This morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I know what you're thinking - what else would I be waking up to? Answer: roosters, fire crackers, and dogs fighting.
That was yesterday, but this morning you wouldn't know how thankful I was to hear that annoying alarm clock. Really. Yesterday morning I was wishing I had a bb gun. lol
Casa de Alabbanza has already changed so much since Dan and Ashley started running it. It's great. And Ashley has become quite the cook. She prepares early, plays soccer with the local children and then comes down and finishes dinner. As one of the team members said to me yesterday, you'd thinking she's been doing this for years.
Last night we went to the conference, and on the way home piled 16 people into our 11 seater van. Welcome to Guatemala, there is always room for ONE MORE!
Anyway, that's a short update from Guatemala. I'll write more later.
Thanks for your prayers!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
A Devo
Wow, everything has been so busy lately I have had no opportunity to blog - today is no different, however I wanted to share this excerpt from Joyce Meyer I read today. Enjoy!
October 22
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of
cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning
fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power
and of love and of calm and well-balanced
mind and discipline and self-control.
— 2 Timothy 1:7
In this passage of Scripture, Paul was encouraging Timothy and saying, “You may feel like giving up, but you have everything you need to succeed. The Holy Spirit gives you peace and the power to face anything. Press on without fear!”
You may not understand what is going on in the world around you, but you must trust God through it all. You can pray and ask God for answers, but when heaven is silent you need to keep doing what God has told us to do and just trust Him. God will make all the pieces work together for His purpose, even when you don’t see tomorrow clearly. Tomorrow’s answers usually don’t come until tomorrow.
October 22
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of
cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning
fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power
and of love and of calm and well-balanced
mind and discipline and self-control.
— 2 Timothy 1:7
In this passage of Scripture, Paul was encouraging Timothy and saying, “You may feel like giving up, but you have everything you need to succeed. The Holy Spirit gives you peace and the power to face anything. Press on without fear!”
You may not understand what is going on in the world around you, but you must trust God through it all. You can pray and ask God for answers, but when heaven is silent you need to keep doing what God has told us to do and just trust Him. God will make all the pieces work together for His purpose, even when you don’t see tomorrow clearly. Tomorrow’s answers usually don’t come until tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Romans 13:12
Scripture of the day...
"Rejoice and exult in hope: be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer."
"Rejoice and exult in hope: be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer."
Monday, August 23, 2010
A Day Worth Blogging
After church today we went to Antigua (where I took Spanish lessons), and we went to this really authentic restaurant for lunch, in a city called St. Phillipe or something like that. Took forever to get there, mostly because we repeatedly got turned around.
The million dollar question - what did we eat for lunch? Well, I'd love to tell you, but before I do, I'd like to state that I had no idea that I was eating COW STOMACH until after eating an entire piece! I still had a bit in my bowl, so - after a silent pep-talk, and a deep breathe - I finished off. Followed by pig skin, and pig liver (sorry mom). Made for an interesting meal any real Canadian would hope to never repeat, but the experience was worth it. Then I ate some fries - yes, like a real Canadian. ;)
After that we raced back to Antigua so Ben and I could meet up with my friends "from the elevator" while the rest of the group went to the market. Ben and I had an awesome time catching up with Luis and Fernando. Who would have thought one could make such good friends from a God-encounter in a faulty elevator!
After parting ways with Luis and Fernando - actually while trying to say good-bye - we practically got mobbed by the sweet faces you see in the photo. They look innocent, but let me tell you, these boys mean business - they said so themselves!
Anyway, they were just trying to sell us some flutes when I found myself asking if these boys were hungry. With no hesitation they confirmed that they were. Then I asked where a Pollo Compero was, and their big brown eyes lit up and they practically dragged us the short walk there (just a few doors down).
We told them to order whatever they wanted, found out that they loved futball (soccer) but didn't have a ball. I made a call to Josue who was with the group in the market, and he agreed to pick a soccer ball up for the boys. Then Ben bought 4 flutes, I bought 2 little drum like things. The boys soaked up the attention, let us pray with them, we paid the bill, and walked back to the Central Park to track down the ball. Over and over the boys kept asking us to buy them shoes, and I wanted to, but we simply didn't have any more time to spare. Two of the boys had huge holes in their shoes. I pray that God blesses them with shoes ASAP. These boys try to sell their dad's hand made flutes everyday. School in the morning, then work. Dan told us that when we said good-bye to the boys one in particular looked heartbroken.
Even though I hadn't planned on having dinner with these special young people, and we didn't get to go to the market like we planned, I wouldn't have traded it for the world. They'll hold a special place in my heart... even if they did try to get us to buy them everything in sight :)
I told them I love them before we parted. But I hope that they know that Jesus loves them far more. I pray that the seeds sown would produce a great harvest. That those boys would grow into men who Fear God and love Him above anything else.
On the way home I had to find a bathroom, and just hoped it wouldn't be by the side of the road... I asked Regina to stop at a gas station... Ben walked me inside, I asked to use the bathroom, and then we were escorted there by an armed guard to the side of the building where he took pad locks off these small bathrooms. I just hoped he wouldn't lock me in... insert nervous laugh here.
But all went fine... now I'm just chilling out at Casa with Dan and Ben, blogging and listening to them have some worship time.
What a day.
Friday, August 6, 2010
An Update on 3DM
Well, things are busy around the missions office! We're gearing up for a missions trip beginning August 18th, and our "GOD Walk" committee is getting ready for their annual fundraiser (Guatemala Orphans Destiny Walk Marathon). Don't forget to sign up and get sponsors!
I'm working on our Summer "Update" which will be ready to be emailed out just before I head off on the 18th. Email info@3dmissions.com if you don't currently get our updates, and want to!
When I return to Guatemala this time we will be purchasing a vehicle for Casa de Alabbanza, the small team going with me will be building bunk beds, tiling, and doing other construction and renovations around the home. We do need things donated like toiletries, clothes for children, medical supplies, and baby supplies. If you can help with this (before August 15th) please email casa@3dmissions.com.
We had our first student intern this summer from Frontline Bible Training Centre. The intern organized and managed our recent trip to Trinidad, including a Vacation Bible School for kids. She did a great job, and we are excited for this new side of the missions department and partnering with the Bible College. For more information on this, you can see FBTC's website www.fbtc.ca under "courses".
Alright, I think that's all I have to update at the moment!
Photo top left: Antigua, Guatemala June 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
One Day on a Bus Bench
A Fictional Story by Amy Hubert
She sat alone on that park bench seemingly waiting for the bus.
But one bus came.
And another.
And still another, and yet she still sat.
From the window where I stood sipping my cup of coffee (the second pot of the day), I wondered what she was waiting for.
I set my coffee down, and began my next task on my to-do list. Grabbing the broom, I first swept the floor, then mopped.
I walked past the window again, and curiosity made me take a glance.
Why I was surprised that she hadn’t moved I’m not sure.
I heard Joey, my sixteen-month-old son, waking up from his morning nap.
After changing him, cuddling him, feeding him, I slung him onto my hip, grabbed my keys, my purse, my grocery list and made my way to my silver 2007 Toyota RAV4.
After buckling him in the SUV, I was about to climb inside, but first, I looked over my shoulder.
She looked to be about my age, twenty-nine, or maybe a few years older, but only if you looked really close. At first glance I had thought she was, maybe, forty-something.
Her clothes looked thin from many, many washes; she wore no makeup, but had on a red baseball cap. From what team, I wouldn’t know.
Her tennis shoes looked like they might have once been white. I wondered if the bags that sat near her were all she owned.
She looked off in the distance oblivious to me, staring at nothing in particular.
I got behind the steering wheel and put on my brand new Alfred Sung sunglasses and smoothed the wrinkles out of my blouse.
On the radio, song after song played, I could hear Joey in the backseat talking gibberish, but I could only think of the woman on the bench.
In the produce section I thought of her.
In the bakery, I thought of her.
In the soup isle, the pasta isle, the meat section, and the frozen food section I thought of her.
I was so distracted by her I accidently hit a gentleman in the ankles with my cart. I couldn’t even look at him as I apologized, and could only thank the Lord that he had work boots on, and not sandals like I was wearing.
I got to the check out, and didn’t even hear the cashier ask me if I wanted bags. I was still thinking of her, as I went and picked up some boxes to put my groceries in. After all, I had no bags.
I put all my groceries in the SUV, buckled Joey in his seat, got behind the wheel, and reached for my purse for my sunglasses. But my purse wasn’t there. I sighed, unbuckled myself, then Joey, locked up the SUV and headed back inside.
