Availability

Hey friends!

Living on a boat these last few weeks has been an awesome experience. This particular Next Wave boat that I've been living on is an ice breaker weighing at 190,000kilo’s. This means that unlike most boats that are made mostly out of wood the frame and base of this boat is composed of cast iron enabling it to travel through ice fields. Because of the weight of this boat it makes for a lot of back and forth motion in the dock which has taken some adjusting but we're all starting to get used to it. The heart of the Next Wave is to raise up, train, disciple, and release the ‘next wave’ of missionaries throughout the Mediterranian port cities of Europe.

Most of our time here in Spain has been spent docked in the harbor so we’ve only actually been out 12 miles at sea twice to empty the blackwater tank (pooptank!). It’s been fun to help the crew in the engine room, landing the boat, tying ropes and swabbing the deck. I feel like a true sailor! We’ve been living here with two other YWAM teams who are from Milan, Italy and another team from Harpendon England. Personally I have been inspired by these teams, each person here has a story to tell and a different perspective to bring. It is a privilege to be here serving the Lord with them in Spain.

God has been speaking to me through his Word in Acts 8:26-40 where the Spirit of God told Philip to travel to the desert outside Jerusalem. Without understanding why Philip went in obedience and was led to an Ethiopian man who was reading the book of Isaiah. The story is almost comedic when the Spirit told Philip to confront this man in his chariot and ask him if he understood what he was reading. “Excuse me sir, do you understand what you’re reading?” Interestingly enough, the man had no idea that what he was reading in Isaiah was a prophecy of Jesus. Through this little interaction Philip was able to share the good news, disciple and baptize the Ethiopian in a puddle on the side of the road. What this simple story teaches me is the importance of being available to God even when it seems abnormal. I’ve been confronted with the question ‘Will you available and flexible enough to hear God’s voice and to obey when he speaks?’. I have had times in the past where God has used my simple obedience to effect the life of another person and it has been amazing. The story reminds me that God is soooo concerned about people, he cares and wanted this Ethiopian man to hear the story about Jesus. It would have been a huge privilege for Philip to be used in this way.

In terms of ministry we’ve been able to connect with a church here and serve them through leading worship and having worship seminars for their worship teams. We will continue to serve this church while doing evangelism in our area around the dock. We have permission to play music publicly so we will be putting on worship concerts with the hopes that our Spanish speaking contacts will be able to share the good news with them. It is our teams belief that if we do the possible God will do the impossible. Please be praying that our small acts of service will have eternal repercussions.

Hope your Christmas was great and bless you and your family in the New Year.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Learning to be available

-Jer

If you feel called to support me financially please know that your donations can be given to Laureen Allert (Laureen@telus.net) who is my financial manager. Thanks for your partnership!

Check out Next Wave online

www.marinereachministries.com

Spain

Hey everyone,

Made it safely to Spain and am living on a sailboat with 'Next Wave' ministries; a ministry that sails all around the Mediterranean Sea to train and build up young men and woman to become leaders and missionaries all around the world. We have been able to do some evangelism on the streets, lead worship in spanish (this was an interesting experience..) and play some Christmas carols at an old folks home. The Spanish people are very resistant to the gospel as they have already heard the message and have denied it. Please pray for seeds to be planted and hearts to be softened that they would be able to see the gift of Jesus in this season.

Merry Christmas and thanks again for your continued prayers!

Because He came

-Jer

To know God with Passion and to make him known with Power

Hey Friends

I just thought I would update you on my current status here in Lakeside Montana. This coming Wednesday I will be heading out with 8 of my team members on a plane to Barcelona Spain where we will begin the first portion of our outreach. During this Christmas season our team will be available to lead a Christmas concert, teaching weekly seminars on worship, teaching, preaching and leading worship. Originally the plan was that we would spend a week in Spain and then sail to France but our contacts have changed our schedule (this is so like YWAM to do...) and now we will be in Spain for the entire month. Please pray for a quick adjustment and flexibility to Spanish culture as we have been spending the last couple months preparing for ministry in France. We're just trusting that God has something planned that our limited minds cant see so we want to be excited! In a part of Europe that is so burnt out on religion it is our hope to bring a real life example of the existence of Christ through how we serve. We want our lives to communicate the passionate love of God, that he is crazy about them and has a plan for their lives.

After this time in Spain we will be flying to Budapest Hungary and will be working with the YWAM base who is setting up a coffee bar ministry in the middle of the city. In a country that has the highest suicide rate in the world as well as the highest level of pornography produced it will be our goal to engage with the Hungarians in this coffee bar and be a shining example of the hope, joy and purpose that God has for their lives.

Thanks again for your partnership in this upcoming pilgrimage to the nations of Europe. I think it's awesome to know that we are on the same team for the Kingdom of God. Because Jesus came everything has changed. We have hope for a hopeless world whether it be in Canada or Hungary. Know today that you are part of something so much bigger.

Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Revelling in Him who loves me without condition

-Jer

He Came to Serve

He Came to Serve

Inspired by Mark 10:42-45, Philippians 2:1-11

Verse 1:

God of glory

Creator of the heavens and earth

King over all kings

Lord above all Lords

Verse 2:

Beautiful Father

giver of every good and perfect gift

you gave us everything you have

and restored us back to you

Pre-Chorus:

Your love reached down so low

Chorus:

And you humbled yourself

a picture of a servant

you spent your all that we would have all

Jesus, name above all names

Jesus, name above all names

You came to serve

Because of Christ

-Jer

Amazing Grace

Ever feel like you’re just swimming in your own failure? Like you’re constantly feeling like you don’t add up and that God is just condemning you at every corner? Do you pursue good works to earn God’s love and acceptance?

