Worth $117,000

If a stay-at-home mom could be compensated in dollars rather than personal satisfaction and unconditional love, she’d rake in a nifty sum of nearly $117,000 a year.

That’s according to a pre-Mother’s Day study released Thursday by Salary.com, a Waltham, Mass.-based firm that studies workplace compensation.

The eighth annual survey calculated a mom’s market value by studying pay levels for 10 job titles with duties that a typical mom performs, ranging from housekeeper and day care center teacher to van driver, psychologist and chief executive officer.

Read the rest at FoxNews.

Longing to be a loser…

…and a big (or small?) one at that!    

Back in January I talked my DH into signing up for the Biggest Loser challenge at our local Y.   It was a two for one deal that ran 12 weeks;  the price couldn’t be beat and the timing was perfect to help in our fight to shed some of the unwanted weight and increase our health before heading back to the mission field.

My quest for adding ‘loser’ to my to-do list is not so much based on aesthetics as it is to being healthy.  Like every other woman, I want to look good, but in this I’m a realist.  I’m over 40, I have four kids (six pregnancies, two miscarriages), and the stress of constant transition and ministering in a spiritually oppressive area have all taken a toll.  (We had a pastors wife- who is a friend we’ve known for 20 plus years- take one look at us when we arrived in the US  in 2006 say to us, “You guys look awful“.   Yeah, well, we kinda knew that!)

As a missionary, I recognize that holistic health (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) is extremely important.  I have come to realize that one of the ways the enemy seeks to devour us is through sickness in our bodies.  I am Pentecostal and believe in healing.  Many times we have called on the Lord and He heard our cry.   But I promise you this truth:  our greatest spiritual breakthroughs and victories have been followed, almost immediately, by some form of physical illnesses or attack.  I could give you a list!  Many missionaries reading this would concur with me.

Years ago I remember reading about a ministry, perhaps it was the Salvation Army (?), that during it’s inception the ‘recruitment papers’ for workers required them to be physically in shape:  an ideal weight, commitment to regular exercise, etc.  Compliance was given by a signature; poor health or weight gain would revoke their appointment.

I thought that was pretty bold of the ministry and was slightly surprised by this requirement.  There is, however, understanding to this.  I receive a daily e-mail for all the prayer requests of missionaries in our fellowship and indeed there is much physical suffering and pain.  Many will tell you they were perfectly fine until they began serving on the front line of Kingdom work.

As mentioned above, there is no question that one of the enemies tactics is discouragement and stalling of the spread of the Gospel through physical attacks.  Therefore, it does make sense for Christian workers to become proactive in this, and to not give the enemy even a slightly cracked door into this area through poor physical self-care.

And thus my frustration.  The biggest loser challenge has come and gone…and I’ve lost basically nothing.  A few pounds down, then back up.   I have worked out an average of 4 days per week (and that’s a conservative average due to at home workouts not recorded) and have eaten so many spinach salads and fiber I thought I glimpsed a cotton tail growing behind me and wheat sprouting from my head.

Since my workouts utilize the computerized Fitlinxx system, I can track both cardio and weight training.  To impress you, here are my numbers from February 1 to end of April: 24 hours 36 minutes 22 seconds on cardio burning 11,408 calories; in weight training: 4,002 reps in 262 sets for a total of 165,930 lbs. lifted.

So why in the world am I not losing weight?  I feel like I’m trapped in this body I hate.  I have since signed up for a free account at SparkPeople.com and am hoping that may work for me.  We are expecting to move back to Mexico in six weeks…and I just want to be healthy.

Any thoughts?  Words of wisdom? 

Pray for me.

A Wagon Load of Prayers

This is from the Women’s Ministries- Unlimited site;  I liked it so I thought I would share it:

By Arlene Allen

Who ever heard of prayers being loaded in a wagon? It seems that a poor man who lived in the country had an accident and broke his leg, which meant he was laid up for a long time, unable to work.

His family was large and he had no money saved, so someone thought it would be a good idea to hold a prayer meeting at the church to pray for the family. The announcement was made, and the night came to hold the prayer meeting. One after another, each believer asked God to help the family, to send them food and care for their needs.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the church’s door. There stood a young farm boy who said, “My dad could not attend the prayer meeting tonight, so he sent his prayers in a wagon.” And there was the wagon, loaded with pumpkins, potatoes, meat, canned goods, apples, and many other produce of the farm.

No doubt the people in the prayer meeting felt ashamed of themselves for asking God to do for the poor man what they themselves should have done. The Lord I’m sure was satisfied with the farmer who sent his “prayers” in a wagon.

The truth is we often waste time asking God to do things which we ought to be doing ourselves. Someone has said that if it is not worthwhile to try to answer our own prayers, we should not bother God with them. Perhaps that farmer should have attended the prayer meeting, but if he was absent because he was busy loading his wagon for the poor man, we can feel sure the Lord excused his absence.

Remember then hope

Remember today that God’s mercies go on and on.  They are in constant motion.  Available to the weak, the hurting, the strong, the overcomer, the humble, the proud, the one who suffers and wonders.  His mercies never stop.  Yesterday’s may be gone, but this morning new ones entered with the first light that shone through your window.

Remember, and have hope.

Remember today that God’s compassions always succeed.  They are not outdated or stuffy or fall like dead rose petals.  Yesterday’s were needed and carry over to today, but even so new ones became available with the breaking of the dawn.

Remember, and have hope.

Remember today that God’s faithfulness is huge.  It is nothing like anything or anybody here on earth.  It never changes, because He never changes.

Remember, and have hope.

I did, and I do.

I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope;  Your mercies, O LORD, never cease, for Your compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:21-23

The OB-GYN, the Scalpel, and my little Mexicana Rose

During most of my pregnancy I repeatedly told my OB that I did not want this child delivered by C-Section.

Even so, eight years ago today, my little princess (child number four, daughter number one), was pulled into this world.

We were living in Chihuahua City at that time and as my (Mexican) friends and neighbors began to find out I was pregnant they would naturally ask, “So what day have you decided to have the baby?” What kind of question was that? No one knows exactly when the baby would be born, I would reply. With shock, and I mean that literally, eyes widening, blinks pronounced and eyebrows furrowing they would ask, “You aren’t scheduling a C-section? You plan on having this baby naturally?”

Wow. How weird could I be, thinking I could deliver this baby the way women having been doing since Eve started the trend ages ago. Tag another one on to my growing list of ‘cultural faux pas’. I would find out that C-Sections were the way to go for women in Mexico, at least northern Mexico; at least the non-indigenous northern Mexicans.

The reasons? First of all, it was convenient. Everyone could plan around the birth, instead of having life stop because “I think it’s time- the baby’s coming“. Second of all, at least according to many women, avoiding natural birth keeps the hips from spreading. Too late. I’d already delivered three boys naturally; there was no more spread left in these hips; they’ve reached their limit (any more and my leg sockets would pop out).

