Seek and ye shall Find

We are in the "seek" mode right now. Seeking living quarters in Miami. We have only looked at 3 houses, so we continue. Pray that we will be aware of God's leading. We want what God has for us here. So much to do.

What sounds best right now is resting!! So maybe I'm seeking a good night's sleep, so we can house shop again tomorrow. Our heart is with our grandkids/kids as they are all sick. I guess it was just too much Thanksgiving.

Phantom pain is worse, so is Patrick's. Not sure why. I'm ready to have a permanent prosthesis. Soon.

Let's use this December to help those seeking for peace, light and hope. We have hope. Let's share it. There are so many lonely people out in the world. Let's be available for them.

God bless you

His Ways

In Isaiah there is a verse "His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts my thoughts."

In one of our devotional times during our family Thanksgiving, my brother reminded us that it is good to thank God for those things that just don't seem so good to us, actually what we call bad things. But we know that God has more in mind than our comfort. And most times, when we ask "why" to certain incidences we usually don't get an answer. I must believe if we were to receive an answer from God to our question it would be way beyond our comprehension. God is not limited to the present, and that is what we understand the best. He is from eternity past to eternity future. Try to understand that. It is beyond me.

So since He knows the beginning to the end, it seems I should just trust Him, not needing an answer to my "why". I believe what happens to me, has a rippling effect on others that we have no idea. I believe my life effects others. We are not contained in a box. God has greater purposes for my life than just to be "me". My me isn't so good most of the time.

Help me Lord, to walk in your way as you lead me.

God bless you.

Thanksgiving

It has been a number of days since I wrote a blog. We had the privilege of spending the Thanksgiving weekend with my whole family—44 in all—in the mountains of North Carolina. Thanks to our mother who provided the location for us all. It was wonderful. Lots of laughter, talking, eating and just enjoying each other.

Each evening in the devotional time we enjoyed the Word of God, music, worship and the family tradition of singing "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God."

We have so much to be thankful for, and were reminded that we should not only thank God for the good, but also for the unpleasant moments in our life.

I hope you each had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Living in the midst of praising the Lord, allows Thanksgiving to go on all year long.

God bless you.

Complete Work

Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"

Today we heard a wonderful message on listening for God's voice, following His direction. The pastor's favorite verse isn the one in Phil. 1:6. And we can truly be confident that God won't give up on us. We give up on ourselves, but God doesn't quit. We need to follow Him all the way.

Since we were house hunting in Miami, it was a good reminder to follow Him all the way. He has a plan. If God called us to start a work in Miami, then He also has a house for us. So we are praying for direction, for clarity of direction.

I am looking forward to Tuesday when I see the doctor again. The phantom pain is so harsh again. My leg hurts all the time now. I think it is time for an adjustment. Maybe it is time for a re-fitting!! I hope so!!

So this is Thanksgiving week. Be thankful in all things. Can we go one day without complaining, and just praising? Let's try. We may like it so well we want to keep it that way!!

God bless you. He is faithful!!

Not to Worry

Matt 6:28-29 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

I've been thinking about this verse since I heard a message on this while we were in Canada. The pastor was teaching on Ecclesiastes/Solomon. As he used this verse and compared it to the wealth Solomon had, I wondered why we worry so much about the simple things in life. If God sees the lilies of the field and clothes them and they are more glorious than Solomon's riches, then we have no reason to worry.

So we need not worry about housing in Miami. The search is on this weekend, but ultimately God will bring us to the right place at the right time. We praise Him for his provision.

Rachel is to have surgery Monday on gallbladder. She is in much pain. Pray for her.

Have a good night and a blessed weekend.

God bless you. He is faithful

Inspired writing

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work."

It is so important to know the Word of God and to obey it. It is for our reproof, correction and training...this will equip us for every good work. A verse a bit further into the chapter says, that the day will come when sound teaching will not be tolerated. I think we see this more and more in the times we are in.

Today I took my book to the publisher. I am so excited! I pray people will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. But it made me think of God's word, it is inspired, it is forever, it will not pass away. My book will pass away. But never God's Word,

It is time to return to the doctor. I experience more pain, and since it has been a while, I am thinking it will need some adjusting. Perhaps it is time to measure for my permanent prosthesis. This would be nice.

God is faithful. He is so good. God bless you.

We are Home

We had a great trip back from Canada. We have great memories of Canada.

It feels good to be back in warmer weather.

