January 2010 Conchshell Chronicles

 

A New Decade Is Upon Us!

   What Will We Do With It?                                      By Maik Bagby

It’s January 2010, and we have an opportunity before us.  We are entering a new year, and a new decade.  These are moments for thought, evaluation, decisions, and actions. These past two years for me have been “exciting”.

I could say “stressful” or “adventurous”, or even “”disappointing”.  But I have a special relationship with the Creator of this world, and I try to always view the day through His Eyes, through His Perspective. 

When I encounter trials, I’m told by Him to “Consider it all joy” (James 1:2).
When dear friends are diagnosed with terminal diseases, he tells me to “Trust Him with all my heart, and do not lean on my own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). 

When I see my bank account with triple digits, He tells me to “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?...But seek first His Kingdom and he will take care of the rest” (Matthew 6:31-33)

I have been thinking of how I am to live my life in this new year, in this new decade.  I realize that there are some major changes I need to make in my life, and now is the time to initiate this change. Here is my challenge for this new year/new decade. 

Will I live my life:     

Through Fear or Faith?            

In Dulgence or In Discipline?               

With Jitters or With Joy?

Confession time.  During 2009, I have gotten fearful over paying salaries to our teachers in Nicaragua and being able to pay my own living expenses.  I have indulged myself in eating what I want to eat, and doing many things that I enjoy, that sometimes takes away time from my ministry and my family.  I have not had the discipline to cultivate a deeper relationship with my Lord Jesus.  I have spent days in thinking about future events, future challenges, and ignored a moment of joy with my family and friends.  I have often taken a stressful approach to my work, instead of simply enjoying my workday.

Yes, Confession is good for my soul! It helps me and God begin to work things out.

My job description includes writing lessons, teaching, handling finances for the Nicaragua project, roasting coffee, sending coffee to many of you, meeting with ministry partners, personal counseling, taking photos of Miskito children, and other associated tasks. In my “business” there is a lot of opportunity for me to get fearful about finances.  When you have over 60 employees in Nicaragua who depend on their monthly living from Seek The Lamb, well, it can be moments of great faith, or moments of dread and fear.  Add to that caring for four children who are growing up.

So how do I overcome fear with faith? I look back at what God has done over these past 25 years of our work in Miskitia, and I suddenly realize that He has never let us down.  As God said to Moses (Exodus 3:12), we will know that God is with us by looking back to see what He has done in the past, which will give us the faith to know that what He promises, He will do in the future. 

As I have done this over this past tumultuous year, my fear evaporates, and my faith in God suddenly grows stronger. My personal Bible study has been hit or miss over this past year.  When I am preparing for a teaching, I do spend hours in the Word. But many days, I only get to the Proverb chapter of the day, and sometime not even that. Also in the course of my days, I have often let my physical fitness training (bike riding, and lately stand up paddle surfing) supplant m

y alone time with my Lord.  Luke records in chapter 5:16 that: “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer”.  If Jesus needed to have his quality alone time with his Heavenly Father, so do I.

As a solution this year, I have embarked on a “Life Journaling” experience to read through my Bible with my family and many friends with specific reading each day that will cover the entire Bible this year. I have already experienced some freshness in my personal relationship with Lord because of these readings through Genesis, Luke, and the Psalms.

If you would like to join us in this daily reading, we will have the schedule posted on seekthelamb.org/stream.

Finally, I have decided to enjoy all the moments I can with my family, co-workers, and friends.  I have determined that I will not speak with any edge on my voice, and that I will not get stressed out about anything- even getting to the airport for a flight.

If you could have only seen us at our house on Maui on December 29^th as we prepared to leave for Florida on an 11:30 pm overnight flight. We had planned to spend the evening alone getting our home cleaned up, but instead some of our friends brought us dinner, and others came to join in. Eventually we had over 30 people in the house, and at 9:00 pm. I realized that we had to leave for the airport in 15 minutes, but we were having the last of the haupia ice cream, while a group of 10 were playing cards in the living room, and another group of 12 were on the balcony “enjoying’ the moment.

