An adventure with Magdalene Hope...and how I got stuck in San Diego

Hello friends!

I'm home after another adventure...last Monday I went with Magdalene Hope (the ministry I belong to that does street outreach to prostitutes) to San Diego, about four hours from where I live.  It has been a goal and a dream for some time that we would have a safe house with a program in place to help them improve their lives.  This has finally happened!  The ministry has purchased a home, and now all we need is to get it up and running.  Our first young lady is currently in a shelter waiting for us to open.

So, we were traveling to San Diego to meet with the director of a house that has been up and running for some time to get ideas about programs to put in place for our house.  We met at the church at 5:45 a.m. to begin the trip and I felt terrific.  I'm so glad to be a part of this ministry.  We did a Bible study on the way and my spirits were high.  I felt fine when we got there, but about halfway through the morning presentation I began to feel extremely cold.  I thought maybe the air conditioning was just high, but by the time we broke for lunch...I had to run to the bathroom and empty my stomach.

Great, just great.  I am very private about my illness in that while I may talk about it, I really don't like anyone to see me that way.  But I couldn't even begin to hide it.  I went to lie down in the back of the church van and my stomach kept emptying....luckily I had a cup from my coffee earlier!  What made it unusual was the amount of pain I was having.  Only a few times have I had pain like that.  I stayed in the van while everyone else went back in for the afternoon session and it got worse from there.  By the time they came back, I was losing my self control and moaning, which was very embarrassing to me.  They rushed me first to an Urgent Care, who said I needed a hospital.  I was very lucky that they got me right in at the hospital, but none of the medications seemed to be working.

I was extremely blessed to have one of my friends in the back with me.  She rubbed my back, prayed for me (as did the rest of the group) and kept me covered in warm blankets as I was still freezing cold.  I needed to be transferred to another hospital that took my insurance, and the group stayed until they were sure that the transfer went through and I'd be admitted.  I can't put into words how grateful I was for their love and support....yes, I can.  The love of Christ is what they showed.  Before they left, they all layed hands on me and prayed for me one by one.  Through the pain, I could feel the Spirit.

To make a long story shorter, I'm back at home now.  My mother, who lives a few hours from San Diego, came to pick me up and I spent a few days recuperating at her house.  While there, I read a book that I must recommend.  It's called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn.  It talks about the persecution of Christians in China, and I must say that after reading it, I felt truly ashamed.  With all my freedom, how much do I really do for the kingdom?  One of the most touching scenes in the book is when one of the main character is jailed for owning a non authorized Bible and attending an unauthorized church.  Many Chinese Christians meet in house churches, because the authorized churches are not allowed to teach certain fundamental beliefs.
Anyway, so now he's in prison, being beaten and tortured.  So what does he do?

He offers the jailer to clean the floors in the cells.  And as he does, he spreads the gospel to the other prisoners.  He tells his friend that he is so grateful that God has provided him a ministry!

And I complain about my stomach and don't get up to write on the computer and spread the message about God's love because of my trifling pain.

No more!  I pray God will give me the courage, the strength of character, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit to share Him with all who need to hear about Him.

I think I've shared this song before, but it's been on my mind all week; I was singing it to myself in the hospital.  It's in Hebrew, but here is the translation:

Those who trust in God are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but stands forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people...Psalm 125 1-2

Another point the book made is that this life down here on earth is not our "real life."  Our real life begins when we leave the shell of a body we currently inhabit.  I believe that with all my heart.
So let us make the most of each day, reaching out in Christ's love, to those who need His forgiveness and His Holy Spirit to live the life that our Father has called us to.

Please pray for the success of Restoration Ranch, the name that has been chosen for Magdalene Hope's house.

Wishing you all blessings in Christ!

A Lost Sheep Around His Shoulders

Ever stumble and fall flat on your face?  Does it sometimes seem like everything that can go wrong does?  It happens to us all sometimes.  The danger comes when the enemy whispers in your ear, "Now you've blown it...God surely won't forgive you this time....you may as well give up."  Or, "When you became a Christian, life was supposed to be a breeze.  But everything seems to be going wrong instead.  Better to try something else to make life better..."
But we know from God's word that those are lies.  Throughout the Old Testament, Israel walked away from God many, many times, but every time they repented they were forgiven.  God's nature is unchangable.  He's the same today as yesterday and will be tomorrow.  And hard times? We're going to have them.  But God doesn't cause the trouble.  He's the one who helps us through it.  Jesus said it well: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."- John 17:33 (emphasis mine)
So if trouble in this life is to be expected, how do we get through it?  Today in church my Pastor gave us four ideas:
1. Don't walk away from God when things get tough. Persevere.  Lean into him instead of away.
2. Don't put your securities into this life.  Build up instead your treasure in heaven for where your treasure is, there is where your heart will be.
3. Respond to suffering in this life with praise and thanksgiving.  WHAT?!
 No matter what trial you're going through you can praise God for something.  I praise him for forgiving me no matter how many times I fall.  I praise him because no matter how much pain I have now, in heaven I'll be given a perfect body that will never experience pain again.  I praise God for loving me though I don't deserve it.  I praise God that he's promised that I'll have an eternal life that will be beyond imagination.
Kinda like that!
4. Recognize where your life is off kilter with God and repent of it, if that's the problem.
Peace comes from our relationship with God despite our circumstances.  I've learned a lot about that lately; check out some of my past posts.  Several times over the past year I've come very close to losing a friend that I love dearly, but I can say that out of these trials I know that I'm closer to God because of it.  It's been an agonizing time for me, but God truly carried me through it.  Perseverance has made me stronger.

