Come and see!

I love the come and see moments in life.  Perhaps your son wants you to see a picture they just finished, or your husband takes your hand and leads you outdoors to see the sunset, or a friend calls you to view children at play in the neighborhood.  No matter what the come and see moment turns out to be...I have rarely been disappointed in it! 

Go and see what wonders God has placed in this world.

Go and learn from those moments.  

Meditate on them and ponder them in your heart.

Last week Tom called me to come and see.  A beautiful butterfly awaited...posing for a photo on the screen of our backdoor.  As someone who lives with fibromyalgia there are times when I would rather just sit with my feet up or lay in bed and not move.  Tom knows that when I don't feel well I don't always respond favorably to those calls.  But, this day, in spite of how I felt, I went with camera in hand to answer his call to come and see.  And I am indeed grateful for the reward.  God's creation always amazes me.  It always fills me with a sense of wonder.

How did He create so many different varieties and shades of gorgeous?

  Why did He put such detail into His work?

  What a mighty and awesome God is He!  

Why not stop what you're doing right now and look in the mirror?  Follow the spirit's call to a come and see moment. Take keen notice of the beauty of the person in your mirror.  No matter the circumstances of your birth...you exist because God willed you into existence.  You were created, designed, and hand crafted into being by the Creator, Designer, and Author of the universe.  You have over 10,000 genes and 23 pairs of chromosomes that were all hand picked by Him.  You are beautiful and you were deliberately created by the power of His loving breath.  God smiled and rejoiced as He watched your birth.

During this season of celebrating the birth of Christ take some time to stop, to come to Him, and gaze deeply on the realities of Christmas.  Ponder the fact that Christmas leads us to Easter, notice that the impact of Easter ushers us into a relationship with Him for all eternity.  None of this was a coincidence.  It was planned and executed perfectly because of His sacrificial love.

May we live a life worthy of that Love during this Christmas season and all the days of our lives! 

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Be...

 

Over the past twelve days I have been undergoing a root canal.  It's been difficult at times to be joyful or patient throughout this process.  Especially with tomorrow being our 31st wedding anniversary I didn't want to spend our vacation week in a dental office.  But, such is life. 

Reclining in the dentist's chair with my mouth propped open as her drill splashed water in my face all I could do was pray, breathe deeply, and hope that it would end soon.  After filling the tooth she told me that I would have to come back after the first of the year to have the crown put on. As I wallowed in self pity I was reminded of a friend with cancer who may be facing the last Christmas with her family.  She has truly been a model for me of being patient in affliction. 

Thinking of her sure put my 'suffering' through a root canal before the holidays in perspective.  I am going through an inconvenience...and being inconvenienced is not the same as suffering.  I may not be able to munch on peanut brittle this Christmas but I can still rejoice in the hope that comes with celebrating the birth of Christ.  I can be grateful for His sacrifice and remember what He endured for us. And I can look forward to and continue to pray for His return!  

Throughout this holiday season and beyond may we remember to be
 joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

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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...Praise the King!

Sunsets always inspire me to praise our glorious Lord.

Only He can create such magnificence.  He paints a masterpiece each evening with the most brilliant and vibrant colors.  He alone is worthy of all praise.  May honor and glory go to Him forever and ever!

What inspires you to praise Him?

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thought for today...gratitude!

 

As Thanksgiving in America draws closer many of us are giving thanks for the gifts God places in our lives.  Make sure that your list includes people you love, special moments, and treasured memories.  I am so grateful for our family, our friends, the people we get to serve, and those that we work with.

I thank God for every one of you that He has allowed us to spend time with over the past year.  And I am grateful for all of you who read this journal of mine.

Joy and Blessings to you!!

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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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Thought for Today...Respecting our leaders and praying for them!

Congratulations to President Barack Obama!

Yahoo.com

Let everyone be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.  Romans 13:1-2 NIV

I pray that all who claim the name of Christ will choose not to denigrate our president any longer but will instead commit to praying for him.  God has appointed him for a second time as the President of the United States.  All throughout this election process the things I have read and heard Christians say about the president have truly hurt my heart.  I grew up in a military home.  The Commander in Chief was always respected by my father and mother no matter which party he was from.  I cannot even remember my father talking down President Nixon when everyone else around him was doing so.  His signature is on my dad's honorary discharge papers proudly on display in my parents home to this day.

