Connecting

How fun it is to find long lost Haitian friends/acquaintances in the wonderful land of Canada. Today we were at a meeting, and one of the Haitian brothers remarked, "This is the first time I have seen a Haitian missionary to Haiti." Our prayer is that soon more Haitians will be burdened to be missionaries to Haiti.

There will be a fund-raiser concert here in 2 weeks. Many haitians will be there. Some of them will be singing. This will be fun and exciting. More than that we are all praying for people to find the Lord that night.

My "peggy" doesn't like the cold so much. It is not as easy to walk here. Well, might I add the wind has been quite strong and seems it wants to blow me down. The phantom foot is more numb, and very difficult to feel balanced. So I am assuming it is from the colder temps..just my thinking.

Tomorrow we go to a church 2 1/2 hours away from where we are. Then Wed. we fly to Toronto and spend the rest of the week there for a mission fest.

We need to stay connected, if not in body but in spirit, to those of like faith in our Lord. We need to hold each other in our fight for faith.

Have a great Lord's Day.

God bless you. God is Good

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

(Jeremiah 33:3)

We take our unbelief to each other, and that is why our faith does not grow. (Roy) This was in my email today, and thought it worthy to pass on to you. Basically complaining is taking our unbelief to each other. Yet God says to call to Him and he will answer and show us great and mighty things. He will answer and give what is good for us. The great and mighty things may look like suffering to us, but in reality it may be what we need to bring us closer to God and that is a great thing.

We are just a bit warped in our version of what is great and mighty, thinking it is always what we will enjoy and relaxing, etc. God has a greater purpose than making me comfortable for a season. If I follow His plan, then my comfort will be eternal.

We are staying busy in Canada. Tonight we will be sharing in a Haitian church. This should be interesting, Haitians in Canada. There are many Haitians here.

God bless you. God is good. Have a wonderful weekend

In Canada

The wind is cold and strong, looks like snow. Hopefully my view of the clouds are wrong. :) But it is Canada, although I am told there is no prediction of snow, and weather forecast are quite accurate.

So now I'm thinking of the idea of "my view" and "prediction" and bringing it into personal situations. How often I have analyzed a situation with my view and predicted what the outcome will be. IF I am giving my opinion according to God's Word then it can be trusted. But too often I have just based an opinion on my view of things. That is where the problem lies. Godly wisdom is seeing things through His Word. We need to spend much time in prayer when we are facing uncertainties or problems.

Right now we are facing a very delicate situation. I cannot see an outcome, or even know how to counsel those involved. Praying is the map to the answer. Satan is out to destroy, but God holds the Victory.

Our amputation "stumps" do not like this cold weather. But we expected this before coming here. We will be very busy the next 2 weeks in many meetings—2 mission fests, churches, a concert and a school. We will be traveling from Fort Erie to Montreal, also north of Toronto.

I pray you are having a wonderful week. God bless you. God is good!!

On the Road

I haven't forgotten, but traveling doesn't always afford an internet service. Spent the weekend in NC in different areas. Great meetings. On our way to Canada tomorrow.

We are enjoying the vehicle the Lord provided for us. We had been praying for one for many months. We got one on Thursday before leaving on Friday. God is always on time.

A friend took us to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. Very interesting. Challenged me to always be ready to speak a word for the Lord. He also said something that really touched my heart. I can't give it verbatim but it was this: Today we are trying to to fashion the Lord to our image, instead of glorifying Him in His image as we were created. This is called idolatry. It really made me think of all the "me" attitudes in the world. This is trying to mold God into our image.

It is almost 1:00 am...time to think about bed. We actually just found a sleeping spot.

God bless you. God is so good

Keep focusing

Psalm 145:5 "I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds!"

The busyness of the day can certainly cause our focus to be on what still needs to be done, especially when time is an issue. Today is our last day in this house. Tomorrow we are on the road again. There still needs to be packing, sorting and finishing last minute things. Not to mention laundry. Praise the Lord, Rachel will come in and clean after we leave. She thinks it is easier this way. :))

Then of course to add to the whole list of things, I have misplaced my phone, and can't call anyone to tell them to help me find it. I pray God will lead my eyes to the right place. The comfort is that I know it is in the house somewhere. Is this a sign of senior moments? Well I'm not surprised.

Oh did I mention that now my leg has decided to be in pain too.

The wonderful news is that God provided a van for traveling!! That is definitely an answer to prayer.

I'm off to the laundry room, meditating on His amazing deeds!!

