Solidarity Amidst The Storm
It’s been a little while since I’ve shared with you what’s going on in the life of I. Thought it was about time to share what has been on my heart. I've been back home in Florida for just over a month and life has been a storm. Not just with the pandemic currently across the world as of right now, but even for myself personally. Having to leave New Zealand so suddenly and not knowing what these next months would look like has terrified me. One moment I was leaving to Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste for three months and the next moment, I was on a plane to Florida.
Being away from my YWAM family has definitely showed how close I had gotten to them in the time I had in New Zealand. Being home I can’t count the number of FaceTime calls I’ve been on and constantly missing them. I’ve been looking back on my journal and reading about all the fun times that I had and the moments I had with my close friends and through all of it, I kept seeing how the Lord was using them to minister to me and how they’re still being used to do just that! My Father gave me friends who are closer than a brother. [Proverbs 18:24]
As of right now I am serving on staff at Victory: A Church of His Presence as Media Director to create content for the church and to bring better connection to our body. It has given me such a great opportunity to serve and to work in an environment I truly enjoy and am further advancing the Kingdom in all of it. We’ve started podcasts, made prayer videos, and soon starting Bible Studies as well as online devotions. Being able to do this has caused a great amount of appreciation towards other ministries who have such a massive media department because right now it has been myself and just a few others. The Lord has provided me with this awesome position and has given me the tools and equipment to do what He desires of me.
When I came home, I decided to take up the challenge of reading the entire Bible this year, which I have never done before. I have read a lot of the Bible, but never from cover to cover. Recently I have been reading through Numbers and it amazes me to see how the Lord has so much grace towards the Children of Israel. So many times where they turn away, but God continues to reveal His true nature, despite their disobedience. Even how the Lord would appear before Moses just amazes me. Pillars of cloud and fire, storms of thunder and lightning on the top of mountains where he would meet God face to face. How the Lord would give him the ways to uphold the Law and the Sacrifices to honor Him and to provide atonement for the Children of Israel, it’s astonishing. And yet, they never have come into full righteousness because of their continuous denial of the Father and His love towards them. The amount of detail and precision that goes from page and page, there is no one like our God.
I’ve also been reading through Matthew and something that has stuck out to me more than anything has been:
“For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.”
[Matthew 6:21]
Those words have been ringing in my ears this past week and it has been begging the question of “What is it that I pursue, what is it that I value, what is it that I treasure?” It has caused an immense amount of self-evaluation and even a sense of conviction from the Lord. There have been things that I placed as a treasure in my life above my Heavenly Father and I’ve had to repent of that. There is never an easy way of letting things go, but surrender unto Him is all that He asks and He direct your steps.
“Within your heart you can make plans for the future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.” [Proverbs 16:9]
It has been a slow, yet a face paced few weeks and it feels like a blur. I pray that as the world heals that we continue to stay connected and to have unity in these uncertain times. We all have an immense desire for community and we need to check in on one another. Everyone you know is a text or phone call away, it never hurts to check in and see how they are and what the Lord has been doing in their heart. The future is uncertain, but we need not worry as long as we are holding His hand through it. [John 16:33]
That’s all I’ve got right now. I have some exciting stuff to announce hopefully in the coming weeks, so I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on that. Once again thank you so very much for your prayers and financial support! God is so good and I am so blessed by the way He moves upon the hearts of His people! I’m so grateful and I pray that the Lord does unto you the same as you have done for me! Below I have my link if you’d like to partner with me as well as some specific prayer points I have.
www.paypal.me/JosiahDavidGibbs
Prayer Requests:
Contentment | As I’ve been home, it has been difficult to find joy in the season I am currently in, but the Lord has and will continue to reveal to me why He has me where He has me.
Finances | As I said, I am serving at the church which has been able to support me financially, but there are things in the near future that I’d like to be able to have covered soon. He provides and will continue to do so!
Creativity | I’ve had the desire to make and produce a number of projects these last few weeks, but I am still trying to figure out lanes and avenues to be able to see these visions become a reality. So prayer for God-influenced creativity would be much appreciated!
MUSIC TO CHECK OUT/WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO
Graves Into Gardens | Elevation Worship
Mercury & Lightning | John Mark McMillian
Parallels + Meridians | Jess Ray
Keeper of Days | Jon Guerra
Love & War & the Seas In Between | Josh Garrels
PODCASTS TO CHECK OUT
Commoners Communion
The Torch
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
Thank you once again, you have been a huge blessing to me and I am beyond thankful for how the Father has used you in my life! In these trying times, I declare a blessing of the Lords favor upon you and pray that every need or desire that you have would be meet, in Jesus name, Amen.
Godspeed,
Josiah Gibbs