I reached the cashier and thanked her for holding my purse.
When I was finally on the road – with my purse this time and wearing my sunglasses – I began to pray, wondering what had taken me so long to do so in the first place.
I prayed for the woman I had seen all the way home. And when I reached my driveway, to my surprise, there she sat, in the same spot.
I brought Joey inside, placed him in his highchair with juice and some crackers and began unloading my groceries.
I heard the Lord say, “invite her to lunch”.
I froze.
Lunch?
What if she’s crazy?
What if she doesn’t leave?
What if she steals something?
Then I heard the Lord say, “If I ask you to have her for lunch, don’t you know that I will be there? Don’t you know that I love her as much as I love you?”
Then I thought to myself, well, maybe she’ll say no.
So I picked Joey up, a very wet Joey as he had more apple juice on his shirt than had probably made it to his belly, and walked across the street.
I sat on the bench, and tried talking to her.
“Hi, my name is Maddy, this is my son Joey. I couldn’t help but notice you’ve been sitting here all day.”
At that moment, still as she stared off in the distance, I saw tears form in her eyes.
I tried to smile, although my heart was breaking.
“Well, Joey and I were wondering if you would like to join us for lunch. My husband is at work all day, and the house is kind of lonely.”
She didn’t say anything, but I saw her chin quiver.
“Do you have any plans for lunch?” I asked.
I saw a small shake of her head; if I had blinked I might have missed it.
“Well, come on inside, then, I hope you like chicken wraps, because that’s what we’re having! You aren’t a vegetarian, are you?” I asked, as I helped her with one of her bags.
“No, I’m not,” she said quietly, and I saw the beginnings of a smile there.
We had lunch that day, and by the end of the meal we were laughing and joking with one another. Even while Joey had his afternoon nap, and she (Lia) helped me with the dishes.
She looked to be about my size, so I went to my room and found some things I thought she might like. I handed them to her.
“I wondered if you might let me use your bath?” she said very hesitantly, looking like a child, and not a grown woman.
I smiled, and led her that way.
I did some laundry while she got fixed up, and when she emerged she looked like a different person.
That’s when I realized I knew her.
We had been good friends as kids when she had moved to the other side of town in grade three, but I knew her as “Amelia”. We didn’t see much of each other much after that.
It’s been three years since that day we had lunch together. Lia and I became really good friends. Best friends, in fact.
I found out in that time that she had been evicted from her apartment after losing her job; that she had turned to drugs, but was trying to get clean when I found her that day on the bench.
All day she had sat and prayed for God to rescue her, not even sure that He existed.
She didn’t tell me all that until months after that first day. After she had lived with my husband and I for three months, once we had found her a job and an apartment.
“I don’t know what would have happened if God hadn’t sent you,” she told me one day.
And I couldn’t help but wonder, what would have happened if I hadn’t listened?
But instead of dwelling on that possibility, Lia and I started volunteering at a shelter for women. We’ve been doing it for two years, and Lia is now the director of the second home they are starting in another part of town.
This is what I was thinking of as I watched her walk down the aisle and marry one of my husband’s best friends. With tears brimming, I stood my post as her maid of honor.
I caught her eye for a second, and winked.
A beautiful bride.
Completely restored.
She sat alone on that park bench seemingly waiting for the bus.
But one bus came.
And another.
And still another, and yet she still sat.
From the window where I stood sipping my cup of coffee (the second pot of the day), I wondered what she was waiting for.
I set my coffee down, and began my next task on my to-do list. Grabbing the broom, I first swept the floor, then mopped.
I walked past the window again, and curiosity made me take a glance.
Why I was surprised that she hadn’t moved I’m not sure.
I heard Joey, my sixteen-month-old son, waking up from his morning nap.
After changing him, cuddling him, feeding him, I slung him onto my hip, grabbed my keys, my purse, my grocery list and made my way to my silver 2007 Toyota RAV4.
After buckling him in the SUV, I was about to climb inside, but first, I looked over my shoulder.
She looked to be about my age, twenty-nine, or maybe a few years older, but only if you looked really close. At first glance I had thought she was, maybe, forty-something.
Her clothes looked thin from many, many washes; she wore no makeup, but had on a red baseball cap. From what team, I wouldn’t know.
Her tennis shoes looked like they might have once been white. I wondered if the bags that sat near her were all she owned.
She looked off in the distance oblivious to me, staring at nothing in particular.
I got behind the steering wheel and put on my brand new Alfred Sung sunglasses and smoothed the wrinkles out of my blouse.
On the radio, song after song played, I could hear Joey in the backseat talking gibberish, but I could only think of the woman on the bench.
In the produce section I thought of her.
In the bakery, I thought of her.
In the soup isle, the pasta isle, the meat section, and the frozen food section I thought of her.
I was so distracted by her I accidently hit a gentleman in the ankles with my cart. I couldn’t even look at him as I apologized, and could only thank the Lord that he had work boots on, and not sandals like I was wearing.
I got to the check out, and didn’t even hear the cashier ask me if I wanted bags. I was still thinking of her, as I went and picked up some boxes to put my groceries in. After all, I had no bags.
I put all my groceries in the SUV, buckled Joey in his seat, got behind the wheel, and reached for my purse for my sunglasses. But my purse wasn’t there. I sighed, unbuckled myself, then Joey, locked up the SUV and headed back inside.
I reached the cashier and thanked her for holding my purse.
When I was finally on the road – with my purse this time and wearing my sunglasses – I began to pray, wondering what had taken me so long to do so in the first place.
I prayed for the woman I had seen all the way home. And when I reached my driveway, to my surprise, there she sat, in the same spot.
I brought Joey inside, placed him in his highchair with juice and some crackers and began unloading my groceries.
I heard the Lord say, “invite her to lunch”.
I froze.
Lunch?
What if she’s crazy?
What if she doesn’t leave?
What if she steals something?
Then I heard the Lord say, “If I ask you to have her for lunch, don’t you know that I will be there? Don’t you know that I love her as much as I love you?”
Then I thought to myself, well, maybe she’ll say no.
So I picked Joey up, a very wet Joey as he had more apple juice on his shirt than had probably made it to his belly, and walked across the street.
I sat on the bench, and tried talking to her.
“Hi, my name is Maddy, this is my son Joey. I couldn’t help but notice you’ve been sitting here all day.”
At that moment, still as she stared off in the distance, I saw tears form in her eyes.
I tried to smile, although my heart was breaking.
“Well, Joey and I were wondering if you would like to join us for lunch. My husband is at work all day, and the house is kind of lonely.”
She didn’t say anything, but I saw her chin quiver.
“Do you have any plans for lunch?” I asked.
I saw a small shake of her head; if I had blinked I might have missed it.
“Well, come on inside, then, I hope you like chicken wraps, because that’s what we’re having! You aren’t a vegetarian, are you?” I asked, as I helped her with one of her bags.
“No, I’m not,” she said quietly, and I saw the beginnings of a smile there.
We had lunch that day, and by the end of the meal we were laughing and joking with one another. Even while Joey had his afternoon nap, and she (Lia) helped me with the dishes.
She looked to be about my size, so I went to my room and found some things I thought she might like. I handed them to her.
“I wondered if you might let me use your bath?” she said very hesitantly, looking like a child, and not a grown woman.
I smiled, and led her that way.
I did some laundry while she got fixed up, and when she emerged she looked like a different person.
That’s when I realized I knew her.
We had been good friends as kids when she had moved to the other side of town in grade three, but I knew her as “Amelia”. We didn’t see much of each other much after that.
It’s been three years since that day we had lunch together. Lia and I became really good friends. Best friends, in fact.
I found out in that time that she had been evicted from her apartment after losing her job; that she had turned to drugs, but was trying to get clean when I found her that day on the bench.
All day she had sat and prayed for God to rescue her, not even sure that He existed.
She didn’t tell me all that until months after that first day. After she had lived with my husband and I for three months, once we had found her a job and an apartment.
“I don’t know what would have happened if God hadn’t sent you,” she told me one day.
And I couldn’t help but wonder, what would have happened if I hadn’t listened?
But instead of dwelling on that possibility, Lia and I started volunteering at a shelter for women. We’ve been doing it for two years, and Lia is now the director of the second home they are starting in another part of town.
This is what I was thinking of as I watched her walk down the aisle and marry one of my husband’s best friends. With tears brimming, I stood my post as her maid of honor.
I caught her eye for a second, and winked.
A beautiful bride.
