Ryan Fleming Update

Dear Mosaic Youth,

It has been a month since I left good ole Arkansas but please know that you all have been close to my heart and in my prayers.  We are ushering into a new year and with a new year brings hopes of new beginnings, a fresh start, and opportunity for Christ to continue to move through us.  I am so glad that Mosaic Church desires to cultivate its body of believers to be active for our Lord Christ and not just be spectators.  Please know it was such an honor to serve with the student body for the Fall and I want to encourage you to keep up with me my via email and my mission newsletters that I send out.  We are all in this race together and I want to form solid prayer relationships so we can pray for each other for the challenges that lie ahead.  Who knows, some of you might get to come to Nepal someday and serve alongside me.  That would be awesome!!  I wanted to attach my recent newsletter below with some spiritual insight I have been chewing on lately. Mosaic, it would be a delight to hear from you so don't be shy and email me at ryan.fleming@sim.org

January 2011 Newsletter

Well my friends, Christmas 2010 has come and gone and we are now into 2011. Woohoo! I received a sweet frog hat from my cousins for Christmas and I have been finding excuses to hop around in public to embarrass those around me. It is amazing how the simple things in this life can bring joy and I look forward to hopping over to Nepal sometime in May (My hopping legs will be tired though.)


My mother Angela and I in Tulsa, OK over Christmas

I have been travelling around Oklahoma and Texas for the last three weeks meeting with churches and individuals talking about my mission vision to serve in Nepal. It has been great to reconnect with folks, hear how the Lord is working, and how God encourages us and speaks through the body of believers. I pray that I can awake in the morning with an attitude that desires to see and hear from God. It is incredible what happens when we become open to hearing the Lord’s leading in our life. I have been reflecting lately on the importance of giving God glory and providing honor and respect to the power of his voice.


Psalm 29:1-5

“Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.”

My reflection on this beautiful Psalm is asking myself how can I approach the Lord with due respect and worship Him in all His glory. His voice is powerful and mighty so how can I put myself in a position to hear and respond to it? What is clouding our ability to hear from the Lord and fall to our knees and worship God completely? I would appreciate your perspective and insight to this verse if you would like to share.

We often wonder why we can not hear God's word and sometimes it is as simple as opening our Bibles to read His word.  Take the time to open up God's word and pray for guidance as God imparts wisdom for your life.  There are no complex formulas or strategies for hearing from God.  Give the Lord your time, give Him your prayers, and wait patiently for Him. 

The months are getting closer to my departure to Nepal and I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare to leave. There is still a lot of fundraising for me to do and I need to stay focused on not relying on my own strength but allowing God’s powerful voice to work through me.
   Please let me know how I can be praying for you. It is always a joy to hear from people that have faithfully lifted me up in prayer. Let us join together to pray for each others needs. My main prayer request is to remain restful in the Lord as I leave many friends and family this year.
 
I have made a video that gives a quick 3 minute overview of my ministry that you can view at:http://vimeo.com/17384717

May we stay strong in 2011 as we put our full faith and trust in our Glorious Creator!

How To Give to my ministry:  
Sign up for automated giving at: www.sim.org/giveusa
Mail in a donor form with gift (form available upon request)   
My Account # 035469

To mail a check, make it out to SIM USA with my name and missionary #035469 in the memo, and mail it to:
SIM USA
P.O. Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241


For more information regarding my ministry and financial support, please contact me and go to my website at: www.ryanmartinfleming.wordpress.com


Blessings,
Ryan Fleming
email: ryan.fleming@sim.org


Serving In Mission (SIM) www.sim.org
International Nepal Fellowship (INF) www.inf.org

Repeat

Reflections on Jeremiah 23:22

"But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people,

And would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.

NASU

Jeremiah is a book calling the people of Israel to repentance, return, and reform.  Chapter 23 is an interesting excerpt that speaks directly to the prophets.  It calls out prophets who hear another’s prophecy and declares it themselves as if God spoke through them.  They are prophecy thieves.  It is amazing to see how frustrated this makes God.  This brings us to verse 22…a verse I think we can walk away from with some things to process.  If we were to break down this passage into an equation, it would look something like this:

God’s presence + Speaking the Word/Truth = Life change (people turning from evil)

Take out any of these components, and you are left with some manufactured, self satisfying quest that ultimately ends up hollow, misdirected, and heresy.  Just a thought about each of these:

First: Standing in God’s presence is essential.  If we are just people who look to others insights into the Word, we are claiming the credit of somebody else’s spiritual inspiration.  If the Holy Spirit is living in us, we trust that he also speaks to us. This is a significant part of the Christian faith…don’t cheapen it to simply living on “repeat”.

