Day 79: Beautiful Feet

...for whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they hear without a preacher?

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News of good things!"

Romans 10:13-15


Beautiful feet? I know some people that hate feet. Can't stand the thought of even looking at them let alone touching them! One of my greatest pleasures has always been the foot rubs my husband gives me at the end of a long day. He never grumbles even if he is dead tired. There are times my feet ache from a long hard day. He brings comfort.

Romans 10:13-15 is Lonnie's call to go to South Africa as a missionary in God's timing. He was listening to a message from Pastor Riaan (Pretoria, South Africa) during one of Riaans trips to the states. He heard this verse and he knew. "I have to go!"

For Christmas one year Lonnie gave me a picture of our feet on mission in Mozambique with this scripture on the print. It is beautiful! People don't know it is our feet until we tell them :) It is a snap shot of what God intends for our lives to be. Beautiful working feet: sandy, dirty, yet beautiful as we bring the good news of Christ to those who have not head. Missionary feet.

And the preacher part? I found my quiet husband up early one day this week-that's not the unusual part as he often is up very early - in the backyard, writing his "message."

This week we travel to Pretoria, SA on a 2 week mission. Lonnie is leading a team of 25. [Side note -Praise the Lord one of them is our daughter who is so excited she is about to jump out of her skin. The Lord provided for her to go 100%. She will be forever changed. Praise the Lord for Michael who will do a wonderful job of taking care of our household while we are gone. Praise the Lord for James and Kelsey that will keep ministry going here. ] While we are there each person needs to be ready to preach, tell about the love of Christ. He may have the opportunity to preach in a small township church. This quiet, gentle spiritual giant...preaching the Good News of Christ.

How beautiful are the feet....

Day 78: Blessing

To conceive the Lord speaking...actively bringing into action...an action of blessing over me is somehow crazy impossible in my human mind. The one almighty God of all...that I can't begin to comprehend...would care enough about me to speak a blessing, personally and with my name, over me is crazy. But in FAITH I believe it to be true. I can look at the blessings...as I named them even in my study today....Kelsey joining our family, Lonnie's job security for another year, 3 family members going to Africa in a few weeks, 2 new venue pastors at Coastal, graduation for me, teaching online at LU, paying for kids school as they go (no new debt for them) Steve and Jackie parents - Jayden!...our children's lives and love of the Lord...healing hearts...and I could go on.


Then I read the words in 1 Corinthians 4:11-12 and also 1 Peter 3:8-9. Endure and speak blessings about God and persecutors in all situations. I have so far to go! I just get mad. Lord, may by heart be more like Jesus and temper my tongue...sweeten my thoughts.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Day 77: I do

"If you can?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boys' father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

That is what I am praying right now...Lord I believe you are Jehovah ...our provider. I believe you care! Help me when my spirit and emotions are low.

Study today was from Isiah 7:14 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,"Whom shall I send? and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
With my mouth I want to confess what is truly in my heart....we want to go in your name Lord! In my head I see the obstacles...and I get discouraged, oh so discouraged.

Then I recall two verses:

May you be made strong with all strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father.
Colossians 1:11-12

But I will establish establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark-you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
Genesis 6:18

Enduring hardship to be prepared. Urgh...but necessary! The key for me...while joyfully giving thanks to the Father! Knowing that he and I have a convent. He will care for us in this mission journey that began in 1995 and continues. He made the convent promise with us and my God is faithful.

The power of scripture from our mouth is tremendous. I've started a small scripture spiral card file to carry so when I need to say scripture I'll have it. It will help me also when I walk to have it to review and memorize. Thanks Beth Moore!

Lord, bring the finances to meet our needs. Forgive my unbelief. Help me to be strong and joyful. Amen.

Day 76 part II: Praise and Peace

Bible study done and I'm so excited to SHOUT- God is so real...he steps in when we need him and His word brings comfort!

Beth Moore said

• "So often we don't feel like we have the energy to pray powerfully." Amen!
• It takes as much energy to be depressed as pray powerfully. I believe that!
• Claim the mountain and declare it to move...but then she said...if God chooses not to move it...then climb that sucker and experience the mountain of transfiguration! Amen! Put it under your feet!
• When I lose heart I am allowing victory for the deceiver.
• I must SPEAK the word of God...scripture

God's Word says:

• We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8
• Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits... Psalm 103:2

I will:

• Begin now an index card flip file of scripture to carry with me and declare...speak..proclaim..when I feeling despair.
• Pray powerfully in the name of my Lord to recognize the battle and fight it with His word and cling to his promises.
• Recite his benefits when I feel crushed!
• Work hard on refusing to accept de-powerment as whispered by the lier of all liers.

I believe my God loves us...will shape us in this time of waiting...is working in our lives.

God, I praise you for your benefits to us....

• Grace and forgiveness that is beyond my worth
• Three birth children and one by marriage that are yours
• James and Kelsey's marriage and commitment to your calling on their lives
• Bec and Mike seeking God blessed relationships
• A husband that loves you and desires to serve you with his whole heart
• A husband that loves his family unconditionally and provides for us.
• Provision for three of us to go to SA this summer
• A home that allows interns and missionaries to stay with us
• A home that is used for Bible study
• Opportunity to serve you through teaching and ministry
• Bec, Lonnie, I going to South Africa
• Support of our children in our missions calling
• An email from a friend reminding me how important it is to know she is praying for me
• Resources for food and shelter
• 1001 other blessings.....
  

Day 76: Tears and rambling

About to do my Beth Moore study but want to write before spending time with God. Why? Not sure except to see what God has in store for me today.

Life is frustrating! Always comes down to money. Lonnie and I were out at the NL house yesterday cutting shrubs that haven't been trimmed in three years and weeding flowers that haven't been weeded. It was good to have my hands in the dirt and see progress. However, the enemy attacked as I thought it would be so much simpler to just sell Court Circle...but then reality was no that's not true as the mental list began.

I realized it was fear that made me want to take that path. As I walked back into Court Circle and said, yes, this is home and where God wants us...we will just have to fight hard to keep it all balanced. Then this morning the juggling of finances to get all taken care of...having to say no...deciding what to do...and now just feeling like the cycle will never end.

Even to the point of a possible renter...all seemed going great...now I don't think they are going to rent the house. I know my God has the person. I know it! But the cycle beginning 5 years ago continues...contract--no go.....contract again....no go....contract again...no go.....possible renter....no go. My spirit is weak from possibility.

Yesterday in staff Hank said faith and fear can't co-exist. I don't believe that. I have fear of how will it all work out but I have more faith that it will somehow. What we might loose will be ok. We work so hard and I have to work so hard to have faith that God is our provider. He cares.

Still my greatest battle is being absolutely sure we are where God wants us...and absolutely trusting that God is in control...he is sovereign...and everything is His.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away...blessed be the name of the Lord.