Completely restored.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
How Beautiful Are The Feet...
Well readers, I have not been very regular as of late with my blogging. I'm home for a few weeks and have many stories to share, so I will do my best to bump it up.
We had a great time in Trinidad ministering to the children and young people there. I also had a great time catching up with old friends, and making lots of new ones.
Unfortunately my stint of returning from trips with foot ailments continues with a new spider bite on my big toe. The Bible says "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the Gospel"... however, my feet are in great need of a pedicure although there's not much I can do for the spider bite until it just clears up!
Praise God, 14ish people gave or recommitted their lives to Christ this trip, and one at least was filled with the Holy Spirit! We had many other awesome things happen, and the Vacation Bible School was a success! When we asked kids their favorite part of the week most of them would say either the Bible stories or praising Jesus. Isn't that awesome?! The last day one little boy came up to us and asked us if we had all the memory verses written down from the week, because he wanted to remember them. I had tears come to my eyes, as did Sandra, as we realized the impact the week had on this young boy. It made me wonder how many future preachers, doctors, teachers, business people, missionaries, etc. we had in the room that week. I thank God that He allowed us that small glimpse of the fruit that came from VBS in that one little boy.
I have other stories similar to that one, of kids praying and thanking God for VBS, for their teachers, etc. Jesus challenges us to have faith like a child, and He always loved having children come around Him and He would teach them. I count it a huge blessing to be a small part of getting them ready for the destiny that He has for them.
Anyway, I'm back, and have a lot to accomplish in the next few weeks! Please keep my sister's friend Stephanie in prayer as she has been in the hospital all week. The doctors are running tests, and I am believing for total healing for her.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ministering in Trinidad
It's been almost 2 weeks since my last post, I can hardly believe it! Well, we arrived in Trinidad (the team and I) on Saturday night at about midnight. Our flight was delayed, so we didn't get to bed until almost 2... then up at 7 am. A lot of us had lost sleep the night before as well, but I think now we're finally feeling like ourselves!
I usually like to focus in on just one or two stories when I blog, but I feel like I have so many to tell.
We began the Vacation Bible School for kids on Monday, had 40 out (double what we expected for our first day), and had 45 today. The kids are so awesome, it only takes about 3 minutes for them to get into your heart. They are awesome.
Today we went around evangelizing and ministering to people. Natalie, Pam and I met this one lady in her 60's, told us she needed knee replacements and her back was really bothering her. After talking to her for a few minutes, we found out she had just moved there and still needed to unpacked, but she was in so much pain she couldn't do it on her own. Pam and I will go back later in the week to help her with cleaning and unpacking.
But what got me the most - more than her need for help, and more than her fear that people would steal from her if they came to help - was how lonely she was. I didn't care that we had spent more than a half hour with her, I didn't care that she talked our ears off. At one point she began to cry, and my heart just went out to her. We prayed with her, and I am believing that when we go to help her in the next few days we will hear a good report, but we'll also get a chance to visit with her and encourage her.
Which brings me to something God's really been speaking to me about lately - encouraging others. It astounds me how I can be discouraged about something myself, but the moment that I step out and try encourage others, the discouragement begins to lift. Recently I remember thinking "God how can I encourage this person, when I myself need encouragement?" And that's when I chose to lean on God, get my encouragement from Him, give myself a little pep-talk and I chose to stir myself up and get encouraged. Then, I was able to encourage others. Interesting, isn't it, how being encouraged sometimes is a choice?
I'm having a great time with this team - I love it when we get laughing and joking around - I mean, when we prayed for the joy of the Lord, He heard us. The joy of the Lord is our strength. It's an amazing thing.
It's also an amazing thing that I sit here, in Trinidad, and I need my sweater! lol. Obviously, we have the air conditioning on, so the moment I step outside in my sweater, it's brutally hot.
Note to self - sweaters should be left inside the house at all times while in Trini.
PS - we're having fun trying out the Trinidad accent as well. Maybe I'll see about making a short clip of us all, I'm sure it would get some laughs!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
I Have Faith For This
I'm reading a book called "Fear Fighters" by Jentezen Franklin right now, which is really a book about putting your Faith into action.
He has so many great points, and I'm only in the first chapter. One thing he points out is what Jesus said to Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he might sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail."
The most profound thing to me in that scripture is that Jesus did not pray the conflict away, didn't pray the trial away - He prayed for Simon Peter's faith to endure and sustain him THROUGH the conflict and trial. James 1:3 says "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." So why don't we pray for our own faith to sustain us? We need to change how we pray.
We need to come against attacks of the enemy, absolutely, but we need to pray and stir up our faith more so.
Jentezen gives this list of "fear fighters" but I am going to call them "faith igniters"...
1. Jesus is with me, and He has all power!
2. God is at the bottom (when you're at your end, He's there too)
3. I have faith for this!
Romans tells us that we have all been given a measure of faith - and all we need is a mustard seed of faith to move mountains, so what are we waiting for?
Is our faith lying dormant? Are we overcome with the cares of this world or do we have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego kind of faith that will stare fear in the face and stand strong with faith in our God who is ABLE?!
Dandiel 3:16-18... Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Whenever I need a reminder of limitless and relentless faith I think of these 3 men. They had ultimate faith. Faith that says, "My God is ABLE, and He will save me! But even if He chooses not to, I WILL still believe, I will NOT bow down!" That is aggressive faith, the kind of faith that pleases God, the kind the enemy can't stand.
I remember Tracey Stewart saying a few years ago that faith doesn't mean that you're not scared. Faith is believing and standing regardless of what you're feeling.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. So stir up your faith, stare your problem in the face and declare, "I have faith for this!" God has given you every tool you need to face every situation you might face.
Faith. Boring? Hardly.
He has so many great points, and I'm only in the first chapter. One thing he points out is what Jesus said to Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he might sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail."
The most profound thing to me in that scripture is that Jesus did not pray the conflict away, didn't pray the trial away - He prayed for Simon Peter's faith to endure and sustain him THROUGH the conflict and trial. James 1:3 says "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." So why don't we pray for our own faith to sustain us? We need to change how we pray.
We need to come against attacks of the enemy, absolutely, but we need to pray and stir up our faith more so.
Jentezen gives this list of "fear fighters" but I am going to call them "faith igniters"...
1. Jesus is with me, and He has all power!
2. God is at the bottom (when you're at your end, He's there too)
3. I have faith for this!
Romans tells us that we have all been given a measure of faith - and all we need is a mustard seed of faith to move mountains, so what are we waiting for?
Is our faith lying dormant? Are we overcome with the cares of this world or do we have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego kind of faith that will stare fear in the face and stand strong with faith in our God who is ABLE?!
Dandiel 3:16-18... Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Whenever I need a reminder of limitless and relentless faith I think of these 3 men. They had ultimate faith. Faith that says, "My God is ABLE, and He will save me! But even if He chooses not to, I WILL still believe, I will NOT bow down!" That is aggressive faith, the kind of faith that pleases God, the kind the enemy can't stand.
I remember Tracey Stewart saying a few years ago that faith doesn't mean that you're not scared. Faith is believing and standing regardless of what you're feeling.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. So stir up your faith, stare your problem in the face and declare, "I have faith for this!" God has given you every tool you need to face every situation you might face.
Faith. Boring? Hardly.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Back from Guatemala, Gearing up for Trinidad
This week has been just CRAZY getting caught up on paperwork from being away for a month, and getting ready for our missions trip to Trinidad.
Yesterday we had a dance practice for the trip. Insert cringe here. It's been a full year since the last time we did a choreographed dance for a trip, and saying I'm a bit rusty is putting it nicely and saying I'm a bit sore today is sad but true.
Sandra and I had quite the laugh at how our bones were cracking every time we had to bend our knees. We sounded like a Kellogg's Rice Crispy commercial.
Despite all that, we managed to learn a full minute of the dance... only four more to go. Monday we'll hit it again, and with only 16 days until we leave, we've got our work cut out for us! ;)
Nevertheless, the dance is looking good! Note to self - drink more milk this week.
We are excited for what God has in store for Trinidad, for the VBS and the youth conference. We're all being stretched - not that being stretched is anything new lol - and having a great time together preparing. We're thinking we'll test the dance out on other travelers waiting in the Miami Airport - my only stipulation is that the music must be quite enough to keep us out of trouble and loud enough to cover the snap crackle pop of our knees.
Well that concludes today's post.
Happy Canada Day!
