A Real Christian Man

My dad was my first hero. As a child, I thought he could do anything. Oh, I knew he could not fly like Superman, but he was certainly more capable than Batman. After all, he could preach, teach, ride a motorcycle, fly an airplane, play a ukulele, sing with gusto, build houses, fix almost anything, and teach us cool stuff like how to fish, swim, and ride a bicycle.  He could even read us books and change his voice to sound like the characters in the book.

Dad planing a board for our house.

We learned a lot from his teaching. He taught us how to mow a lawn, plant a garden, wield a hammer, build things, and use power tools. He spent hours with my brothers rebuilding a car engine. He was at home in the kitchen.  On our birthdays, he made a tall stack Norwegian pancakes so that we could eat until we waddled away from the table, holding our bellies and declaring to the others how many pancakes we wolfed down. Now when we make Norwegian pancakes for the next generation, we use Dad's recipe, perfected through years of birthday celebrations.

However, the lessons I learned by observation were even more special. While I may not have admitted it while I was growing up, he set a standard for me of what it meant to be a real Christian man. When I got married, these were the things I wanted in a husband. I wanted someone who was authentic in his faith and who was a real Christian guy.

1. A real Christian man spends time alone with God.

In the morning when I arose, I usually found him in the living room. His Bible lay open on his lap and when he was done reading, he took out a list, scrawled in his own handwriting. As his prayer list covered the page of his Bible, he closed his eyes and talked to God about his concerns.  Occasionally I watched him, wondering how he could pray for so long.

One morning he was missing at breakfast. Later I asked him where he was. "I so wanted to stay up all night and pray like Jesus did when He was on earth," he told me, "but at about three in the morning I had to go back to sleep. One day I will try again." There were times when he was missing from the dinner table because he was praying and fasting.

2. A real Christian man loves his family.

Many pastors take Mondays off because they find Sundays exhausting. For him, Sundays were filled to the brim with teaching, preaching, counseling, prayer, and hospitality. He must have been tired on Mondays too. Yet because his children were in school on Monday, he chose to take his day off on Saturday so that he could spend more time with us.

His favorite stories to tell and retell were often about his children. Whether it was Steven's exposition of Scriptures, Dan's miraculous recovery, Tim's natural leadership, Joel's cute antics, Andrea's inexhaustible energy, Reza's adoption, or my fear of monsters in the night, his stories remain with us as part of our heritage. They give us a sense of identity and belonging. They tell us we belong to him.

While there was not a lot of money in the house, we knew that he considered us a priority. Birthday and Christmas gifts were simple and practical, but they were part of our celebration and a reminder that our parents cared. Vacations were spent as a family - either camping or visiting relatives. When special events like graduation arose, there was always a celebration and Dad was there, laughing and smiling with us.

3. A real Christian man tells others of Christ. 

My dad was shy, but he was also determined to let his light shine for Christ. At a gas station, he'd ask the attendant, "If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would go?" Depending upon the response, we might be there a while as he continued to share his faith with him. At restaurants, he'd say to the waitress, "We're going to pray in a minute. Is there anything I can pray about for you?" He kept gospel tracts in his pockets when he was traveling so that he would be able to leave information with people he encountered along the way. He was always ready to tell others of the hope he had in God.

I remember the day that he called me to tell me that Marcus, an Indonesian pastor, had died. "Now I know for sure that there will be someone to greet me in heaven when I get there because I introduced him to Jesus," he said with a mixture of sorrow and joy.

4. A real Christian man stands up for what he believes.

It would have been so much easier to keep quiet than to let people know his convictions were different from theirs. He could have kept his mouth shut when he saw people straying instead of encouraging them to go hard after God. He could have preached safe sermons rather than stepping on their toes. How he longed for people to take sanctification seriously and to do what they could to walk as closely to God as possible. So he chose to call sin evil and warn people of choosing the wrong path.

I thought it was normal for Christians to take a stand and to pursue heavenly goals with dogged determination. I thought every Christian tried to put God first in their lives. After all, all of the men I admired were like that, but especially my dad. Now I realize that his commitment is more rare than I realized. While it may be "normal," it is certainly not common.

5. A real Christian man is authentic all the time.

There was no difference between the man we saw at home and the man others saw at church. What he preached from the pulpit, he preached to us at home. If he said he hated sin, we heard him say it first at home. We never had to wonder what mood he was going to be in or how he would react to us. His moods did not affect his behavior. If he was wrong, he admitted it.