I stuck to my guns and in so doing became a novelty, a sort of discussion piece if you will. And with each pre-natal visit, I repeated my wishes of a natural delivery to my doctor. After a few initial “Segura?”’s (are you sure?), she would greet me with “Senora Hadinger, parto natural”. (Mrs. Hadinger, natural birth). I was confident that she had caught on that I was serious about this.

On April 25, 2000, I was asked to reconsider my choice in the matter.

My water broke and Mike rushed me to the hospital. As soon as I changed into that lovely hospital gown, a nurse came over to help get me comfortable when suddenly her eyes widened, she said, ‘un momento’, and then rushed out of the room. Within seconds she came back with my doctor and a few other nurses who quickly strapped a fetal monitor around me and set me up to the machine.

My water contained obvious amounts of meconium poisoning and it was affecting my baby’s life, per the readings of her hearbeat. The doctor suggested an emergency C-Section, but would leave the decision to me since I had been so opposed to the idea. Just then, Mike, who had been parking the car, entered and was made aware of the problem. There was no question now; no longer a matter of convenience or aesthetics, this was quite possibly a matter of the baby’s life or death. Yes, cut me open and take her out ASAP!

Mike could not come into the operating room with me and I was a bit frightened and lonely as the rush was on. I would have preferred them to knock me out completely, but with only a localized anesthesia, I was left coherent with my mind racing with thoughts like “No one even knows this is happening, do they?” “I wish Mike would be in here with me” and “Someone needs to call my mother”. Then I closed my eyes and prayed, quelling my nervousness and a panic that began creeping in.

Within 10 minutes, my little girl was pulled into this world. The whitest and biggest baby most in that operating room had ever seen, with reddish blonde fuzz crowning her head.

Today she turns eight. She is our very own Mexican - American, holding dual citizenship. They used to call her “La guerrita mexicana” (the little white mexican).

My husband calls her Sunshine; I call her mamita.

She is a gift from God.

Today I stilled my mind

Transition is approaching and I have more questions than answers. Pains from the past pop up. My mind has been whirling faster than it should- troubled with perplexities that are not simple equations to be figured in one quick mathematical exercise.

My mind and emotions playing tug of war, sometimes with each other, but usually sided against me. I knew I needed to be still, not physically, but mentally and emotionally.

So today, after my aerobics and a shower, I grabbed a bag and tossed in my MP3 player loaded with worship songs, a camera, my journal and my Bible, then went to paradise; rather the closest thing to a paradise on earth I could find near our house. A whopping five minute drive took me to a former estate that features 47 acres of landscaped gardens, greenhouses, hiking trails and an immense brick mansion.

Sitting on a bench, I stretched out my legs and began to journal the creation that surrounded me: the sun warming me as I slipped off my sandals; the white magnolias that were dying as the pink ones were just blooming; the sky a soft, calming blue with large cumulous clouds gracing my world; birds, many kinds each with their song; a peacock calling for his peahen; the budding trees stretching their limbs toward heaven and the gentle breeze carrying sounds and smells of springtime.

I sipped my water and reached to pop in my earphones when I realized I didn’t need those songs to draw my heart to worship…I was already experiencing the beauty of worship as the creation around me reflected and exalted it’s Creator and mine. My mind emptied as my spirit soared.

I became still and knew, once again, that He is God.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. - Exodus 14:14

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. - Psalm 116:7

Be still and know that He is God - Psalm 46:10

Am I Late to the Blog Fiesta?

This depends on who you are, how you think, and what the culture around you has dictated.   Since we are soon to return to the field, my mind is tuning in to Me-jee-ko, her culture and her ways.   Therefore, you see, I am just on time joining this Blog Fiesta!

BTW, you’re invited too!  You don’t have to belong to the Assembly of God Ring to be a part; just click here to read more about the party and to check out the prizes. 

I’m just wondering how we do a piñata at this kind of party?!?  Oh, and the mordita - can’t forget the mordita. 

Any thoughts/ideas????

Daring Salvation

And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21

Watch and pray.

Watch this video then pray for others like her.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for opening the eyes of this woman to see the truth. We ask for many more like her to be saved! May the winds of the Spirit continue to blow into the darkest corners of the world so that many will call on your name and be saved. In Jesus’ name….AMEN!

Man’s ministry flourishes after he dubs himself an apostle

No wonder so many ‘apostles’ are popping up these days. Check out the story:

LAFAYETTE — A little-known evangelist from Louisiana has become a rising star in the South ever since he added the title “Apostle” to his name. George Mahaley, once a no-name itinerant preacher who criss-crossed Alabama in a trailer with his family, is now packing out large churches and selling truckloads of books.
“It really was simple,” he said in a phone interview. “I just woke up one morning and started calling myself ‘Apostle Mahaley.’ I printed up letterhead to that effect, and changed my voice mail. People started paying attention.”
He made no other change in his ministry, which friends have characterized as “decent preaching with a few funny personal anecdotes.”
Mahaley had sold cars and carpets before entering the ministry in 1988. But he struggled and sometimes sold “magic wands” door to door to supplement his income.
“A magic wand is something you wave over your head and it sort of makes you feel better,” he says. “It’s more an idea than a product. The people who bought them knew that.”
He made the ‘Apostle’ change because he “thought it was a good marketing idea and I had to juice things up.” Friends of his are considering making similar name changes and “coming into their full ministry potential.” •

In case you haven’t yet figured it out, this is religious satire. I found this comical article at www.larknews.com. Although I don’t like everything I read on there, some of the stuff is pretty funny - and we all need a good laugh once in a while.

As for the ‘apostle’ title, it is biblical when used…biblically, but like so many other things in Christendom, the latest boom in ‘apostleship’ is just another fad. Not sure what it means biblically? Read about the lives of Paul, Peter, or even John. Dig into the Word and other helpful study aids to find the truth.

You may find something about sacrifice and suffering, upside down crucifixions and boiling oil, preaching the Gospel, chains, persecution and trials. Now, if you come across fortune, fame, applause, Cadillacs, preaching of fluff, $800 suits, or self proclaimed leaders of movements, please be kind to clue me in; I just haven’t been able to find those.

The Call, part 3

“Yes, Lord, I’ll go anywhere you send us, as long as it’s not to Mexico or to Ethiopia”.  (from The Call, part 2)

Why such an aversion to those countries? Mexico I’ll explain in the succeeding paragraphs. As for Ethiopia, I thought I should include more than one country in my antipathy, so that God wouldn’t think I was being too picky.   That choice of Ethiopia, grabbed conveniently out of nowhere, was supposed to help lead God down a path of other choices for us.  I know- I’m weird. And God still loves me and chooses to use me.

