The NIEUCOMMUNITIES covenant

As I mentioned in a previous post, while we were in Africa Britany and I recommitted to the new NC covenant. A few of you were curious what was on the covenant... you can check it out here. Let me know what you think.

"Stop it"

Check out this post on Tim Challies BLOG. The video is hilarious and his thoughts are VERY worth thinking about!

On February 21st (while in India) I wrote…

The village we are teaching this conference in is very beautiful. It is in a very lush, almost tropical, area where they grow bananas… field after field of bananas! There is a river that runs up the valley and feeds all the villages with water. As we drive along the road we can see all of these villagers doing their laundry, drawing their water and taking clothed baths… it is a remarkable sight.

Our drive is almost an hour long and as we drive we see wave after wave of men, women and children all dressed in yellow walking toward us. Though it should be beautiful it seems rather eerie. Sam explains to us that they are walking to their temple to worship their (demon) goddess that has required them to walk 40km to this one specific temple 3-4 times a year. As we drive (and they continue to walk) they appear as ghosts in the darkness wandering, limping… starring vacantly into the black.

Sam tells us that often as they walk they will manifest the demonic influence they are under… I’m not sure what that means but it makes the hair on my neck stand up. As he is explaining this, a scene plays itself out in my head.

I imagine the evil one walking beside them every step of the way mocking them and mocking God. He says, “Look at what I can make then do for me!”

Sneering he goes on, “Look at how pathetic these children of mine will act for me… families wandering in the dark barefoot for hours and hours on end… with broken, swollen and bloodied feet… all for me.”

“And You, You can’t even get Your ‘children’ to wake up and have a conversation with You in the morning… You and Your ‘children’ are the real pathetic ones…”

And my heart breaks…

Forgive me Father… I know that it is not by works that we receive Your favor BUT our passions flame glows so dimly compared to these “yellow wanderers”… reach these little ones I pray… give them hope in the midst of darkness and despair… give them a purpose and a life motivation that is from You… give them You. Amen.

Check out our updates!

Well, we just updated our web page with our most recent letter, pictures and prayer requests... I encourage you to give it a look at www.TimandBritanyMcDonald.com!

He is Risen

Matthew 28:5-7

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."

Yesterday was a great day around the McDonald household. We did something that we love to do at our house... open our doors to our friends, neighbors and community. We hosted our 4th annual (and last) Easter dinner in Glasgow. It is always a joy to celebrate Jesus' life, death and resurrection with our community.

As I was praying for this years meal I was struck again at how blessed we are... we are surrounded by so many people who love us... we are provided for by such amazing supporters, family and friends... but most importantly, we have been given a gift that we do not deserve - the life and sacrifice of God's only Son.

Thank You Lord for Your gift. Thank You for really living. Thank You for really dieing. Thank You for rising just as You said You would. And, thank You for the amazing blessings that have come from Your pierced hand... we are not worthy to receive so much from You... all we can say is thank You. Amen.

and blood...

oh the power of what could be

in hearts enraptured Lord by Thee

and moved by love for You our God

hands and feet and mouth and blood...

timothy mark mcdonald

recommitment...

Our nieucommunities covenant.

Signed!

One of the most extraordinary things that we as a family get the honor to be a part of with nieucommunities is being a part of a covenant community. We make commitments to each other about the kind of people we are becoming and the kind of impact that we want to make in the neighbourhoods God has placed us in... it is humbling, challenging and freeing.

On the evening of the 12th Britany and I recommitted our hearts to the "nieu" covenant that we are pursuing. We prayerfully recommitted our lives and our hearts to the work that God is calling us to in this world... through the common beats of communion, community and mission... realigned our priorities with the NC postures of Listening, Submerging, Inviting, Contending, Imagining and Entrusting.

We ALSO got to meet with (a part of) our "nieu" team as well! God is good and we know that His plans are perfect... we are excited to see what the future will hold!

We're back!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragements while we were away in South Africa. It was an amazing trip filled with amazing times reconnecting with our greater missional community (nieucommunities) AND the organization we work for (CRM). Africa is truly a magical place and we felt so loved by our friends, their neighbors and the african people. It's beauty is second to none and these pictures do not do it justice...














Matthew 10:29-30

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

...and elephants and mountains and multicolored brothers and sisters and flowers and the wind against your face and coffee around the kitchen table and real life... forever.

Great quote!