I think this is what we will say when we get to Heaven, home at last. The reunion will be for ever. No saying good-bys.

My leg loves the warmer weather. It is making the adjustments.

We have a lot of activities coming up...number 1 is finding a house in Miami. Pray God will lead us to the right place.

God bless you. God is good

Stand Firm

Exodus 14:13 "Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide."

Today looks like a day in overload. We will be traveling 4 hours north of Ft Erie to speak in a church this morning. Return, and then on the road south to start the long trek back to Florida. I'm sitting here trying to put all the pieces together to make everything happen on time. I don't know why I think that is my job...

Then I remembered this verse to stand still...quiet myself before the Lord. I will see what God will do. He has walked this way before.

Patrick will be preaching this morning. Pray for the Word to take root into fertile hearts.

Pray for safety on the road both this morning and again this afternoon/evening

Today is Promise's, our grand-daughter's birthday. A whoppin' 4 years old!! Where does the time go!!

God bless you. Praying for you.

Weary

"Come to me all who are weary, and heavy laden.."

I'm so happy we can come to Jesus when we are weary, and so I am this morning. Or maybe I'm just tired. Since weary gives the meaning of exhaustion..I'm not that, just tired.

Another big day of meetings, then packing this afternoon, so that tomorrow evening we can start the trip south.

I was reminded of a statement Patrick had made several months back, and since yesterday was the 10th month anniversary of the quake, it is a good reminder

"Earthquakes happen, walls fall, buildings crumble, life changes. But the goodness of God always, always stays the same!"

Change can be good. You may feel your walls are falling, just remember God is faithful, He doesn't change or fall. You can trust Him.

Have a great weekend

God bless you.

Trial of our Faith

1 Peter 1:7 The trial of our faith

Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her (Spurgeon)

When I look at Hebrews 11 the museum of Faith, some was for what we would call miracles, but others in spite of their faith were brutally killed...what is our ultimate goal in faith?? Is it for selfish purposes? Or is it for Kingdom work?

When it comes to "rubber meets the road", our faith is tried to strengthen our relationship with our Lord. But satan hits us constantly to try to get us to turn away from the Lord. So either way we will suffer and be tried, satan cares little of our sufferings, there is no peace with him.

So let's embrace our trials today with faith, look to Jesus to advance His kingdom. I'm not saying pray for trials. They will come and so will suffering. Let's suffer for Jesus rather. Let's help others to the Kingdom of God.

Tonight is the Help Haiti Heal concert. We are praying for a good attendance, but also for many souls to be saved. Tomorrow is the Mission Fest. Sunday morning church, then Sunday evening off to Florida, starting the 24 hour trek.

God bless you. He is Faithful!

No Room for Gloom

Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence. This realization can turn any gloom into a song. —S. T. Coleridge

Praise God for His living presence in us...this is a song of praise to be sung. Filling my heart with song there will be no room for gloom. Can I find at least one thing every day to praise God for? Or is it easier to be gloomy and chase the sun away, not to mention everyone around you.

Today was a great day, reconnecting with long time friends...remembering days gone by. Friends are special gems given to us by God, to cherish more precious than gems. Delicious coffee.

We have 4 more meetings, then off for the south on Sunday night. I wonder if the phantom foot will be better behaved in the warmer climate. Although for Canada, it has not been very cold. Today was a wonderful sunny day.

Don't be a "theory" to people, be a song!

God bless you. God is good

Paid the Debt

I'm thinking about what Jesus did for me on the cross and His resurrection. What is the one thing that really impresses me? As I think about it, He did pay my debt of sin and He is satisfied with that payment, His Blood. But what did that really do for me? This is what I love...He freed me from condemnation!! No more am I condemned!! I am thankful...What a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than knowing I am free!!

But so many are in bondage, not knowing the freedom of this paid debt! We have a job to do...tell others about the freedom in Christ...Jesus did die for the world, not just for you and me.

We are thankful for each person we have met in our travels. Wonderful people. God's family is a wonderful family to belong to...perfect, no...just a group of wounded healers.

We are thankful that the phantom pain is not as severe as we had thought it may be in the cold weather. Walking has been more difficult here.

God bless you. God is good always!

I cannot understand

Ecclesiates 11:5 "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."

Today I cannot understand...we just received the news that yesterday a very strong wind hit the village of Mayette (the hub of the mission work) taking all the crops. A coconut tree blew down on a house and damaged part of it. This would have been expected during the hurricane, but the hurricane had passed.

