12 days of Christmas

Contrary to popular belief, the 12 days of Christmas do not end with Christmas, but begin with it!

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with the following day considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th). In these traditions, the twelve days begin December 26 and include Epiphany on January 6.

Watch for the meanings of each day, beginning on Christmas Day!

Prayer

I sit down alone,

Only God is here;

In His presence I open,

I read His books;

And what I thus learn,

I teach.

-John Wesley

Prayer and fasting

Today is the day that The Mission Society has put aside for prayer and fasting. It is the desire of the president of The Mission Society to spend a day of focusing on the Lord and seeking is face. Seeking God's will and vision for The Mission Society as a whole and for the various departments will be a part of the day, as well as praying for specific needs of the mission fields worldwide.

Fasting is a Christian discipline that I have not practiced much in my life. I know I should. And, whenever I set my wants aside and seek the face of the Lord, I know that I have been blessed. When you combine prayer and fasting, great things begin to happen. But, what, specifically, is prayer and fasting? Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.

Today, I will spend time in prayer as I fast. I will seek God's strength, provision and wisdom that I need as I prepare to move to Ghana. Even though I look forward to the move and wish it were soon, it is not easy. I need and want all He has for me, especially in this time of my life.

Evil Eye

Throughout Turkey, you'll see a blue, yellow, and white ornament which looks roughly like an eye. They are often displayed in shops, houses, and even on vehicles. It's believed that some people have power in their looks that can harm other people, domestic animals, goods, and properties. To have the "evil eye" is not the person's fault, it can come upon anyone. Once a person has the "evil eye" he or she can unintentionally bring harm to whoever or whatever he or she looks at. It's also believed that this power comes from the eyes, the two exit points of the soul. This ornament is worn or displayed as a protector from that "evil eye."

The history of the evil eye goes back before the Muslim religion's emergence in the Middle East, and is seen among the Arabs, Iranians, Greeks, Indians, and even in Ancient Egypt. Blue bead eyes are attached to children, to valuable animals, houses, vehicles, and properties. A chain of blue-bead eyes is attached to the forehead of larger animals. Lovers also give each other blue-beads with the hope that these beads will protect their loved ones. In addition to blue beads, some other objects are also used for that purpose. To protect fruit trees and fields from the evil eye, an animal skull is placed by the tree or field. Horseshoes, garlic, and children's shoes can also be seen hanging in trucks, buses, and houses. Eggshells are also used as protection from the evil-eye, but they're only used for beautiful flowers.

Some framed inscriptions hanging in houses and painted on large trucks and other vehicles are used to avert evil eyes from the houses and vehicles, or to bring the protection of God. Of those inscriptions "Masallah" means "what (wonders) God has willed," "Allah Korusun" means "may God protect from all evil."

As a Christian, I do not put faith in "The Evil Eye." Yes, I believe that spiritual forces of darkness exist, but I also believ that my God, the Lord God Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth is the One True God. He IS stronger than any "Evil Eye." He protects and provides. I do not need a man made amulet to protect me from evil forces. I need the Lord Jesus Christ, as we all do.

I urge you to pray for those people throughout the world who are in bondage because of this type of practice. Pray that God would send people to form relationships and share their faith with others so they can be delivered from this type of bondage. And, pray that once delivered and partakers of the new life in Christ, they would share with others the freedom that they have found in Christ Jesus.

Advice for "Running the Race"

I have been part of a small group that has been studying Charles Swindoll's book, A Man of Grit and Grace: Paul. The last chapter is on 2 Timothy. In it, Swindoll gives a list on how to run the race as a person of grit and grace as written by Paul in 2 Timothy 2. Here is the advice that I know I could definitely use:

• Be strong in grace (2:1)
• Be faithful to entrust truth (v.2)
• Be as brave as a soldier (v. 4)
• Be as disciplined as an athlete (v. 5)
• Be as hardworking as a farmer (v. 6)
• Be as diligent as a workman (v.15)
• Be as gentle as a servant (vv. 24-25)

Isn't this what we all aim to do be in life? It's all in one small chapter! I pray that I can take this advice and apply it to my life!

Saints in My Life

Tomorrow, the Christian church will celebrate All Saints Day. As I was driving home from errands this morning, I asked myself the question, "Who are the people that have influenced my life?" Who are those "saints" that have gone on to glory?

My mother was one. In the midst of a "soap opera" situation in her life, she showed love, grace and mercy. Those were qualities I learned from her.

Albert Steiner was another. I learned as I watched him loving his children and loving his wife. I learned to begin to trust again. And I learned it wouldn't hurt.

David Potts, a missionary to Central Asia, introduced me to The Mission Society. I am now preparing to move to Ghana to love and nurture children orphaned by AIDS.

There are others, too. But, today I remember and am grateful for these three. I loved them and I miss them. They will never know how much their examples have impacted my life. Someday, we will be together again as we worship before the throne of God.

