DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • Mexico Day 2 – Adult Leader Perspectives

    Since the leaders didn’t want to be outdone by Teenagers, here are some of the things they wanted to share:

    It was so awesome to see the teens getting out there with no fear to invite the kids to VBS.  We went door to door and even those who couldn’t speak any Spanish gave hugs and tried their best to communicate God’s love. The kids were Soooooo excited just to get out there and start making a difference in these people’s lives.  They were really touched by how content they were even though they didn’t have a lot of material possessions.  My husband, Shane, shared his testimony today and it was really touching seeing him up there even though he was very nervous.  I can’t wait to see what God has planned for us tomorrow! –Shawna Wheeler

    What an awesome first day! I was so proud not to only see the kids step outside their comfort zone by handing out flyers to people in the neighborhood, but to actually see my own daughter, Alyssa, do it, was something that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I know that it is not easy to go to another country and to do something that you know that God wants you to do, and to do it with excitement, but at the same time, fear. This is truly an experience that I am so excited to share with the fusion group and cannot wait to see what God has in store for me. –Maria Yarrow

    I can’t add too much to what has been said by the previous folks.   I will say that I was put on the spot today and I had to give my testimony today…in Spanish.  Until today, I had never given my testimony in English, let alone in my second language.  I hadn’t been that nervous in quite a while.  In fact, I am not totally sure what I said.  I looked out into the small congregation and all eyes were fixed on me…a “gringo” who happened to know Spanish.  I just spoke from my heart and hopefully it came out right.  It felt good to do that.  I definitely was pushed out of my “comfort zone”. –Shane Wheeler

    God is moving in our group, may He continue to grow and stretch us as we share His love with the kids and families tomorrow!

  • Mexico Day 2 – Student Perspectives

    We started the day off with worship. Josh led our group and then Pat, challenged us with one question . . . Do you see people? Here are the scriptures he challenged us with:

    Matthew 9:36-38
    Matthew 14:14
    Matthew 25:34
    Luke 10:25-37

    After our time together we went into Mexico to scope out where we will be serving. We went to Mission 1 and Mission 2. We will be teaching VBS and playing Soccer at Mission 1 and then Tuesday night we will be teaching in a church where I will share a message and our students will lead worship and play and minister to the children. It was a good day, here are some pics that we have taken so far!

    Here’s what some of the students are saying about today:

    Wow! Talk about an experience. We thought it would take at least 3 days to get to me. But, we went there one time and we were touched. We saw the way these people lived daily, and we could barely survive one day there. Walking around the neighborhood and seeing all these people, and animals barely surviving but yet, they had to live their entire life there. We are excited to be able to interact with these kids and families. It is gonna be great. We are stoked for the rest of the week.SOO (:
    -Alyssa and Annie

    Today was the first day in Mexico. We got to see the Church at witch we will be holding VBS at. We met the pastor and other people there. Most of the people that we met did not speak English, and it was really hard to communicate with them. After we were done we walked around Acuna handing out flyers to people that we saw to try and get them to come to the VBS program this week. The living conditions there are way different from what we are used to at home. From houses with missing roofs and/or walls to people sitting out on the street things are very different from what we are used to. Tomorrow will be the first day of actual VBS and im extremely exited to be able to work with the children of acuna.
    -Scott

    Let me tell you just a little bit about my thoughts right now. In Plano we complain about not having enough to do. In Acuna kids play with sticks and recycled toys. I just got a brand new car and I saw a family of 5 living in a house with no windows or doors and a roof made of cardboard. God has the possibility to do some amazing things this week in Mexico as well as our lives. We’re all spoiled out of our minds and we don’t even know it. Pray for God to humble the rest of us this week.

    -Josh

  • This Should Keep Us All Thinking

    Just had a student Show me this video!!! WOW!!! What are your thoughts?

  • Mexico Day 1 – We are Here!!!

    Well we got here safely!  The trip from Plano to Del Rio wasn’t toooooo bad.  Luckily we realized we had forgotten to load the sound equipment before we got on the Highway, I wont mention that it was Andy’s responsibility to make sure it got loaded, so we were able to send one van back for it.

    We arrived at Faith Mission at 5:05pm got unloaded, ate some spaghetti, corn and garlic bread.  Afterwards, we talked about general safety, rules while here and we were challenged by Pat, the Missionary here, to leave what we were used too back home back home, and give ourselves completely to God this week so we would have a better opportunity to impact one, two, or even several people!
    We will go tomorrow to scope out where we will do VBS and hold our Soccer camp!  The two locations are supposed to only be 5 blocks apart.  We were also told today, in our leaders meeting, that we should expect 150-300 kids for VBS, if not more.