God bless you. God is so good.

God Doesn't Forget Me

Isaiah 49:15-16 The Lord is giving the comparison of a mother's love and compassion to her child to the love He has for the nation of Israel. He says "even if a mother would forget her child, I never will forget you. I have written your name in my hand."

Over and over in the scriptures He promises us that He will never leave us or forsake. Our name is written in His Hand. He keeps His promises. We can trust Him. We can believe what He says. We need to believe.

In the midst of our trials, sufferings, and loneliness we can rest assured that He has us in His Hand. Sometimes we get so busy, so involved that we are looking at the situation instead of the God of the situation.

Packing, cleaning, and having fun with our grandson...our last play time with him for quite a while. Bittersweet. He is such a joy. I want to learn again to take joy in the simple things...Patrick sneezed tonight and Nate burst into laughter, then tried to imitate grandpa. I love to listen to his progressive vocabulary. What fun!! No I can't forget my grandson, and God doesn't forget me.

God bless you. God is good.

Grace

Grace is receiving what I don't deserve...Jesus, life, blessings. But for the grace of God, I wouldn't have any of these things. But for the grace of God, I would be lost and void of eternal life. Isn't God good?!! He is!! He has provided everything we need and more.

Have you ever heard someone say, "If God really loved me, He would do so and so, or wouldn't do such and such? God really loves us and we have more than we deserve. God loves us unconditionally. Have you tried loving unconditionally? Or is your love limited to certain actions? God doesn't limit His love. Even when we wander from Him, He still loves us. He will discipline us, but in Love. Oh how awesome is this!!

Today is packing, laundry, sorting, computer work. I'm so tired tonight. I have 2 days to finish up everything. Then it is on the road again.

Pray the rash heals on my leg. I got it in Haiti. Heat rash, but very itchy.

God bless you. God is so good.

My Treasure

Psalm 119:162 "I rejoice at your word as one who finds great treasure."

The Psalmist found great treasure in the word of God. Do I hold God's Word dear to my heart? It truly is the best treasure of today. God's word cannot be taken away from us if it is hidden in our heart.

While in Haiti, I had the opportunity to dig through things that were taken from under the rubble. Let me say, most things were damaged, but our friends took anything they saw that may be of value to us, even loose papers scattered everywhere. Since the quake I remembered a lot of things that I "knew" I would never find, one of which was a quilt my grandma had made for me many years ago. You guessed it...I found it.

There were other "treasures" in my digging...a quilt from my mother, a few items from my teacup collection, and a few things I had treasured from our children during their school years. Oh and my wedding dress and photos. Strange how those things were ok, but many other things were never found or totally destroyed.

I desire to have as much joy in digging through God's Word for His treasures. These are God's love letters to me. Oh I did find some of Patrick and my letters before we were married. Ohhh...God is so Good.

Let's make a habit of digging into God's treasures in His love letter to us.

May God bless you.

Home Again

"Trust the Lord in all you ways and He shall direct your paths."

And He did. It was a long week in Haiti, but very busy. The clinic went well...9 hernia surgeries and 18 cysts and 120 medical patients in 4 days. The primary focus of the team was surgery, so medical was an add-on. We enjoyed having the team there.

I am sure many of you are wanting to know my reaction to my visit. It was difficult in many ways. I didn't feel as free, because I couldn't go up and down the steps as well (we slept on the 2nd story), and people were outside that I wanted to see. Sleeping was not as easy, but ok. We took a short tour around downtown, and to see the devastation was a lot more realistic than in the photos. I was surprised to see as much cleanup around the businesses.There are a lot of empty spaces now.

We went to our house. I couldn't climb up the cement to see the hole where Patrick was released. That was disappointing.

The country is a mess. So much harder to drive in the streets and get around. People are resilient and make do with what they have. They try to make life happen, as hard as it may be. So many suffering.

We are happy to be back again and get some rest.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers. God protected us and was with us every step of the way.

God bless you. God is always good.

Who Do I look up to

Isaiah 45:18, 21, 22 "For I am God, I have no peer." Same words 3 times in these 3 verses. This is the NET translation. Have you ever thought of that, God has no one He looks up to. He doesn't need to. His wisdom can't be measured. He makes paths through the seas and the desert. Even the animals in the desert honor him.

We have no need to stand back and ask what He is doing, especially to us when things aren't going as we thought they should. I am believing that I should be thankful if He changes my plans. I wonder where I'd be today if He wouldn't. YES, even in a quake. Was it fun? NO! Would I choose it again? No! But we need to learn to trust God in all things.

