The Christian Life Can Be Like the Birth of a Giraffe

Sometimes our journey as a Christian can feel like the birth of a giraffe. The other day on Christian radio I heard a preacher talk about what birth was like for a giraffe. Because of the risk of predators the mother giraffe stands while her baby is born. It can be a 5-10 ft drop for the new baby, depending on the height of the mother. She kicks at it to get it to take it's first steps. As it's spindly legs try to stand, the mother knocks it down and kicks at it again so it will stand up. She does this over and over again. You are probably wondering why she does this to her precious  little baby. The answer is simple. She knows that in order for it to survive in the wild, it needs to learn to get up and get going. The reason she does this is to make her baby stronger. That is motherly love, giraffe style.

In the Christian life people and circumstances can knock us down and kick us around. If we lay there and don't move we are defeated. But each kick makes us stronger and stronger and able to handle what comes our way in life. God allows this for His ultimate purpose. Those kicks hurt!! But I have come to trust the Lord and know that He loves me and wants to prepare me for some greater things in life that my simple mind can't fathom. So when I get knocked down and feel the kick, I just get up, shake the dust off my feet and keep on going!!

Beside The Still Waters

I love the 23rd Psalm. Many people think of it as a Psalm to read when someone dies. I believe that is a good time to read it, but for me it means life now. Let me share with you.

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
When trying times come into my life, I have found the Lord to be enough. I feel blessed to be living on an island where there are lots of beaches. When I go "beside the still waters...He restoreth my soul.." There is something about the sun, the water, the sound of the gentle ocean wave on the rocks that always recharge me. The Lord uses that desire to "restoreth my soul." What an amazing God we have!

Watching for the Return of Christ

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." Mark 13:8

There has been so much in the news lately about all the conflict in the middle east. Now the huge earthquake in Japan and all the sorrows associated with that. Sometimes it almost seems too overwhelming to think about. Then there are the sorrows we face in our own country, and personal lives. Yes, Jesus said this would happen...but I, as well as anyone who has their faith in Jesus Christ knows, this just brings us closer to the time for His return for His people.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Are you ready for Christ's return? Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour? "..behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2 Don't put it off another day. If you are reading this, God is speaking to YOU. His Word has the answers.

Read Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-13, Romans 5:1.

Then say this simple prayer: Dear God, I am sorry for my sin. I confess my need for you in my life. Please forgive me and be my Saviour. Come into my heart and life. Help me to be all that you have created me to be. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.

Then tell someone, start reading your Bible and attend a Bible believing church!

Adventure of the Seas

On our free time we try to see something new each week. Since the island is only about 28 miles long it doesn't take much gas to explore and it doesn't cost anything to go to the beach. So even though many might think we are living quite the life of luxury, we are just enjoying some of God's creations. After a very busy last 8 days we headed west to Fredericksted on the island of St. Croix. A cruise ship was set to dock at 8:00 am. We made it just as it came to the pier! 

  

                                                         

Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas is 1020 feet in length, 137,376 tons in weight, holds 3807 passengers, has an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, inline skating, 9 hole mini golf course, a full size basketball court and tons of restaurants and just about anything else to make a vacation fun! We enjoyed seeing how easily she slid right up to the pier and settled in for the day. Taxi's and buses awaited the passengers who had come to explore St. Croix for the day. We just sat back on the beach, did some snorkeling and sightseeing ourselves. It was a day we needed!

                               

We took these pictures so you would know we were really there!

                                             

                                                      

Beautiful Flowers of the Island

January~February Newsletter

Caribbean Missions

January~February 2011

Greetings from the Island of St. Croix

We are just finishing up our fourth month here yet it feels like we have lived here a long time.  It feels a lot like home! There is no denying that we are enjoying the beautiful weather while many of our family and friends have been shoveling snow. But we do look forward to some rainy weather as it has been very dry here.

Billy continues to work three days a week at the Lighthouse Mission with building and renovation projects. He shares the Word of God with the 25-30 homeless who come in for breakfast. There are four men who take turns with the devotionals and his day is on Mondays with an occasional fill in spot if someone is away. He also is working two days a week at Southgate Baptist Church with some maintenance projects. 

                                       

The big projects he has been working on are the “Liberty Theater,” the exterior of Lighthouse II, and the roof. He has also done some renovations inside, some preparations for a concrete ramp, and lots of painting. A couple of the men who come in for breakfast helped with some of the painting. The upcoming project is the kitchen renovation. The cook is excited about more cabinet space, a new sink and a new exhaust system to be installed in March. Prior to that, another door way was cut through concrete to make room for traffic in and out of the kitchen. It was a dusty mess and it took a team to clean!

                             

Cecilia is enjoying her job as School Nurse at Free Will Baptist Christian School. She just completed the school health manual, just in time for the accreditation process upcoming in April. She was able to do a presentation in the fifth grade class on personal hygiene recently. What a joy to be able to share God’s Word and how to apply it in everyday life.

   


             

We continue to teach a Sunday School class for students in grades K-grade 2. They are energetic but eager to learn. They are bused in from Christiansted and most have never attended church. We play a game where we pretend we are the “parents” and they are our “children”..an interesting adventure keeping them settled in their seats 40 minutes while waiting to be dismissed to Jr. Church! Crayons and color sheets are a life saver.

We are able to do some small work projects at Youth With A Mission. Billy helped install some hurricane shutters in preparation for the summer months.

Praises:

            Opportunities to share God’s Word with the homeless and children

            Faithful prayer and financial supporters

            Good health and a car that runs good (with A/C!)

Prayer Requests:

            That the hearts of those hearing the Word would soften and be receptive

Our house is back on the market at a reduced price..we need to sell it!

Safety on the roads as they are narrow, huge pot holes, and drivers veer to avoid them. Kind of scary at times to meet oncoming cars!

We thank you for your continued prayer and financial support. There are many days we have needed extra strength and grace from the Lord. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

In Christ’s Love,                                                                    

Billy & Cecilia

Follow us on www.CaribbeanMission.blogspot.com 

Learn more about the ministry at http://www.yeservants.org/ or www.CaribbeanMissions.com

Tax exempt financial contributions can be made online at http://www.yeservants.org/ or to YES Ministry,

P.O. Box 700697, St. Cloud, FL  34770 (Designate for Billy & Cecilia Stone Ministry)

My Husband is an Awesome Man of God

My husband, Billy Stone, is quite a unique man. I don't brag on him enough but today I feel like I need to. He has the biggest, most tender heart for people. I believe God has him just where He wants him to be. He is working at the Lighthouse Mission on St. Croix doing maintenance and building projects. Each Monday morning he shares a message from the Bible with the group of 25-30 homeless men and women of the streets. His heart's desire is to see them accept the Lord as their Saviour and to get a new start on life.  He also works with some of the men, trying to get them involved in some type of work projects. He has been known to crawl under an old house, where termintes and centipedes live, to fix a sagging floor for the poor.

He is a wonderful husband and makes sure I feel secure in his love and committment. He also has a heart for children...which brings us to this picture with his puppet Kenya. His 6ft 1in height strikes quite a picture with the children and the homeless.  He is not afraid to humble himself to touch someone's life.

The Lord has blessed me with this man and I want people to know what an Awesome Man of God he is!