Braille Circulating Library

Dear Friends of the Braille Circulating Library,
In Numbers 13 and 14, the nation of Israel was on the boarder of the land of Caanan - the Promised Land. Moses chose twelve men, twelve leaders, from the nation of Israel to go into the land of Caanan for forty days and to spy out the land and to bring back a report. He told them to go throughout all the land to see if it was a good land and to see what type of people dwelt in the land - whether they were strong or weak, and whether they lived in strong cities or in tents. He also told them to bring back the fruit of the land. After forty days, they returned to Moses and Aaron and reported that the land of Caanan was a land that flowed with milk and honey. They showed the fruit of the land; they returned with a cluster of grapes that was so large they had to carry it on a pole between two men. But, they said the people that lived in the land were a strong people and they lived in strong cities. They saw the Amalekites, the Hittities, the Jebusites, the Amorites, and the Caananites, but especially the people of the children of Anak (giants) caused fear to dwell in the hearts of ten of the twelve spies. Only Joshua and Caleb spoke differently and encouraged Moses to lead the people into the land to possess it at once. The ten were only able to see the problems. They saw the giants, the walled cities, the strong people. They looked at themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants. However, Joshua and Caleb were not obsessed with the problems. They looked at the problems as possibilities for God to work. How did they do this?(1) JOSHUA AND CALEB LOOKED AT LIFE WITH A SENSE OF MISSION. In Numbers 14:8, Joshua and Caleb said, "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey." They had a confidence in God. They trusted in God. Their faith was anchored in God’s Word.(2) THEY HAD A VISION OF STRENGTH NOT WEAKNESS. In Numbers 14:9, Joshua and Caleb said, "Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us; fear them not." Joshua and Caleb exercised a courage in the Word of God. They had a positive outlook on life. They had a vision of strength.(3) THEY HAD A DEPENDENCE ON GOD. Their trust was in the Lord and in His promises. - But who did the people listen to? The ten. The people rebelled against God, and as a result, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Eventually, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the Promised Land.
Every individual, every family, every organization, and every ministry can be certain of one thing, we will face problems; but will the problems be the only things we see? Will we be able to look at these problems as possibilities for God to work? The downturn and uncertainty in the economy is affecting the funding of the Braille Circulating Library. Foundations we have requested grants from have deferred their decisions, individual giving is down, and our operating funds are extremely low. These are real problems. However, the Braille Circulating Library continues to be a blessing to people around the world. The Richmond City Council honored the ministry of the Braille Circulating Library with an Official Recognition at City Hall on July 13, 2009. This Official Recognition was a tremendous blessing an and encouragement. In 2010, we are looking forward to having two major projects we have been working on come to pass:the production of a new BCL Braille Book Catalog in Braille format, and the production of the long anticipated Braille edition of the book, "Golf’s Sacred Journey". The Braille Circulating Library has always believed in the use of prayer as a means of bringing forth God’s power to sustain this ministry. We need your prayers, and we also need your actions. A financial gift of any size will be helpful and greatly appreciated to help with our operating needs to see us through the end of 2009 and into 2010. The Braille Circulating Library is a faith ministry. Faith is believing in and obeying God, which requires us relying on what we cannot see, God’s promises. True faith manifests itself in actions. As we live our lives, let us have the same vision, the same faith, and the same trust, that Joshua and Caleb had - understanding that we are on a mission for the Lord, having a vision of strength and being positive in our outlook, and always having a dependence on the Lord and His Word. Real problems will come, but let us always delight in the Lord and stand confident on His Word, allowing problems to become possibilities for God to work.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support of the Braille Circulating Library.
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Serving Him,
Rev. Brian J. Barton, Sr.
Executive Director