The Courtesy Call

Yesterday the phone rang, and I was sure it was a courtesy call. I answered anyway. And immediately was "ruffled and bothered." I admit I was a bit snippy to the caller, as he wanted to know how many fire alarms we had in the house. Am I worried what I would do if the house caught on fire...on and on.

Immediately after I hung up, I was convicted that I had missed the perfect opportunity for a witness for my Lord. I wish he would call again. This may be the way the conversation should have went:
"How many fire alarms do you have?"
Me: I don't know, but I have the best fire insurance. It is the blood of Jesus!
"Are you worried if your house would catch on fire?"
Me: No, God's Word promises me that He will go with me through the fire. He is the ultimate protector. Do you know Jesus?

Oh how often we miss the opportunity. I'm waiting for the next courtesy call. Yes!! I don't need to be snippy, but just need to take the opportunity and speak out for Jesus. Although the verse below is a prayer by Asa when the Israelites were going into battle, but I will remember it for the multitude of courtesy calls. A new mission field!

"Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” (2 Chronicles 14:11 NKJV) 

God bless you

Tired Brain

The morning is starting with my brain going full speed ahead, and yet getting nowhere. Ever had one of those mornings? What I want to do is go back to bed and start over again. Maybe round 2 would be better. This is just want satan wants, me to get up with a tired brain, and forgetting to be thankful in all things.

Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression. But a good word makes it glad." Ahh, the book of Proverbs is so good! Full of good words, and gets me going on the right track. Thanksgiving does make the heart glad. It's almost impossible to stay depressed when I am truly thankful. If I look at the condition of the world, it would be easy to be depressed. Until I look into the Word, and I see heaven is getting closer and closer.

But until heaven comes, there is laundry, dirty dishes, cleaning, office work, preparations for the school year both for Agape and Promise, prepare for Rachel and Nate's arrival in a few weeks, and the list goes on and on...

On another note, pray for the shipments to come out of customs! Patrick can't come home until he has those shipments out. Not to mention, he needs the supplies that are in customs.

I pray you are having a good day.

God bless you

Praying and Answers

As I promised yesterday, I would share about praying our needs or praying the answer to our needs. I believe many times we miss the answer to our prayer because we formulate in our mind how God needs to answer the prayer. Good example: "Lord, I want to draw closer to You. Give me moments to draw near." God puts us on a sick bed for a few days, we complain, totally forgetting our prayer. God always sees the greater picture of our prayer requests.

I remember reading a short article many years ago, about a lady who had prayed that she could have a glimpse of Jesus. At the end of the day, she reminded the Lord of her prayer, but He hadn't answered it. He replied, "I came to your house 3 times today, but you turned me away." A homeless person, an elderly person and a sick one, but she had no time to be bothered.

If you pray for patience, you are sure to receive some trials. We cannot learn patience when all is going our way. I really doubt if patience would be served on a silver platter, telling us to store it for a useful time. Patience is developed. Moses' bootcamp was 40 years in the desert, to then be another 40 years in the desert leading a stubborn and complaining group of people. I was 30 years in the "desert" and I am so thankful God didn't allow me to leave the desert in my first year there when I so begged Him to let me come home. After the 3rd time, I knew the door was shut tightly. I know I could not have learned the many lessons I learned

I am not an expert on how God answers prayers. But I do know He answers prayers in the way that is best for me and at the time that is best. I am so thankful that God has not answered all my requests. Yes, you read it correctly. I have not always been so wise in my prayers. If God had honored all my prayers I would have destroyed myself.

God delights in His children, but God wants the Glory and obedience. I am reading through Exodus, and in chapter 33 Moses reminded God that He still hadn't told him who is going to help him with the children of Israel. Moses said, You have told me Your name, your promise that you'd go with me, but you haven't told me who will help me. Read through 34, and Moses lands on top of the mountain for 40 days and nights, no food or water, him and God alone. I have a feeling when Moses came down off the mountain the name of who will help him wasn't so important anymore

Praying is a growing experience for me. Growing in Jesus will also bring a change in our prayers. Why? Because our desires change. Don't out-guess God. His answers are usually so much more than we could ever imagine, that is if we are obedient. Example: What if Moses would have told God he isn't going up the mountain unless God gives him the name of a helper. You may say, "well, that would be stupid." Would it? Have you ever told God to do something for you, then you'll do more for Him?