Having said that...I need to rest in His arms as I go to Haiti tomorrow. I am in His Hands. He orders my coming and going. I pray I can bless someone in Haiti. We will be working in a surgery clinic. We do not know what is before us. But you don't know what is before you in the next week either. We just think we do. Funny creatures we are!!

Another sock addition today!! YEA!!

So I will not be blogging until Oct 17 or 18. Please pray for us and for those we serve. Pray for our safety.

God bless you. Smile..God is good.

How great am I?

If I had had anything that makes me think I'm great, after reading Isaiah 40:6-41:29, I am convinced that God is the only One, He is in control, His wisdom cannot be measured, and me....I'm a like a dried flower or grass, a speck of dust, as a grasshopper, and as a drop in a bucket.

This sizes things down a bit. Why is the "me" always in the forefront? Help us, Lord!!

Yet, in another scripture He declares we are His workmanship, He takes pleasure in us His children. What a mighty God we serve.

Today is the first time I could wear 3 heavier prosthetic socks!! This may not mean much to you, but it means progress. I'm one step closer to being ready for the permanent prosthesis. So for me this is good news.

Tomorrow is laundry, packing, cleaning and hopefully some rest before take-off on Friday.

I hope your days was a wonderful day in the Lord.

God bless you. Smile, God is so good!

Does God Know?

OH what a scripture...Isaiah 40

40:27 "why do you say, the Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication?"

Are we any different than the children of Israel? How often have we asked this same question?

I love the response: verses 28-29 " Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy."

I need this promise of energy for today. Yes, God sees me doing the job I least love, financial reports.

God has helped me wade through the piles of paper. Not done yet, at least I'm moving forward.

Going through some papers, I was reminded of our situation 4 months ago and realize how far we have come. God did give renewed energy. He is the God of all creation.

God bless you. God is Good.

King of Kings

Zechariah 14: 7, 9 "It shall be one day Which is known to the LORD— Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light... And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— "The LORD is one," And His name one."

Although this scripture is speaking of end times, I find it interesting what Charles Spurgeon says about "at evening time it shall happen that it will be light" In our older years the fire of youth is gone, but the true fire of earnestness remains. It can be our choicest of times. We need not look at older years as dark, but as those that are glorious and we are closer to home.

This can only be true if the King of Kings is King of our heart.

Today and every day this week will be filled with preparation for Haiti. Pray for this trip. It will be Rachel and my first time in Haiti since the quake. There will be a medical team of 4 also going. Patrick is there. He is doing well.

God bless you. God is so good.

It is Well

It is well, it is well, with my soul. Remember the song?

It was one of the songs we sang in church this morning. The words to this song take on a special meaning to me now. This was my dad's favorite song. He passed away 5 years ago, and what it meant to me then means more to me now. Then I was talking to my sister who has just completed radiation treatments for breast cancer. This morning in her church they also sang this song. She, as well, finds a special meaning to this song.

The waves may roll and the storms may come, but if we have the Lord as the captain of our ship, then we can say it is well with my soul!! Lord give us quietness of our spirit.

Pray for Patrick in Haiti. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

I pray you had a wonderful Lord's Day. God bless you. God is good.

Are you Discouraged

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged."

There are so many downcast, discourages, the light has gone from their eyes. My heart breaks for them. I have been there. Discouragement is so difficult to overcome. Why? Because that is the #1 tool satan uses on christians. If he can get us discouraged, then he moves on to other things such as depression, bitterness, mistrust, etc.

Oh depression is another one. But I love the verse. God in all His love, sees our broken hearts, feels our discouraged spirits. He invites you and me with open arms to deliver us from the snare of the enemy. Let's run into His arms of safety! Let's not forget to pray for each other and especially those who we know are discouraged tonight.

Patrick left for Haiti this morning. He is still in Miami tonight. His plane was late getting into Miami and caused him to miss his connecting flight. It seems "odd" that it is him stranded in an airport. That used to be my "job." I love those traveling times. I loved flying, airports, and meeting people. I wonder if I ever will enjoy it again.

Rachel and I will join him in Haiti next Friday. I wonder what it will be like to visit Haiti again. I can't really vocalize what I'm feeling. I just know it seems strange thinking of going back to the place I have lived in for 29 years, but now Haiti isn't what I what had known before.

I hope you had a blessed day, and will have a wonderful weekend.

God bless you. God is Good.