If the trouble comes as a consequence of wrongdoing, just get up, dust yourself off, and tell him you're sorry.  He created us; he knows we're not perfect and loves us anyway.  Remember the story of the lost sheep? Jesus told it this way:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."- Luke 15:4-7

In our Christian walk it's important to examine our hearts and keep them right with God.  It's so easy to go astray and wander off like a lost sheep.  But how wonderful to know that he will put us around his shoulders, carry us home and rejoice!  It's an honor to serve a faithful and loving Father.
May our lives be pleasing to him, may we keep the faith through the storms of this life, and rest in the arms of  the one who holds the universe in his hands.

Wishing you blessings as always, and-
many thanks to my Pastor who was the inspiration for this post.
I hope you like the little fishes!

Turning on the Light

Have you ever had a terrible nightmare and wakened sweaty, terrified and shaken? I don't know about you, but the first thing I do is reach for the light.
It floods the room, banishing the shadows and the horrific images fade as I come fully awake and see what's really there in the room with me.
When I think of my life without my Lord it was something like that. It was a nightmare world that I just couldn't wake up from.  But when I surrendered my life to him everything changed; as I studied his word and learned to walk by faith, the difference is like dark and light. As it says in Psalms, Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.-Psalm 119:105  So that's how I know how to walk. His word lights up the path that my feet should take.  It shows me the obstacles that might make me stumble and shows me where the path is that I'm to be following.

To others who are still trapped in their various nightmare worlds, or just wandering blindly along, how can we not share this light?  It isn't just for us to see our own way, we're meant to share it with the world around us.  As it says in Luke, when Zechariah was prophesying about his son John who would prepare the way for Jesus:
"because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."-Luke 2:78-79

Jesus told us, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."-Matthew 5:14-16

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."-John 8:12

When we follow Jesus, read scripture, incorporate it's teachings into our lives, and have an active prayer life, we can't help but shine our light.  When we become involved in ministry, we shine a light.  When we share with others how our lives have changed, we shine a light. :) 

Keep shining your lights for those in darkness to see and be drawn to a life of love and peace that only he can give.

Wishing all of you many blessings!

Encouraging Words!

Here's some encouragement, straight from the Word:
Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.-Psalm 96:2
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.-Psalm 28:7
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
-Psalm 100:5
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.-
2 Corinthians 4:17
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!- 1 John 3:1
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -Ephesians 3:14-20


Be blessed and rejoice, you who are children of the King! And if you're not, he's knocking on the door to your heart right now, ready to forgive you, fill you with the Holy Spirit and fill your life with a love that is unimaginable.  Click on the link "salvation."

Carrying On

One of my favorite verses is: In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  Psalm 118:5-6
What indeed?


As I was reading this verse this morning the part that really struck me was "he answered by setting me free." If I truly trust him, then I am free from fear. Free from loneliness; our Father is kind, faithful, and will give us comfort.  For this an active prayer life is essential.  And most importantly, we're free from sin through the grace of God. In this world we are certain to have trouble and painful circumstances like I'm facing right now. But our circumstances need not dictate our emotions.  Even in the face of incredible loss and tragedy, our Father will carry us through and give us peace that passes understanding.
Truly, we are just passing through this world, and this is our time to grow spiritually.  This world is a place where we prepare for our true life, in eternity.


Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4
I know that's a tall order.  But consider...if life were without trials, how would we grow and mature?  Like an infant determined to walk, we're bound to bonk our heads many a time.  But when we persevere in our faith, we grow.


One other thing I know: when the Lord closes one door, it's usually because he has a different one he's holding open for me.  I just need to search his word and pray to find his will.  As for this life:


Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap of store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor of spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat? or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.- 
Matthew 6:26-34

If we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, at the end of the road is home!
Wishing you all the blessings our Father has.

Anguish

Though anguish burns like hot coals in my soul
Though it feels the world has turned it's back
My strength comes from the Lord who makes me whole
My hope is in him alone; people can't help but fail 
Though my heart is breaking, someday he'll wipe my tears away
I know he is beside me and loves me
And he always hears every word I pray
I know he is beside me and loves me
Even when it's hard to love myself
Until I finish walking this long road home.
Persevere, my heart
Persevere, my feet
Let me learn your patience
And Father, would you just carry me
for a bit
Until joy returns again....


This song was written by Steven Curtis Chapman after his daughter died, and it's been on my mind all day.  I hope you enjoy it.  No matter what this world dishes out, we're going home someday.  Some days it feels like such a long way....but take heart! He has overcome the world.

A Healing Love

Since I wrote my last post, Shattered, I've given much thought to all the sufferings we experience while here in this world. At the end of the poem I said that healing comes from the unconditional love of our Father. But how do we find and experience that love?

I would suggest that we must first begin to view ourselves as God does. After all, he is the ultimate authority, right? Most of us who have wound up with shattered lives continue to have a distorted view of ourselves because betrayal at the hands of those we love the most changes our whole perception of ourselves. But our Father, who sees our deepest failings, loves us with a perfect love. He created each of us to be unique. He even calls us his children: yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12

Our God is compassionate, patient and loving. His love is a healing love that can put the pieces back together.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger of sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the past nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

He is our strength to soar.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint. Psalm 40:29-31

He is our rock and refuge.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.-Psalm 9:9-10

He loves, he heals, he comforts, he forgives, he patiently waits for us to turn and open our hearts to him.

He is our joy.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:17-18

My prayer is that you call on your heavenly Father who loves you beyond measure.
Those who seek, find.

Wishing you many blessings.