Sometimes I meet people who tell of a very different home life from what we see in public, and I grieve with them. It is hard for me to imagine the weight of having to put on a face in public to cover up what is really going on. I am glad that my dad taught me to be genuine at home so that we did not have to be hypocritical.

6. A real Christian man leaves a lasting legacy.

My dad is 91 years old now. He is weak and can no longer climb mountains to find jungle tribes that need the gospel. He tires easily just from daily activity, let alone the stress of juggling the myriad responsibilities of those many years of being a missions director. So I am glad that he spent his strong years doing things that would matter long after he is gone.

Fifty years from now, when he is celebrating in heaven, his legacy on earth will live on. An orphanage in the Philippines and a Bible school in Indonesia may still remember his part in their inception. Grandchildren may recount stories of his life. But even if they don't, there will be people in heaven who will thank him for his steadfast faithfulness to the God that he worships. I know because I will be one of them.

Whispers

A teenage girl leans in to a close friend and whispers about the boy she likes.  A child reaches up and pulls down his dad's head to whisper his desire for ice cream.  Husbands and wives whisper their love for one another in the darkness of night.  During a concert, a proud mother whispers to her guest that her child has the next solo.  

Whispers are for two people.  We do not speak in whispers when we want others to hear.  We might speak quietly if we want only a small group to hear, but we do not whisper.

Yet this week I am learning about another kind of whisper.  Friday night I lost my voice.  After that, only whispers escaped my lips.  Any attempts to vocalize caused pain.  I have lost my voice before, and it has usually returned in a day or two.  This time is different.  Four days later I am still without a voice. I can only speak in whispers.

Whisper a prayer in the morning.  Whisper a prayer at noon.  Whisper a prayer in the evening to keep your heart in tune. 

So goes the song.

Yes, I have whispered my prayers all through the day.  Whispered prayers are as effective as those I have prayed with a loud voice, and maybe even more so, depending on the state of my heart.  My inability to communicate with others has given me more time for prayer.  Whispers work in my prayers to God, and I love the fact that He can hear my whispering heart even if everyone else is crying out to Him with a loud voice.  Whispers work in my prayers.

But there are so many times when whispers do not work well.  When I am out on the street, desperate to catch a child's attention because of an oncoming vehicle, a whisper will not do.  When I am in church and everyone around me is lifting their voices in praise to our Almighty God, my little whisper is not enough.  When I am out on the street inviting children to Vacation Bible School, parents eye me suspiciously when they hear me whisper to their children.  Yesterday, in a large group of people, I wanted to chime into the conversation, but a whisper is not heard over the buzz of friendly banter.  I cannot even give directions from the back seat of a vehicle.  Obviously, I cannot teach so long as I am voiceless.

I am sometimes called a quiet person, yet I am realizing how vocal I really am.  Everywhere I turn, I find that I miss using my voice.  I want to be able to call out a greeting to a neighbor on the street, thank a child effusively before she runs off again to play, and join in the conversation around the table.  But most of all, I miss being able to sing, to lift my voice in praise to the God I love.

For that, whispers will not do.

Miles Apart but United in Purpose

Outside my window a blue sky beckons.  It has not rained here in months, so a light haze covers the city.  The consistent weather patterns are part of reason that Levi Schooley, IPM’s children’s evangelist, and myself are here in Peru right now.  Vacation Bible School usually falls during their long break in January and February.  However, those are the rainy months here, and after years of having difficulties caused by the weather, they decided to have their VBS this year during a short break in the middle of the school year.

Last week Levi and I presented “Lost in the Desert,” a curriculum based on the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites.  Next week, the three churches who participated in the training plan to put on their VBS.  On Monday they will distribute flyers, and then on Tuesday through Sunday they will hold their VBS.  Pray that many children would come, that souls would be saved, and families would be reached.

This is cold season here.  Pastor Araujo and his family were all battling colds when we arrived.  Naturally, Levi and I both caught colds as well.  One day I felt quite sick but hid it from my hosts as I knew I needed to teach that night.  Then the other days were a little better.  Last night I could not sing because the cold had robbed my singing voice.  Today when I awoke, my voice was gone completely.  How good it is that we were able to finish our teaching.  Praise God with me for His sustaining power.

While I have been here, Charlie has been at home in Georgia helping with our church’s VBS.  It ended on Thursday evening, and on Friday he flew to Guatemala.  He has jumped into the ministry there, helping today with visitation and speaking at a men’s event tonight.  Tomorrow he will be teaching.  Pray that his ministry there in Guatemala will be effective.