It is so easy to forget the gospel of grace. I’m reading a book called “The Ragamuffin Gospel” by Brennan Manning for the 5th time. It is all about grace and we cannot comprehend the love of Jesus Christ. He describes a Ragamuffin as one who is a ‘saved sinner prostrate in adoration, lost in wonder and praise. He knows repentance is not what we do in order to earn forgiveness; it is what we do because we have been forgiven.’ This truth just rips me up every time I hear it. We need to engrain this truth on our hearts because we cannot understand grace and Jesus truly accomplished for us on the cross. It’s nothing that bibles schools or textbook theology can teach. I keep finding myself in this distorted understanding that it is me who choses to love God when it says that “not that we love God but that He first loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full and satisfying payment) for our sins” The cross reminds me that my sin deserves death but that God would give up his only Son to give me life. THIS IS GRACE!! God’s unmerited favor, a gift that I did not deserve but were given. How could I not trust a God who did this for me? I think the tendency in legalistic religion is to mistrust God, to mistrust others, and mistrust ourselves. Do we really believe that God is love? The author submits that ‘we need a new kind of relationship with the Father that drives out fear and mistrust and anxiety and guilt, that permits us to be hopeful and joyous, trusting and compassionate.’

Donald McCullough puts it this way:

“Grace means that in the middle of our struggle the referee blows the whistle and announces the end of the game. We are declared winners and sent to the showers. Its over for all the huffing, puffing piety to earn God’s favor; it’s finished for all sweat-soaked straining to secure self-worth; it’s the end of all competitive scrambling to get ahead of others in the game. Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we played the game. We might as well head for the showers and champagne celebration.”

I would challenge you to read this again...For someone who try’s SO hard to do everything right for God, people and myself the gospel of grace screams out to me YOU ARE A VICTOR REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL YOU PLAY THE GAME. I don’t know how to explain the freedom that comes in knowing this. My prayer right now is that you would come to know grace as we so struggle with comprehending it. That we would be so blown away by Gods love that it would change the way we live our life.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10

“The hookers and swindlers enter before us because they know they cannot save themselves, that they cannot make themselves presentable or lovable. They risked everything on Jesus and, knowing they didn’t have it all together, were not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace”

His grace is enough.

-Jer

A Purpose to Go

"For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." 1 Cor 9:16

"...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts" 1 Thess 2:4

I heard a great message from the church I've been attending here in Montana about missions that I felt would be good to share with you all. The pastor submitted that missions is not some far off journey into a distant land but a responsibility of the local church, boldly stepping out into the community and beyond. It was good to be reminded that we are stewards of the gospel, we have the priceless privilege of bringing hope to peoples lives that they would never find in the world around them. We reach people because God has plan for their lives.

There is this cool story in the bible where Jesus feeds 5000 people with just 2 loaves of bread and two fish. This in itself is amazing but it is interesting to focus in on the small sacrifice of the boy who offered his lunch. This boy was willing to give all that he had to see what Jesus could do with it and was able to see it feed 5000 people! This causes me to look at what seems to be my small life and wonder, What could God do with my sacrifice? What do I have that I could give? We need to stop and remember that the mission is more important than we are. When Jesus uses people miracles happen. He creates opportunities but also creates the provision to meet our needs. He will use any willing vessel to accomplish his work. God has given us everything we need to get the job done.

This message got me excited for our upcoming outreach to Spain, France and Hungary. From the world's perspective this trip just seems foolish. Who are we to think we can bring change with the little bread and fish we have? After being reminded of God's ability to use willing people to accomplish his work I was filled with such an expectation to reach the lost in these countries. The truth is, once its all said and done it comes down to Heaven or Hell. Eternity with God or eternal damnation. I hope that this sobering truth will bring passionate urgency to our lives today.

And because I'm in a Worship school...I wrote a song about it!

A Purpose to Go

Spirit of God make your home in us

anoint us by your grace

give us a sense of purpose

that we may be one

We will go

And we will proclaim the good news

declaring liberty to the captives yeah

and the blind, they will see

not by strength but by your Spirit working in me

"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1:16

Living with purpose

-Jer

Home in You

Home in You

Psalm 95 - let us worship and bow down..we’re the people of his pastures, the flock he feeds

Verse 1:

Searching in the garden of life for real fruit

caves of lies, dead and dry confuse the truth

for so long in the desert places

endless, lonely empty spaces

Bridge:

I turn around

there You are

Chorus:

I am home where I belong

You beckon me towards Your throne

Jesus I cant believe its true

all i need, true life is found in You

Verse 2:

I need a place where life is real

assurance of living water I can feel

where the road is marked with hope

and courage is abundant in this land

I wrote this song as a contrast from what my life was like when I wasn't walking with the Lord to how my life is now. I think God wanted to remind me how dark it was apart from him so that I might get a refreshed sense of gratitude for how he has transformed me into who I am today. Hoping this lyric will bring a renewed understanding of his goodness in your life today!

"I have been crucified with Christ, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" Galatians 2:20

Outreach:

I hope everyone is doing well in whatever God has called you to. As you may have already known, my outreach for School of Worship will be spent in France and Hungary. We will be flying to Spain, getting on YWAM sailboat called "Next Wave Ministries" and then sailing on the Mediterranean Sea to the port city Montpelier France where we will be serving churches and teaching the Word of God. After this we will be spending one month in Budapest Hungary where we will be aiding the YWAM base in their various ministries. I am soooo excited for this trip!

I would just like to thank you once again for your prayers and support in allowing me to attend this school. I do have approximately $1200 left to pay in this school so I would just ask if you would pray about continuing partnership in this area of finances.

Please pray:

- intimacy with Jesus

- for focus in the lecture phase of this school

- upcoming outreaches to France and Hungary

Thanks again,

Praying that God will show himself more real in your day to day

'Apart from me you can do nothing' John 15:5

-Jer