I will never leave you nor forsake you...

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Its been a while since I’ve written an update. Since I got back from DR, I’ve been going and going, getting the business stabilize and out of debt that we incurred while I was in DR. That pushed found me working Christmas morning trying to wrap up a huge project (Won’t do that again) but then the new year came and everyone jumping back into work after the holidays and me feeling like “Wait, hold on, not ready for the year to start yet, but its here...”

Yesterday (March 21, 2011) I would say was the climax in my heart and I found myself soaking in God’s presence crying out for His love to bring my heart back to center. We just finished a huge conference with Legacy, Awesome breakthroughs and YC Belize is next week, another huge Push, not to mention jobs, projects personal life, just moved to a new house YIKES, Overload! God Oh how much I need your management skills. BUT I’m amazed how much God reminds me of this simple truth  from Is 41:10

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

When I sent out the song of my heart, a friend responded with this verse, If he only knew how many times God’s reminded me of this verse from when I was in DR.... Thank you God for you’re unfailing love and for you help. I also want to thank my good friend and one of my business mentor Jim Dusoe who joined me in worship by adding a refreshing piano fills to the song I sent out. If you want to hear it, visit www.mervdouglas.com

You can download free albums with some soaking worship songs... And I’ll upload a new soak album soon.

Prayer points

• YC Belize is coming up... Need the administrator of the universe to lead us
• Breakthrough in Business management
• Personal balance of rest and work
• Greater fire and passion for God in my own life

Update from Merv.

Another night where I can’t sleep so decided again to worship and listen. Last night I really felt God’s presence in my home. Feel God challenging me to learn to just run to Him and place my confidence in His Character. I came across a song “Run to You” I did a while back. Prayer it’s a blessing to you as it was to me tonight.

Merv Douglas

Living with confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah

When I saw the title of the book "Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World" By Dr. David Jeremiah, I was excited and really looking forward for some insight to apply to my life & schedule in Belize. I must admit, it was a bit hard getting past the first chapter as most of the example and writing applied mainly to the United States and not so much global in my opinion. I guess in my perspective, when you say "World" it's automatically assumed the material should cross borders and cultural boundaries. With that said, It took me longer than I anticipated to get through the book.

However once I got into the meat of the material, I was able to draw some principle such as learning what it means to Stay Calm in the storms of life. I was refreshed and reminded of keys I've heard before but forgotten along the way such as focusing my connection on Christ. I find often when I'm going through my storms, It takes me a while to remember that I'm connected to Christ and not just going through alone.

In my opinion, Again, once i got past the first chapter, I was able to draw more of the meat that i can apply. If someone is looking for some keys in how to walk through the storms of life, or simply need a reminder of what they already know or hear it again from another person's point of view, this is a good book to go through.

Update from Merv: Don't Worry, Be Happy.

Hey Everyone. Can’t believe 3 weeks has already gone by and I’ve learnt so much in such a short time. This week was filled with many long days and long evening. We had teaching during the day, work duties during the afternoon; we spent most of those time preparing for the upcoming conference... Then we also had homework from 8 to 9:30 every night. Our days normally start 6:30 in the morning so yea, needless to say its been intense. This past week, I had the privilege of teaching a 2 1/2 our class on Understanding Media & Marketing. I was very nervous teaching (I shy away from often) and actually spent some time researching to prepare for the class... YEA ME! LOL. But most of those research time was actually spent praying and asking God to help me focus my thoughts. I was amazed on how that session went. I learnt a lot from it and I had to take notes afterwards because some of what I shared made sense :) and I figured I should remember that. LOL  But I’m amazed even in an area like Media and Marketing how the Bible gives strategies. If you want to read some of my notes on this class visit my blog (www.mervdouglas.com)

Well Tonight (Sunday) our team hosted our love feast and it was amazing. Our Theme was, “Don’t worry, Be happy.” We prayed and felt God led us to have an evening where we can just relax and be stress free after having 3 long weeks of learning as well as preparing for the YWAM Conference (Our Practicum) this coming week. For those who’s wondering what a love feast is, It’s pretty much an evening where we get to prepare a meal, decorate nice, dress up and feast together as family and friends. Those preparing the meal would hear from God on what the theme would be and build the evening around that theme.

Our team was made of Lizzy Snow (Haitian), Phil Bontrager (American) , Jason Martin (Dominican) & Myself (Belizean). We wanted a relaxing evening so we had had everyone come dressed in bright colored clothes and jeans. The came in and I spent a few minutes entertaining them with a Jamaican accent, playing a guitar and wearing a RASTA cap. I was singing, DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY.

We were going for a beach sunset scene so we had colored drinks, colored table setting and everyone assigned by seats with their names written on the banana. I  shared a few scriptures about God’s heart on us not being anxious (Phil 2:4-6). Then we served them burgers, with fried plantains, pineapple, papaya. We ate to our content then played a few group games. Finally it was dessert time and we served banana splits with brownies. It was a really awesome evening of fellowship and much fun.

Prayer request:

1. This is our last week of class and then we start our practicum.... We need grace and speed to get all together in time for the conference.
2. I’m organizing the worship time for the conference and making sure that Burn 24/7 (the worship group we’ve invited to lead) and the various musicians from around YWAM mesh well in forming one team. So I’m asking God for wisdom to help serve both teams and help them unite as one. We have 2 solid days of practice.
   

Thanks for all you prayer and support.

For pass updates visit http:\\www.mervdouglas.com