Yesterday we had a dance practice for the trip. Insert cringe here. It's been a full year since the last time we did a choreographed dance for a trip, and saying I'm a bit rusty is putting it nicely and saying I'm a bit sore today is sad but true.
Sandra and I had quite the laugh at how our bones were cracking every time we had to bend our knees. We sounded like a Kellogg's Rice Crispy commercial.
Despite all that, we managed to learn a full minute of the dance... only four more to go. Monday we'll hit it again, and with only 16 days until we leave, we've got our work cut out for us! ;)
Nevertheless, the dance is looking good! Note to self - drink more milk this week.
We are excited for what God has in store for Trinidad, for the VBS and the youth conference. We're all being stretched - not that being stretched is anything new lol - and having a great time together preparing. We're thinking we'll test the dance out on other travelers waiting in the Miami Airport - my only stipulation is that the music must be quite enough to keep us out of trouble and loud enough to cover the snap crackle pop of our knees.
Well that concludes today's post.
Happy Canada Day!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
CNN and the Gospel
This morning I went on cnn.com to check out what's going on in the world, and I came across this: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/my-take-why-christians-are-jerks-online/?hpt=C2. At first I was angry - how dare this guy start a blog to tare Christians down. Until I realized that wasn't his goal at all. Jonathan Acuff writes a blog called "Stuff Christians Like", and although I have only read 1 and a half of his blogs, his bold stand and the fact that CNN is letting him preach the Gospel on their site makes me sit up and take notice.
I might not have a lot of time these days, but I plan to follow this guy's blog from time to time.
Also on CNN today I read that in Italy a lady is making a fuss about a crucifix that is up in her son's classroom. The European courts awarded her 5,000 + euros. And although, from what I can gather, they aren't making Italy take down all the crucifix in their schools, this does open a door for other people to sue on the same grounds.
An appeal goes forward today. Read what Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re had to say about it:
"When I think that we are talking about a symbol, the crucifix, an image that cannot but be the emblem of a universally shared humanity, I not only feel disappointed but also sadness and grief," he said.
"The crucifix is the sign of a God that loves man to the point of giving up his life for him. It is a God that teaches us to learn to love, to pay attention to each man ... and to respect the others, even those who belong to a different culture or religion.
"How could someone not share such a symbol?" (read the article at http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/italy-fights-for-crucifixes-in-classrooms/?hpt=C1)
This lady that caused a ruckus about a crucifix in her kid's classroom actually opened the door for the Gospel to, again, be preached online and around the world. But I just keep thinking about the sadness of her Christ-less life, and the sad reality of her children growing up in a secular environment.
And I pray that she would be led to the Cross she once persecuted.
After all, think of the Apostle Paul.
I might not have a lot of time these days, but I plan to follow this guy's blog from time to time.
Also on CNN today I read that in Italy a lady is making a fuss about a crucifix that is up in her son's classroom. The European courts awarded her 5,000 + euros. And although, from what I can gather, they aren't making Italy take down all the crucifix in their schools, this does open a door for other people to sue on the same grounds.
An appeal goes forward today. Read what Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re had to say about it:
"When I think that we are talking about a symbol, the crucifix, an image that cannot but be the emblem of a universally shared humanity, I not only feel disappointed but also sadness and grief," he said.
"The crucifix is the sign of a God that loves man to the point of giving up his life for him. It is a God that teaches us to learn to love, to pay attention to each man ... and to respect the others, even those who belong to a different culture or religion.
"How could someone not share such a symbol?" (read the article at http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/italy-fights-for-crucifixes-in-classrooms/?hpt=C1)
This lady that caused a ruckus about a crucifix in her kid's classroom actually opened the door for the Gospel to, again, be preached online and around the world. But I just keep thinking about the sadness of her Christ-less life, and the sad reality of her children growing up in a secular environment.
And I pray that she would be led to the Cross she once persecuted.
After all, think of the Apostle Paul.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Salvation in a Faulty Elevator
While in Guatemala Gerri and I got in an elevator, thinking to ourselves what an uneventful day it was. We got to the level we were looking for, and there were people waiting to get on the elevator who said that the place we were going was closed. At least I think that's what they said (my Spanish is still coming along). So all those people (maybe 7 or so) decided to join us in the elevator, and on we went... in total there were about 16 or 17 of us. The elevator's capacity was 12, maybe 13.
We began our ascent... and stopped. The elevator jolted a couple of times and then stopped. It jolted a few more times. And then stopped. Gerri and I looked at each other wide eyed, and then looked around at the other "sardines" in the elevator with us, and began wondering how long we would be spending with them. To say there was "standing room only" is an understatement - but quite common throughout Guatemala. After all, in Guatemala, there is always room for one more!
Gerri and I agreed in prayer together, quietly, but I just had this sense in my spirit that I needed to pray so everybody could hear me. So I asked, "are you all Christians in here" (although my first guess is that they were going out partying, by their attire). Two guys replied that they were, although quite hesitantly. I was thankful to find that they spoke English. So I told them that I was going to pray. There was a girl in the other corner having a panic attack, and a couple guys in another corner trying to find the alarm or phone. To no avail.
So I prayed loudly, thanked God for protecting us, for helping us get out, and so on. Everyone had obviously been listening, despite the language barrier. I mean, come on, when someone's praying, you know it. Language doesnt' matter. A girl in the corner seemed to quiet down a bit, but she was still very distraught. I told my newly appointed translator (lol) to tell her that, "the girl in the corner said to say that every thing's going to be alright. God is here."
Some guys found the alarm, so off it went, then a couple of them decided to jump. I was thinking, "Are you serious?" The jolts were intense, it made the chains sound loose. The last thing we needed was people jumping.
Two guys pried the doors open. We were completely between floors, all we could see was the elevator shaft.
We were trapped.
My "translator" looked at Gerri and I and said, "My family are Christians, but I am not anymore. But something is happening in my heart." I couldn't believe my ears. Were we actually getting an opportunity to minister to this guy while being stuck in an elevator? He didn't care one bit that we were stuck, that we could get hurt, that we were sardined together in a very small space, this guy was having an encounter with God. So right there, inches from each other - well inches from each other's faces - we talked about it.
More jolts.
Gerri started praying for God's Angles. I joined her. Together we prayed that Angels would come beneath the elevator and take us to the floor. Thirty seconds later we were stepping into the parking lot.
But God wasn't done yet.
I turned to ask my "translator" for directions, since I didn't expect to be arriving to this particular floor. He gave us directions and then started asking more questions, so we kept talking.
Another guy from the elevator walked up and said, "hey, thanks for the prayer... when we were in there I realized I was living in sin, and if something happened..."
I said to them, "Where would you have gone if the elevator had plummeted and we'd all died?"
One replied, "I don't know."
I told them, "I know I would have been with Jesus. But at anytime any of us could be hit by a car, we just have to walk into that parking lot." I looked at them for a minute and then asked, "do you want to make it right with God right now?"
They both said yes with NO hesitation.
So Gerri and I grabbed there hands, we all closed our eyes and I led them in a prayer, Gerri said it with them. Once we were done I told them to get a Bible, and to get into the Word. We started making our way out of the parking lot, me talking to one guy, Gerri to the other.
Before we walked away I told them, "God has things for you to do. You need to do them. Don't go back to your old ways."
"I'm going home," one relied to me. Meaning, he was changing his plans, and not going partying.
I couldn't help but wonder how long their families must have prayed for them.
I will never forget those two guys. God knew right were they were at, He knew their number, their address, their exact location, and He knew that they would be reunited with Him through a faulty elevator and two crazy Canadians.
PS - I'm not sure how long we were in that elevator. Maybe only 10 minutes.
We began our ascent... and stopped. The elevator jolted a couple of times and then stopped. It jolted a few more times. And then stopped. Gerri and I looked at each other wide eyed, and then looked around at the other "sardines" in the elevator with us, and began wondering how long we would be spending with them. To say there was "standing room only" is an understatement - but quite common throughout Guatemala. After all, in Guatemala, there is always room for one more!
Gerri and I agreed in prayer together, quietly, but I just had this sense in my spirit that I needed to pray so everybody could hear me. So I asked, "are you all Christians in here" (although my first guess is that they were going out partying, by their attire). Two guys replied that they were, although quite hesitantly. I was thankful to find that they spoke English. So I told them that I was going to pray. There was a girl in the other corner having a panic attack, and a couple guys in another corner trying to find the alarm or phone. To no avail.