Levi teaching through a translator

Tomorrow Levi will be preaching here.  Pastor Araujo has asked him to address the issue of children getting saved.  Evidently it is common here to think that a child below the age of ten cannot get saved.  Pray that Levi would be able to biblically encourage the church and the parents to lead their children to Jesus.

It will be ten days before I see Charlie again.  This is the first time since we joined IPM that I have left him at home while I traveled for ministry.  It has felt strange to not have him here, and I rejoice that we are together in ministry.  This is also the first time that we have been separated on our anniversary.  I am glad for modern technology that allows us to stay in contact with texts.  Praise the Lord with me for 18 years of being united in our purpose of serving the Lord together.

Tomorrow as Christians around the world lift their voices in praise to God for His amazing work on our behalf, I pray that you too will join the 24-hour chorus of saints who exalt him together.  Even though I am far from you and cannot hear you, God hears us all and is delighted by our praise.

Counting to Ten on Thanksgiving Day

 

On this beautiful day of Thanksgiving, I stop to count some of the sweet blessings that God has given through the years.  These are broad, sweeping statements.  Perhaps later I will add some more specific ones, but these are huge blessings in my life that I never want to forget.

1. God saved me.  On a hot, sunny day in Indonesia as a five-year-old child, God showed me the enormity of my sin and my need of a Savior.  My mother led me in a simple prayer and my life forever changed.  Today my heart overflows with the joy of knowing I am loved and safe with God.
2. Sixteen years ago God gave me a wonderful, godly husband.  I had to wait a long time to find him.  I let other opportunities for marriage go by as I waited for this man that I hoped existed and who was the other half of me.  Today I give thanks for his godly leadership, his thoughtful intelligence, and his Christ-like love for me.
3. God gave me godly parents.  Throughout my life, I have witnessed firsthand their faith and commitment to God.  They have been faithful witnesses to me of what it means to trust and follow God.  Today I give thanks that at 89 years of age, they are still part of my life.   
4. The Bible.  What a precious book.  Everyday when I open its pages, I marvel again how it speaks to me afresh.  Today I found plenty of passages that gave me words of thanksgiving to fill my heart with praise.
5. Church.  Whether I am talking about our church in Georgia, the church my husband pastored in Maine, or the many other churches where I worshiped and worked through the years, I am so grateful for the role of the church in my life.  The teaching I have received there and the fellowship of the believers have been a help in hard times and a way to celebrate the good times.  Church has helped me grow and made me of more service to God than I ever would have been alone.
6. Health.  I know of so many people my age who are struggling with physical issues.  How thankful I am for good health. As I get older, I am getting glimpses of the fact that my body may not always be healthy, so I am doubly thankful for health today.
7. Beauty.  We live in a beautiful world.  I sometimes wonder how heaven could possibly be any better than this, but I am convinced that it is.
8. The gift of sight.  Every time I stop of admire the color of a fresh flower, the sparkling of dew on the grass, the arch of a double rainbow in the sky, or the glow of autumn leaves in the morning sunlight, I marvel that God would give me eyes to see such beauty.  Along with that gift, I am also giving thanks today for eyeglasses.  I see more clearly with them and appreciate God’s beauty more with them.
9. Music.  Right now the sound of a professional choir singing “We Gather Together” is filtering up the stairs and into the room where I write.  My heart soars in praise when I hear beautiful music, whether it is the sound of a pipe organ that leads a congregation in song, a cello playing “It Is Well” or a child’s voice singing “Jesus loves me.”  Today music helps me lift my heart in praise in a way that a world without music could not.
10. The gift of hearing.  As I get older, my hearing is not nearly as good as it used to be.  I notice it when a mosquito has to get close to me for me to hear it rather than hearing it across the room the way I did when I was younger.  Still, I am amazed that God would let me hear the beautiful and no-so-beautiful sounds around me.  Our hearing helps protect us from danger as well as letting us enjoy so much – the singing of birds, the patter of rain, and the thundering of the waterfall.
    
    Thanksgiving Day sounds are all around me.  I hear a knife on wood as someone cuts vegetables in the kitchen.  A full choir sings through computer speakers.  Footsteps sound in the hallway.  Muted conversations drift through the open door.  Dishes clatter.  The oven door squeaks open and then closed.  A door shuts.  The clock ticks.  A cell phone announces an incoming message.  Cars whisper by on the road outside.  All in all, they remind me that a family has gathered to feast and thank the Lord for His blessings.
    
    Thank you, Lord, for hearing.

And so I have counted to ten.  To be honest, this is only a start.  My blessings, should I count them all, would number in the thousands.

