Day 80: A People Not Yet Created

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18

Back from South Africa! The one month there went quickly! Mission trip portion was amazing.
Two memories-
(1) Pastor Paul on day one looking at me and asking "Can you teach my people how to have a Sunday School?" "Yes," I replied, "When do you want to begin that?" "This Sunday." Oh my! God sent me there with now prior warning that is what I would be doing; therefore, I had no supplies. God is faithful! His word is all we needed and the rest fell into place. Loved my 6 future teachers...I am confident that the work God began in them is still going.
(2) Over 100 children desiring Jesus to be their friend, savior for ever. The honor of presenting them the message of hope that only comes from Jesus.

Exploring future ministries - second two weeks - memories
(1) In a squatters camp delivering bags of Maize for food to child head of households. Heartbreaking to realize a young 10 year old is the provider for his younger siblings.
(2) Eden (1st grade) and brother Luke (4th) at Bethany House. Eden's sweet voice and eyes as she continually found me and hug me..."You found me!" she would say. Their Father was killed in action as a police officer. Mother was murdered 2 years later. No other family to care for them properly.

God answered our prayer of ministry direction. It will be with Child head of Households identified through the under resourced churches. Also, developing plans to teach people to garden and produce food.

Through out the trip Psalm 102:18 came to my mind. Our future will involved ministry to influence generations not yet created.

The children of SA need us...The cost of obedience however is high. leaving the children God has given us here.

But I continue to here His voice, "I gave you three children that you raised to know me. Will you not go to my other children that need to know me?"

Yes, Lord, we will go.

Amen

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.

Day 75: Obedience without Understanding

Back to the Bible

"By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel." Hebrews 11:28

I can't imagine being Moses. I major mess up...run to the dessert (this part I can associate with) and then years later a bush speaks to me and says it is God's voice. Unbelievable? Yes! But believable? Yes, when you know my God. Then God sends Moses back to his home place...imagine Pharaoh's daughter, the one that raised Moses, when she sees this scrubby man walk in 40 some years later...to talk to the Pharaoh. A better desription would be to tell Pharaoh that God said let my people go! To let thousands of people! It would only be because a bush had spoken that would have given me the undeniable confidence that God actually said it. And on top of that, Moses gives his leaders instructions on what to say to the people so that the death angle will passover their home! Use a branch to put blood over the doorframe and on the door posts.

Lesson for me....there are times I need a burning bush but I don't seem to get it... God chooses to use other methods to grab my attention. I know for sure God has spoken through His word in regards to a few areas of our lives...and now I am just waiting and praying I am being obedient.

There are times I just have to take on FAITH what the Bible tells me to be true and what I need to be about. Moses was in the dessert 40 years waiting for God's timing to use him as he saw fit. It is back to that waiting time and that trusting God even though I don't understand it! I don't want to be in the wilderness wandering around because I'm afraid to step where God says step.

Lord, some things seem crazy impossible...like the sacrifice of a lamb saving the life of a family's first born...even a death angle flying over an entire city...but the truth is it doesn't matter how crazy it is to me...you are God and I have to move when you say move and trust when you say trust.

Crazy that we can survive the financial strain we are in? Yes! Crazy that we can prepare for the next step? Yes! Crazy that God's plan would have us serve in a place foreign to us and in a manner we don't understand? Yes! As crazy to me as hearing God say blood over the door seal? In my world, yes.

But the ability to be obedient even without understanding? Yes!
Because as we are learning in Believing God:

• God is who He says He is
• God can do what He says He can do
• I am who God says I am
• I can do all things through Christ
• God's Word is alive and active in me

Mar 9:23
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

I BELIEVE GOD

Lord, help me in my disbelief. Even when I don't understand, when life is hard, help me to trust you and obey. Bless my friends that are struggling right now...relationships, finances, a place to call home. Continue to place your hedge of protection around our children. Draw them to you. Bless their relationships. May they put you first! I love you, Father.