Nothing but a Wisp of Fog

This photo was taken yesterday as I watched Tom cross the hammock bridge in Roaring Creek.  I thought of this verse and how it applies to our lives.  Later at home, I looked it up in The Message version of the Bible:

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

James 4:13-15, The Message

Americans love to plan and ponder what we want to happen next in our careers, our ministries, or our families. However, the reality is, we really don't have a clue about what God has in store for our future. During this advent season we wait with great expectation to celebrate the birth of our King.

But, is He truly that in our lives?  

Is He the King of our time, our finances, our marriages...our plans?

How often have you heard someone say "Lord willing, I'll..."?  I know that I say things like that now and then. But, I don't always mean it.  What I mean is "I am going to do..." or " I am going to go to..."

The other day I wrote a status on Facebook that said "Lord prepare me for what you are preparing me for".  And I mean that.  I don't know what He has in store for us in 2013.  Both Tom and I will turn 50 next year. I don't know about you but I had dreams and goals that I wanted to accomplish before turning 50.  And yet God had other plans for my brief time on earth.

As I ponder this passage I am compelled to remember that He is eternal,

He is my King and He has control over all the days of my life.

And I...I am nothing but a wisp of fog.  

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thought for today...His Direction!

 

Being a follower is not always easy.  It means that someone else is in control.  Someone else is setting the pace. Someone else is charting the course.  Our Bible study group is working through a series based on the book Not a Fan.  The premise is about being a true, devoted, follower of Christ and not just a fan of his.  One of the first things we were challenged to do was to define our relationship with God.  We had to ask ourselves if we are a fan or a follower.  

The point for me was driven home on Sunday.  Pastor Han asked me if I would sing a hymn with him after his sermon.  The title of the song?  Where He Leads Me I Will Follow.  It was not a coincidence...I'm sure of that.  

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

"Take my cross and follow, follow Me."

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.

As I have meditated on being a follower these past few days this song has been on my lips and in my heart.  Over the past 30 years Tom and I have been led from Kansas to California, from California to Russia, and from Russia to Belize.  And when I sang the words "I'll go with Him, with Him all the way" it brought tears to my eyes.  Because I am still willing to follow...wherever He leads...no matter where the path takes us.  

Now, I am not saying that everyone has to be willing to go to Russia and back because we are not all called to the exact same places.  Your path might lead to your neighbor's house, or to back to work, or to care for someone who is ill.  The point is being willing to follow His lead.  

                                May our desire be to follow His path every step of the way.

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the gift of Facebook statuses...

How many of your Facebook friends are using their statuses to express what they are grateful for? 

A number of my friends are doing it.  And their thanksgivings are such a joy to read.  Of course we all know that giving thanks does not have to be limited to month of November.  It can become a way of life.  Taking time to value the love gifts that God brings into our lives on a daily basis can transform the way we think.  It can breathe life into the spiritually stagnant areas of the heart. 

What are the treasures of daily life?  It can be something as simple as the laughter of a child, or the first taste of morning coffee (tea for me), or even your favorite song coming on the radio as you start the car.  It doesn't have to be a major event.  Sometimes the simpler the better. 

In the treasure box of this week I found:

1023.  the joy of having the DTS team from YWAM Banana Bank in our home.
1024.  cooking borscht for them and watching two large pots of soup, two and a half loaves of bread, two containers of sour cream, and three dozen cookies disappear.
1025.  sounds of hysterical laughter as we played games before dinner.
1026.  listening to them as they tried to learn a few Russian phrases.
1027.  the delight on Spencer's face as he shared our Russian experiences with his friends.
1028.  being able to order some gluten free cookies from a friend who was raising funds to help with a little girl's cancer treatments.
1029.  a counseling client expressing a desire to work specifically with me on a few issues.
1030.  being trusted with deep and painful memories in our counseling office.
1031.  new found confidence that comes from conquering all the excuses that I held dear as to why I couldn't possibly exercise everyday.
1032.  our supportive and loving church family.
1033.  seeing the progress being made on the church building project.
1034.  singing again
1035.  each moment we get to spend with having Meesha and Spencer here with us.
1036.  prayer time with the CDF team.
1037. 12 faithful students in Tom's counseling class at Belize Bible Center.
1038.  watching the teams on the Amazing Race find their way around sites in Istanbul.
1039.  looking back fondly on our time of being stranded in Istanbul as we waited for news on our Russian visas and realizing that it was a once in a lifetime gift.
1040.  knowing for certain that God closing the doors for us in Russia opened doors for us here in Belize.