Second: Announcing God’s Words.  The quote: “preach the gospel, and when necessary…use words” has birthed a false movement  of people thinking  intentional speaking  is overrated.  Ultimately, it’s become the banner for a passive culture of “Christians” terrified to speak truth.  While lifestyle is necessary, it is the follow up and affirmation of God’s word boldly proclaimed in Grace and Truth.

Third: Turn from Evil.  Here is a simple statement worth contemplating: Sin blocks intimacy with God.  In fact, slowing down and over-pronouncing the word intimacy leaves you with something close to

In-to-me-you-see.  It is putting feet to the whole concept of Abide…that I am “in Christ” and that Christ lives “in me”.  Christ actually sees into the very heart of who I am.  Sin kills this.  Lamentations describes this well:

Lam 3:42-44

We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.

44 You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

NIV

When Sin exists, it hinders us from experiencing the presence of God.

Meditate on this “equation” today and see which area you need to apply directly to your life.  Let this be just one way that together we are being “transformed by the renewing of our minds”.

Amen?

~Deep thoughts from a Shallow guy~

m@

The Art of "HOW"

I have had a lot of reflection over something that happens to me almost daily.  In the midst of tragedy…there is always this awkward moment when people want to know the state of things, while not quite knowing how to ask.  I have plenty of experience in “doing it wrong”.  When a dear friend of mine’s father-in-law died, and I was on the phone with him while he drove his family to the funeral, without knowing what to say I blurted: “Oh my gosh, how is Sarah (wife who’s dad just died)”?  How was she supposed to be? She was crushed, broken, confused, swirling, and sobbing at that exact moment! Yet I did not have the foresight to pause and construct a statement that effectively communicated my concern and love for them.  I wish I had. I regret that moment.

Luckily, my friend forgave me for my polite ignorance. It has taught me an invaluable lesson that sometimes the “HOW” question is a very painful one.  It doesn’t change the fact that we really do want to know “HOW” they are.  We often neglect to think through how a question with a painful obvious answer might come across to the person we are asking.

To save you from the same feelings I had with my poorly aimed question…here are 5 suggestions:

1)     Often, not questions, but rather your presence, is really what they need.

2)     A well crafted statement often communicates the intent you have. For example, rather than asking a friend who’s mom is battling cancer: “How is your dad?”  Perhaps better would be a statement like:  “I’m sure this is so confusing for you, your family, and especially your Dad.  Know that I love you, and am praying and grieving with you”.

3)     Don’t misunderstand GRIEVING. Grieving is healthy and Biblical.  If someone appears or even answers: “I’m grieving”, don’t see them as weird…see them as responding well.

4)     If you sense yourself just wanting details…be highly aware how painful details can be for the person you are asking. Remember, this is far more about them than it is about you.

5)     If you have recently been a “HOW” asker, don’t be too hard on yourself.  Your heart is in the right place.  Take a look at the previous 4 and try a follow up encouragement to the person who is in need of the very thing you genuinely want to give:  Love and Support.

Amen?

~Deep thoughts from a Shallow Guy~

mn

Stillness vs. Nothingness

There was a great quote in a movie that I saw this weekend.  The only critique I would have of the movie (which was the new Karate Kid by the way) would be that they didn’t call Jackie Chan Mr. Miagi. Oh well…I guess that’s not that big of deal.  The line that stood out to me was when Jackie Chan said: “There is a big difference between doing nothing, and being still”.  It instantly sent my thoughts to when the Bible talks about a Sabbath.  A lot of times, I fill my “day off”, the day that was created and meant for me to be refueled and refreshed in the Lord, with nothing-ness activities. And while these activities may be fun, they often leave me drained and yearning for something more.  Crazy that Jackie Chan would challenge me to what the answer is.  It’s a matter of intentionally being still. Not about simply doing nothing.  Being still takes initiative, takes planning, takes focus, and takes prayer. Nothing takes just that…nothing. But it also fills you with just that…nothing.  Here’s me and Mr. Miagi’s challenge for you today: pick a time this week, preferably on your identified Sabbath day…to be still before the Lord.  Take initiative to be silent, journal, study his word, pray, meditate, love, and trust.  Take a time to meet with Jesus.