"We can only live changes; we cannot think our way to humanity. Everyone of us, every group, must become the model of that which we desire to create." - Ivan Illich

Funny thing happened...

while I was leading worship tonight!
As I was in the midst of praising our Lord out on the stoop I felt a little (5inch) friend land on my foot.
At first I was ok with it... hey, he (or she) is a praying mantis right... probably just wanted to join us as we worshiped his creator. But, after about a couple minutes I felt my little green friend start making his way up my leg. Now, I was wearing pretty baggy shorts and after a minute or so of his movement up my shin my worshiping friend got me dancing before the Lord in front of all those worshiping with us... King David would have been proud!

In His eyes...

Matthew 6:22

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

In His eyes...

His battered brow to early seen the evil of this darkened dream

It's in his eyes...

Innocence and painted lips in gruesome love they co-exist

It's in her eyes...

Shattered bones and broken hearts, loves embrace too soon departs

It's in their eyes...

It's in their eyes that He can see the possibilities of what could be

It's in His eyes...

timothy mark mcdonald

My better half...

Well, it was a quick turn around, but I am writing this entry in South Africa. I will let my wife explain...

Hi everyone,

Another quick note to say that now it is Tim and my turn to head out of town. We are leaving for 10 days to South Africa to our NC Conference with the whole NC team. If you could be praying for God to walk us through all He has intended for us to learn and grow from this time together. It has been 2 years since we have all been together and so much has changed in so many of our lives. We will be reflecting on the past 7 years of ministry and looking ahead to what God has for us in the years to come. A prayer was spoken by someone that was wise which said "Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas". What a powerful way to put our journey of life into a simple form. It is through prayer that we learn His ideas, thanks again for lifting us up to heaven.

Another huge prayer is for my mum as she is here watching all the kids for the whole time by herself. We have some incredible friends who will help her out when needed. Many prayers have already been sent, but prayers of protection over my babies and her (Lynn) while we are away would be wonderful. The Lord continues to amaze me in life and I pray He would never cease to do that in life. God bless you in the next few weeks and we will send out emails of our experience once we return.

PS I've never been there so this is a trip of a life time for me. Can't wait to see another part of God's world.

Love to all,
Britany

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 3

Hebrews 10:22-25

...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Third, I feel the challenge in my spirit (from THE Spirit) to not hold my tongue so much in my world. As it does with these faith filled followers in India, my love for Christ must compel me to speak more about Him and bear an increasing testimony of His greatness… His power to heal… His saving name… in faith… to all those I meet. This is especially true with the message of hope that is in my heart. I must live a life of hope (as my friends here in India do) and I must carry a message of hope with in my heart and on my tongue… for the sake of this world and His kingdom come. I have been convicted by my own message.

Lord, let me draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with my heart sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water. Let me hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for I know that YOU who promised is faithful. And fill my mind with fresh ways to stir up those around me to love and good works... Lord, make me more like this I pray.

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 2

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Second, I see the balance of suffering and faith fleshing itself out in these men and women’s lives much more vividly. The loss of an infant child amidst the new life of the Gospel call. Persecution and strife alongside new awakenings and miracles. Lack of belief and usury alongside complete submission and self-emptiness. It is so beautifully complex and visible here in India – you can almost taste it in the air – life and death side by side. Everything is so much more real in India… so much more tangible. Idols are idols… demons are demons… cows are holy and people are worthless. There is no were to hide from reality here. Their faith is a faith intermingled with suffering on an almost daily basis and it produces an amazing amount of courageous resolve.

The testing of their faith has produced steadfastness. And they have let steadfastness have its full effect, making them perfect and complete, lacking in nothing... Lord, make me more like that I pray.

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 1

Hebrews 11:1&6

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I find myself pondering a few personal takeaways from this trip.

First, I am again struck by the level of faith I see being lived out in the lives of Apollos Sam, Sam Charles, their families and Solomon. Theirs is a faith that is lived out with their lives AND with their mouths. Faith in evangelism. Faith in Money. And resources. Faith in obedience. Faith in word and deed. Even when it is so hard they trust and obey (even in the midst of their struggles). Their faith even stands out head and shoulders above the other leaders and pastors in India… they are special people. They are radical and steady all at the same time. They are faith filled and faithful to Him who has called.

They must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him... Lord, make me more like that I pray.

Getting back at it!

Well, I am back from India. It has taken a little longer than I thought it would to get my head back on straight but I think I am finally starting to feel "normal"... whatever that means. I am going to try and do some back logs from my trip to India (from my journal) over the next few days. BUT, the short version is this:

It was an amazing trip. Our training events were VERY well received with almost 1000 attenders. Our theme was "consider Jesus" from Hebrews 3:1.

It was a difficult trip (emotionally, physically and spiritually). The travel was brutal... logging hundreds of miles on really rough roads. I got sick a couple times. And, the enemy was eager to undermine every step we took.

BUT, God showed up in powerful ways!

More soon.