If you would like to read posts from others in the gratitude community just click on the box below.

thought for today...possibilities!

  

May we take our eyes off of the doubts we carry in our daily lives and shift our gaze onto Him.

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Thought for today...keep pressing on!

Seeing these kids running reminded me of a few lines from a song my Aunt Betty sang many years ago... 

The race is not given to the swift
The race is not given to the strong
But, it's given to the one who keeps pressing on! 

 May God grant us the strength, determination, and perseverance needed to run the race. 
 And may we all remember to keep pressing on!

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thought for today...His Protection

 Whether we are crossing a bridge or making it through a challenging life event...

when He charts the course and blesses the way we are safe in His hands.

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still counting the gifts...

We are back in Orange Walk Town to do the Anti-Trafficking seminar that was postponed last week due to Hurricane Ernesto.  Because of our time away and the hurricane scare I didn't post my gratitude list like I normally do last Monday.  It was not a matter of not having anything to be grateful for...it was a matter of timing.  

God's gifts continue to grace our lives.  And I continue to write them down and give thanks...

869.  God's protection over Belize during this hurricane season.

870.  daily reading from One Day At A Time

871.  wisdom and insight from the book Not a Fan

872.  eating gluten free gets easier as the months go by.

873.  finding gluten free crackers at Reimers Health Food Store in Spanish Lookout

874.  swapping business cards and chatting with a young woman in San Pedro leading to a divine encounter with a survivor of child abuse in need of counseling.

875.  laughing with friends after a dinner party.

876.  being a part of a supportive expat community.

877.  being reminded by a courageous young woman that  "I'm not defined by the circumstances of my present." 

878.  time to read and reflect on the lessons God is providing.

879.  Tom finding a venue for an English speaking AA meeting here in Belmopan.

880.  safety while driving on the highways here in Belize.

881.  flowers blooming because of all the rain.

882.  two eggs in the nest outside our bedroom window.

883.  phone calls and text messages from our sons.

884.  watching our young men grow and mature.

885.  celebrating their successes with them.

886.  baking mistakes that turn into yummy treats.

887.  having such great coworkers at CDF.

888.  treasures that I can ponder in my heart.

889.  gratitude for the times He has carried me and for those times when He had to drag me for a while...

joining in with the gratitude community:

thought for today...Rest is vital!

 

Are you weary or burdened?

There are so many burdens that threaten to overwhelm us.  So much pain and hurt is shared within the walls of our office.  The freedom to lay it all down and rest is priceless.  Tom is so much better at self care than I.

Like a two year old fighting sleep I struggle with rest.

Slowly, I am learning.  Investing time in the Word and in prayer lightens the load.  Recently I realized I was neglecting the vital to focus on the important.  I was doing more than I was being.  I was ignoring the invitation to rest.

May you rest in Him.  And with Him.  And on Him.

Rest is vital!



Do you choose the important over what is vital?

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the gift of seeing His fingerprints...

How many times have you heard someone say "this is the worst thing that could ever happen to me"?  Maybe you have been the one to say it.  But is it really true?  I was watching a TV show last night and someone made that comment because they had made a simple mistake.  No one was going to lose their life. They were just inconvenienced and she claimed it was the worst thing in the world.

This past week someone we know found out that they have an invasive carcinoma.  And yet, this person is not claiming it as the worst thing in the world.  They are glorifying God and trusting Him throughout this process no matter where it leads. This is one of their quotes from the week:

I have no doubt that God has a purpose in allowing me to travel this path -

I see His fingerprints everywhere I look!

 I hate cancer.  It does seem like one of the worst things in the world that can happen to someone.  And yet this person is not complaining.  Instead they are praising.  And God is glorified.

As I continue counting God's precious gifts I think of this friend with cancer and all of those facing truly horrible situations.  I commit anew to cherish each day, each moment, and each event God allows me to face.

722.  hearing our friend praise God in the midst of struggle.
723.  our women's Bible study growing to include more Belizean women.
724.  the Wednesday night Bible study at Bethel church growing and going deeper in the Word.
725.  plantains from the trees in our yard
726.  gluten free pizza
727.  posting photos of the supermoon on Facebook at the same time as my oldest brother in Kansas.