As for Mexico, I knew if we ended up there, we’d end up working with the Old Colony Germans, and frankly neither my hubby nor I wanted to.  Why?

My husband, as a bible school student, had spent a summer interning with a missionary there and said he’d never go back to that area.  As a young bride and the church secretary, I would read the missionary newsletters and would weep over the difficulty and trials of the missionaries there: persecution, sickness, constant attacks (like rocks thrown through windows among other things), etc.

Later, as we were in transition from youth ministry to a lead pastorate, we received a call from an official with the Assemblies of God who asked if we’d consider going to work with the Old Colony Germans, as the other missionaries had to leave rather unexpectedly and he felt we were the ones to fill the need.

“No way!”  The very thought was frightening!  Frankly, we weren’t quite ready for such an appointment.  God had more work to do in us before we’d be prepared for such a re-routing of our lives.  Five years of pastoral ministry was our petit boot camp.

Now, possibly, you can understand my unwillingness to go to Mexico.

See Jonah.   See Jonah run.

We continued with the requirements of missionary application:  numerous references, Bible tests, psychology tests, health questionnaires, and interviews.  When we arrived to candidate orientation, all others had name badges with the country of their calling.  Ours had our name and the word “Open” beneath it.  (We had a few candidates ask where “Open” was.   We wondered how they snuck past all the testing.)

Following the sessions on Friday, we met with the Foreign Missions Committee who suggested we spend the weekend seeking God and come back on Monday to meet with each of the Regional Directors. We spent the weekend in fasting and prayer and returned Monday for our appointments with the men who directed missions in each area of the world. Asia needed an international pastor in a large city; would we consider it?  Africa had needs great and small; what were our giftings?  They could really use us in the country of Georgia.

Remember the letter I mentioned in The Call, part 2?  We met with the Europe Director and he asked us matter-of-factly why we hadn’t considered his area, seeing our backgrounds and language abilities.   After we picked our jaws up off the floor, we looked at each other, then at him, and said, “Because your office sent us a letter stating you are not currently receiving missionaries to Europe“.   After he picked his jaw up off the floor and popped his eyes back in where they belong, he replied, “I would never send such a letter!“   Then this kind, gentlemanly man excused himself for a moment and rushed out of his office.  A few minutes later, he came back in and informed us he checked with all secretaries working in his department, and no one had sent such a letter!

It couldn’t be clearer.  God sent that letter.  Even as I type I can still see us standing in our narrow kitchen there on Jackson St., an elegant fruit border gracing the walls, with Mike behind me reading ‘that letter’ over my shoulder…complete with official letterhead and this man’s signature.   I wish now we would have kept it; unfortunately it was thrown away in shocked resignation.

Then came our last stop- the Latin America Office.  After a warm smile and handshakes, John Bueno, with his typical friendly way, looked at us and said those fateful words:  “Have you ever considered ministering to the Old Colony Germans in Mexico?  I see you (Mike) have spent a brief time there and we could really use someone to continue as the need is great.”

With those words, regardless of what I thought of that place or how hard I had tried to not be called there, in that moment it was as if a spark ignited in my heart. Suddenly, it wasn’t the difficulty or the oppression that came to mind, but a picture of hope stirred in interest, and dare I say, of excitement.  My husband would later share how he too was abruptly burdened by the Holy Spirit for that people and place and realized God was setting us apart for such a task.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

Acts 13:2,3

Thanks for praying for my friend

Just wanted to thank you for all of your prayers. Today went very smoothly and safely for all of us on the team!! The ethiopians sort of bashed each others heads in with rocks when we closed the clinic, which seems kind of crazy, but they did not harm at all to the clinic or us. We have seen 12000 patients these 2 weeks, and over 900 salvations, so God is so good. We go to the Churches tomorrow, and fly out on Sunday. The tailwinds have been a problem, so they are changing flights again, so we’re praying if there are delays, they happen in Rome!!! Thanks again for your prayers…we could feel them all over us, and weren’t worried at all,

love,

Kaye & Tammy

Pray for my friend

A friend from our home church here went with Jewish Voice (Messianic group) to Ethiopia as part of a medical missions team, with the goal of ministering to the Jewish community there. I received this e-mail from her:

Urgent Request:

On Weds evening the clinic was stoned and windows were broken. Satan was trying to prevent what happened today - the president of the local Jewish synagogue came into the clinic and said he had a dream last night that God had opened the Scripture to him and he wanted to accept Jesus as his Messiah. Of course, the leadership at JV was skeptical, but they checked it out and feel that it was real. He invited Jonathan to go tomorrow night to the synagogue to open the Scripture to 300 members of the community! PTL. However, where there is victory, there is always opposition. Today there was a riot outside the gates of the clinic. The police came to disperse it, but we were quickly shuttled out under protection of vehicles onto the buses to return to the hotel, at the end of the day. One of the buses was stoned and several people were tearing up the gospels that were given out. Also women were making cut throat signs to us as we drove by. Tomorrow is out last day and I know that Satan will be out in full force, but I also know that God has His angels all around us. Please pray for great victory tomorrow at the clinic and for Jonathan as he presents the Scripture to this precious group of Jews. Also, the group that is giving us all the trouble is the Orthodox church here in Ethiopia. They are a mixture of the Catholic Church and Voodoo. We have received very little opposition from the Jewish community. Thank you for your prayers - God is truly moving here. Love to you all. Kaye and the JVMI team

Typical frontline missions. But God is powerful and on their side. Amen!

This man having a dream is also occurring quite frequently, especially among Muslims! A good friend in a sensitive country told us last year that we would not believe how many come to him stating that they had a dream, or a vision, of Jesus himself and recognized Him immediately as being the true Son of God and Saviour of the world. Often, they are directed in this dream/vision to this friend, or another within his circle of ministry. They become apostates of Islam and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ! Hallelujah! I believe this is a result of those who set aside time to fast and pray for the world, especially the Muslim world.

Please keep my friend and the JVMI team in prayer today. Thank you.

Me meme info

I’ve been tagged for another meme by Elaine at redheadrev. What is a meme?

In biology, a meme (rhymes with “theme”) is a self-propagating unit that is spread from one host to another; they mutate or die.

For bloggers, meme’s are Internet cultural novelties people link to and repeat (propagate). I really don’t know whether these kind mutate or die. (?!)

The meme I’ve been tagged for is this: I have to share 7 interesting things about myself, then tag seven others to do the same.