Too Wise to Be Mistaken and Too Good to Be Unkind

Years ago a dear friend gave me a copy of Gadsby's Hymns.  Since it was #7 in this book, it did not take me long to find this hymn by Samuel Medley.  Medley was led to saving faith in Jesus Christ when his grandfather read him a sermon by Isaac Watts.  After that, his life was radically changed and he became a prolific songwriter, writing over 200 hymns.  Unfortunately, most of them are no longer being sung in our churches even though many contain doctrine we would want to sing.  More modern songs and hymns have replaced them.

Although I do not know the tune it was sung to then, I find myself singing it to "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee."

    1   God shall alone the refuge be,

            And comfort of my mind;

        Too wise to be mistaken, He,

            Too good to be unkind.

    2    In all his holy, sovereign will,

            He is, I daily find,

        Too wise to be mistaken, still

            Too good to be unkind.

    3    When I the tempter’s rage endure,

            ’Tis God supports my mind;

        Too wise to be mistaken, sure,

            Too good to be unkind.

    4    When sore afflictions on me lie,

            He is (though I am blind)

        Too wise to be mistaken, yea,

            Too good to be unkind.

    5    What though I can’t his goings see,

            Nor all his footsteps find?

        Too wise to be mistaken, He,

            Too good to be unkind.

    6    Hereafter he will make me know,

            And I shall surely find,

        He was too wise to err, and O,

            Too good to be unkind.

“America is Disneyland”

 

One sunny summer afternoon, the kind that Minnesota is famous for, I was in my office at church, surrounded by papers and books on my desk.  A friend stopped by and said to me, “Do you want to go on a walk with us?  It’s such a nice day and summer is too short.  A walk around the lake will do us some good.”

A few minutes later, we jumped into their small car and headed to Lake Harriet, about seven miles away.  When we got there, we parked the car and began our walk around the small lake.  Even the trees, shimmering in the light breeze, seemed to be reveling in the perfect day.  The sun glinted off the ripples in the water, and sailboats, tilting toward the wind, skimmed across the clear blue water. When we circumnavigated the lake, we got back into the car and drove back.

Jon parked the car and as we walked back into the church, he said, “America is Disneyland.” 

I laughed and agreed, but just to make sure I was agreeing with the same things that he was talking about, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well,” he began.  “We just decided to go to the lake, seven miles away.  We got in our car, drove there, walked around the lake and returned, all within two hours.  We didn’t have a flat tire on the way.  There were no downed trees or washed away bridges preventing us from proceeding.  We didn’t have car trouble.  There were no roadblocks along the way, and no one tried to break into the car or rob us while we walked around the lake.  On the other hand, when we were missionaries, at least one of those things was likely to happen on any given trip.   A trip like the one we just took would have required much more planning.  We would have started packing the car the night before with water and emergency supplies, and we might never have reached our destination.  America is like Disneyland, and Americans don’t even realize how blessed we are.”

I smiled and agreed again, remembering many of my experiences abroad.  Roadblocks, car trouble, impassable roads, and plenty of flat tires were all part of our travel. 

Coming back from Guatemala, I again thought of that conversation.  The luxuries and efficiency we enjoy here are remarkable.  Even though my years in the U.S. now exceed my years abroad, there are still so many things that amaze me.

• We have hot running water.  Guatemala had hot water in the shower, but none in the kitchen.  In many of the places where we go, the only hot water is the water you heat on the stove. 
• I can drink water straight from the tap.  Often, when we first return, I find myself thinking twice about pouring a glass of water from the tap.  What a blessing!
• Mail is reliable and we do not have to pay a surcharge for having the mail delivered to our house.
• We can pay bills online or by mail instead of standing for hours in line to pay each bill.
• Roads are wide enough that you do not have to back up to a wide spot in order for an oncoming car to pass you.
• We can travel safely on highways at 65 or 75 miles per hour.   In Guatemala, it took us two hours to travel to the capital city, a distance of only 25 miles.
• We do not have to pass through checkpoints between states.
• Grocery stores do not run out of staples and stock similar things almost all the time.
• We get fresh produce in the grocery store all winter long.  We are not limited to the crops that are locally in season. 
• Internet is easily available.
• Septic systems allow you to flush your toilet paper.
• Policemen are your helpers and protectors.  If I am stopped and I am quite sure I have done nothing wrong, I do not fear them.  On the other hand, I  have been in countries where a stop by a policeman meant he was looking for a bribe.  Failure to pay that bribe could result in a short stay in a jail cell.  Thankfully, God kept me from having to pay that price for ignoring the obvious pleas for a bribe.