728.  enjoying the view from our backyard

729.  reading Stormie Omartian's book The Power of  Praying for Your Adult Children
730.  receiving donations of toys for play therapy at CDF.
731.  cloud cover on hot days.
732.  not seeing over smelling smoke from any fires over the past three days.
733.  watching the finale of the Amazing Race with Tom and Spencer.
734.  seeing Tom enjoy watching the NBA playoffs.

735. seeing God's beauty captured in Tony Rath's photos of Belize

Scarlet Macaws in Early Morning Light by Tony Rath

           

Garifuna Settlement Day by Tony Rath

Eyeing the Lionfish by Tony Rath

Gifts found in the Word:
736.  No matter how many promises God made, they are "Yes" in Christ 2 Cor 1:20
737.  We can make our thoughts obedient to Christ 2 Cor 10:5
738.  We were chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  Eph 1:4
739.  In Christ we are brought to fullness.  Col 2:10
740.  Reality is found in Christ.  Col 2:17

 joining in with the gratitude community:

thought for today...wake up!

It is time to surrender complacency.

It is time to wake up and fully live for Him.

For the past few weeks I have been asking God to wake me up to the things that I need to change in my life.  

Wake me up to the lessons and the gifts of life He has for me along this journey.

I don't want to miss the lessons.

I want to express gratitude and acknowledge all of the gifts.

I want to live as wise and not unwise, as the following verse says, so that I can make the most of each opportunity that God provides.

As I surrender to doing the things that I need to do for my health I have experienced more energy and more clarity of thought.  This has affected me spiritually as well.  I find myself slowly waking up in Him and taking note of the Light of Christ all around. And it is truly beautiful...

May God wake us up so that the Light of Christ shines on us and glorifies Him!

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Blessed are the flexible, right?!

This saying truly blessed me this week:  "Blessed are the flexible, for they will not get bent out of shape."

Being flexible is a must here in Belize.  We have to be flexible with whether or not the electricity or internet will work today, and we need to flexible with a grocery list and whether or not the store will have the items they had last time, and we must flexible with scheduling and ministry planning...and so on.

The other day I showed up for a meeting with someone.  She and I were just getting back on track after having had a few scheduling problems over the past few weeks.  When I showed up for our appointment she had someone else there with her...waiting for me.  This person was in pain emotionally and she wanted me to talk to her.  I put aside the agenda that I had for our meeting and spent time listening to the other young lady.  And this young woman had enough pain for several lifetimes to weed through.  And yet her story is a common one here in Belize.

Hearing these types of stories bring to mind a passage in Spiritual Moms by Lynn Wilford Scarborough:

In our society of "fatherless children," the focus has been on the need for a father figure in a child's life.  But when you evaluate the number of working moms and the amount of time that children actually spend with their parents, it seems that in truth, we have a "parentless generation."  

There is a great need for spiritual parenting in Belize.  And it is not all about the fathers who have been absent...we must consider the plight of the children who have had to raise themselves.  This is not unique to Belize, and yet, Belize is such a young country that it is sorely affected by this situation.  The country is only 30 years old.  And the majority of people who live here are under the age of 25.   We see children parenting other children in the literal sense of the word and also in the spiritual sense.  

Which means that those of us who are older more mature need to drop our preconceived agendas of how to meet the needs we see around us and be flexible enough to listen to and learn about what the needs truly are.  

I invited this young woman to go to Bible study with me.  I told her that her clothes would not matter and that she would be welcomed by our group no matter what.  And our ladies did not disappoint on that promise.  She felt loved.  She felt like she was finally in the company of women who were not pretending to be holy or perfect but were real and authentic.  She felt accepted and "a part of".  She didn't say more than a few words at the meeting but she talked my ear off on the drive home.  And I was grateful.

Blessed are the flexible indeed...for choosing not to get bent out of shape in this situation showed me more about Him and set me more firmly on His path.  I know that I might not get it right every time, but I am willing to keep learning and to keep listening to the women that I cross paths with and to the One who places them there...so that He will be glorified...and we all grow up in Him.

