{"id":596,"date":"2025-02-08T15:22:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T21:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/?p=596"},"modified":"2025-02-08T15:22:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T21:22:45","slug":"brushing-our-teeth-with-oreos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/2025\/02\/08\/brushing-our-teeth-with-oreos\/","title":{"rendered":"Brushing our Teeth with Oreos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Supporting Tribal Church Planting in Papua New Guinea<\/td><\/tr>
“Trying to clean the house while you have kids in it is like trying to brush your teeth while eating Oreos.\u201d

I remember seeing the above quote and laughing because of how true it is. Actually, one of the reasons that I hate doing household chores is because I can\u2019t really see the results of my work. As soon as the floor is swept, it gets crummy again. As soon as the laundry is clean, it gets worn again. Sometimes I wonder why I even do any of it.

Encouraging others can feel a little bit like that. We pour into people, encouraging them and discipling them, and they still struggle or stumble or fall away from their walks with God. Over the past few months we\u2019ve noticed some people that we have invested in struggling, giving up, or just not being strong in their walks with God anymore. This work of encouraging can be very, well\u2026 discouraging.

That\u2019s when we have to remember that it is God\u2019s work, not ours. He is the One who must draw people to Himself, and our faithfulness is not wasted, even if it feels that way. Also, God commands us to continue encouraging each other. Hebrews 3:13 says, \u201cBut encourage one another daily,\u00a0as long as it is called \u201cToday,\u201d so that none of you may be hardened by sin\u2019s deceitfulness.\u201d I have seen that progression happen so often- Satan deceives people into thinking that sin will make them happy, and their hearts get more and more hardened to God\u2019s truth. So what they need is to be encouraged in the Lord every day, and that\u2019s what I want to do for every day that God gives me breath.

So, please pray with us for God to be at work. Pray for people that we love who are serving in PNG who are discouraged and struggling. Pray for people that we love here in the States that are not walking strong with Jesus. Pray that we can be faithful in our ministries of encouragement, and pray that God will be at work in their hearts.

Till all know,
Matt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck<\/td><\/tr>
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Ty won a ninja competition!

Praise God:
– We had our neighbors over for supper, and it was really great
– Ty had a great time at his youth retreat
– School is feeling a little less stressful for Matt right now
– We got a good plan from the allergist for helping Ty moving forward

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Ty had a great time at camp
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Matt\u2019s mom came to visit us

Please Pray:
– that we can be a witness to our neighbors
– for more missionaries to come to PNG
– for some key roles that need to be filled on our team in PNG, including member care and directors
– that God would be at work in the lives of people we love, drawing them closer to Himself<\/td><\/tr>
What are we supporting? \u00a0This month’s tribal focus:\"\"
Pray for the North Wahgi church. On January 4, they had a Bible dedication! The Wahgi people received God\u2019s Word in their language for the first time this past Christmas Eve. The Hulleys wrote, \u201cThe first Bible verse that was read drew applause from those listening and was a powerful moment when the Word of God spoke directly to hearts in their own language.\u201d Pray that God will continue to speak to His people through His Word. Pray that the Wahgi church will stand strong. Pray that many more in this area will come to Christ.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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