Amen?

~Deep thoughts by a Shallow guy~

mn

the model of Christ

Hello friends. I just wanted to take a second to challenge us in how the passage from this past weekend applies to us. We looked at Philippians 2:1-18. Paul challenges the Philippians to put the needs of others above our own. He gives Jesus as an example. Jesus, being God, became a man. The man became a servant. The servant died as a condemned criminal. Then Jesus was exalted as Lord. He is the model for us. We humble ourselves and pour ourselves out for others. In the end, God will honor us, and there will be reward, but today, we serve as the lowest of low.

So, how are we doing? Is your life marked by “grasping” after things for yourself? Is it seeking the things for your own comfort or gain? Or is your life marked by seeking the good of others? How do we move from self seeking to others seeking? I think the key is Christ’s example. We seek others’ good when we trust Christ to seek our good. Ultimately, we try to take care of ourselves when we don’t trust anyone else to take care of us. Matthew 6 teaches us that God is looking out for our needs. Let’s trust Him to take care of us… like He did on the cross, and let’s start pouring ourselves out for others… like He did on the cross.

For His glory and our joy,

NR

A Flemish Chili Pot Thought

Last year I was facing a dilemma.  I had a lucrative sales job, making good
money but something in my heart was stirring to ask the Lord how to move
forward.  My prayer was, "Lord, either change my attitude or give me a new
direction to follow with your guidance."  The more I prayed this prayer, the
more I had an inner voice within me nudging me to go and serve.  This voice
to serve got bigger and I started telling people my prayer and a good friend
of mine, Matt Newman, responded in saying: "Fleming, get your tail up here
to Arkansas and serve with our youth. They like weird people like you up
here."  So I did.

I decided to quit my sales job and set up the next six months to volunteer
with different ministries. My first stop was here in Arkansas, then Rwanda,
New Mexico, India, and Nepal to follow.  Let's just say that is was quite
the world tour of experiencing various forms of ministry in different
cultures.  I am writing you this chili pot thought today and am on my way to
serving in Nepal next year as a missionary.  How in the world did I go from
being a salesperson last year to now moving to Nepal to serve in missions?
I listened to the small voice inside nudging me "to go and serve."

My challenge for you today is to encourage you to slow down and take the
time to ask the Lord how you need to serve.  There are Outward Bound
opportunities to serve locally and God calls us to live missionally, locally
and abroad.  Please do not wait to only serve when you take your spring
break mission trips to Guatemala or Portland.  There are opportunities for
us to serve in our schools, neighborhood, and eek--even in our own families.

Lord, let us pray to you to open our hearts and minds to serve you.  Teach
us to listen to your instructions Lord God so our lives can humbly serve you
in Spirit and Power.

Rev. 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Blessings in Christ,
Ryan Fleming

Follow my adventures and read some more of my story on my blog:
www.ryanmartinfleming.wordpress.com

townhouses

So…this isn’t your prototypical Chili pot thought.  Usually those are clever ways of engaging us with God’s word…making us scratch are chin and simply go…hmmm.  In fact, those who have never taken part of our Chili pot thought, the basic idea is this:  you can learn a lot about people and where they are from their shoes, their key-chains, and their chili.  Up north (the true chili J), they use macaroni noodles.  Ohio, it’s spaghetti noodles with sprinkled cinnamon.  East coast uses oysters at times while west coast its more soupy.  How do you do your chili?  The fun thing is…it’s a mixture of unique and personal ingredients that when you put them together…you usually end up with a pretty good chili.  That’s why these are chili pot thoughts.  They are just one ingredient to a big bowl of thoughts.  We would love your thoughts and responses as we go in this weekly endeavor.

This week…we thought we would put in your hands one more time the letter we gave your students to give you (parents) last week…just in case it never made it out of their pockets.  This is to remind you of some of the tweaks we made this ministry year in an ongoing effort to reach NWA and the world with the gospel.  Hope you enjoy.

Have a great week!
Matt and the Student Mosaic team