There will be a lot of hunger once again. And no government to help them or even seems to care. Actually Mayette is so remote they may not even know it is there. Lord come quickly! How long O Lord How long!!

May I ask you to pray once again for Haiti.

We had a great weekend in Montreal. Visited several churches, a school and also shared in a Mission Conference. I wonder why we are tired today. But the pain we feel for Mayette far exceeds the weariness we have.

God bless you

Wounded Healers

Today we visited an Italian church, English speaking, but everyone there had Italian roots. So interesting...learned the proper greeting. :))

After Patrick preached on "Suffering" the pastor commented the importance of giving a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name." Praising God when we don't feel like it.

But also praising God when we are hurting, and leaving our wounds to care for another. I love the term he used.. we are none less than wounded healers. Wounded but willing to help others in their hurts. So if you are God's child, and hurting, just remember we are all wounded healers. Reach out and help someone who is also wounded.

I hope you had a wonderful Lord's Day

God bless you. God is so good.

Rejoice in All things

We rejoice in the Lord. We look to Him for all things. We look to Him because what we see around us is troubling. A friend has cancer, a missionary in jail, a cousin has cancer, a pastor has passed away, and phantom pain is intense again, and the list goes on. You have your own list...

We rejoice that the hurricane didn't hit as hard as expected, although there are many floods and some people died, but the wind was not hurricane force.

Situations as such bring us together in prayer. Even if we have no words to our prayers. God hears our groaning. He understands. We can cry to Him.

We have a busy weekend...mission fest begins this morning. Three services to speak in tomorrow. Then back to Ft Erie Monday. We are hoping some of our Haitian friends will be at the Fest today.

Hoping you will have a good weekend.

God bless you. God is so good.

Best Foot Forward

Good morning from Montreal

We will be sharing in a Grade School and a high school today. Tomorrow is the opening day of mission fest.

A couple days ago we met a man who is an amputee. As we were talking to him he said to me, "The best thing for an amputee is to remember to always put your best foot forward." How true that is. The amputated foot has no feelings, so it is important to let the good foot lead.

But everyone needs to "put their best foot forward" in our daily walk. We need to do our best. It is easy to get slack in our daily work, thinking it doesn't matter anyway. But it does matter. We are to do all to the glory of God. That doesn't mean only what we call God's work but in all we do. The Bible says if we eat or drink do to the glory of God. I wonder how much glory God gets in our eating habits? That is something to think about for a while.

So today I will put my best foot forward. Will you?

My phantom pain doesn't like the cold north. It is much more difficult to walk, but a good experience, knowing that I need to learn to adapt to all sorts of situations.

Have a great day.

God bless you. God is so Good.

Canada oh Canada

Just drove around a bit, and the lights on the Peace Bridge are beautiful.

But the wind is cold!! And tomorrow we are off to Montreal where we are told will be much colder. We are looking forward to the Mission fest there. We will see many Haitian friends.

Peggy doesn't like the cold at all. The phantom pain is so different here. A bit more difficult to walk. Or maybe I'm just getting too old for this cold, or I have too much haitian blood in me.

We continue to pray for the countries that will be in the path of Hurricane Tomas. Our prayer is that it will die before it damages any more countries.

God is so good and faithful. We know that He has a purpose in His ways. He is molding us to be useful vessels for His glory. Sometimes we fight against the molding. We think we ought to be more useful or more honored, but God knows His will for each of our lives. He knows what we can hold and how we can be used. Let's remember that a cup of water given to the thirsty has its reward in the Kingdom.

Let's bless those around us and be a blessing wherever we go.

God bless you each one.

Bless the Lord

Psalm 104:1 "Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

My father used to quote this verse a lot. In the midst of turmoil, unrest, families being torn apart, hurt, and sickness, not to mention hurricane to Haiti, how can we bless the Lord and see His benefits? This is when it is important to be thankful, to trust Him in the midst of all this.

In all of this, we can have a peace in our hearts that we can't explain. The peace that passeth all understanding. We can't explain it, and when the world sees this peace and the joy we have that is what will draw them to the cross, to our Savior. Our complaints, fightings and unforgiveness will never draw them to Jesus. If you want your family to come to the Lord, then be a magnet of His love.

Let's bless the Lord and forget not His benefits.

God is so good. May He bless you continually.