1. I used to have a strong desire to skydive out of a plane…but don’t anymore. (I seem to have plenty of adventure in my current calling, which at times I imagine is a similar sensation to the free fall!)
2. I love to fly and would really like to take a flight in a helicopter or a fighter jet like the Blue Angels. I’d probably need clean clothes after that latter one, though!
3. Since I’m on the flying thing, I’ll add another one: in high school my brothers and I went (without our parents knowledge or permission) to fly in a glider plane with a retired WWII vet. It was awesome! Gliders have no engine, and are pulled up either by a mechanical winch or by another small plane; the cable then releases and the glider soars like a bird, as the pilot with skill maneuvers the wing and tail flaps according to wind speed and direction. Definitely one of my most memorable experiences. It was fall time and I remember being awed at the beauty I looked down upon, seeing a beautiful oriental rug woven by the Master’s hand out of the changing leaves on the trees, while off in the distance Lake Erie became a sea of brilliant diamonds glistening in the afternoon sun.
4. Growing up, I was referred to as the “rose among the thorns”. Why? I have four brothers and I am the only girl.
5. I hate transition. And I’m a world missionary! Go figure. Hmm, I think I’ll write a book called “Stop Moving My Cheese”. Or I’ll just keep trusting the Lord to lead my life one day at a time.
6. I first heard the Gospel from Billy Graham on TV. Then I attended an AWANA group at a local Baptist church during my upper elementary years. The complete dedication of my life to Jesus Christ happened when I prayed with a counselor of the 700 Club via phone. (Wow, some Christian TV does have redeeming qualities!) It was during that conversation that I asked about a Pentecostal church they could recommend, and they gave me directions to the local Assemblies of God church. The rest is history.
7. I just began packing for our transition (ouch) back to the mission field.

Now I’m going to add a twist to this meme: instead of me tagging seven others, I would really like you, yes YOU, to leave a comment below giving me some interesting 411 about yourself!

(So how about it Pam, Sandy, Erin, Jaime, Linda, Hellen, Dorinda, CBGrace, or Sista Cala?)

The Green Scarf of April

by O.W. Holmes

We have trod from the threshold of turbulent March,
Till the green scarf of April is hung on the larch,
And down the bright hillside that welcomes the day,
We hear the warm panting of beautiful May.

His Authority and His Presence

His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us  leaves us no other choice.”
           - John Stott

Are We All Missionaries?

I’m a dental hygienist. I clean teeth everyday: mine. I was told it’s what I’m supposed to do; I am responsible for my teeth, so I brush and floss everyday. You are a dental hygienist also. It’s your responsibility, obligation and mandate from your dentist. I know there are those who do it everyday for a living. I know they studied hard, passed exams, and have paid the price to become a Dental Hygienist as their vocation. But we too clean teeth everyday, or at least are supposed to, so we in essence are all dental hygienists and should call ourselves such.

I’m also an accountant. Forget that I hate math and really am lousy with numbers. I may not be certified to publicly offer my services, but I do balance my checkbook and work out a simple budget. You really don’t have to do it for a living to bear the title. We’re all supposed to handle our money wisely! That’s why we are all accountants.

Most importantly, as true Christians, you and I are also most certainly pastors. I know we don’t all have our own church to lead. We may not stand in a pulpit delivering a sermon every week, but we are to share God’s Word with others and teach them what it says. We are to pray for them. All we believers have some little circle of sheep, whether our kids or another social setting, whose faith needs motivation and growth.  It’s our responsibility! So what if there aren’t ministerial credentials to back that up; not only should those who carry credentials bear the title. Since we ought to be doing the same, therefore we ought to be identified the same.

Whatever the profession, it should be socially acceptable for such titles to become inclusive of us all. There’s power in positive speech! By so labeling (positively confessing) ourselves in these matters, we will all be encouraged and motivated to fulfill those roles to greater degrees. Just imagine the impact: Cleaner teeth! Better budgets! Stronger Christians!

I know what you’re thinking: “This is nonsense! Vocational terms like these must not be redefined simply for positive social impact.” And you are right. The rebuttal to such nonsense is forthcoming by those whose professions have just been mentioned…and abased. Those titles, they would argue, carry the weight of persistence, uniqueness, and dedication to their chosen fields, and that often through testing, hard work, and sacrifice.

So why, then, is the term missionary applicable to all? Haven’t you heard it said (or perhaps you yourself have stated), “we are all missionaries”? Are we really all missionaries or do we just like the terminology?

We are taught that the Great Commission applies to everybody. So it does. But does that translate into all believers being labeled as missionaries? All believers should be making disciples. All should be engaged in personal evangelism. We used to have a word for this: witness. The very title ‘Christian’ embodies the responsibility to engage us in the duties of evangelism and discipleship.

Is my son really a missionary to his high school or is he simply a Christian student who should be salt and light as a witness for Christ? If you are a Christian, are you really a missionary to your workplace or are you a child of God whose life and testimony ought to point to the Savior? Are we really set apart and sent forth to our neighborhoods and communities or are we simply to lift Jesus high with our lifestyle and love so He can draw all men to Him?

Somewhere somehow it gradually became socially acceptable in the post modern culture to redefine the term missionary. Perhaps it was for greater motivation and impact. Perhaps it slipped into the positive confession movement amidst ignorance or disregard to biblical accuracy.

According to the Bible, the term missionary was first applied to Paul and Barnabas when the church sent them out or away, by the will of the Holy Spirit. They went with the message of Christ to other cultures and other geographical areas. In Ephesians 4:11-17 we are told that Jesus gave some, not all, to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. An apostle means missionary. In other words, He gave some to be missionaries (and some to be prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers).

When words become culturally redefined, there tends to be confusion and loss of integrity of the word which leads to social implications. Is it possible that the financial and prayer support of today’s missionaries is at risk due to this very fact? Is it even possible that the health of the church has been compromised by deviations of such scriptural teachings?

Are we all missionaries? The rebuttal is forthcoming by those who carry the weight of persistence, uniqueness, and dedication to this calling; by those who through vigorous testing, hard work, and sacrifice have been given to the Church by Jesus Christ.

Technorati Tags: missions, everyone a missionary, Eph 4:11

When Mama Prays - Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon, who became known as the Prince of Preachers, had a praying mama:

Certainly I have not the powers of speech with which to set forth my valuation of the choice blessing which the Lord bestowed on me in making me the son of one who prayed for me, and prayed with me. How can I ever forget her tearful eye when she warned me to escape from the wrath to come? I thought her lips right eloquent; others might not think so, but they certainly were eloquent to me. How can I ever forget when she bowed her knee, and with her arms about my neck, prayed, “Oh, that my son might live before Thee!” Nor can her frown be effaced from my memory,—that solemn, loving frown, when she rebuked my budding iniquities; and her smiles have never faded from my recollection,—the beaming of her countenance when she rejoiced to see some good thing in me towards the Lord God of Israel.