There are many others, but these are the ones I often find myself thanking God for when we return from a trip abroad.  So the next time you go to the sink and pour yourself a glass of water to drink, thank God for the placing you in a land where we live with fewer risks and many more luxuries than the rest of the world enjoys.

We are blessed far beyond what we ever would have deserved.  Thank you, Lord!

When Things are Quiet

It's been quiet over here in our little corner, hasn't it?  Not a blog has been written in almost a month.

Sometimes quiet is a good thing.  A sleeping baby is quiet.  A car that runs smoothly is quiet.  Golden sunsets are quiet.  Twinkling stars are quiet.

But while things are quiet here, there are still small ruffles at the edge of the quiet.  A phone call that encourages us.  A Christmas card with a check in it for Charlie's trip to Ghana.  A pastor who tells us that Charlie's ministry to him on a dark night several weeks ago was just what he needed to keep going.

So just because it's been quiet, it does not mean things are not happening.  It's just that the small things that ripple through our lives are hard to write about in a way that makes sense to a general public.

And in the wake of much disaster, heartache, and turmoil, I am blessed by the quietness.

One Hundred Reasons

Why I'm Thankful to Be a Child of God

In my Sunday School class one Sunday in Maine, I made an off-hand remark that I thought I could probably come up with 100 reasons why I am glad I am a Christian. One of my students said, “Then why don’t you?” I counter-challenged my class of fifth and sixth graders to each come up with a list of twenty reasons why it is good to be a Christian. I made one qualifier. Only ten percent of the reasons could be about heaven. I wanted them to see that the joys of being a Christian are for today, not just for the distant future when they die, as important as that is. While this is by no means exhaustive, this is my list.

