Seasons

I have been blessed to spend most of my life in areas where there are four distinct seasons. Categorizing life into seasons is a helpful way for me to ponder them. There are seasons in marriage and parenting. There are seasons of spiritual growth and health. There are seasons of work, employment, education, and finances. I am sure there are more!

Have you ever dreaded a season only to find you experienced areas of amazing growth as a result of it? Since I am not a big fan of winter, I would characterize a difficult season as a winter season. Winter has less sunshine, it’s cold, it’s messy with snow and ice, and it can be dangerous. There is definitely beauty in winter though, and I think that is an important point: Each season has its own beauty!

What is your favorite season? Do you look forward to the change in seasons?

I am thankful for the seasons in my life and the variety each season provides. I am not typically excited when I sense I am headed into a difficult season but as God works in and through my challenges He can transform a tough season into one of growth, if I allow it!

Longing for Spring?

I am so ready…are you?

The time change helps my attitude. The sun and warmer temperatures help my attitude too. I love it when the flowers start to bloom and the trees start budding. The birds sing their sweet songs! It’s such a beautiful time of year! And I seem to be motivated more in Spring than any other time of year.

Spring is the most appreciated after a cold and messy winter.

When life is going along swimmingly, I tend to take a few things for granted. But after I make it through a challenging season, I am ready for respite and refreshment and reconnecting and renewal.

My walk with God has gone through many seasons. Has yours?

In the coming days I will share some thoughts on seasons and life-cycles. In the meantime, look for signs of Spring outside and look forward to the beauty that fresh growth brings!

Do Not Enter!

If I ever see this street sign when I am driving my vehicle, I do not intentionally drive down the road that way. But I confess that during my life I have been stubborn, determined, and foolish enough to make choices that took me down a path that was clearly marked Do Not Enter!

I suspect you remember doing something like that too. I hope you can remember both the times when you clearly chose the better path and the times when you blew it because both are important to keep in mind. When I see someone heading down a path that isn’t good, I definitely pray for them. If I am in a position to chat with them, I consider doing that too. But what I really want to do is jump up and down and say “Don’t do it!” Sometimes my concern comes from personal experience — I traveled down a similar path and endured some difficult consequences. Other times my age and life experience can help me see when something might not turn out well.

Where did I get that experience? From making poor decisions and learning where those decisions can lead. There are times lessons can be learned vicariously but there is a certain segment of the population that feels the need to throw caution to the wind and forge their own difficult path. Pray for them as you see them traveling. God can redeem difficult situations and circumstances. He has done it for me and He can do it for you.

Enough Trouble

Why is it I distract myself with the all of the potential upcoming trouble when each day has enough trouble of its own?

Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:34]

No kidding! Nothing like stating the obvious. This verse always makes me laugh because it is so true.

Maybe I do it because I feel like I am at least doing something instead of just waiting for the next disaster to visit my doorstep. But being fearful about what is coming up next in my life is not a great habit. If I am distracted from today, experiencing sleepless nights, and have a pit of dread in my belly I might, just might, be flirting with fear. And here is what God reminds me:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or 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—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 6:25-34 NIV]

If I want to be doing something, God has clued me in on what He recommends as the first course of action. It’s a recommendation from the One who created me and knows my past and my future. I know He has my best interest in mind and will work out the details. I just need to trust Him.

Lord, as I seek Your kingdom and righteousness, calm my heart. Grant me Your peace that passes all human understanding. Remind me of Your promises and provision and protection. We have a lot of history together and I know you are with me today and I trust You will be with me tomorrow! In Jesus’ Name!

What Are You Waiting For?

Are you living with dread for the coming days?

The next doctor’s appointment. The next review from your boss. The next episode in your family. The next rejection from a job. The next piece of disappointing news. The next roadblock.

Or are you living with anticipation for what God is doing?

God’s next provision, transformation, redemption. God’s perfect timing. God’s healing. God’s promise to work all things for the good of those who love him.

If we knew everything that was awaiting us, I don’t think it would be good. We think we want to know but I don’t know that we would be all that happy about knowing the future. Sometimes knowing something is going to happen is mesmerizing, debilitating, and paralyzing even if it is a good thing. While impending doom motivates some people to prepare it grips others with such fear they cannot think through to plod ahead and do the next thing. God knows having too much information too early on most items is distracting to the present.

Be careful that you are not so focused on what you are waiting for that you don’t breathe in and celebrate your today. The provision, the gifts, the beauty, and the aromas are sometimes here for just a moment.

Who holds your year in His hands? Who has the ability to work all things out for good? Who has led you where you are today?

Today. It is what we know and what we have. Don’t spend all your days wrapped up in tomorrows that may never be.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28 NIV]

In the Mood

Sometimes I walk around the kitchen wondering what sounds good to eat and while there are multiple options at home, I am not “in the mood” for any of them and I think about where I can go buy what sounds good.

Really now? There are people starving and I am considering what I am in the mood to eat?

Sometimes I have so many things I need to do but I am not “in the mood” to do any of them. Should I really let whether I am “in the mood” to do something or not have an impact on what I choose to do? Chances are high that if I am not “in the mood” for something it might be exactly what I am supposed to be doing but I am just announcing (in an acceptable way) how I really feel about it. Most people I know aren’t ever in the mood for taxes, a huge pile of dishes or laundry, dealing with debt or _______________ (you fill in the blank) but they are all things in need of attention and focus.