Well do I remember hearing my father speak of an incident that greatly impressed him. He used to be frequently away from home preaching, and at one time, as he was on his way to a service, he feared that he was neglecting his own family while caring for the souls of others. He therefore turned back, and went to his home. On arriving there, he was surprised to find no one in the lower rooms of the house; but, on ascending the stairs, he heard a sound as of someone engaged in prayer. On listening at the bedroom door, he discovered that it was my mother, pleading most earnestly for the salvation of all her children, and specially praying for Charles, her first-born and strong-willed son. My father felt that he might safely go about his Master’s business while his dear wife was caring so well for the spiritual interests of the boys and girls at home, so he did not disturb her, but proceeded at once to fulfil his preaching engagement.

My mother said to me, one day, “Ah, Charles! I often prayed the Lord to make you a Christian, but I never asked that you might become a Baptist.” I could not resist the temptation to reply, “Ah, mother ! the Lord has answered your prayer with His usual bounty, and given you exceeding abundantly above what you asked or thought.”

Then came a mother’s prayer, and some of the words of that prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey. I remember, on one occasion, her praying thus: “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” That thought of a mother’s bearing swift witness against me, pierced my conscience, and stirred my heart.

What If?

(written by guest blogger….my very own DH!)

What would happen if God said GO and we said NO?

God is fond of saying go. The word appears 2015 times in the bible. For a quick comparison of the impact of that number, I’ll tell you the word STAY only appears 319 times.

 

What if Abraham had said NO when God said GO?
What if Moses said NO when God said GO?
What if Ruth said NO when God said GO?
What if Paul said NO when God said GO?

I don’t have to understand, nor explain why God says Go, I just have to obey Him when He does.

Ask Jonah. He’ll tell you.

Mexico is just a couple of months away for us as we wind up our itineration here in Ohio.  It has been quite a ride for Ilona, the kids and me to not only be reunited with so many of our supporting churches, but also make many new friends.

Please pray as  we prepare for our upcoming transition.

Blessings,
Mike

"May God Intervene…"

“Just last month,  (a) conservative group sought prayers to stop … pro-abortion crusade.   “May God intervene to stop (a certain leader) from succeeding in this evil ambition to make abortion a ‘fundamental right’…”

They were praying over a man who has aggressively opposed family issues and has harassed pro-life centers as a government leader.

God answered their prayer.

You’ve probably seen the headlines: 

Spitzer to Resign Following Reports of ‘Involvement’ With Prostitution Ring

Interestingly, this news broke as Gov. Spitzer was scheduled to speak to New York’s largest pro-abortion organization, Family Planning Advocates. 

…Why do people plot in vain?  …The rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.  “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters” …

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  Then he rebukes them in his anger…

Therefore…be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Psalm 2 excerpt)

Please pray for Gov. Spitzer’s wife and children during this time.  She (wife) looked devastated during his press briefing and my heart went out to her.   I was surprised she stood there by his side.

May she learn what it means to Kiss the Son and take refuge in Him.

Sources:   CNSNews  ,   FoxNews

Snow Way!

We have been bombarded by snow - beautiful, inconvenient, enchanting, dangerous, breathtaking snow.   Earlier this week it was an ice storm…equally describable. 

       (our back porch)                                                     (a street sign in the ‘hood)

I think most Ohioans hate it…and wish spring would, for a lack of a better word, spring.  But I love it.  Yeah it’s a pain.  Yeah the kids have had 11 snow/ice days home from school.  (There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth in these parts.  And I’m talking about the mothers!  God bless ‘em.  May they load up on chocolate or find a good therapist or something). 

I personally haven’t minded having the kids home.  Yes I have- but I haven’t lost it.  Well maybe a little.  But, honestly, they’ve been only little outbursts now and then.  That, however, is not the reason my kids don’t mind returning to school.  They already know that when that closing bell rings on my cell phone, it is NOT a day of lounging on the couch eating chips and salsa.  They have chores: big ones.   Not all day, of course.  But no way is this busy mom gonna have lumpy leeches lying around doing nothing! 

You might think that my house has been super clean this past month because of that, but I’ve got two things to say:  they don’t exactly clean like I do and, per adaptation of a certain proverb, “where oxen are the stable gets messy” (note the present continuous form of that verb!).   My ‘clean’ lasts a lot longer than theirs does…and statistics back my claim that kids, when home, mess up the house quicker than when one mother is home alone cleaning, studying, cooking, painting, working in the office, writing, or doing laundry.

Aside from their chores, we’ve had some pretty good family devotions and game times and the kids have also had more time practicing their music, reading, and being creative when the TV is off.   “I said ‘off‘ .  Now!  I mean it!”

There is another twist to these snow days for us.  Legally the schools can have only so many days called off, and those days have been exceeded by five.  In schooling terms, that adds up to one extra week tagged onto the end of the year.   Now some of you may know that we have been trying to finish up our itineration and get back to the mission field for some time.  The latest word is that, Praise God!, we raised our needed support and were planning to leave as soon as school is over for the year.  This wait of another few months was mainly for our two in high school: it bites having a GPA messed up because of a transition.  (We learned that the hard way with our oldest, even though those circumstances were out of our control.)  Our pending return to Mexico has just been extended AGAIN!  *sigh*   I’m so glad God invites us to ‘trust in Him with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding!’  (Proverbs 3:5).

Back to the snow.   As I said, I love it.   It’ll provide good memories for us when we’re there in southern Mexico sweating it out in 85 degree sunny weather eight months out of the year.  ;-)  The other day, after the ice storm, as we drove around, we couldn’t help but exclaim in awe the beauty of God’s creation around us.  We drove by crystal woods and lampposts that looked like fringed Victorian lamps.  We thought of Narnia, but with Christmas in our hearts.  One of my favorite rhetorical passages is found in Job, and this portion is what kept coming to mind:

Job 38:22,23,28-30 NAS

22″Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
         Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
         For the day of war and battle?
28″Has the rain a father?
         Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29″From whose womb has come the ice?
         And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30″Water becomes hard like stone,
         And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

 

            (our back porch)                                           (ice dipped branches)

Two of our boys shoveling the drive.   There is a street behind them - somewhere!

                             Ya’ll come by now, ya hear?   (our front porch)

A good non-moving quote…

“I am not moved by criticism because I am not moved by praise.”

 - Reinhart Bonnke, evangelist

From nothing to something…

Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin.

I Cor. 1: 26,27,30  NCV

Solomon’s Beloved

Here’s a good laugh to help get your week started.   It is from a fellow member of an online writers group I belong to. Enjoy!

from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

Getting the Most from a Missionary Visit

I found this article on Women’s Touch Online:  

By Paul Brannan

“Getting the most from a missionary visit begins with attitude. Remember, your church needs missionaries as much as they need you. A missionary can’t go without financial and prayer support provided by the local church, but a congregation cannot fulfill the Great Commission without missionaries who are willing to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.”      