So I prayed loudly, thanked God for protecting us, for helping us get out, and so on. Everyone had obviously been listening, despite the language barrier. I mean, come on, when someone's praying, you know it. Language doesnt' matter. A girl in the corner seemed to quiet down a bit, but she was still very distraught. I told my newly appointed translator (lol) to tell her that, "the girl in the corner said to say that every thing's going to be alright. God is here."
Some guys found the alarm, so off it went, then a couple of them decided to jump. I was thinking, "Are you serious?" The jolts were intense, it made the chains sound loose. The last thing we needed was people jumping.
Two guys pried the doors open. We were completely between floors, all we could see was the elevator shaft.
We were trapped.
My "translator" looked at Gerri and I and said, "My family are Christians, but I am not anymore. But something is happening in my heart." I couldn't believe my ears. Were we actually getting an opportunity to minister to this guy while being stuck in an elevator? He didn't care one bit that we were stuck, that we could get hurt, that we were sardined together in a very small space, this guy was having an encounter with God. So right there, inches from each other - well inches from each other's faces - we talked about it.
More jolts.
Gerri started praying for God's Angles. I joined her. Together we prayed that Angels would come beneath the elevator and take us to the floor. Thirty seconds later we were stepping into the parking lot.
But God wasn't done yet.
I turned to ask my "translator" for directions, since I didn't expect to be arriving to this particular floor. He gave us directions and then started asking more questions, so we kept talking.
Another guy from the elevator walked up and said, "hey, thanks for the prayer... when we were in there I realized I was living in sin, and if something happened..."
I said to them, "Where would you have gone if the elevator had plummeted and we'd all died?"
One replied, "I don't know."
I told them, "I know I would have been with Jesus. But at anytime any of us could be hit by a car, we just have to walk into that parking lot." I looked at them for a minute and then asked, "do you want to make it right with God right now?"
They both said yes with NO hesitation.
So Gerri and I grabbed there hands, we all closed our eyes and I led them in a prayer, Gerri said it with them. Once we were done I told them to get a Bible, and to get into the Word. We started making our way out of the parking lot, me talking to one guy, Gerri to the other.
Before we walked away I told them, "God has things for you to do. You need to do them. Don't go back to your old ways."
"I'm going home," one relied to me. Meaning, he was changing his plans, and not going partying.
I couldn't help but wonder how long their families must have prayed for them.
I will never forget those two guys. God knew right were they were at, He knew their number, their address, their exact location, and He knew that they would be reunited with Him through a faulty elevator and two crazy Canadians.
PS - I'm not sure how long we were in that elevator. Maybe only 10 minutes.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Forgot Bilingual Dictionary
Today I somehow misplaced my Spanish - English Dictionary. Which made for some fun moments. First the contractor trying to communicate with me that we couldn't use the water... and the only word I could understand was "agua". So after about 2 minutes I finally got it.
Then, our driver showed up and I pointed to the gas light on the car and said, "Necissito!" And he said something that sounded like "jugo" which means "juice". But now I'm not so sure that's what he said, if how hard he laughed is any indication. So we stopped at a gas station. And they did not have any "juice". We went to 2 more place, and still no "juice". So I asked "no tiene jugo para carro todas en Villa Nueva?" (They don't have any car juice in Villa Nueva?" (lol) he laughed so hard and said no. So I said, "y en la ciudad?" (and in the city?) and he said no, still laughing. He was laughing so hard he had to pull over. I wish I'd known the word for gas was gasolina. That should have been a no brainer.
By this point, Gerri was laughing so hard, I had to ask Byron to find us a bathroom. So this was cause for even more laughter. Oh! I forgot with the gas, we had prayed and a second later (the 4th gas station) finally had gas. So Byron said, "Orar de Dios" (Pray to God) and we found a bathroom. God cares even about the little things... although to Gerri it was a huge answer to prayer. :)
In Better Hands
I'm just about to head to bed, but I wanted to share a song that I found on youtube tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKlQ6zoqDE&feature=related
I was reminded tonight how Jesus is in intercession for us. Isn't that an awesome and powerful thing?! When we don't even know that we need it, He is standing in intercession for us. There's no safer place, no better place, to be than in the center of His will, in the palm of His hands. It reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms, chapter 31. "My times are in His hands" - and there's no more capable hands than His.
I'll attempt to do some more updates in the next couple days - thanks for everybody's prayers and encouraging emails! The next week is going to fly by... this time next week we'll be gearing up for the conference in Kingston, and I can't wait to see all God has in store for it! You won't want to miss the "Addicted to the Flame" conference - for more information go to www.tdwc.ca.
I was reminded tonight how Jesus is in intercession for us. Isn't that an awesome and powerful thing?! When we don't even know that we need it, He is standing in intercession for us. There's no safer place, no better place, to be than in the center of His will, in the palm of His hands. It reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms, chapter 31. "My times are in His hands" - and there's no more capable hands than His.
I'll attempt to do some more updates in the next couple days - thanks for everybody's prayers and encouraging emails! The next week is going to fly by... this time next week we'll be gearing up for the conference in Kingston, and I can't wait to see all God has in store for it! You won't want to miss the "Addicted to the Flame" conference - for more information go to www.tdwc.ca.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Back at Casa, Drinking Pineapple Juice
It's been a few days since my last post, I actually ran out of time on my portable modem... and being that it was in Spanish and somehow wasn't using any of the words I know (lol) I had to wait to get come help getting my money put on it.
I'm back at Casa de Alabbanza now, after an intense two weeks in Antigua learning Spanish. It was a lot of fun, a lot memory work, a lot of walking (I miss that already!) and I'm actually able to communicate pretty decently with the guards here now. Surprise surprise! That's exciting, knowing I didn't just waste 2 weeks of my life.
Anyway, Gerri Shortt arrives tonight, so I'm going to spend the afternoon getting the place looking spiffy. I'm going to also spray more raid all over the places so maybe there won't be any cockroaches when she gets here. I had one crawling on my foot last night as I was trying to sleep. Shh, don't tell her... eek. Don't worry, to future people coming to Casa we are going to deal with the situation. I have yet to meet a child - even a Guatemalan child - that actually enjoys cockroaches around while they sleep. I'm thinking it's time to irrigate the place, so no worries. :)
Right now it's pouring rain in Villa Nueva, and I'm surprised that every time it rains there still is ash coming off the roof from the volcano eruption a few weeks ago.
So that's the update on this end! More exciting adventures to come in the next 2 weeks!
PS - I've got a hankering for my mom's gingersnaps. I hear she sent some with Gerri. 4 more hours... mmm
I'm back at Casa de Alabbanza now, after an intense two weeks in Antigua learning Spanish. It was a lot of fun, a lot memory work, a lot of walking (I miss that already!) and I'm actually able to communicate pretty decently with the guards here now. Surprise surprise! That's exciting, knowing I didn't just waste 2 weeks of my life.
Anyway, Gerri Shortt arrives tonight, so I'm going to spend the afternoon getting the place looking spiffy. I'm going to also spray more raid all over the places so maybe there won't be any cockroaches when she gets here. I had one crawling on my foot last night as I was trying to sleep. Shh, don't tell her... eek. Don't worry, to future people coming to Casa we are going to deal with the situation. I have yet to meet a child - even a Guatemalan child - that actually enjoys cockroaches around while they sleep. I'm thinking it's time to irrigate the place, so no worries. :)
Right now it's pouring rain in Villa Nueva, and I'm surprised that every time it rains there still is ash coming off the roof from the volcano eruption a few weeks ago.
So that's the update on this end! More exciting adventures to come in the next 2 weeks!
PS - I've got a hankering for my mom's gingersnaps. I hear she sent some with Gerri. 4 more hours... mmm
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Realism, the Cross, and the Power in Believing
I've been thinking about the label "realist". I think I'd like to consider myself a realist... until I realized I wasn't totally sure what the definition of one was. So I looked it up.
There are a few definitions - of course - but one is this: a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are. I like that. However, Jesus says in Mark 11:22-24 "Have faith in God. I assure you that whoever tells this hill to get up and throw itself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. For this reason I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.|
(Sorry this is an interruption to this post, but my host mom is downstairs singing "me gusta los frijoles" which means... I like beans. Then she laughed... :) I wonder what we're having for dinner?)
Alright back to realism. After looking up realism (previously looked up "realist") I realized it meant simply truth and reality. Even down to bringing the true color out in fine art. And what is more true than God Himself? What is more real than our faith in Him and what Jesus did on the cross?