For me, most prayers become a sacrifice on my part or obedience. God knows us each in our way, so God answers prayers that is right for each of us. God is so good and His ultimate purpose is to mold us to be more like Jesus.

God bless you

Miracles or Luck

The more I read the scriptures, the more I am amazed at God's continuity throughout the scriptures. His faithfulness to His people is proven throughout the scriptures. Miracles upon miracles! Why were there miracles then, but now we just don't see them as much, if ever? I personally believe we would see more miracles, but we do not give God the opportunity. The States has wealth, and most who live here have money. So we can buy our way through most situations. When tragedy happens, the first thing most people do is strike out for insurance instead of praying. We depend so much on our government to provide and do everything. Those days are fast coming to an end.

In other countries, people do see more miracles. The sick are healed, provisions are given, and even in some cases the dead are raised. I also believe that many times God has provided or performed miracles, and we say, "Wow, I was lucky!" Does this sound familiar? And perhaps, we think it is just a way of expression, but we need to be more verbal about God's provision. Give Him the glory!

God is faithful when we pray! He merits glory. But you may say, but I have prayed and God didn't answer...did you pray the need or the answer? That's a blog for another day! Let's talk about that tomorrow?

God bless you

Can God Trust Me?

This morning my niece posted this on Facebook, and I deem it good enough to pass on to you.

"God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where he can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work." -My Utmost for His Highest


This is so true. How can God trust me with His vision, if I can't take suffering? That is His vision. To have His children purified, cleansed, strong and faithful. This is accomplished in suffering, not in good times.


So the question is, do I suffer gracefully and with thanksgiving? Do I know His Word well enough to be my mainstay during suffering? I guess I have been thinking a lot with the condition of the world, our country. But the encouraging thing is that we already knew times were going to be tough, but we have God's promise...


He will be with us all the way!! It can't be better than that. He is so ultimately faithful.


God bless you

Family Fun

I hope you had a wonderful July 4th holiday. Independence Day. Our country was birthed on the Ten Commandments and religious freedom. We have lost that now. This still gives us an opportunity to be the candle in a dark world. I wish I was like a beam of light, but a candle gives a lot of light when there is darkness. Let's be that small flame wherever we go.

I was in Indiana to celebrate my mother's 91st birthday. It was a special time. Lots of laughter, talking, coffee, late night chats,  and just having family fun time. This will go in my "book" of memories. Beautiful ones.

Humor: While there, several times I would get phone calls from Haiti, but I didn't recognize the number, so I just didn't answer. Thought I'd check it out later. Phone calls from Haiti can be a bit pricey, so I didn't want to waste minutes and it be a wrong number. I was at the airport, phone rang again. You guessed it, haitian number. I answered it and it was Patrick! He got a new number, and of course I didn't recognize it.

God is good to give us family!!

God bless you

The Storm

I was just reading an article on the storm in the midwest. So many states involved, yet it wasn't a tornado neither a hurricane. So much damage and a few deaths. It seems like "craziness" until I look at it again. I believe there is a greater Power behind it. God does control the wind and the waves. This is another warning and wake-up call. We need to be spending time talking to our Father. He warned us....read Matthew 24. There will be things happening that we have never seen before. Hail in Haiti? Yes, even that.

The political "storms" coming from the White House. I believe they must come for God's end time promises to be fulfilled. No it won't be fun, those storms will affect us. We will suffer, and I don't even pretend to know how much that suffering will be. But I do not believe God wants us as Christians to complain and let everyone know how much we disagree with the leaders. We are commanded to pray for them, not lash out against them. But I do understand. This is a difficult thing for Americans. We aren't "supposed" to suffer in this country. We are supposed to be able to do as we want, after all we work for our money.

Read Exodus, and see how hard the children of Israel worked, were beaten. But in the end God blessed them. He delivered them. That is Grace. Although we are on the brink of days of hardship, yet we are also on the brink of Grace. God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He promised to take care of us. Just remember there is no leader in a country that can twist God's arm to make Him do what they want.

But God can "twist" man's arms. He can harden hearts and He softens hearts. If you know God, then you have the Best there is in this time of our nation. Utilize your time praying instead of complaining. Change will come, "but lift your eyes for your redemption draws near."

Enjoy the Lord today

God bless you