Precept Upon Precept

Earlier this month I was reading a book from a friend in Pennsylvania on prayer. It's actually a message preached in the late 1800's. The preacher, Andrew Murray, is preaching about how to get prayers answered and why they didn't get their prayers answered like the "old timers". About that time I knew I was in trouble. The first reason he said for not getting prayers answered was because we don't worship Him in spirit and in truth. He went on to explain that we are not in harmony with God. I thought, if they weren't in 1890, I'm sure not now! Pastor Murray said, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and we need to do the same, with a teachable spirit. That was really good, so I put the book aside to digest that and went to bed.
The next morning during devotions we read Proverbs 15. We usually take turns reading, then when we are finished, I will ask the children if any of them liked a verse in particular. Josiah said he liked verse 4, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Most of the children know what a breach is. In November we visited a flood museum and they learned how the dam broke because there was a breach in the dam. They watched a good video of it too, so it was fresh in their minds. The Lord was showing me "a breach in the spirit".
The next night was our ladies Christmas meeting. We get together, eat, do a devotions, and fellowship. This time Bro. Buddy came and gave our devotions, which he has never done before. Guess what he taught on? Having the right kind of Spirit! For me the Lord was really speaking loud and clear. His first point was to have a Holy Spirit! I tried not to hang my mouth open while he taught, and it was all really good and helpful. But, for me it is all the same. The way not to have a breach in my spirit and to keep the lines opened for my prayer life is to worship in spirit and in truth. The way for me to do that is to read God's word and pray so much that I am in harmony with God :)

The Congo

While Nick was in the Congo in April 2008, the Lord began working on my heart about the need there. We have been at the Academy for ten and a half years all together, part of the time just volunteering when we could. My heart is to the Academy and I knew God would have to turn my heart to the Congo for me to truly be Nick's help there. Obviously, the Lord knew this also. The Lord began showing me things through my Bible reading, and an Abigail Miller song, "It's Just Like The Lord". Then in May or June, Bro. Buddy was preaching on fasting and turned to Isaiah 58. We went through the whole chapter, and it really came alive. When he read verse 12, I almost shouted. I realized then that I'd love to go the Congo with Nick. It says, "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called , The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." The Lord was showing me what could be done with a missionary in the Congo. I was now ready and eager for the final confirmation in Nick's heart! We want to see the Congolese go from despair to what you see on the face of the little boy in the picture to the right. I've no idea who he is, but he has that smile in every picture. Mrs. Cindy (a good friend at church) and I call him "my little boy".

The Blackburn Tribe

We are the Blackburn Family. Nick and I have been married 14 years now. We have 8 children; Paige, 13, Josiah, 10, Levi, 8, Caleb, 7, Timothy, 6, Hunter James, 4, Buddy Stonewall, 3, And Silas Boaz, 21 months.
We have laboured at Heritage Boys Academy for six years now. In April of 2008, Nick took a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. In July of this year, Nick felt the call to go to the Congo as missionaries. We are finishing out the year here at the Academy, and then it's full time deputation from then on out. We are planning on taking a trip over in May, which I am very excited about. It will help me to know better what things we will need and how life will be over there.