February 2016
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
As long as I can remember, I have struggled with anxiety. I took the last day of 2015 to seek the LORD regarding:
- Anxiety: I asked Him to show me steps I can take to grow in trust instead of being anxious.
- Priorities: I want to live according to His priorities for me. I listed eleven things I thought important.
The first words the LORD brought to me are quoted at the top of the letter. Only one thing is needed, not eleven! My priority must always be sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him, communing with Him, receiving His heart for nations and individuals. That takes off a lot of pressure! After studying and praying through several other passages, I came to Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” I prayed, “Being tested always makes me anxious, LORD. I want You to search me and know my heart. It’s hard for me to ask You to test me, but You’ve promised that I won’t be tested beyond what I can bear. And I have seen that.” Then I listed so many “tests” that He had carried me through, granting help and deliverance before my strength gave out. So I prayed, “Okay, LORD, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Work through them with me, removing any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Of course, tests have come. The very next day, my second “smart phone” in a little over a year quit working. I struggled with it for several more weeks but the biggest problem was a consistently poor connection. I finally gave up and bought a flip phone. The LORD did work through it all with me, providing for my needs, and I praise Him.
Then on January 11th, the statement for the Kafa Linguistics Project that covers Matt and Teka’s wages, Matt’s expenses for his Master’s studies, and all that is required to complete the translation and publication of the Bible in the Kafa language came, showing a deficit of $500. I sought the LORD for His solution. On January 18th, the December Donor Report came for the project. On it was an unexpected gift that will cover the deficit and December’s expenses. The LORD is our Provider, and I praise Him. This project will bring eternal dividends!
Praise God with me:
- Kafa Linguistics Project Manager Matt’s friend Getachew & wife have twins (a boy & a girl), now doing well.
- Matt and Teka met with church leaders in the Kafa area in January to share their vision for promotion of Kafa Scripture use. They were very encouraged by the response.
- Matt and Getachew were able to go to Nairobi in late January to do research for their Master’s theses.
Please pray with me for:
- Matt’s wife’s health. Medication for intra-cranial pressure helped for a short time, but then she experienced every side-effect associated with the medication and had to stop taking it.
- Matt and Getachew as they do their research and write their theses; Matt’s thesis concerns the best approach to promotion of Scripture use among the Kafa in view of their historical and cultural background;
- Teka as he edits the Kafa Bible, putting text into the dialect used in the Kafa schools; develops and shares his vision for promoting the use of Scripture; and grows in his commitment to Bible translation;
- Gus’ widow Abby as she continues to work full time and care for her 2 small daughters;
- God’s provision of funds to complete the Kafa Bible, including publication, promotion and distribution.
Thank you so much to all who support us by prayer and to all who partner with us financially.
Growing in trust,
Carolyn Ford
For Stewards Only: To invest in God’s Word for the Kafa people in their heart language, make checks payable to SIM USA and designate: for Kafa Linguistics Project #092402 (Ethiopia)
SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte NC 28241-7900
Read my February 2016 Prayer Letter in PDF format.
