Furlough: [fur-loh] noun
a
vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person in the military.
That's
the dictionary definition. But from what I have been told and what I have
seen... vacation does not really describe it at all. It may describe a very
short portion of the time, but the majority of the time isn't spent lounging in
a hammock sipping ice tea while reading a book. "A leave of absence?"
Well, it is a leave of absence from the main field of serve, but it certainly
isn't a leave of absence from ministry. It is work!
Some
people have pushed for a change of the term "furlough" to something
like "home assignment" or "home ministry." But what if we
see the field as our home? And "assignment????" No one calls us up
and says, "Hey, you need to come back to the States to do some work
now." Maybe we should call it Ministry to the Passport Issuing Country.
Sigh...
Well,
no matter what you choose to call it, the fact of the matter is that it is part
of the ministry. Since our family hasn't taken our first furlough/home
assignment/whatchamacallit, I was all ears when a veteran missionary began
sharing how God was preparing her for her next trip back to the States. When
she sent me the list, I just had to share. And I am tucking this away for
future use! Our furlough... or whatever you want to call it... will be here
before we know it. I want to be ready physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
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Furlough Tips and Thoughts from Acts 20 - 21
by Tracy McGaha
Luke, author of Acts, kept a travel journal:
places/churches they went, people they met, and what they did.
Tip #1: Keep journal
of travels, meetings, people, events.
Paul made plans and purposed - Acts 20:3,16
Acts 20:3 And there abode three months.
And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was
about to sail into Syria
he purposed to return through Macedonia
Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus,
because he would not spend the
time in Asia :
for he hasted, if it were possible
for him,
to be at Jerusalem
Tip #2 Make plans and
purpose to do - seek His guidance
Paul worked with his own hands to take care of
himself and others with him - Acts 20:34
Acts 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know,
that these
hands have ministered unto my
necessities,
and to them that were with me.
Tip #3 Work to take
care of yourself and others with you
Paul and his group said MANY goodbyes - Acts
20:37-38, Acts 21:6
Acts 20:37-38 And they all wept sore, and
fell on Paul's neck,
and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the
words which he spake,
that they should see
his face no more.
And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Acts 21:6 And when we had taken our leave one of another,
we took ship; and they returned
home again.
Tip #4 Remember others
have had to say goodbye too in their following of God's will
Paul prayed with people before departing - Acts
20:36
Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he
kneeled down,
and prayed
with them all.
Tip #5 Pray with
people
Paul taught and witnessed and encouraged
everywhere he went - Acts 20:2, 7, 25, 27, 31
Acts 20:2 And when he had
gone over those parts,
and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece
Acts 20:7 And upon the first
day of the week,
when the disciples came together
to break bread, Paul preached
unto them,
ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:25 And now, behold,
I know that ye all,
among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God
shall see my face no more.
Acts 20:27 For I have not
shunned to declare unto you
all the counsel of God.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch,
and remember, that by the space of three years
I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Tip #6 Teach and
witness everywhere you go!
Paul prayed anywhere and everywhere - Acts
20:36, Acts 21:5
Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken,
he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Acts 21:5 And when we had
accomplished those days,
we departed and went our way; and
they all brought us on our way
with wives and children,
till we were out of the city:
and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Tip #7 Pray anywhere
and everywhere you go!
Believers loved Paul and his group - Acts 20:37,
Acts 21:5
Acts 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on
Paul's neck, and kissed him,
Acts 21:5 And when we had
accomplished those days,
we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way,
with wives and children, till we
were out of the city:
and we kneeled down on the shore,
and prayed.
Tip #8 Rejoice in the
love of other Christians
Paul
followed God's will even when others told him not to go!!! (perhaps family has
told you to stay with us/come home!) - Acts 21:12-15
Act 21:12-15 And when we
heard these things, both we,
and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem
Then Paul answered, What mean ye
to weep and to break mine heart?
for I am ready not to be bound
only, but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when he would not be
persuaded,
we ceased, saying, The will of the
Lord be done.
And after those days we took up
our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem
Tip #9 Follow God's
will no matter what others think
When you can't persuade someone of something -
leave it to God and pray for His will - Acts 21:14
Acts 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded,
we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Tip #10 If you can't
persuade others - leave it to God's will
Paul knew troubles were ahead but went anyway -
Acts 20:22-24 he was even warned by others - God may be preparing you and them
for future - Acts 21:10-11
(Disciples didn't want Jesus to suffer either
but it was God's will - they didn't understand.)
Acts 20:22-24 And now,
behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem
not knowing the things that shall
befall me there:
Save that the Holy Ghost
witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions
abide me.
But none of these things move me,
neither count I my life dear unto
myself,
so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord
Jesus,
to testify the gospel of the grace
of God.
Acts 21:10-11 And as we
tarried there many days,
there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
And when he was come unto us, he
took Paul's girdle,
and bound his own hands and feet,
and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost,
So shall the Jews at Jerusalem
and shall deliver him into the
hands of the Gentiles.
Tip #11 Press on
Paul reported about his ministry to
believers/churches - Acts 21:19
Acts 21:19 And when he had
saluted them,
he declared particularly what things
God had wrought among the
Gentiles
by his ministry.
Tip #12 Report to
churches about your ministry
Believers were encouraged by his report of the
ministry - Acts 21:20
Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified
the Lord,
and said unto him, Thou seest,
brother,
how many thousands of Jews there
are which believe;
and they are all zealous of the
law:
Tip #13 Encourage
others
Paul did conform to Jewish customs when in Jerusalem
Acts 21:26 Then Paul took
the men, and the next day purifying
himself
with them entered into the temple, to
signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering
should be offered for every one of them.
Tip #14
Follow US
By the way, it IS ok
to look nice!
There will be wolves even among the believers
(and leaders) trying to deceive - Acts 20:29-30
Acts 20:29-30 For I know
this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves
shall men arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after
them.
Tip #15 Be careful of
wolves - be strong in The Lord
***************************************************
Guest post by Tracy
McGaha
Posted by Charity by
permission
1 comment:
This is great to bear in mind. Thank you for this post.
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