Was I stressed as I have been in the past? No, I was determined to enjoy my friends and the ice cream until the last possible moment.  We made it to the airport on time, and enjoyed the process.

Fear or Faith?  I will remember God’s provision in the past and pray that He will instruct me how to live within the means He gives me this and every day of this decade- for me and the ministry He has called us to.  My choice is Faith.

In-dulgence or In-Discipline?  My time is precious.  My calling is specific. I want to accomplish all that He has for me today, this year, this decade, this life.  I do chose to be a “Disciple”- a learner under discipline- of my Lord Jesus. So I will make my choices according to more eternal values.

Jitters or Joy?  My daughters Arielle and Moselle are just too fun to be with for me to ignore the opportunities to enjoy them as we work and live together.  I have discovered the same is true of Mikaela, and my only son Lukas, who are becoming responsible adults right before my very eyes. Of course as you all know, to pass up a fun moment with Laura would be just insane.  She offers me many through the course of the day.

I have also regained the appropriate appreciation of the friends, co-workers, and partners that God has placed around me. Yes, I lost some of that these past years.  I now will en-joy the moments with them. These are my plans for 2010 and this new decade.  Decisions that I make this month will guide me through this next season of my life.  I want it to be the best that God has for me. What about you?                                     MB  

Lamb Bleatings                                                   By Laura Bagby  

“Dying to Live” and Keeping it pure in the process…..

*Opportunities   

*Unmet expectations*Challenges             

*Handling misbehavior and disappointments

*Settling accounts within our own hearts in order to live free.

Our natural inclination in this life will always be toward self- preservation, comfort, indulgence, selfishness, control, self reliance and survival.  We are bent toward self -serving behavior that wraps itself around me, myself and I. We want a “grip” on life….Some kind of “handle” on our situations and varied circumstances….Even plans we make have a way of evaporating into thin air. 

Control is illusive to me….relying on myself is equally draining and confusing. I am thankful to have the One in whom I can rely and depend on…One who is perfectly in control with the perfect intentions for Good.  It is most comforting to realize that his ways & thoughts are higher than mine.  I have in most cases given up on trying to “understand”.  I resolve to only understand that I will never be able to know the fullness of God and his plans.  He is way too beyond.

Jesus came to earth to die so that we could live.  Our living involves a sacrifice. Our sanctification is dependent on whether we are willing to make our own choices to daily “give ourselves” up into the safe and all knowing hands of our Father and a willingness to do it His way and not mine, theirs or ours.

Easy enough said….never quite that easy in the doing and in the daily grind of challenges with people who perhaps have another “way”, style or manner of doing things, saying things and acting on things.  The challenge of life is how do we meet these continual opportunities of unmet expectations or poor treatment and how will we choose to “behave” back.  Will we “react” or will we choose to respond in manner worthy of his calling of us.  It is very easy to react and let the “chips” fall where they may or to simply let others be responsible for our reaction….never quite owning our own “sin”.

When we take a moment to consider how it is we need to respond, it gives us the opportunity to settle our hearts to the place of peace.   It is always easier and less costly to look outward rather than inward to our own hearts. If we have unrest, angst and confusion, we do well to rectify it in our hearts and in our minds before the Lord.  Unfortunately I have been given to working it out more “openly” (or was that aggressively???) than that especially when it involves relationships that are close to me.  I react and then fix it up later. 

I am trying to learn my response as a free person who does not have to get entangled in other people’s stuff.  I am called to live free unhindered and unencumbered.  Challenges will still exist in life, but need I be pulled into things that simply weight my life.  Need I be pulled in needlessly into someone else’s world of complications and stress?  Could I possibly be able to find peace before my response and be unhindered in my emotions? It is the questions I have had to ask myself as I deal in my own personal realities and relationships.

Life is often full of moments that try to “entangle” us.  We create our own webs woven by our issues and we all inadvertently pull others into it or we in turn get pulled into the webs of others.  My question always comes down to how do I keep myself unencumbered and unstained….pure of heart….free in response.If the goal is freedom, we do well to examine all things from the heart of Freedom with His truth, His way and His love.  We pursue peace in relationship(s)….always.Will my response lend to peace or take from it? Will I rise above my own reactions or give into them to satisfy “my way” or respond with the Higher Way (which is Christ in me my ONLY hope of glory & freedom)?