1. The One to whom I give thanks during this season is not some mysterious “higher power” but a friend who is closer than a brother.
2. I can be at peace. (Rom. 5:1)
3. I have everlasting comfort. (II Thess. 2:16)
4. I can always have hope. (Heb. 6:18-19, I Pet. 1:3)
5. The Almighty God loves me. (John 3:16 and many others)
6. I can be content with little because I have God. (Heb. 13:5)
7. Nothing can separate me from God’s love. (Rom. 8:35-39)
8. He gives me a reason (many reasons, actually) to sing. (Psalm 146:2)
9. No one can take God’s joy from me. (John 16:22)
10. I am a joint heir together with Jesus. (Rom. 8:17)
11. I am receiving an inheritance which will never lose its value. (I Peter 1:4)
12. God will provide for all of my needs. (Phil. 4:19)
13. He will not withhold anything from me that is good for me. (Psalm 84:11)
14. I cannot out-give God.  (Luke 6:38)
15. God can take the little we have and make it last for as long as we need it.  (I Kings 17)
16. Jesus is preparing a home for me in heaven (John 14:2)
17. I have a mansion (well, at least a perfect dwelling place) awaiting me.  (John 14:1)
18. I can endure any trial on this earth because they are so small compared to the glories that await us in heaven. (Romans 8:18)
19. Some day I will be part of a great multitude from every tribe and nation who worship our Savior together. (Rev. 7:9-10)
20. The things of this earth that seem so valuable now will be the construction materials of heaven.  So if my jewelry is fake, it doesn’t matter.  Either way, it won’t be worth anything to me then.
21. I do not have to worry about being rich in this life because our riches in heaven will far exceed anything we imagine here. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21)
22. I get to begin my eternal life with God now.  (John 17:3)
23. I will get to spend the rest of eternity with Jesus.
24. There is nothing that can separate me from God’s love.  (Romans 8:38-39)
25. I am accepted because of Jesus. (Ephesians 1:6)
26. God knew me before anyone even knew my great-great-grandparents (II Timothy 1:9)
27. God chose me before the world was formed to be holy and blameless in His sight (Eph. 1:4)
28. I have been adopted into God’s family (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:5)
29. Jesus is my older brother (Rom. 8:29)
30. I have been created to do good works.  (Ephesians 2:10)
31. I belong to a huge international family that has been brought together under God through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  (Ephesians 3:15)
32. In Jesus, I have a perfect example to follow.  I do not need to worry that one day I will find out that my example was not worth following. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
33. I have been given a new nature.  (II Corinthians 5:17)
34. God is my Keeper. (Psalm 121:5)Therefore, I am His keepsake. (Ps. 121:5)
35. I belong to a huge family that is made up of others who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:14-15)
36. I am secure in God’s hands. (John 10:28)
37. Jesus gives me abundant life.  (John 10:10)
38. The Lord will carry me, even into my old age. (Isaiah 46:4)
39. I should have been cursed because of my sin, but Jesus became accursed and died for me in my stead. (Galatians 3:13)
40. Since God gave up his only Son in order to redeem me, I can be positive that He will not withhold anything good from me.  (Romans 8:32)
41. God’s truth has made me free. (John 8:32)
42. God has let me in on the mystery of His will (Eph. 1:7)
43. God has opened my understanding so that I can know the hope and the riches to which He has called me. (Eph. 1:18)
44. I have access to all the truth I need through God’s Word. 
45. I may boldly appear at the throne of grace at any time (Hebrews 4:16)
46. My prayers will be answered. (Matt. 7:7-8)
47. When I cannot put my heart’s needs into prayer, the Holy Spirit takes what I offer and turns it into genuine prayer to God.  (Romans 8:26)
48. God is always ready to help me. (Ps. 145:18)
49. I do not have to go through a priest to have my prayer heard. 
50. Because of Jesus, I have access to the Holy of Holies. (Hebrews 10:19)
51. God has outlined the good works I am to do and directs me toward them (Eph. 2:10)
52. God is on my side. (Psalm 118:8)
53. God will never leave me. (Heb. 13:5)
54. God even gave me the heart I needed to have in order to seek Him.  (Jeremiah 24:7)
55. He is my hiding place. (Psalm 32:7)
56. God will keep working on me. (Phil. 1:6, I Peter 5:10)
57. We are on the winning side. (Rom. 8:31; I Cor. 15:5)
58. God is my refuge in every trial. (Ps. 46:1)
59. The Holy Spirit is there to comfort me in every trial. (II Corinthians 1:4)
60. In every trial, I can be sure that God is bringing good into my life. (Rom. 8:28)
61. I am like a sweet perfume to God. (II Corinthians 2:15)
62. God’s grace saved me. (Ephesians 2:8)
63. God does not deal with me as my sins deserve.  (Ps. 103:10)
64. God’s grace is available to me for every trial.
65. God is rich in mercy toward me. (Ephesians 2:4)
66. God’s mercies are new to me every single morning. (Lamentations3:22-23)
67. God is faithful to keep all of His promises. ( II Corinthians 1:20)
68. God is my light. He makes the way clear when all seems dark. (Psalm 27:1)
69. God gives us wisdom and the revelation of Himself through the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:17)
70. I am, even now, seated in heavenly places with Jesus. (Eph. 2:6)
71. I have the Holy Spirit with me to convict me when I sin. (John 16:8)
72. Sin no longer has the same power over me (Rom. 6:14)
73. I have been forgiven of all my sin (I John 1:9)
74. God has removed my sins from me as far as the east is from the west.  (Psalm 103:12)  Another analogy for the same thought:  He has sunk my sins into the deepest sea.  (Micah 7:19)  Corrie TenBoom was known to say, “And then he posted a sign that said, “No fishing.”
75. God will not allow me to be tempted or tested beyond what I can bear. (II Corinthians 10:13)
76. God is much stronger than the devil or his minions. (I John 4:4)
77. God gives me a song to sing, even in times of darkness.  (Job 35:10, Psalm 42:8)
78. I do not have to fear the powers of darkness.  When I resist them, they will flee.  (James 4:7)
79. God gives me everything I need to fight the powers of darkness.  (Ephesians 6:11)
80. God is able to keep me from falling. (Jude 1:24)
81. God preserves me from the guilt and consequences of sins by keeping me from the sin itself.
82. God will forgive when I repent. (I John 1:9)
83. There is never an end to God’s unfailing love.  
84. With God’s help, I can do anything He asks of me. (John 15:4, Philippians 4:13)
85. God will not stop working on me. (Philippians 1:6)
86. God is working in me to want and to do His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
87. I can do the will of God just by being thankful. (I Thess. 5:18)
88. I do not have to worry about what God’s will is for my life because He has told me what it is: sanctification. (I Thessalonians 4:3)
89. He has made me truly alive (Eph. 2:1)
90. The Almighty God is going to get glory from His work in my life. (II Cor. 4:15)
91. God restores my soul. (Psalm 23:3)
92. My God is slow to anger.  (Psalm 145:8)  When he does get angry, he does not keep his anger forever.  (Ps. 103:9)
93. By faith, I can please God.  (Hebrews 11:6)
94. With God, all things are possible.  (Mark 10:27)  Therefore, anything God asks me to do is possible.
95. The Lord is my help.  (Ps. 54:4)
96. Whenever I draw near to God, He draws near to me.  (James 4:8)
97. Because of God’s grace, I understand that all the beauty of nature around me is a gift from Him.
98. All of my sins were put to death on the cross. 
99. Because of God’s grace at work in me, I can make a list like this that comes with gratitude from the heart.
100. I know how it’s all going to end.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.