He continues with very helpful info, from the pre-service planning to the visit to after the service.  To read more and see why missionaries around the world are ‘amening’, go to: http://wtonline.ag.org/relationships/ministrywife/getting_the_most_from_a_missionary_visit.cfm

The Call, part 2

(this post will make little sense if you have not read The Call, part 1 first.)

Sensible!  Logical!  Of course God was sending us to Europe.  I spoke fluent Hungarian and dear hubby was proficient in German.  Ha!  God would use those language abilities and send us to, say, somewhere like Austria where in certain villages both languages are spoken.

Besides the language, there were a myriad of other reasons:  our best missionary friends, at that time, were all somewhere on that continent; we had taken a couple of short term missions trips to Europe, one to Holland and the other to Germany and loved both; growing up as first generation Americans, we both understood the mentality of the European culture (in other words, no major culture shock to expect); and finally, thinking of places in Austria made we want to leave ASAP as visions of The Sound of Music danced in my head.

Incredible the patience the Father must have had as my mind jumped to so many inaccurate conclusions. His whisper of “trust me” was breathed as He solidly closed that door to Europe.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked Mike.  “No, look- it’s officially on letterhead” he replied.  He was holding a letter from the world missions department of our fellowship, which in effect stated that they were not accepting any new applications for missionaries to Europe. 

It was unthinkable!  What kind of person writes a letter like that!?  I was in a tizzy.  Great, time to pray some more.  (Not that I mind praying, but when one has to go before the Almighty after thinking her spiritual maturity was at the helm of all those assumptions, well, you get the picture).

So once again I found myself having to surrender to a deeper obedience.  (Interesting how that fit into a nice little sentence when the reality of it was more like a Shakespearean play!)  Through prayer and Bible reading,  God once again spoke to me, assuring me with an invitation and another step of faith.  This time the 12th verse of Philippians 3 was my rhema word of the moment:

“but I press on to lay hold of and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me and made me His own.”

It was inspirational motivation!  A needed reminder (or revelation?) that there was a specific purpose for my life, a reason He took hold of my life.  Yes, to be saved and spend eternity with Him, but besides that there was a plan for me here on earth before that eternity begins, and part of that plan, at this point in my life, was to be a missionary - in the country of His choosing.

Happy to oblige, I responded “Yes, Lord, I’ll go anywhere you send us, as long as it’s not to Mexico or to Ethiopia”. 

I guess I had more ‘pressing on’ to do, eh?  Now this post is getting quite lengthy, so I’ll have more ’splainin to do in The Call, part 3.  And by the way, I’ll tell you the truth behind that letter we got!

When Mama Prays - Hudson Taylor

Eighteen-year-old Hudson Taylor wandered into his father’s library and read a gospel tract. He couldn’t shake off its message. Finally, falling to his knees, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Later, his mother, who had been away, returned home. When Hudson told her the good news, she said, ‘I already know. Ten days ago, the very date on which you tell me you read that tract, I spent the entire afternoon in prayer for you until the Lord assured me that my wayward son had been brought into the fold.” *

FYI:  Hudson Taylor is known as one of the greatest missionaries of all time.

*(source  Crosswalk.com/illustrations/Our Daily Bread, July 19, 1989)

 

Technorati Tags: prayer, intercession, praying moms, Hudson Taylor

Has your soul caught up?

(This was sent to my hubby from our district pastor, Doug Clay.  I thought it well worth sharing….especially for anyone in the ministry).

Five ways to make space for God and restore your soul

by Paul Borthwick

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“We’re supposed to be people who lead from strength at the ’soul level’ but we’re expected to perform at a pace that’s often unhealthy for our spiritual lives.”

Paul Borthwick

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Missionaries serving in Africa a century ago hired local villagers as porters to help carry supplies to a distant station. The porters went at a slower pace than the missionaries desired, so after the first two days, they pushed them to go faster. On day three of the trek, the group went twice as far as day two. Around the campfire that evening, the missionaries congratulated themselves for their leadership abilities. But on day four, the workers would not budge.

“What’s wrong?” asked the missionary.“We cannot go any further today,” replied the villagers’ spokesman.“Why not? Everyone appears well.”“Yes,” said the African, “but we went so quickly yesterday that we must wait here for our souls to catch up with us.“Is it time to let your soul catch up? Pastors – we’re supposed to be people who lead from strength at the ‘soul level’ but we’re expected to perform at a pace that’s often unhealthy for our spiritual lives. Rather than reflection, study, and quiet, we live in a real world of Blackberrys, mobile phones, mounting mail and email, congested traffic, and over-committed schedules. A British pastor once pointed out to me that a British pastor has a “study” and an American pastor has an “office.” The naming of our workplace belies the expectations.We need to return to the concept the Bible calls Sabbath – a time when we, like God, rest and get refreshed (Genesis 2:2-8; Exodus 20:8-11). Sabbath, in the biblical sense, is a time to slow down and build back our reserves – physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.Consider these five ideas for making space for God so that he – in the words of Psalm 23 – can “restore our souls.

“Restorer 1: Cut a firebreak. When a forest fire burns uncontrollably, firefighters do not fight the fire directly. They move ahead of the fire’s path and cut the trees down so that the fire has nothing to consume. When the fire reaches the firebreak, it burns itself out.When our schedules burn out of control, we look ahead and try to plan a day or a couple of days when we can stop to regain our sanity. This time off functions as a firebreak. Or, to change analogies, the break allows us to “come up for air” after we have been submerged too long. Our souls have a chance to “catch up.” In addition, the anticipation of the change ahead helps us persevere until a break is possible. One practical note from years of ministry experience: to avoid out-of-control demands on our time, my wife Christie and I schedule our days off three to six months in advance. Even if we cannot honor every one, planning ahead keeps us from going for weeks without a break.

Restorer 2: Take a rest with God. Meditate on the Psalms or examine texts like Matthew 11:28-30. These verses bring our lives into a perspective in line with God’s. In our productivity-driven culture, even pastors feel under pressure to be busy, productive, and involved in 1,000 things. Sometimes I joke that the church wants the pastors to be just like God – omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Distinctly biblical concepts like contentment (Philippians 4:11) or rest (Matthew 11:28-30) remind us God’s long-term design for us includes time for refreshment and recreation, renewal, and rest for our body and soul.

Restorer 3: Consider the lilies and birds.Develop an appreciation for nature. God “rested and was refreshed” on the Sabbath after he took a long look at his creation. Consider a “nature” hobby. Our hectic pace separates us from the wonder of God’s creation. Growing flowers, observing the industrious and pesky squirrel, or listening to the bird songs can slow us down and help us relax. The words of John Stott, the great British Bible teacher and author influenced us to take up bird watching (consider getting his book The Birds Our Teachers*). We heard him say, “I’ve never seen anyone who watches birds suffer from high blood pressure.” The relaxation of observing creation refreshes our spirits, our nerves, and our bodies.