    Sunday, we will tell our students how many kids we have the potential to impact this week and how important it is for them to be flexible and available for God to do big things.  This totally excites me, but at the same time scares me to death.  It has the potential to be incredible or chaotic.  It will be chaotic, if we try to do this in our own power . . . it will be incredible, if we step out of the way and let God have control using us to be instruments in His hands.  I am praying for option two.

    Will you please join with us, as we pray for the families and children of Acuna.  May God move in the hearts of His children this week.  Those serving and those participating!

  • Luke 8:22-25

    “The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.  Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’  The disciples were terrified and amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!’ v.24-25

    Storms, they happen typically when we are unprepared for them.  Just like physical storms that we see, we also experience storms in life.  They come when we least expect it and can cause hurt, pain, disaster.  The good news is that when we have a relationship with Jesus, He has the power to get us through even the toughest storm.  All we have to do is have the faith that Jesus can see us through any storm that comes our way!

  • Mark 4:1-29

    “Then he said, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’” v.9

    “Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’” v. 24-25

    This passage is close to my heart because it is the text I used to preach my first sermon. I was scared to death, a little legalistic at the time, but God was teaching me so much.  Today as I read it, three words keep jumping out at me; Hear, Listen, and Understand. The study notes of the NLT Life Application Study Bible nailed it this morning!  Read for yourself,

    “The hearing that Jesus wants from us in not the kind we use when we listen to background music or when someone starts to recount a long story we’ve already heard.  To truly “hear” Jesus’ words is to believe them, to use them immediately in decisions and attitudes, and to base life on them – your reaction and work, family plans and money matters, praying and singing.  To hear Jesus’ words is to make Jesus your true Lord.

    The light of Jesus’ truth is revealed to us, not hidden.  But we may not be able to see or to use all of that truth right now.  Only as we put God’s teachings into practice will we understand and see more of the truth.  The truth is clear, but our ability to understand is imperfect.  As we obey, we will sharpen our vision and increase our understanding.”

    I still have much to learn, and apply!  But everyday I pray that I am becoming more like Jesus, and that I hearing, listening, and understanding the things He is teaching me!

    Today, listen for God!  Do you hear Him speaking?  What is he asking you to do?

  • All By Myself!

    Well, I just said goodbye to my wife and kids!  Stephanie and the boys will be spending the week with her mom and dad in Missouri.  Mexico will be here before I know it.  Have no idea what to do tonight since our dish network went out Wednesday.  They are supposed to come fix it tomorrow but that still doesn’t help me tonight! I guess I will just head home and either sleep, work, or read.

  • Matthew 12:22-50

    “’A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.’” v. 33-37

    Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in out hearts.  What kinds of words come from your mouth?

    Isn’t it sad how we watch what we say depending on where we are or who we are around!  As a teenager, I remember having to really watch my language whenever I went on church trips with the student ministry.  (I thought I had everyone fooled, I doubt it!)  But sadly, isn’t it like that today?

    Jesus says that the words you use, is an indication of what is really going on in your heart!  Ouch!  We can watch what we say, and even clean it up a bit, but if we don’t change our heart, it will be a constant up hill battle that we don’t experience victory over.  However, when we let the Holy Spirit move in our lives and fill us with His presence which includes a new attitude and motives, then our speech will be affected from the source.  From the Inside Out!

    Today, lets focus on our heart and see if our words don’t change also!!!

  • Josiah’s First Love Letter

    Last night we hung out with some friends from church who have a daughter a little older than Josiah.  We have been spending more time with them and have really enjoyed getting to know them better.  Well, after swimming yesterday we decided to go to dinner together at Ihop.  In the 30 minutes of changing and driving to Ihop, Krista made Josiah a little note to give him at the restaurant.  She told her parents “It’s a picture of us falling in love”.

  • Luke 7:36-8:3

    “‘I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.’” v.47

    Jesus words are humbling.  He has just had his feet washed with tears and expensive perfume, by an immoral woman, while he had dinner with a group of pharisees.  This verse answer the question Jesus asked Simon after he told this story:

    “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” v.41-42

    How would you answer Jesus question?  Does this affect the way you live on a daily basis?  We have been given so much, yet it is so easy to take it for granted.  Today, may we thank Jesus for what he has done for us and may it cause us to live differently!  Lord Jesus, thank you!  Help us (me) to always remember your love and forgiveness for us (me).  Let me live each day with a thankful heart that affects the way I live!