I went on a walk this afternoon and was thinking about this list.  Half a dozen more ideas came to mind.  So if you see a couple you think should have been combined into one, don’t worry.  I still have more.

A Virginia Welcome

As we say goodbye to our week in Virginia, we take our leave with hearts of gratitude for the great things God did for us through the good people of Lighthouse.  I will list just a few of them.
1.  Our hosts agreed to take us in early so that we could avoid Sandy, the “storm of the century.”  An apartment in their basement provided luxurious accommodations.  They also graciously allowed us to fend for ourselves for lunch so that we would not be tempted to overeat at every meal.
2.  The church showered us with gifts.  When we arrived, a gift bag was presented to each of the ladies.  The next day, the third and fourth-grade children at the Academy presented us with a goodie box that was loaded with practical items.  We found note cards, sanitizers, lotions, band aids, gift cards, tissues, gum, snacks and other special things. They also included a check that was the accumulation of a year-long collection.  When we opened the envelope, we were stunned by the generosity of these children.
3.  Several people opened up their homes to us for dinners.  Those dinners were great opportunities to get to know them, enjoy good home cooking, and spend some time with some of the other missionaries.  I love being in people’s homes.  You get to know them in a way you could never know them otherwise.  At one home, I got to spend time with three gorgeous little girls.  At another, I said to the hostess when I looked around, “You must love candles as much as I do.” 
4.  The preaching all week was superb.  Dr. Earl Jessup, who helps churches plant churches had many good things to say.  These are some favorite quotes from the week:

• They were ready to attack hell with squirt guns because they had seen what God could do.
• Always keep something supernatural in your ministry.  Always have something only God can do.
• We still have a God who will show Himself strong today.
• You need to get a good return on your missionary dollar.
• The church is good for the Christian the way a home is good for a child.  If a child is in a home that is not good for them, he will not turn out right.  If a Christian is not part of a good church, he will not turn out right either.
• You need to start something only God can finish.

5.  The Lord has been working in my heart through the preaching, the fellowship and the study of His Word.  I still have a long way to go to be a good reflection of Jesus, but my heart has been stirred and my faith strengthened through this week.
6.  I always love beautiful scenery, and this was the view out our window all week long.  Unfortunately, the photo just does not do the scene justice.

Combating Negativity

Negative ads abound.  The other candidate can’t do the job as well as my candidate can.  The other will fail.  The other doesn’t have a positive track record.  He lies.  Etc., etc.  That doesn’t bother me when I see it on an ad or a political campaign. They know the American public responds well to negative publicity.  If they want to win, they believe its their job to churn out lots of negative information about the other candidate on the air waves.  Those don’t bother me.

However, when I hear negative talk coming from Christians, it bothers me a lot.  Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of complaining.  We complain about the state of our country.  We complain about the political process.  We gripe about supreme court decisions and about supreme court justices.  We grumble about our president, senators and congressmen.  We whine about the lack of family values in our country.  In other words, we murmur and complain and we do it a lot. 

What happened to Christians who pray and keep themselves from speaking ill of others?

We also criticize.  I am not talking about constructive criticism, nor am I talking about pointing out things that are important for guarding our hearts against lies and sin.  Instead, I am talking about the mean-spirited jokes and mocking of those for whom we are supposed to pray.  We’re commanded to pray for those in authority over us and even for those who despitefully use us.  Instead we ridicule and vilify those with whom we disagree.  Have we become just like the world around us?  Is there no difference?

Instead of being people of joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and love, we have gotten caught up in a world of negativity.  No wonder we’re not making much of an impact.  No wonder we don’t shine like lights in the world (Phil. 2:14-15). 

So for the rest of the political season and beyond, I want to be a person of prayer – someone who will pray instead of criticize and rejoice instead of grumbling.  I want to be a light in this dark world.

Will you join me?

Thoughts on our Fourteenth Anniversary

Who would have thought when I married him that we would celebrate our 14th anniversary in Guatemala?


Who would have thought that our ministry would allow a day away on this day?





Who would have thought that we would be admiring volcanoes, a lake and terraced gardens today?




Who would have thought that we would share our day with a committed Guatemalan missionary and his family?








Who would have thought, fourteen years ago, that we would appreciate and love each other even more today?