Restorer 4: Tune up.Use music to heighten relaxation. Soothing music on the ride home from work can help us decompress from a tough day. Quiet music can set a tone for thought, prayer, or romance. I was raised on rock ‘n’ roll, but I have to admit that many times in my daily routine the volume and beat were adding to my stress. I noticed that with loud music thumping, I would drive faster. I’ve discovered that Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” or some other quiet music serves better than Led Zeppelin to help quiet my soul.

Restorer 5: Capture opportunities for interpersonal quiet times.Refreshment spiritually often goes hand-in-hand with refreshment in our closest relationships. And to find this, we need time to converse at deeper levels with the most important people in our lives. In worlds filled with noise, iPods, and chatter, our dialogue is often only sharing news.To keep sanity in our daily lives, Christie and I have adopted the British custom of teatime around 4:00 p.m. – sort of a daily mini-interpersonal Sabbath. We take a break in the late afternoon to talk – no music, reading mail, or answering phone calls. For about 20 to 30 minutes, we talk. We discuss the day’s events, listen to each other, and prepare for the evening.Teatime might not fit every couple’s schedule – and the time to talk might be with children and co-workers, not just a spouse – but some version of what someone called “relational quiet time,” allows our souls to catch up with each other as well as ourselves.

Vance Havner was a Baptist preacher renowned for his quick wit. A church leader criticized him for the long break he would take each summer (a month to be with his family and then a month dedicated to study). The church leader summarized his rebuke: “Dr. Havner, don’t you realize that the Devil never takes a vacation?”Dr. Havner shot back: “And who wants to be like the Devil?”

Take some time so that your soul can catch up.

*John R. W. Stott, The Birds Our Teachers: Biblical Lessons from a Lifelong Birdwatcher (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001)

Follow up on Tabasco

This past November, Mexico experienced one of it’s worst natural disasters (see Pray for…Tabasco post).  This is next door to Campeche, where we will call home in a few months.  Our missionary friends from the Yucatan traveled to Tabasco, partnering with students and nationals to minister healing and hope in one of the devastated areas.  Click here to read an excellent article about the ministry there.  (or click here to see a video on Godtube).

The Call, part 1

“Are you the one?” asked the presbyter.   “Are you the one who didn’t want to go to Mexico at first but then went after God birthed a love in your heart for the people?”

“Yes.  Yes, that was me“, I answered.   He remembered our being at his church twelve years ago and me sharing the story.   It’s a story women especially are curious about as it relates to the wife and mother:  The Call of the Missionary.  (Not to be confused with  The Call of the Wild, although some similarities may inadvertently be found between Buck’s cross cultural travels and those of some missionaries I know).

It was 1995 and we had been serving as lead pastors in a city on Lake Erie.   Having recently purchased our first home, we were in for the long haul.   We began making memories in that quaint little abode and anticipated many more to come.

Then came a day- that day my husband said he felt God’s call to the mission field.   “Would you pray?”  he asked, “We really need to hear God clearly in this.”  Interesting how words like that feel like an invisible two by four knocking you off your feet, causing all kinds of thoughts to tumble out; thoughts of your kindergartner leaving his school after just starting, thoughts of your toddlers’ safety in another country; thoughts of the kids growing up without Grandpa and Grandma close by, thoughts of leaving the tiny home that is your nest and refuge, and so on. 

Yes, I would pray.  Prayer is talking to God and boy did I do a lot of talking!  I reminded God, who knows everything already, that we were quite happy where we were.  “Why don’t you call someone who is miserable?” I asked the Sovereign.  Surely He had a very long list of disgruntled ministers he could transplant.  Picking one of them instead of us seemed like a reasonable option.

He was silent.

So I kept talking.  I told God every reason I could think of that this was not a good idea.   I even tried to convince Him we could do more for missions by remaining where we were, as the church had begun to catch our passion for the Great Commission and by then was supporting more missionaries than in its recent (and perhaps entire) history.  It was a cause/effect discourse that went something like this:  “Just think, God, if we stayed here and the church kept growing, how much more income that could mean for the budget to support and send even more missionaries.”  It sounded like a good, sensible, logical plan to me.

He was silent. 

Then I did what any desperate mom would do:  I tried making deals with God.   I’m not kidding.   I promised Him an increase of our personal pledge to missions if he would pick someone else and let us stay.  (And if you knew what my generous hubby had already faith-promised prior to that…hijole! como sera posible!?!) I even toyed with the idea of giving my oldest son to the prophet like Hannah in the Bible did until I realized that the closest person in modern days to a prophet would be my preacher husband and my son would end up back with me in our home since preachers (for the most part) don’t live in their churches anymore.  So that idea back-fired.   (Believe that last part if you want; I just threw it in here to make my story more interesting and more spiritual).  But you can believe I was beginning to grasp at straw solutions to this I-feel-God-calling-us announcement.

Until God spoke.

It wasn’t thunder, nor was it by lightning.  It was His leading in His Word, piercing a passage into my soul by the mysterious power of the Holy Spirit.

“Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the LORD really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn’t want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him.

Rebelling against God or disobeying him because you are proud is just as bad as worshiping idols or asking them for advice. You refused to do what God told you, so God has decided that you can’t be king.”

I Samuel 15:22,23

It was God speaking, without any shadow of a doubt, to me.  Frankly.  Directly.  Strongly, yet lovingly.  What pierced the most was the part that said, “…just as bad as worshiping idols…”.  In another translation it reads, “…just like witchcraft…”.  That knocked any further hint of back talk and worthless remonstration from me. 

To obey is better than sacrifice.  There’s a series of messages in that statement alone!  I’ll leave those messages to others and simply say I yielded to God’s rebuke in that passage.  I realized at that moment that to stay and pastor- which is a good thing that God calls many to do- would have been an act of disobedience on our part.  We had to obey.  We had to go.

I came out of that God moment ready to go.  Scared, but ready.  With many questions, but ready.  Ready in my heart to go.  I was already beginning to wonder, “where”?  But just as soon as I began to wonder, in my mind I knew:  Europe. 

God was calling us to Europe. 

Except we ended up in Mexico.   The Call, part 2 will explain that one! 

One of the Persecuted

Is she happy?  Not always.  Truthfully, she struggles for self acceptance.  The pain and rejection are still too real for her to put in the past.  Where, when, and how, I sometimes wonder, is the blessing for the persecuted like her?