Our attitude towards a task or requirement is important. I have been trying to watch how often I claim to be in the mood or not in the mood for something. I’ll admit, it seems whether I am “in the mood” for something or not likely means that I am being selfish but how often do I say that out-loud? Selfishness or looking-out-for-number-one is very acceptable and sometimes we hide behind the phrase in the mood because it is readily understood and socially acceptable and it has plagued us for thousands of years.

Here is what Paul writes in Romans 7:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. [Romans 7:14-25 NIV]

Lord, transform my thinking and my doing. Help me to not pause and consider whether I am in the mood or not when something needs to be done. Help me to have the desire to get it done and with a pleasant attitude. Thank You for Your transforming work in my life. Help me to have Your attitude! Amen!

Missions: Countries & People Groups

Last weekend, Don and I stepped out of our typical world of college admissions and invoicing/public relations/running a household & business and connected in with a church body (E Free) and their conference about their mission efforts in Hungary. I think they have been sending people to Hungary for at least 13 years. The most interesting thing to me was that no one there seemed to have any connection to Hungary by ethnicity except for one guy, who was a Hungarian from Hungary, and me. But these people were all so passionate about Hungary and her people. God gave them a heart for Hungary! And then I read Kisses from Katie and she, too, had no ethnic connection to Uganda, but fell in love with the people of Uganda. God gave Katie a heart for Uganda!

If you don’t have a heart for a certain country maybe God is giving you a heart for a people group. Some people become connected to and passionate for a country or a people group because they have heard a missionary speak. Maybe you know a missionary in the field who has asked for prayer. Ask God to cultivate in you a heart for encouraging those who serve in missions and a passion for sharing the Gospel. And ask Him to give you a heart for something bigger than yourself!

As you pray for a country or people group, consider these PrayerPoint starts:

* receptive hearts to the Gospel
* native ministry partners
* creative & relative connecting points to share the Gospel
* funds needed for the workers and programs
* careful spending of the funds donated
* healthy and multiple partnering churches and church bodies
* creative ways to work through governmental issues
* language barriers to be removed
* the Gospel to be shared in many ways
* long-term relationship building

If you have a certain country on your heart, keep in mind, you may never be called to serve there. Being a prayer partner for a country or a people group is a big job but don’t be so overwhelmed that you are unable to do anything. Take it one step at a time. Learn about the country. Trace a map and label the top 5 cities. There are other hands on and practical ways to become more connected to a country. And if you have kids or work with kids, follow their lead. Encourage them to adopt a country or multiple countries during a year. If you do it monthly in your home or classroom you can pray for 12 countries in a year!

I do suspect God will grant you a heart for a country or a people group if you ask Him because He loves people. If you ask Him for a heart like His, He will certainly grant you a heart for missions. Having a heart for missions opens the door for God to work and develop in you a heart for certain people.

And who knows where that might lead.

More Missions & Missionaries

Do you know someone serving in an “outside the US” mission field or planning to go on a short term in 2013? Have you considered praying for them on a regular basis?

Here are some PrayerPoints for missionaries to get your mind thinking. I am sure God will bring more to mind if you just ponder it for a few minutes.

language acquisition
cultural awareness and sensitivity
separation from US family
safety
relationship development
culinary adjustments
climate acclimation
discernment

Being a missionary to a foreign land takes much more obedience then just saying “Yes, send me!” Intercessory pray-ers are essential. Fund raising is necessary. If you have been invited to support a short or long term missionary in some way, prayerfully consider the offer. Even if you haven’t been personally been asked to support someone, hopefully your church is sponsoring some a missionary or some sort of mission work. Expand your world by connecting with a missionary. Your connection will definitely be an encouragement to them but will most likely change you in the process.

Missions & Missionaries

Kisses From Katie ~ A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis with Beth Clark

Hannah and Elizabeth were assigned to read this book for a book discussion group. They are big readers but this book gave them a lot to think about! I am about halfway through. I think you ought to find a copy at the library though it is absolutely worth buying. Be prepared to be stretched!

We have recently had missions and missionaries on our minds. Please pray for those you know serving in missions abroad. I know there are a lot of missions within the US, but today, let God impress upon you a certain country or region of the world and intercede on behalf of the people who live there. Pray for those who have responded to the call to serve in a foreign land. And find a copy of this book! If you know of other inspirational stories involving missions, please share the title and the author as we would love any recommendations!

Welcome to Delaware by Watermark

Well it’s been a cold December
and the leaves have fallen true,
and I do believe I’m still in love with you.
Yea my scenery keeps changing,
and sometimes it’s hard to view.
But you’ve let me see so much since I’ve known you.
But I headed to what seemed like nowhere
You told me to come,
you told me you’d meet me here.

You were here to say
“Welcome to Delaware”
I know you’ve traveled far.
And it’s a lot colder here than what you’re used to.
And I know that in the winter time,
things aren’t what they used to be.
So all you really have here now is Me…

So I settled here, and that is that.
For you to show me who I am,
You had to take me to a place I’d never been.
And all the things I dreaded most
about the things unseen,
have now become the sweetest part of me.
Though I headed to what seemed like nowhere
I knew you would come
I know you would meet me here.

I have always loved this song. The melody is simple and soothing (if you can find it–you might have to actually buy the CD, I don’t know, but the CD is great so it wouldn’t be a waste! I love the perspective. I hope you love it too! Liz