1 Corinthians 1:18 says - For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power.
I believe that all spirit-filled Christians are realist, for we carry the truth and power of the Gospel. The reality of the cross, the power of a mustard seed sized faith, the truth of the freedom found on only in Christ is not a secret to be kept but a lifeline to be thrown to those drowning in the storms of this life, and those throwing their lives away for the pleasures of this world.
One day we will all stand before God. And it won't be foolishness then. It will be the only real thing left in the universe. Only one question will need answering... "What did you do with My Son?" I don't want to only hear, "well done my good and faithful servant". I want to watch as people I have sown seeds of salvation into walk through those golden gates having heard the same words spoken to them - whether I was the one to reap the harvest or not.
Have you heard the saying before, "That person is so heavenly minded he/she is of no earthly good" ? I don't believe that statement could have any possibility of being true whatsoever. Look at Jesus - He was more heavenly minded than anyone to ever walk this earth, and look at all He did for us? What it comes down to is the realization that eternity - those things which will pass from this life and into the next - are things worth investing into. The things that will pass away, the things that cannot go there with us are only temporary.
So being a realist, I think, is to be heavenly minded - minding things of eternal value. To ask for things as though they are. And it is wise to seek God in even the smallest matter - I heard Bill Johnson say recently that our greatest disaster can lie in our greatest assumption.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing, sure, but to us who believe it is the very power of God.
After all, we are not of this world. Our home is heaven.
Spread His truth, walk in His power, shout the reality of the cross from the rooftops.
Other Scriptures: Matthew 6:33, John 14:13-14, 15:7
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
It Wasn't a Hint
I find it fascinating how observant my "host mom" is.
This morning when I was having breakfast (only minutes before I had to rush out the door) I received a very important phone call. So, knowing it was going to make me late for school, I took the call anyway. Afterwards I still tried to get the last bit of my fruit in my mouth, but still had to leave 3 lonely pieces of cantaloupe.
Then at lunch we were served mashed potatoes hotdogs (just the dogs) with this strange ketchup like sauce... and a full tomato. Each. That's all fine and dandy but I nearly detest tomatoes on their own. I love them in things like guacamole, on burgers, mixed with pasta or on supreme fries (not going to think about that too long or I might get a craving!). So I did my best to finish the tomatoes, but left just a few tiny pieces.
Then tonight she gave me a smaller serving of pasta than everyone else and said, "esta bien para tu?" or "Is that good for you?" I said, "si". But was a bit confused for a second, then inside I was laughing seconds later.
Note to self - leave anything on your plate for more than 1 meal, and you will for future meals be served less food than your dinner mates.
Thankfully it was still more than enough, and I came out of it with a story.
And any day that supplies me with even a hint of a good story is a good day by me.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Deme agua, por favor!
Today I was so thirsty, it's a hot one this weekend! I think it's trying to make up for all the rain!
Anyway, so I was going to pick up water at a tienda (store) and it led me to this thought:
If I were desperate enough for water, how much would I be willing to pay? After all, cost and worth are two different things, right? I got a bottle of water for 5 Q but if I was dying of thirst would I not give everything I had to have a glass of water?
It makes me think of the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. If we are desperate enough, then the cost to have the living water that only God can give will be irrelevant. If I know that His water is eternal and I will never thirst again, if I know that His living water is the answer to my every need, and if I know that He has was I need in the midst of any situation, in particular desperate situations, then wouldn't I be willing to give everything up to get it?
Our salvation is a free gift, but it will cost us everything. Right? How many times have we heard that. But the realization with this thought pattern today was this: what desperate situations are the lost people around me facing? And what's going to quench their thirst? Living water. What's going to make them realize that they are thirsty for it? What if they've never been offered it?
If they're desperate enough, then when offered this gift that will cost them everything, making that decision will be an easy one.
How many of us saw our own need for this living water? They're out there, they're thirsty, and they don't even know it.
They're calling out: Deme agua, por favor! (Give me water, please!)
Anyway, so I was going to pick up water at a tienda (store) and it led me to this thought:
If I were desperate enough for water, how much would I be willing to pay? After all, cost and worth are two different things, right? I got a bottle of water for 5 Q but if I was dying of thirst would I not give everything I had to have a glass of water?
It makes me think of the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. If we are desperate enough, then the cost to have the living water that only God can give will be irrelevant. If I know that His water is eternal and I will never thirst again, if I know that His living water is the answer to my every need, and if I know that He has was I need in the midst of any situation, in particular desperate situations, then wouldn't I be willing to give everything up to get it?
Our salvation is a free gift, but it will cost us everything. Right? How many times have we heard that. But the realization with this thought pattern today was this: what desperate situations are the lost people around me facing? And what's going to quench their thirst? Living water. What's going to make them realize that they are thirsty for it? What if they've never been offered it?
If they're desperate enough, then when offered this gift that will cost them everything, making that decision will be an easy one.
How many of us saw our own need for this living water? They're out there, they're thirsty, and they don't even know it.
They're calling out: Deme agua, por favor! (Give me water, please!)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Providence
I should have been blogging more in the past week, so much has happened I'm not quite sure how to catch this up. From the volcano Pacaya erupting, to a rat in the kitchen, the power going out and having candles always on standby, to a light bursting above me (not sure how I wasn't hurt, but GOD), to a tropical storm causing enormous devastation to my bank card being blocked. I could have seen these as reasons to retreat, reasons to doubt God. Instead, I chose to trust. I guess that's the neat thing about being here in Guatemala on my own right now. If I don't trust God, then I have no one. I do have friends here in Guatemala, of course, however they can't be there all the time, and I'm in Antigua. In Antigua I only have a few acquaintances.
Don't get me wrong, there are times when I've had to fight discouragement and on a phone conversation someone said to me "don't allow discouragement... get alone with God". That's when I realized I had forgotten my Bible in a friend's van. I bought a new one the next day... but that's a whole other story. But those words on the phone were exactly what I needed to hear. A kick in the butt, really.
The thing about being here with so much chaos happening is this: learning to depend on God even in the midst of impossible situations. Meeting new people, living with new people, going to school to learn Spanish, finding myself lost in Antigua almost daily. However I seem to be getting to know the area more and more, so I'm more encouraged about that.
I've been praying for a friend here in Antigua, but still I only seem to have acquaintances. But today I think God showed me there's a reason for that. He wants to show me what full dependence on Him really looks like, and how amazing it is. And I think then when I go back to Casa and there's others teaming up with me, and when I go home, and wherever I am 20 years from now, I will have learned dependence on God. I hope and pray that I will never forget these valuable lessons I am learning.
This story I'm about to tell I would have gladly shared the burden with someone else, but even if I hadn't been alone and the same circumstance happened, ultimately, I hope the story would have been the same.
Today I was in desperate need of a laundry mat. Here of course you can pay women for very cheap to do it for you, and since I'm spending my time either at the school or at the house catching up on emails and studying Spanish (other than the odd walk around Antigua) I thought I'd like to go to the lavandaria (laundry mat) and hire someone to do it.
But I could not find a lavandaria. 5 different people sent me on wild goose chases, but I just kept walking and wasn't 100% certain of where I was or where I was headed when God said to me so clearly, "turn around right now". And when you're a single woman walking in a strange town in a foreign country you're really not going to ignore it when God speaks to you that clearly. So I turned around. He then said, "turn right at the next opportunity, and then turn left". Somewhere in here I prayed for Him to show me to lavandaria, and I think to get me home as well, but either way He was doing it. So I took the Lords directions, and knew immediately where I was. I started walking towards my house and He said to me, "keep walking strait" (instead of turning right). So I did, and I kept look for a lavandaria. I couldn't see one, but I did see a Pharmacy - which God knew I also needed to pick up band aids for the blister on my foot. He also knew I've been really wanting m&m's and they had some of those too. So I turned back and on my way home, right on the way, I saw a sign... "laundry service" it said. So tomorrow, she'll be there at 7 am and I will bring my clothes for her to wash. Now, you might be skeptical of all of this, but see in the past several days I have been thanking God and praising Him for His providence and His peace. Why wouldn't He deliver? He is my friend right now. He is my GPS. He is my provider, my protector, my shield, my strong and mighty fortress. And he even cares about my craving for peanut m&ms. He's my Father in heaven, my Lord, my Savior. And He's my friend. The friend I prayed for is the One that has been with me all along on this journey. I thank Him all the time that I am never alone. This revelation is clearly laid out in the Bible, and I've known it since I was a little girl, and yet right now being here and having to fully rely on Him takes that revelation to a whole new level.
My prayer is that when things are easier and times are different than they are now that I would still remember and rely on His providence and not forget to ask for His direction, for His guiding hand, for His input, for His...
