time in which their visa’s expire. Which means, when the time comes for Paul, Melanie and little Titus to renew their visa’s, the officals will see “oh, you have permission to be in kyrgyzstan to do religous work. That means you have a reason to return. Ok, we can grant you another visa”. (I am sure there are many other blessings, and if the Lord shows you of any through Paul and Melanie receiving their official permission, please do not hesitate to share)!

Abundance of blessings come from being faithful in prayer and waiting on the Lord for His timing to bring all things about. We get impatient so many times in prayer “I’ve been seeking the Lord and seeking the Lord, why is nothing happening”. Or, “It’s been so long, I’ve been praying and praying and praying. How long must I wait?” Oh my friend, Oh ye of little faith. (this is as much for me as any of you out there). Wait, and again I say wait on the Lord, and He will bless your obedience, He will bless your steadfastness in prayer in ways that you may have never imagined! Maybe it will take “three months and three days”, maybe less, maybe more. God knows, because it is all in His timing AND He already has our days ordained.

I’m sure that Paul and Melanie didn’t expect for me (or anyone) to get this much out of a Praise God we have our permission” email. But the Lord will speak to us through many different circumstances, as well as other peoples trials and joys, if we would only be still and listen. Perservere my friend, perservere, and be still and listen. You never know how the Lord might bless your time.

So, that’s it for this blog. Keep waiting, keep seeking, and He will bless your socks off. Pretty simple isn’t it, but so hard for us to do.

Shhhh…what’s that I hear? Ahh..it is the sound of Angel Wings.

~ Thanks for listening

(you can read more about Paul, Melanie, and Titus Billings on the Calvary Chapel Ukraine website. www.ccmukraine.org)

~please do not hesitate to make comments on any of these blogs, I’d love to hear what the Lord is saying to you!~