It's a WAWA Kind of Day

I was reading the blog of a friend of mine who lives in Ghana. She was talking about her day when nothing seemed to go right. It was no one's fault, it's just the way it was. Whether the electricity was off for most of the day, or a flight was delayed for 5 hours, or the drill for the bore hole (well) wouldn't work. That's life in Ghana! The saying is it's a WAWA kind of day. (West Africa Wins Again)

Here, in the US, I am so used to electricity working, water running out of the faucets when turned on and the phone working when it is picked up. Lately, I have had so much trouble - router died, speakers on my laptop not working, motherboard needing replaced, printer dying and replaced & dying again and no phone serrvice for 4 days. I quickly forget that these non- essentials are not to be expected, but are gifts from God. It is a privilege that I have any of these things.

So, for me, I need to smile and quit getting upset, and be grateful that all these things can be fixed or replaced. I can choose to be thankful that I have the friends that can fix things and I have the means to replace the itemsthat need to be replaced. Today, I am waiting for Verizon to come and fix my phone line. I am also packing as I will be speaking at a church tomorrow. And, as I do both, I can say with the Psalmist, "I will praise You, O Lord with all my heart; before the gods (or when everything that goes wrong) I will sing Your praise.

For me, it's been a WAWA month. The good news, God is good and He is still in control!

Lessons From Mark

I am in the midst of an inductive Bible study with my friend, Sally. We live 2 1/2 hours apart, so we talk to each other once a week on what we have studied. We are in the midst of studying the book of Mark.

There are so many things that I have learned from this study. First, the day is a lot more peaceful and a lot more fruitful if I begin with studying the Word of God. Second, God really does speak to me if I will listen! (When I move to Ghana, I will not have access to the numerous Bible Study helps that are available here. So, I am practicing now to look & listen!)

One of the first things that really struck me in this book was in Mark 1: 11. The Father said to Jesus, "You are My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." The Father, Abba "Daddy" loves Jesus just because He is His Son. No other reason. He didn't have to earn it. The love is there just because, with no strings attatched.

We're in Chapter 7 now. And, the lessons learned keep coming. Some days I am blind to them, other days I see them. But, I am changing for the better because of the lessons in Mark. Why don't you try it? You just might change, too!

Sabbath Rest Revisited

Not too long ago I wrote about Sabbath rest. Well, I guess I need to listen to myself. Since presently I work from home, it is easy for me to do "just one thing" here and "one thing" there instead taking one day and using it for what it was intended - REST.

I have found myself tired, stressed out, not able to really concentrate on anything like I should and the thought of having to do just one more thing has put me over the edge more than once. Classes, reports, phone calls, newsletters, etc. will still be there tomorrow. I NEED to take time - time to rest, relax, reflect, renew. If I don't, I won't be good for anyone or anything!

Missionary Eyes

Missionary Eyes
by Wayne Talley

Lord, give me missionary eyes
To see the lost and dying,
To see their pain and crying.
Lord, give me missionary eyes.

Lord, give me missionary hands
To selflessly serve in any way I can.
Knowing that my reward will be
Eternity spent next to Thee.
Lord, give me missionary hands.

Lord, give me missionary feet
To take your precious gospel down the street
To those who need to hear today,
To those who need to know the Way.
Lord, give me missionary feet.

Lord, give me missionary zeal
For there’s a dying world that needs
To feel that someone cares about their soul.
Loosen my tongue, Lord, make me bold.
Lord give me missionary zeal.

Lord give me missionary eyes
To see the lost and dying.
To see their pain and crying.
Lord give me missionary eyes.

Sabbath Rest

Scripture tells us that God created the world in six day, and on the seventh day He rested. It also says that the Sabbath was made for man...

As human beings, we need a day to rest, reflect meditate, spend time with the Lord and be renewed.

Today, I finished 1 lesson of my Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages class and did the entire next lesson. Six down, fourteen to go!) Plus cooking,dishes, and all the other stuff I do day to day. I know I am in need of a Sabbath rest. I need to relax my mind and my body and I need to spend time with God.

And, I'm looking forward to it. How about you?

All I Can Do Is...

Lately, I've been receiving news about those I love. The news oftentimes is tough for me to handle, like the death of Jacob. There have been other things, too, that have been bittersweet. I walk around looking as if I might cry any moment. I don't know how to pray. My prayers go in about a million directions. Then, finally, I give up and do what I need to do...I lift my hands in worship looking not at the problem, but at the unique "gift" that the Lord has put before me and I sing:

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the One who gave it all

I'll stand my soul Lord to You abandoned

All I am is Yours

Words by Michael W. Smith from the song The Stand

From the Album Stand

In Memory of Jacob

I recently received news that Jacob, one of the babies of Lawra Orphanage had died. Jacob was sick. His illness could have been treated. But, he was not taken to the doctor soon enough. Now he lives with His Heavenly Father.

I pray that people will answer the call to "Go" and work among the least, last and lost of this world so that in the future other children will live to be mighty men and women of God in their villages.