About 4 and a half years ago or more I started praying "God show me your will, direct my path, show me which way to walk". When I prayed it I meant in my spiritual walk, in big decisions in my life - and He's done that. But lately it's been simply getting me home.
And to a place where I can have clean clothes.
At the risk of repeating myself, my prayer is that these revelations would stand the test of time in my life. And that I wouldn't miss any revelations that He has for me in this time.
God's providence is an amazing, amazing thing.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Cockroaches
Cockroaches. I can see them as the enemy... or I can see them as my roommates. Now, if I were the type of person that always needed people around, that might actually work, but I really doubt it.
However, raid works really great. Have you ever grabbed your raid and watched a cockroach shrivel up? It's quite amazing, really.
This is one of those times though when I do wish I had someone to share this adventure with. Killing cockroaches is a sport that should always be shared. Don't you think?
PS - I almost posted a photo of a shriveled up cockroach. Aren't you glad I didn't?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Look Up and Look Out
"God is not moved by what we need, but by our faith". I heard Ellen Parsley say that one-liner today... it's good, don't you think? It's such a challenging statement. I mean, the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please Him. He's moved by our confidence in what He said, what He promised He would do.
So in those times when things don't look or feel 100%, or in times when your vision is clouded by circumstance, or when reality vs. perception feels like it could overwhelm you... in those times remember, God is not moved by what you NEED but by your FAITH. I think that can really catch us from getting caught up in a pity-party, in a depression or whatever. Why do I say that? Because it causes us to look UP instead of inward. UP instead of to other people to meet our needs.
I think the most freeing thing in the world is being able to fully trust the Creator of the universe. There will always be times where our faith will be tested - the Bible states that clearly. But when we can get to a place where we can let go and trust no matter what, that's when God can really move.
It's so important to share "faith stories". If God does something awesome in your life (and it's not overly personal, of course) then share it with other Christians! Share it with the WORLD! Because that stirs up faith in others, and it becomes a never ending game of dominos. You never know how many people one encouraging word or kind act will end up impacting. People observe, people pay it forward, people talk about those meaningful moments. And before you know it, you've encouraged, uplifted, and recharged another believer. And usually we are blessed then too... because pouring out is one of the biggest blessings.
Encouragement for today - don't look to your own circumstance - look to God for His providence, and look to others for how YOU can be a blessing. And your socks will be knocked off by how blessed you'll be!
Friday, May 14, 2010
No Limits
For years we've been talking about a "new normal". But how often do we actually stop and think about what that means?
For the past few months God has been really speaking to me about thinking outside the box, taking the limits off and being open to new ways of doing things.
It all started with a shopping trip for a pair of jeans. Sounds odd? Ya, I thought so too.
You see, I'm a really picky jean shopper. I want a good, comfortable pair of jeans that are semi dressy... and on a budget. And I had already been to about five stores. Patience was running thin.
So, I decided to ask God where I should go. I was desperate for a pair of jeans, I had just thrown a pair out a few days before, for good reasons. Sorry, I guess I'm making a long story even longer. Anyway, God told me to go to Smart Set. But I never buy jeans at Smart Set, they never fit, I've never had a good jean experience with Smart Set. But God said to me, "Think outside the box, Amy". I thought to myself, "huh, that's kind of strange". But I went to Smart Set, first pair I tried on I loved, and bought, and wear all the time.
Ever since that day things will happen, I'll make my mind up about something and then I will hear God say... "Think outside the box". Preconceived ideas can be a very limiting thing.
It's so exciting living outside the box, it makes every day full of new "normalcies".
All that to say that last night we had a band practice with some of the locals here, and a guy walked in with his friend and listened in. Then before he left, he asked the Pastor to go pray with a woman. I went too, and ended up being the one to pray... in front of a whole AA group. I had no idea I would be interrupting a meeting! But you know what's the craziest part? It felt normal. Why? Because God is calling us to live outside the box, to obey Him no matter what, and treat those situations like they are normal. When divine appointments happen, walk into it like it's a normal thing and expect miracles to happen.
After all, the atmosphere of expectancy is the breeding ground of miracles.
PS - half the AA meeting was amen-ing. Very cool.
For the past few months God has been really speaking to me about thinking outside the box, taking the limits off and being open to new ways of doing things.
It all started with a shopping trip for a pair of jeans. Sounds odd? Ya, I thought so too.
You see, I'm a really picky jean shopper. I want a good, comfortable pair of jeans that are semi dressy... and on a budget. And I had already been to about five stores. Patience was running thin.
So, I decided to ask God where I should go. I was desperate for a pair of jeans, I had just thrown a pair out a few days before, for good reasons. Sorry, I guess I'm making a long story even longer. Anyway, God told me to go to Smart Set. But I never buy jeans at Smart Set, they never fit, I've never had a good jean experience with Smart Set. But God said to me, "Think outside the box, Amy". I thought to myself, "huh, that's kind of strange". But I went to Smart Set, first pair I tried on I loved, and bought, and wear all the time.
Ever since that day things will happen, I'll make my mind up about something and then I will hear God say... "Think outside the box". Preconceived ideas can be a very limiting thing.
It's so exciting living outside the box, it makes every day full of new "normalcies".
All that to say that last night we had a band practice with some of the locals here, and a guy walked in with his friend and listened in. Then before he left, he asked the Pastor to go pray with a woman. I went too, and ended up being the one to pray... in front of a whole AA group. I had no idea I would be interrupting a meeting! But you know what's the craziest part? It felt normal. Why? Because God is calling us to live outside the box, to obey Him no matter what, and treat those situations like they are normal. When divine appointments happen, walk into it like it's a normal thing and expect miracles to happen.
After all, the atmosphere of expectancy is the breeding ground of miracles.
PS - half the AA meeting was amen-ing. Very cool.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
I'm Gonna Let it Shine
How do I sum up today in one post? Hmm. Well, it started out with a very tired team having devotions on the beach (no complaints there), then coffee to go (followed by a balancing act while driving like mad to the church).
We had so many awesome divine appointments today on the streets. I know I don't just speak for myself, I believe the whole team (our team, and the local church too) was not only impacted but also used by God to sow seeds in the community. God was giving words to people for the hurting, we saw tears, excitement, hopelessness turned to hopefulness and 3 people said yes to Jesus.
As we walked back to the church, I really got thinking. At the risk of sounding cliche, we have what they need. Without it, they are without something that they NEED. Not want... NEED. And the truth is, that they want to talk to us, they just don't know yet. And if we can talk to them with all the love and compassion Jesus feels for them, then connecting with them shouldn't be a burden at all. I don't know about you, but when someone genuinely shows compassion or love for me I know it. And when it isn't genuine, then I know it. I felt like my perspective really took a shift today. Gone are the days of awkward evangelism if we can just realize that they want what we have - they are looking for the answer. So we get shot down once in a while... one day, they will know that the answer was presented to them. Our job is to simply obey, present the Gospel in a loving and courageous way. A key there, however, is living it when you walk away. I'm talking about a lifestyle, a lighthouse that never goes out. Not a light switch that can be turned on and off.
But that's a post for another day.
Thanks for reading, be inspired to be a philanthropist for Jesus wherever you go. There's no greater gift you can give someone than the truth and life of the Gospel. Remember, without it, they are without something that they need. Don't horde it, be real, be genuine, be a life-giver. Loose your own life, so you can find it.
ps - missing team member was taking the photo ;) Thanks Jenn!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Bonus Points for the Syracuse Airport
Well, we are on our way! The Syracuse airport might not have much, but one thing it does has is Wi-Fi! So even though I can't indulge in an iced, tall, non-fat, half-sweet caramel mocchiato I can check my emails, say hey to a sister or two (or three!) and... update my blog of course.
The journey started on a high note this morning with a sing along including nothing but best... DC TALK! There's no better song to start a mission's trip with than "Lean On Me". Well, that's not really true, but it seems to be a re-occurring one.
Our trip has begun without a hitch, the team is pumped, ready to go, getting in gear and anticipating what God has in store for Miami.
More to come in the days ahead, maybe I'll even figure out how to post a video on here. You'll have to check back to find out!
PS - thanks for your prayers!
The journey started on a high note this morning with a sing along including nothing but best... DC TALK! There's no better song to start a mission's trip with than "Lean On Me". Well, that's not really true, but it seems to be a re-occurring one.
Our trip has begun without a hitch, the team is pumped, ready to go, getting in gear and anticipating what God has in store for Miami.