Who would have thought we would end our day praying with Guatemalan believers high in the hills of Sacatepéquez?








Who would have thought, we would fall asleep in a beautiful house high on a hill with an amazing view of the surrounding countryside?


And who would have thought we would be so blessed?


Lord, You did, and I’m so glad You did!

On Our Way, Rejoicing

We spent the night last night in Hanover, PA, where our home office is located.  Even though we left at 5:30 a.m. from "home" in LaFayette, GA, we did not arrive until after the office was closed.  So we picked up the key to the guest house in its assigned place without being able to greet any of our much-loved colleagues in the ministry.  Unlike other times when we have stayed here, we were its only occupants.

Today we head to Southington, CT, where Charlie will be performing a wedding next week.  The early arrival allows us to do some premarital counseling with the couple and enabled them to schedule the rehearsal earlier in the week.

Through the long hours of driving, I was rejoicing at the many blessings God has brought my way.  Here are just a few of them.

• A husband who doesn't tire when driving even though he only got five hours of sleep the night before.
• Because he loves to drive, I was able to nap in the car.
• Getting to see the spring flowers again.  We have seen them come and go in Georgia, but now we're seeing the cherry and ash trees in bloom.
• The speed at which the miles pass by. 
• A car that gets good gas mileage, especially important as gas prices edge toward $4.00 a gallon again.
• A reliable car that actually gets us from point A to point B without breaking down.
• A comfortable car that enables me to sleep or ride comfortably.
• Passing through the beautiful valleys of the Shenandoah.  Virginia is such a beautiful state.
• Going back to Charlie's hometown.
• Getting to be part of this couple's beginning of their married life together.
• Getting to see friends along the way. We plan to stop twice on our way back to Georgia.  
• Money in our savings account that allows us to do this even though our support is still low and would not have covered this trip.

 I could go on, but the road is calling, so I need to stop.

Praise the Lord with Music and . . . ?

“Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord.”  Ps. 150:6

One, two; one, two.  Left, right; left right.  The cadence of my feet echoes off the pavement as I run, and it provides a backdrop for my thoughts.  Soon those thoughts settle into well-known lyrics that match my running feet.  In the beginning, a sweet, simple song like “God is so good” gives me an easy pace to get started.  Then I drift into “Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In” or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”  As I start up a hill, “One Step at a Time” keeps me going when I’d rather stop and walk.  I rely on these songs to take my mind off the discomfort I’m feeling and keep me going. 

New flowers have come and gone all summer long.

Occasionally, there are days when I don’t need the discipline of a tune running through my head to keep me going.  On those days, I let my mind drift.  I pass a field of wild flowers.  Their scent and beauty takes me back to my wedding day when my nieces arranged all my bouquets of flowers.  I find myself praying for God's good gifts for them as I continue on.  I cross a bridge where a thirty-something father in denim overalls supervises his small son’s baiting the hook.  “Have you caught anything?” I ask as I pass.  “A few,” he calls back.  As I round the bend, I catch a glimpse of my husband, running ahead of me.  He loves to fish, but this summer he has gone without it because of limited finances.  My heart sends up a thank-you to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with a great man of God. 

I pass children playing and a woman cutting the grass on her riding lawn mower.  A teenager darts in front of me to cross the street to his mailbox.  A small, yappy dog defends her house as I run by.  I cross a bridge where still waters reflect the maple trees, and I remember that the Lord leads me beside still waters when I need it, and I praise Him for being a gentle Shepherd.  I pass the marshy edge of a lake where birds chirrup and the cattails quiver in the gentle breeze.  A gold finch, startled by my proximity, hops up and takes wing to a safe haven farther away.

As the sun begins its descent, the clouds catch its golden and red rays.  “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight” darts through my mind and then to Jesus’ words, “Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”  (Matt. 16:3).  I wonder, then, about the times we are in.  “Soon, and very soon, we are going to see the King” cycles through my mind and matches the rhythm  of my feet.  I mentally sing that while my breathing gets heavier as I crest another rise.  As I turn the corner toward home, I echo Paul’s prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

The sky is dark enough now that the moon begins to show off its glory.  I think of the words I memorized as a child, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”  With red and gold threads woven on the billowing clouds, and the moon preparing the sky for nighttime beauty, I marvel at God’s handiwork.  The sky and everything around me was created by God.  Not only was it created, but it was created so very well.

If King David had been with me today, would he have said, “Praise the Lord with music and running”?  I don’t know, but I do know that he said, “Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.”  When I run, I am more aware than ever that I have breath, so I do.  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of running and the music that keeps me going.