Today Arielle, Moselle and Mikaela went to the roasting room to help Michael with coffee business.  Lukas had his first day of college which he and Mikaela signed up for a couple days after our return from Maui.  We were elated that they got their classes and even some of their friends in those classes.  Tomorrow Mik begins her full day. We all had a pretty exciting week full of activities, people and general catching up. 

After the day of roasting with their Poppy, Arielle came home and informed me, “Mommy, I was hitting the mark perfectly in my weighing…like .755 –.750 (exact weight necessary) almost every time UNTIL Poppy came by…..” “Then what?”, I asked. “Well….you know how it is when the BOSS comes around…You tend to mess up and not get it right when they’re watching?” She had me thinking…..it’s like we try to too hard sometimes…nervousness, fear of failure….there is so much ease in faith and it causes us to be free.  In our freedom, we are able to relax in the secure place of being loved and accepted regardless. It is the trait that I appreciate about Arielle….the ease in which she does things without much stress or effort. 

I think she started to miss her mark when she felt like she had to “show” her Poppy how good she was at weighing.  Just when we think we got it going on……our Boss shows up to put us back in our place….remain humble…dependent…..trusting….

Then Moselle told me, “I was literally INTO my job today and it was all over me too!” Michael had told me that Moselle had coffee grounds EVERYWHERE including on her and in her clothing.  She really gets into it….wherever, whatever….she is there and loving it all.  She can be a frustrating source to those that are just trying to “get it done”. Thankfully most of us learn from her….in this area anyway.

It is for our freedom that Christ died….let us live free and unhindered with a pure heart of love, joy and freedom.  Again I am reminded, “LIVE IN THE MOMENT” and enjoy it.        Laura  

School Starts                                By Mikaela Bagby  

This spring semester I will be starting up again at Indian River State College along with my brother! I am excited to be doing it with him this semester. We were fortunate to get into two classes together. This semester I will be studying in Sociology, Speech, English II, and Life Science. I am very excited for all my classes, except a little intimidated about my English II class.

My teacher is very intense and apparently is very hard. Not mean, but one who challenges her students to the max for sure. My friend Madi and I meant to take a different teacher, but once we got into the room I guess they decided to switch teachers on us because we ended up getting her instead! We sat there a little bewildered giving each other the, "We are going to die" look.

I didn't feel any calmer once she started explaining what we would be covering during the semester. We have this very large literature book for class which I have yet to go get in the book store... I'm definitely avoiding it. There is a huge section on Shakespeare and she expressed to us that Shakespeare is her FAVORITE and couldn't wait to go over it with us! That was scary.

But to get to the point of telling you all these things about my "scary" English teacher, the thing I remembered most about my first class with her was not how hard she was, or the fact that she was overly excited about Shakespeare, or even the two research papers instead of the normal one in every other English II class, but the story she told us about one of her students that emailed her just recently thanking her. This student took her class years ago, but emailed her telling her that without her class and the things he learned directly from her, he wouldn't be going for his doctorate. He explained that what he learned he had carried on for years after and said he would carry it for the rest of his life.

Now I do not know about you, but I want a class were I will learn skills that I can use for the rest of my life. This English class could be the worst school experience of my life, or it could be the BEST school experience I’ve had yet.  I had thoughts about dropping this class throughout this week but then I thought of an event a few weeks ago back on Maui that told me that maybe I should just go for it.

This certain event had to do with a huge swell coming in and my friends asked if I wanted to go surf with them the next morning. I called my Uncle Mark and asked him about the swell and if he thought it would be a fun day or a "get worked" day. What he said I'll remember for a very long time. “Mikaela, tomorrow could very well be a day where you get worked, thrashed, and thrown around in the waves because it’s big, OR...it could be the best surfing day of your life.”

I ended up going that day and you know what, it was one of the best surfing days of my life. Just think if I decided to back out because of fear. That would have been horrible. So I'm trying to apply this event to my English II class and I'm just going to go for it. Because either way I know I'm going learn something and I'll learn it from the hardest and best English teacher on campus.