More to come in the days ahead, maybe I'll even figure out how to post a video on here. You'll have to check back to find out!
PS - thanks for your prayers!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
A True and Inspirational Story
I was reading "The Gate Church" by Frank Damazio and this story caught my attention:
There's a lesson we can learn from the story told of a poor Scottish farmer named Fleming. One day, while eking out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to help. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy that Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you. You saved my son's life," said the nobleman.
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waiving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" asked the nobleman.
"Yes," the farmer proudly replied.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."
And the nobleman did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Medical School in London and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.
Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son? Sir Winston Churchill.
Taking a poor Scottish farmer's son into his home did not further the nobleman's ambitions in any way and, in a class-conscious society, could have been a hindrance. But the nobleman did not allow these things to prevent him from forming a relationship that seemed to be of no great benefit to him, yet in time proved to be the very thing that saved his own son.
There's a lesson we can learn from the story told of a poor Scottish farmer named Fleming. One day, while eking out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to help. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy that Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you. You saved my son's life," said the nobleman.
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waiving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" asked the nobleman.
"Yes," the farmer proudly replied.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."
And the nobleman did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Medical School in London and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.
Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son? Sir Winston Churchill.
Taking a poor Scottish farmer's son into his home did not further the nobleman's ambitions in any way and, in a class-conscious society, could have been a hindrance. But the nobleman did not allow these things to prevent him from forming a relationship that seemed to be of no great benefit to him, yet in time proved to be the very thing that saved his own son.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pure Focus, Pure Obedience, Pure Success
The most successful people in history didn't become successful by always playing it safe or playing the status quo. They didn't become successful by sitting around watching tv and playing video games. But, who defines true success? What makes a person successful? I believe true success is not as difficult to obtain than everyone makes it out to be.
Success is not in a name, a title, or in a bank account balance. True success is simply this: obedience to God and His call. So why do so many people have a difficult time with this?
Because this kind of success calls for more sacrifice than the kind of success than the world wants you to obtain. It calls for sacrifice of your time, your desires, and... dun dun dun... your finances. This kind of success calls for humility so that He can be glorified.
At the end of the day the most powerful businesses, marriages, families, musicians, individuals and ministries are those who set their standard of success by God's. It calls for obedience at all costs - obedience, period. Obedience is really an outward sign of our faith in Him. And we know without faith it is impossible to please Him. When I obey God - especially in the times when I don't understand and it doesn't seem to make any sense to me - that's when He is the most pleased with me. Why? Because what I'm really saying is, "God I don't understand, but Your ways are higher than my own, I will trust You and follow You." Because He sees the end of the tunnel when we see only three feet in front of us.
Encouragement: decide to be focused on Kingdom things, choose to obey no matter what, and you will find what it means to be really successful is simply about furthering the Kingdom. As we pray "God break my heart for what breaks Yours" and we really seek to see His will established in our lives, He will knock our socks off. It calls for greater intimacy with Him, and greater sacrifice. I think if we only knew what the garden was like before the fall, maybe we wouldn't be so hesitant to pay the price for His presence and anointing increased in our lives. Something to think about.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33, 34
Success is not in a name, a title, or in a bank account balance. True success is simply this: obedience to God and His call. So why do so many people have a difficult time with this?
Because this kind of success calls for more sacrifice than the kind of success than the world wants you to obtain. It calls for sacrifice of your time, your desires, and... dun dun dun... your finances. This kind of success calls for humility so that He can be glorified.
At the end of the day the most powerful businesses, marriages, families, musicians, individuals and ministries are those who set their standard of success by God's. It calls for obedience at all costs - obedience, period. Obedience is really an outward sign of our faith in Him. And we know without faith it is impossible to please Him. When I obey God - especially in the times when I don't understand and it doesn't seem to make any sense to me - that's when He is the most pleased with me. Why? Because what I'm really saying is, "God I don't understand, but Your ways are higher than my own, I will trust You and follow You." Because He sees the end of the tunnel when we see only three feet in front of us.
Encouragement: decide to be focused on Kingdom things, choose to obey no matter what, and you will find what it means to be really successful is simply about furthering the Kingdom. As we pray "God break my heart for what breaks Yours" and we really seek to see His will established in our lives, He will knock our socks off. It calls for greater intimacy with Him, and greater sacrifice. I think if we only knew what the garden was like before the fall, maybe we wouldn't be so hesitant to pay the price for His presence and anointing increased in our lives. Something to think about.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33, 34
Sunday, May 2, 2010
A Blog About Nothing
So, listen readers. I have nothing, and yet I am itching to blog. How frustrating. And yet anything that comes to mind is so deeply personal and I just can't go baring my soul to the world. You can lol. But the thing is, that right now, I want so bad to be funny. But there just is no funny in me right now. You know that moment when you are like, "oh I so want to make everyone laugh right now" but you just can't think of anything clever or witty to say? Please picture me saying this with a latina accent. Just kidding. I'm so non-latina tonight. Wait, I'm not done, that might have sounded like closure but it wasn't. This is beginning to feel like a Seinfeld episode... the show about nothing. I love that. It's wonderful that someone thought to make up a show about nothing. And I reserve the right to blog about nothing every once in a while. If you are still reading... doubtful... then you are a die hard fan. And I love you for it.
Austa
the Philanthropist (it's very bad when you have to sound out your blog name... working it out.)
Austa
the Philanthropist (it's very bad when you have to sound out your blog name... working it out.)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I Will Not Be Moved
I ran into a song I hadn't heard in a while. "I will not be moved", by Natalie Grant. The lyrics talk of brokenness... but in spite of everything falling all around her, she chooses to not be moved, declaring that she is standing on Christ. Moral of the story? No matter the trials that come, if you stumble and fall - choose to stay secure in the foundation of God. But to do that, you need to have a secure foundation in Him. And, as a philanthropist, help others find their foundation in Him. But no matter what, be unwaivering in your faith and in the truth you have found Him. If it's Bible, then it's divine truth. Period. Don't be moved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyEMJBhCtU8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyEMJBhCtU8
Friday, April 30, 2010
Non-Verbal Communication 101
I was talking to a very wise woman in my life this week and the topic of relationships arose. And it really got me thinking. She was saying how years ago relationships were so simple. People said what they meant and meant what they said. There wasn't all this guess work, hidden meanings and motives like there is today. So, here's food for thought for today: how is that we live in a world where we strive to simplify everything, from computer programs to nuking dinner, and yet we have overcomplicated relationship to the point that a simple smile can mean a thousand things? Why have we made communication a bad word, and people who speak from the heart a force to be reckoned with? Maybe it's just me, but particularly in Canadian society hardly anyone speaks the same language anymore. Forget English - suddenly tone, body language, and metaphors are the primary languages of the nation. To those who are tired of being misunderstood: try honesty. To those tired of misunderstanding: stop reading between the lines. Ya right, if only it were that easy. Plan B: start offering courses in Colleges around country - Non-verbal communication 101.
Philanthropist-ism
I've decided to change my blog, and instead of writing every 3 months... or once a year... I'm going to be writing several times a week. The point of this blog now will be to share with you things that happen in my day to day life and ministry. In less than 2 weeks I will head to Miami for ministry purposes, and in less than a month will be heading to Guatemala to begin preparation for the opening of our Casa de Alabbanza - (Third Day Worship Centre's children's home). I anticipate some great stories and I hope you enjoy following this journey with me through times of excitement, times of trial, times of expectation and times where I feel like pulling out my hair. I'm pulling up my socks, so get ready to laugh with me, cry with me, and enjoy the ride.
So... what is a Philanthropist? I am so glad you asked! This is a word I was just recently introduced to. I was in Franklin, TN and my sister took me to a store called "Philanthropy". Basically philanthropy means to give aid or charity to people through humanitarian efforts. That's the "Amy definition". It's all about promoting the well-being of man-kind. In my opinion all Christians should be able to put themselves under this category. I think that's what James was talking about when he said that true Christianity is to see to the widow and the orphan, and to keep oneself unspotted by the world. Or when Jesus Himself said simply to "do unto others what you would have them do unto you". Christianity is about giving your life every day for God's purposes, seeking first His Kingdom. So no matter whether you are a student, a businessperson, a farmer, a hairstylist, or a missionary, you can live a life of a Philanthropist too. But not just for the sake of "extending a hand to fellow man" - but to do it because it's what Jesus did. It's who He is and what He's called us to be.
I'm going to do more studying on the term, but for now I will sign off.
Ready, set, go Philanthroprize! (Don't Google that one, that's an Amy original).
Amy
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