Some days life is just another day. Nothing outwardly spectacular happens when you pray. You go about life’s necessities and the day goes on. This was my yesterday. My sister came over briefly to get some rest while her husband was at therapy for his knee replacement. I was glad to offer her a couch to take a very needed nap. I was showing her my crochet project when I noticed, even though it was almost finished, I had messed up. I am glad she came because I might have “finished” it and not even noticed. Continue reading “Faith and mistakes”
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Faith and Memorials
Two close friends had family members who passed recently. One was the mother of Justice Ekuban Jr. I met his mom when Darryl and I taught at a Bible Training Center in London, UK. I happened to sit next to her and during a break when we introduced ourselves she said her name was Elizabeth. I said, I won’t forget your name, because my daughter is also named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was from Accra, Ghana. She and her husband came to the UK, leaving their three children for two years as God led them to graduate from this program. When they returned to Accra they began their own Training Center. Darryl was invited to be a speaker at their graduation. I did not go the first trip, but went the second time, I believe. It was there in their home that I really got to know Elizabeth. She was a strong woman, who loved her children. She supported her husband’s call to sharing the gospel. In between Darryl`s first trip and mine we hosted their son, Justice Ekuban Jr. You could tell home much he missed his mother and how much he admired her. She impacted his life immensely. Her practical daily life was lived differently than mine, due to the cultural differences between the US and Ghana, but our hearts were the same. She had the most beautiful smile. Continue reading “Faith and Memorials”
Faith and Unexpected Journeys Part 2
Wallking this more intentional faith journey this year with the Lord has changed me. I find myself looking for God’s plan behind the scenes. It is like Life sets up scenarios in which, if we look with faith eyes, we can see His hand and have the opportunity to cooperate with His purpose. Continue reading “Faith and Unexpected Journeys Part 2”
Faith and Unexpected Journeys
Sometimes life leads us into unexpected surprises. A few years ago, God used my grief journey to help support and comfort a family in our church I hadn’t even met yet! Her daughter died unexpectedly and then two months later her son-in-law passed as well, leaving a young son in their care. For some reason a God friendship connection was made and this friendship has led to many adventures. Continue reading “Faith and Unexpected Journeys”
Faith and God’s Yes’s and No’s
(I did not post a blog last week because I was on a cruise to Alaska…more about that in an upcoming blog!)
Acts 16 tells the story of some of God’s travels. He and his friends felt it was time to go. It was the second of his missionary journeys and I am sure he was eager to see what God was going to do.
Matthew 28:19 instructs us to go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations. I assume Paul and Silas knew of these instructions, so how do you think they felt when they passed through Phrygia and Galatia the Holy Spirit forbid them to proclaim the Word in Asia? (Acts 16:6), Then they tried to go into Bithynia and again they weren’t permitted to go. If it were me, I probably would have either been frustrated or excited! If these were the “no’s”, what are God’s “yeses” going to be? So passing Mysia, they went down to Troas. There a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us! And when he had seen the vision, we, including Luke, at once endeavored to go on to Macedonia. So off they went.
Faith and Loneliness
Walking the widow road at times I admit is often lonely and filled with potholes of opportunities to feel very lonely. I do know that widows and widowers are not the only lonely people in the world. In fact it is a true fact that no matter your state in life we all can experience loneliness.
Loneliness, while difficult, can cause some very positive changes in our life if we will embrace it with faith–neither fear nor self-pity. Last week I talked about the critical inner voice–or the hostile judgmental adviser that we all carry in our heads that seeks to confront our faith and keep us smaller than God intends. This voice shouts–“you are alone and lonely because you are unlovable”. I have had to fight against this voice many times. The Voice likes to talk in generalities–“everyone else…; or No one else…and of course we are never included in either!
Faith and Living Loved
My last blog declared God’s goodness in supplying needs and the joy of bathroom fixes, mold removal and watching God bring a team together to encourage and bless me. I admit I felt very selfish, and my friend Bill reminded me that I need to learn how to accept blessings. It does take faith to receive help.