So are you ready to be blessed or are you feeling bent out of shape by life?

thought for today...godly graffiti

We live on a dirt road and we work in an office on a dirt road so our little SUV gets dusty.  It gets washed and then gets dusty again...the cycle is endless.  It is fairly common to see various messages written on car windows around the city.  

This was the message left on our car the other day.

 

There are passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke that say "Love your neighbor as you love yourself".  But our tagger flipped the message. "Love yourself as you love your neighbor."  What great food for thought.  For some of us loving our neighbor is easy but loving ourselves is the challenge.  

Is it like that for you?  

Do you need to cut yourself some grace and begin loving yourself the way you love your neighbor?  

I confess that this is one of my struggles.  I remember being taught this J-O-Y acronym in Sunday School as a child.  

Jesus first.

Others second.

Yourself last.

It is so much easier to have patience with someone in pain, or with the one who has made a mistake, or with that one who takes a little extra tolerance to work with than it is to be kind to and take care of myself.  

I am realizing through this Year of Surrender that I have gotten some of God's words twisted.  And I need to work them out.  Jesus first, yes!  Just like the J-O-Y acronym starts.  But the Bible verse admonishes me to 'Love my neighbor AS myself''.  Not 'instead of' or 'before'...as.  As.   As I begin allowing this to take root in my brain my attitude toward myself begins to change and I surrender another layer of the veneer that covers my heart.  

I know that one day at a time and one issue at a time this season of Surrender will make me, mold me, and fill me with more of Him, more of His Word, and more of His grace.  

May God help us work through the issues standing in the way

and the words that we have twisted in our lives

 so that He may fit us for His service!

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and you can find a post of mine here:Alida: She Rocks
as part of the series:

Thought for Today

I took this photo in Dangriga last week. This gentleman was diligently working to repair his net as his children played in the yard.  Fishing for him is not a hobby.  It is how he feeds his family.  Casting his net out into the sea is a daily activity for him.  

We have had times in the counseling office when we have an unexpected client stop in and we choose to put aside what we are doing to give our attention to the person in front of us.  We have to put down our 'nets', so to speak, and follow what He would have us do.  

I don't think that leaving your net has to always mean literally walking away from your livelihood.  To me it means being open to those divine appointments within our days which come in the form of interruptions.  These interruptions may simply be an opportunity from God to guide you deeper in your walk with Him. 

May we be open to leaving our nets when He calls.

And may we see the blessings in the divine appointments He brings our way.

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Winsome Wednesday

thought for today...

2 Corinthians 13:11

May I share something with you?

To be honest, this young man is not aiming for the type of perfection this verse calls for.  He is actually aiming at a boat full of people that is passing by.  But, he is focused, determined and his aim appears true. 

I don't want to be like this kid and look good in the small picture but not in the grand scheme of life.  

I desire a life of integrity where my actions and values line up with His.  There are days when I fall short of His perfection.  Time after time, I have to get back up, dust myself off, and take aim again.  Do you have days like that?  Or is it just me?

May we each hear the appeal He is laying on our hearts.  

May we learn to live with oneness of mind.

And may the God of love and peace truly dwell among us.

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and

Winsome Wednesday

thought for today...

Psalm 30:5

Patricia was stillborn on this day back in 1985.  Cameron's stillbirth followed in December of the same year.

Yesterday was a hard day and today is not much easier.   

I know that how I feel is not just about Patricia and Cameron.  It's also about having to leave Russia... and losing all of our belongings. So many mementos from the past 30 years of family life were lost.   Each time I remember something that was in one of those boxes it still causes me to weep a bit.  There are some days when we laugh about it all. And other days when it seems like it's all just a bad dream.

Today I am comforting myself with Psalm 30:5.  

I am trusting this night of grieving will not last forever...believing that joy will indeed come...in the morning.

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I surrender what is convenient for me...

The most important thing that we surrender is our own self-- our desire to control our lives. Of course, we don't surrender and go into a vacuum. We surrender something in order to cling to God only. Surrender is the means to enjoying more fully the most beautiful thing in our lives--our joyous love relationship with God.

~Ajith Fernando from his book The Call to Joy & Pain

I would love to be able to say to the world that I am fully surrendered to His will and that I cling only to Him.  That sounds like the true heart attitude that a missionary should possess.  But, honestly, I don't fit that ideal.  I still nurse a childish desire to control my own life.  I cherish comfort. What I really want is a surrender that doesn't require sacrifice.  If I could just rest assured that all things will turn out according to what I think is best it would be easier to give Him control.  Do you ever feel that way?

