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.

What Zone Are You In?

This mornig I woke up, reached for my glasses, and...what? They aren't where I put them!

I was in the panic zone. I looked on the bed, under the bed, in between the pillows, on the night table, on the dog bed, in the dog crate (just in case), you get the idea. I was blind without my glasses!

Then, I stopped and prayed. I prayed that God would show me where to look for them. I was now in the learning zone.

I went back into the bedroom, and something shiney caught my eye - my glasses! While I was flipping the sheets looking for them, they must have flew off the bed, lining up next to the dog bed, not easy to see at all. I put them on and now I am in the comfort zone.

Not one zone is bad or wrong in itself, it's what you do while you are in it. Are you too comfortable that you aren't being challenged, aren't growing? Are you in such a panic that you can't hear the voice of the Lord, the voice of reason, or the voice of trusted others?

Or, are you in the place where you are open to learning new things, new experiences, new "aha" moments from God?

What zone are you in?

Rain

It's raining today. I find it very refreshing. The temperatures are a little cooler and the plants are getting watered by God.

When I was in Lawra, Ghana, it rained twice. It felt so good because of the extreme heat. The kids loved it and they played in the rain feeling the cool water on their skin. It was if everyone was revived by it. We all felt renewed and refreshed, ready to face whatever came our way.

The Lord does the same with us. He rains His love, His mercy and His Holy Spirit on us to refresh and revive us. He prepares us to face today, tomorrow and whatever the future holds for us. We need to soak in His presence and allow Him to work within us. His rain is always good!

Is It Necessary?

It is necessary for me to go; but it may not be necessary for me to live.

~ Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman

Missionary to Ghana

1837

A New Family for Alice

This is my buddy, Alice. She lived at the orphanage in Lawra, Ghana. Her parents died of HIV/AIDS. I say lived, because she was adopted! Adoption in this area of Ghana is unusual. I am so happy for her and her new American family. I pray that she will grow up to be a young woman of faith, knowing how much Jesus loves her. I pray that she would know Him as her Lord and Savior. I pray that He will be the most important person in her life and that she would give Him all the honor and glory due Him. And, I pray, that when she grows up, she, too, will return to Ghana for a time, to help her people.

Alice, I love you and I'll miss. As the Sankofa reminds us, remember from where you came. God bless you!

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. It's the day when we Americans honor our fathers, for who they are, their impact on our lives and the love they have for their children.

During our prayer time in Sunday School, I couldn't help but pray for those children who don't have fathers. I prayed for those whose fathers are dead or have chosen not to be a part of their child's life. And, I prayed for those who take the time to be a father figure or a Godly male influence to the countless orphans throughout the world. It isn't an easy job.

I pray that God would give wisdom, patience and unconditional love to all fathers. And, I pray that God would send men out into the world to "step up" to fill in the gaps where fathers should be. Every child needs to know the love of a father.