As I said good bye to Bill Hinckley last week, I headed for Grants Pass, Oregon and the Spring Women’s Conference at All the World Christian Center. As I drove the 400 plus miles from Rosanna’s house to the church, it gave me time to reflect on God’s goodness. The theme for the conference was “Living Loved”. I felt loved and so cared for!
It is my heart that all of us learn to “Live Loved”. God would love it if we always remembered this great gift He bestows on us…as I steal a phrase from my friend, Jim Stephens, God loves me, not because I am good, but because He is good!
What a joy to remind these precious daughters that there is freedom from the critical inner voice (or the hostile judgmental advisor) that seeks to rob us of God’s peace, encouragement and words of Life.
The critical inner voice is that internal voice begun in our childhood that discourages us from understanding that we are accepted by God because of what He has done, not by any thing we have done. Mental assent of God’s love is quite different from the actual believing of it in a way that allows us to live loved. Living loved allows us to walk in confident courage that as we follow Jesus and His Heart–our lives will touch others with His compassion.
Living loved helps us see our selfishness, jealousy, anger and other works of the flesh found in Galatians 5 for what they are…living less than God’s best for us. Living loved helps us move past the pain of rejection and insecurities and really understand we are accepted and adopted into the family of God.
Living Loved allows us to experience the shalom of God. Shalom means so much more than peace–or the absence of hostility. It encompasses a sense of wholeness, completeness and a sense of well-being. It is the place where we can truly say, “it is well with my soul”. This is not always easy to understand or experience. Father, I ask you help us learn about your gift of living loved and the shalom your work on the cross purchased for each of us. I thank you for reminding us by your Spirit when we find ourselves living unloved. In Jesus Name, amen
Faith, Needs and Gratitude
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
I have been praying about some maintenance needs at my home for quite a while. I seem to be comfortable living in the land of denial for longer than I should, but when you don’t see a way to do something. You just put up with it.
My prayers seem to evolve in stages. First it they are, “Lord, I think there is a problem. I don’t know what to do.” Is there a problem? Is it just my imagination? Surely it will be OK. Please, Lord make it OK. Continue reading “Faith, Needs and Gratitude”
Faith and Mess-ups!
This past week has been difficult in many ways. Due to stress and my own emotional lack of control I over-reacted during a meeting and admittedly my frustration led to me letting my feelings get the better of me. I communicated my feelings to the leaders with some distinct facial and body language exhibited during a leadership meeting. I have since offered my apologies the best I can for any communicated dis-respect of them. I can’t really excuse my behavior, for it was wrong, even though there were a pile up of situations that l could point to, I didn’t let the peace of God and my trust in Him lead me. That was wrong. When I apologized to one person he wasn’t even aware of my actions! But God knew, didn’t He? The others have all accepted my apology.
So now what? As I repented to the Lord and asked forgiveness of those involved I must choose to accept His forgiveness and trust that the others are as gracious as He is. His forgiveness is instantaneous, while others must process their response. I have really never been in this position quite before. I have been frustrated but usually vented it in the privacy of my own prayer closet, with the Lord…praying for His solution. I know I am learning to lessons on how/when to communicate my feelings/thoughts etc. In fact, I was a bit surprised by my actions!
Faith and the Middle
My bathroom project continues. Everything old is out, except for the toilet. The old vanity is sitting in my bedroom. The new tub is set in its new position, but of course not quite lining up as we thought. I now have to do new flooring, because the old floor doesn’t match the new tub’s position. I walked in there yesterday and prayed, “Lord, I thank you for having solutions for the known and unknown problems.” Part of me just wants it done. I don’t want to have to make more decisions. However, most of the decisions are having to be made by my friend who is doing the work. Some of the problems I see as major, he sees as minor. We are obviously too far to quit. I know and have faith that we will finish it. It is going to be different already than I imagined, but I trust it will be a wonderful blessed room. We need to keep going, not quit in the middle! Continue reading “Faith and the Middle”
Faith Encounters 