I have a deep desire to be able to say (like Paul in Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."   I love singing the words to the old hymn I Surrender All.  However, I know my head is saying "I surrender what is convenient for me".  

As each day of 2012 ticks by I understand more about why my word for the year is Surrender.  There is still so much more for me to relinquish.  There are still so many areas of my mind and heart that need to be transformed into His image.  Tom teaches that authentic forgiveness is not an event but a process.  I am convinced that true surrender is also a process and not an event. As I mature spiritually I realize how much more of my self there is to let go of before I can claim to have been crucified with Christ.  

God stays the same as we grow up spiritually...but we change.    

Stage one of my surrender began when I was ten years old.  I went forward to the altar a few weeks after Easter back in 1973 and gave my life to Him.  At 16, I renewed that childhood vow.  At 21, I learned about Christ being Lord of my life and not just my Savior.  By the age of 35, I came to realize just how much I don't know or understand about His mercy and grace.  Today, a few months shy of 49, I acknowledge that I still have far to go.  God is not finished teaching me and molding me into the person that He has called me to be.  

 What stage of surrender are you at in your walk with Him?

thought for today...

Take a good look at God's wonders---they'll take your breath away.
Psalm 66:5
The Message

How often do you look at the ground?  

Are you so focused on the path ahead that you miss what is right at your feet?  

Each time we go for a hike in Guanacaste National Park  I have no idea where to look.  Whether I look up or down, side to side, or straight ahead, there is so much to see.  God's wonders are everywhere.  Each detail of His creation is worth taking note of...His handiwork is amazing.  Sometimes, I forget that I am also a wonder of His.  Having lost two children I know firsthand that each child born alive is a miracle.  

You are a wonder of His. 

You are His handiwork.  

You are amazing!

May you take the time to take a good look at God's wonders...

including yourself and those around you. 

May you surrender your gaze to Him. 

And may He truly take your breath away.

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Which step have you reached today?

source

To quote my brother, Stephen, "if you're gonna talk about it...be about it!" 

 I have talked about getting healthy.  So obviously my next step was to be about it.  Since I wrote the post Determination today...better health tomorrow I've been walking consistently each week.  When we have an errand to run, if it is within walking distance, we choose to walk instead of taking the car.  I have finally made the shift in my head to telling myself I can do it instead of making an excuse as to why I can't do it.

And my reward for being about it?  

The weight gain has stopped!  At first nothing changed.  But this week I stepped on the scale and was down a pound.  But, the best part is how I feel.  Mentally and physically I feel so much better when I am able to get a walk in...even if it's a short one.  The week is not over yet and my goal is to get two more days of walking in this week. Can you guess what I am telling myself about that goal?  I can do it! 

Which step have you reached today?

thought for today...

I love watching birds.  Being in a country with over 580 types of birds is absolutely fascinating to me.  I don't know the names of every single bird.  I think this is a Kiskadee.  We see them in our neighborhood and in our yard.  They swoop in and peck at the seeds or fallen fruit in the yard.  Listening to their call is such a joy.

It is as if they are announcing themselves to all within the sound of their voices...

kis- ka- dee, kis- ka- dee!

I enjoy starting my day in the word and in prayer.  However, in the midst of a busy and stressful day there are times when you would not be able to tell my day started that way.  There are times when I allow people, circumstances or my hormone induced attitude to erase the seeds planted during my quiet time.  I wish I could say that in past tense.  But, I can't.  As a recovering perfectionist it is difficult to cop to that.  I want to keep that to myself.  Sometimes...I don't even acknowledge it before God.  Obviously, during those times I am choosing to forget that He already knows all about me.  

That which He plants in me deserves the opportunity to grow and mature...to make me complete in Him.  It is up to me to obey the commands, meditate on the promises, and apply the words of instruction laid out in the Bible.  I am to blame if I allow anyone or anything to negatively impact my walk with Him.  God is faithful.  His word can change our lives if we let it.  

As I surrender...allowing Him to have His way in my life this year...I also accept full responsibility for the quality of my spiritual life.  I surrender to the call to be watchful.  I need to watch out for whatever may try to distract me or rob me of the seeds God has placed in my life. 

Is there something eating His seeds in your life?

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