 

She was just a teen when she heard of the ’special meetings’ taking place in her religious community.  She had heard some strange and wonderful gossip about those meetings. Her curiosity as well as the spiritual void within her was growing.  She just had to attend.  Except she was forbidden to do so.  Forbidden by her parents and forbidden by the local religious leader.   A typical teenager exhibiting some form of rebellion, she decided to go. 

She loved it.   There was something there, she didn’t know exactly what, that made her decide to return the following evening.  Perhaps it was the music, or the way the message was spoken or maybe even the strange way they prayed at the end that drew her.  Whatever it was, her mind was set:  she’d be back.

She was beaten that night.  “How dare you“, said her father.  Broken and bruised, but hungry for God, she dared again the following night.   She was told that if she attended the meeting, she would be disowned and kicked out of the house.

That evening, she returned home to find a locked house with no one willing to open the door for her.   The joy of a newborn spirit within was challenged by the pain of rejection.  Ironically, she was adopted into the family of God the same evening she was rejected by her very own family.  Knocking and calling did her no good.   She lay down on the ground outside her front door where she spent the night.  And the following night…

All I could do was hug her when she told me that story years later- hug her and cry with her.  She knows well what it means to be persecuted.  But did she feel blessed?   Was she the epitome of a joyful overcomer?  Not exactly. 

As I talked with her awhile, I realized this:  the blessing happens in those moments when she feels the supernatural arms of a loving Savior embrace her.   The blessing happens the moments that remind her she is still alive and has the promise of God’s strength to lead her through another day.   The blessings are the calm in the midst of the storm she would call her life.   “From victory to victory” is not a cliche in her life.  It is her life.  Victory, struggle, then victory again.  Mountain top, valley then mountain top again.   That’s what it really means.   Don’t let those Armani clad, oily haired, fake-tanned televangelists convince you they know what victory really is, no matter how nice their white fixed smile or how much they cheer-lead you into believing it with their shouting and sweaty shaking jowls.   (Sorry, got off track and nauseous all at the same time with that one!) 

Back to where I was: the final blessing will come the day she steps into eternity, for great will be her reward. (Matt. 5:12).  On that day, I believe the tender eyes of the radiant Son will look at her with admiration and complete love as His arms envelope her.  His voice will speak acceptance and an invitation to enter into the joy promised her.

Then she will be happy, forever and always.

Blessed Are the Persecuted

BLESSED are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12

For the persecuted church around the world:

IN THE FACE of persecution, Jesus’ followers have two reasons to rejoice and be glad. First, they know that God rewards those who suffer for their faith, and that their reward will indeed be great in heaven. … The second reason Jesus’ followers can rejoice in tribulation is that they stand in good company: In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you, Jesus says.
Richard B. Gardner, Matthew

For those enjoying a persecution-free life:

ONE WONDERS why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our light so dim that the tormentor can’t see it? What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?
Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount

Quotes compiled by R. Kauffman and found on Christianity Today’s web site.

My Sabbath

Yesterday I took my Sabbath and it was good.  It is God’s gift to me, and to everyone else who keeps  it.

This is something we have purposed to do and again, it doesn’t just happen.  We have to focus and plan to make it happen.  For many Sunday is their day of rest.  Usually for me Sunday’s are not a day of rest.  It really doesn’t matter what day, since Jesus himself said that man was not made for the Sabbath, but that the Sabbath was made for man.

So, what did I do?   I read, meditated, prayed and studied.  I also took a nap!  Later, I spent a very relaxing (stress-free) time with my daughter, while one son was at basketball and the other was at work.  I am ready for another week!  My body is refreshed and my spirit renewed.

I’ve had others say, “Wow, that’s great that you can do that.  It’d be nice if I could“.  I encourage them to do whatever it takes to make it happen for them as well.  After all, it is one of the ten commandments!

Last time we were in the states on deputation (2002-3) I had asked women this question:   How does a woman take a Sabbath?  After all, we still need to cook and prepare food, perhaps run errands, or play chauffeur to kids in sports, right?  How would you answer that question?  Do you honor the Sabbath?

I’m curious to hear your responses.

Love has its limits….

Our seven year old daughter is daddy’s little sunshine.  Being sibling number four to three older brothers has given her motive to wrap daddy around her little fingers.  And he loves it, especially when he gets another one of her homemade love notes with more colors on it than Joseph’s coat.

Here was her latest:

“Dear dad, I love you so much that I can’t stop loving you and where ever you go I will go too unless you go to the bathroom“.

The greatest part is that the note was not meant to be humorous; rather it was sincere and…logical!  We warned her brothers they better not laugh or tease her about it, or else…

 

Technorati Tags: love notes, daddy and daughter

Book Notes - Celebration of Discipline ch. 2

Noise, hurry, crowds.  That’s what the devil majors in, according to Foster.  But the very cure for the superficiality found within our culture, both secular and religious, is a willingness to recreate silence and the world of contemplation, or meditation.

In America?  Is it possible?  When we return to the states for deputation, we’re practically run over by the pace of the culture.  We have to make a concerted effort to keep our family sane and not become over committed, rushing in every direction and wearing ourselves out-  and with four kids who want to be involved it gets to be a challenge.  (I had a friend tell me that busyness seems to be a badge of honor these days).  I suppose that depends on who exactly one is trying to honor.

Making time for meditation is a must.  Not the eastern, close your eyes, cross your legs, hands outstretched “ommmm” thing.  Rather, biblical meditation. 

Here are more insights from the book:

Meditation is mentioned 58 times in the Bible and means:  

• listening to God’s Word
• reflecting on God’s works
• rehearsing God’s deeds
• ruminating on God’s law
• (and more)

. 

Some of those in the Bible that meditated:

• Isaac
• David
• Eli
• Elijah
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Jesus

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.. What happens when we meditate?

• The omnipresence of the Lord moves from dogma to a radiant reality
• We create a space (emotional and spiritual) which allows Christ to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart.

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 How is Christian meditation different from Eastern and secular meditation?

• the continual focus on obedience and faithfulness most clearly distinguishes Christian meditation from the others.
• whereas Eastern meditation purposes to empty the mind, Christian meditation fills the mind
• Eastern meditation seeks to detach ourselves; Christian meditation detaches from the surrounding confusion in order to have a rich attachment to God.

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“The book of Acts is repeat with God’s people learning to live by hearing God’s voice and obeying His Word.  This is the biblical foundation of meditation.”  pg 18

There are several ways to meditate.  Naturally, on Scripture.  Read a verse or passage and internalize and personalize it.  Use your senses to smell the sea, hear the water, see the crowd, etc.  Enter the story as an active part.  Another way is on creation:  contemplate God’s handiwork as you look at the creation around you.  You can also gain prophetic perspective as you meditate on events of our time with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.  An interesting way mentioned is re-collection a.k.a. ‘centering down’.  You’ll have to read the book for that one!  (pg. 30).

I have purposed these last few