Day 82: Keep the flame...How?

Proverbs 6:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Lord,

I know from past experience that the feelings and thoughts associated with a mission trip fade in intensity. The faces loose details. We come home and we feel like we will never forget...but then life steps in. Today my facebook post was about the today list before me...laundry, suitcases, carpets, pool, and yes bills to pay with a shoestring budget. I want to keep the passion and the vision for South Africa before me. I want to wake each morning excited about the day's "to-do" list. Help me to remember each day is a day you have ordained. The joy of my family...my friends...my church...the now.

Today I am thankful that I have some money for food and shelter. Many don't.

Today I am thankful for clothes to wash in a washing machine and dryer. Many don't have clothes. Many don't have washers.

Today I am thankful for the suitcases that took us to your destination...South Africa. For your total provision in getting us there.

Today I am thankful for a home that is cool, warm and more than we deserve.

The flame comes in my attitude. For my present and my future.

The flame comes in your word. That is timeless.

The flame comes in my time with you. This is essential.

I commit all I do today to you. I commit all we will do in the future to you.

Determine our steps today and in the future.

Amen.

Day 81: God Remembers

"God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestocck that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind oer the earth, and the waters receded." Genesis 8:1

It is a challenge at times to stay focused and not loose heart. Things are going well and then the cycle of challenge moves in ... followed by a season of discourgement ... followed by despair and maybe doubt...doubt ... followed by crying out ... followed by the Lord hearing and remembering ... followed by God moving on our behalf ...

Why is it so hard at times to remember God's faithfulness? In my memory I can so quickly focus on the challenge of now that I forget God's faithfulness then! Beth Moore points out in Believing God that God remembers and God acts. His hand is moving. It is not like remembering in a human sense, as He never forgets because He is past, present, and future all at the same time.

Noah was on that big and smelling ark for a long time. I wonder if he forgot? It would be natural for him to loose focus when he saw the destruction and didn't have a clue how God was going to make it all work out. But God never forgot Noah! God Remembered Noah and acted.

God remembers his promises, his covenents, his love for us...his most beautiful creation. God allows challenge ... but will I remember his faithfulness and stand firm?

My ministry verse and life verse...

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

Lord, thank you for that verse given in 1995...it was true then...your covenent of care over our family as we took a huge step of faith in obedience for me to resign from teaching and go to seminary. It has been true over the years as we have sensed your covenant of provision over our family. Thank you for reminding me of the truth of your word throughout generations. Our children are part of the covenant of protection. Amen and Amen! Praise you!

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.....