President Obama needs our prayers not our insults or condemnation.  I know that as I write this there are those who are celebrating and those who are grieving. It is important to remember that God was in control these past four years and He will continue to be in control for the next four years and beyond.  There are devoted, Bible believing, Christians in both parties.  Christ is not fully represented by either party.

sojo.net

One party focuses on protecting the unborn and preserving the Biblical view of marriage.  The other party focuses on caring for the least of these...educating, feeding and providing medical care for the poor and disenfranchised.  All of which are godly values.  There is a great article I read entitled 7 Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics.  You can read it by clicking here.  As I read through it this quote stood out for me:

The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.  Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them.

So whether you celebrate or grieve today...let's all pray together for the hearts of our government leaders on the national, state, and city levels.  And as believers let's remember to be loving, kind, and compassionate toward others no matter how we or they voted.

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Thought for today...Dance!

Because I know who He is and what He has done in my life...my heart dances with joy.  

Today I take delight in answered prayers.  The YWAM team's safe return from their outreach trip to Guatemala and all of our friends on are the east coast in the US made it safely through Hurricane Sandy.  

 

May we each dance with delight in Him and not be able to keep quiet about it!

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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...take up your cross!

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thought for today... Unchangeable!

 

I am grateful that the Father of heavenly lights is unchanging.  Yesterday, today and forever...He is God.  

And He is good. All the time!

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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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thought for today...Shout, Rejoice, Sing!

 

His comfort and compassion are indeed worthy of praise!

I suffered through sadness and grief this week over the discovery of yet ANOTHER vital item that was among the boxes we lost in our move from Russia to Belize.  I am grateful that God's compassion has kept me from feeling the weight of the losses all at once.

There are days when I don't even think about it, days when that is all I think about, and then moments like Monday when it slaps me in the face out of the blue.  As I breathe in deeply and hold my head up and try to move on...I realize that it still stings. 

Only His comfort and compassion help me through the inconsolable times.  

Today I choose to appreciate all that God has done and the numerous lessons we received from the loss of those 34 boxes.  Right now I can gaze upon the setting sun, be comforted by the cooling breeze, and breathe out my gratitude for His compassion.  

And and in this moment...

 I can shout with the heavens, 

rejoice with the earth, 

and sing with the mountains

about the goodness of the LORD!

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thought for today...Victory!

Heybeliada Island off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey 2010

Back in late February of 2010, we embarked on what we thought was a routine visa renewal, the lure of cheap airfare and the recommendations of others, led us to Istanbul as the place to wait for our paperwork.  We ended up stuck there in limbo for two and half months.  Just a few weeks into what we thought would be a three week trip at the most...we were dealt a harsh blow.  Tom's work visa would not be renewed and we would no longer be able to live in Russia.  We felt defeated.  We could not understand what God was doing or what direction He was taking us.

All we could do was pray and wait.  

Each day we would leave the dreary little rental apartment to explore as much of Turkey as possible.  We had no idea how long we would be there or if we would ever be in that part of the world again.  So we tried to make the most of this heartbreaking situation.  

On this particular day Spencer and I boarded the ferry to check out Heybeliada Island. 

I packed our guidebook, some snacks, water, and my cellphone, which served as the only camera we had access to on our trip.  I wanted to sit on the beach and read.  Spencer wanted to hike.  Reluctantly I agreed to the hike.  I wanted to stay on the well marked paths.  Spencer wanted to wander off and see what was on the other side of the trees.  

This was the view we were rewarded with for stepping off the path...

Spencer went out even farther than I dared to go.  

His curiosity and desire to experience life to the fullest led him down the mountainside a bit to get closer to the edge of the cliff.  He only stopped because I was screaming my head off for him not to go any further.  

I was still trapped in the limitation of what I could see and what I thought was safe.  

He was 19 years old that day...just three weeks before his 20th birthday.  I am grateful that Spencer forced me off the well worn path and further up the mountainside.  And I am grateful that I got to see his victory stance that day.   

We won't see victory if we are afraid to move beyond our comfort zone.  

Victory for Spencer came as he walked out to edge of that cliff.  He moved slowly... but step by step he went... he raised his arms in triumph...and then went even further forward.  He told me he felt exhilarated and close to God.  I was in awe as I watched our youngest son challenge himself to do more.  

As we made our way around the island I felt challenged to get a bit closer to the edge...

It is by clinging to God, and not our old habits or fears, that we are led to victory.  

May you follow Him all the way to the victory He has for you!

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thought for today...Go after a life of love!

 

Living a Christlike life, in my mind, is about living a life of love.  And just as I go after life in Him I desire to go after a life of love.  I have heard Tom tell clients to "go where the Love is".  There is wisdom in those words.

Do you remember this old chorus?

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."  

As Christian I don't want to be known by what I hate or what I am against.  I want to be known for the way I try to show His love to those I come in contact with each day.  

Go after a life a love...as if your life depends on it!

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thought for today...His Provision

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23, TNIV

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