You can apply this in life too... with opportunities and challenges not just in school (or surfing).

The "Go big or go home" quote comes to mind. If you’re going to do something, do it to your best abilities. In the end it will all be worth it. God won't give us more than we can handle. Even if we feel like it's too much, he knows better than us. So just do it! See what happens... because it never hurts to try.             Mikaela Bagby 

Project Ezra Nicaragua

We have had many conversations with Truman, Danilo, and our leadership team in these past weeks. We all have been asking the question: “Lord, what do You want us to do this year?  How many villages shall we place teachers? What is you direction for 2010?” These are great questions for us all, and it seems like we will begin this month with 40 teachers in 8 communities along the Rio Coco with an enrollment of close to 1800 students.  We are working out the details this week, so please keep Truman and our leadership team in your prayers as they navigate through obvious needs in other villages. 

Out desire is to Make Disciples among our students and teachers, and give education to as many children as the Lord commands. Many kids will need a sponsor this year.  We have just received updated photos, and reports on many of our sponsored children, along with many new First Grade students.

If you have ever desired to sponsor a child and really make a difference, this month is the time to do it.  Please send in the enclosed form to begin your sponsorship and in the coming weeks you will receive your child’s photo and bio. Then your prayers will have a specific target and we will see a difference  in their lives.

Classes begin at the end of January.  

The Bagby Bunch Corner

We arrived from Maui to a freezing Florida.  Many of these past nights, the temperatures have dipped below 32 degrees.  I love the cold, but not necessarily in Florida, and there is just something wrong about turning on the electric heat in the Sunshine State. Our January is already getting full with Tuesday and Thursday morning men’s group and Bible study.

Laura is on the dance team, Mik and Luk are helping with the worship at church, and Mikaela is teaching at the upcoming encounter. Arielle is helping in the nursery, and Moselle is sewing, knitting, and just being Moselle.  They are all actively engaged in school, Bible study, and life.  It is good.  January is also the month we are launching our new Rio Coco Bean website. 

With many hours of design and details, this site will hopefully generate more coffee sales, which will result in more dollars for the Nicaraguan education project.  Please keep it in your prayers as we would really like to see a surge in our coffee sales. (www.riococobeans.com)

Our family is all on the “Divine Mentor” reading plan.  All six of us are tracking through Genesis and Luke this week. These readings are only a time we set aside to allow God to speak to us.  And we can all be talking about the same things with many of our friends in Hawaii, North Carolina, and other points.

Please consider joining us this year and walk through the entire Bible together.

We have the daily readings posted at our new blogsite, The Supernatural Stream (www.seekthelamb.org/stream).  

Join us for some time together over these next months, as God speaks to us—together. We are making adjustments in our plans for the 2010 school year in Nicaragua. We only want to be doing what God has assigned us to do.  No stress, but still walking by faith in expectation that where He Leads, He Provides.  Such an adventure this life of faith! We are all in this together, and the rewards are great for us all.  Thanks for you time, prayers, and other resources that you direct to our kids on the River, and to us as well.                                                              Laura & Michael

 

 Rio Coco Bean Coffee

We are launching our new coffee website this month. Visit us at www.riococobeans.com to order your high altitude, specialty coffee that educates many children in Nicaragua.  Check out our learning section and sharing pages!  

Make A Difference This Month!

Here are some suggestions for you get personally involved in God’s plan for education on the Rio Coco in Nicaragua:

1) Sponsor a Miskito Child.  We need many sponsors for the 2010 school year.  It is only $27 a month, and it will provide education and special needs to a student in Project Ezra.

2) Join the support team of a Seek The Lamb missionary! Nutie & Tom Keogh, and Laura & Michael Bagby receive no salary from Seek The Lamb and rely on their personal support team to cover their living & ministry expenses.

Your gifts will go a long way! Please click on this link and make a secure donation to the ministry of Seek The Lamb.

 All contributions are tax deductable, and Greatly Needed and Appreciated!    

Comments

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He who loses faith, loses all.

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