God bumps

Ever experience those times when there are so many "coincidences" that you know it can only be God? When you get goose bumps? Or as my friend calls them, "God bumps". Last night, I had an experience that was filled with one "coincidence" after another after another. I came home in tears, in awe of God who works in and through us, and in spite of us, to fulfill His purposes. He is in the very details of our lives!

Our interruptions that seem so disruptive and devastating are God's unexpected opportunities to be used of Him for purposes far beyond ourselves.

"Show the wonder of Your great love" Psalm 17:7

He is present and active in our lives and too often we miss Him.

"Earth's crammed with heaven. And every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes - the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Veda Hamill, a friend from church, wrote the following poem. I asked her if I could share it:

A PSALM OF GOD'S PRESENCE

Arise! Rejoice!

Feel the sun's rays

Fall warm on your face.

And know

Our God is here.

Arise! Rejoice!

Let the gentle breeze

Blow through the tangle of your thoughts.

And know

Our God is here.

Arise! Rejoice!

Fill your lungs

With the sweet breath of the earth.

And know

Our God is here.

Hear His voice

In the whispering grasses.

See His footsteps

In the swaying trees.

Sense His presence

In the fragrance after the rain.

Glimpse His glory

In the rainbow's arch.

Arise! Rejoice!

Our God is here!

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence!" Psalm 16:11

Reveal Yourself to me daily, Jesus!

A crazy, busy, busy weekend (but fun!)

FRIDAY morning when I looked out the door, I noticed the rain.

We were supposed to have the young married's (and one old couple) garage sale. Would we get rained out?

Luckily, by 8:30, the rain had cleared out for the most part so we were still able to go ahead with the garage sale! We had 16 families going in on this sale.

Even a bunny for sale!

The kids played in the back yard while sales were being made.

Henry and Grace were selling muffins and lemonade.

More back yard fun.

On Friday evening after the garage sale, Jill, the girls and I went to Kidron Bethel for their big, annual pig roast. Adam was sick so he stayed in bed and Al was on route home from a meeting in Boston.

We rode a train. The driver was crazy doing all kinds of loops around the place. It was a blast!

We saw many people we knew, including the Andersons. Maybe you recall from an earlier blog that Rauley is going to be Hannah's future husband! Payton, Rauley's sister, once told Rauley that she was going to marry him when they grew up. "I'm sorry. I'm going to marry Hannah" he declared.

I got to have a surprise reunion of sorts with my MK (missionary kid) friends from Japan. We were all in the same mission family. Barb, who lives in Clearwater now, was my very first room-mate when I went to boarding school as a 1st grader. We were best of friends for many years. Her mother, "Aunt" Belva, was my first dorm-mother. Johnny (now called John, but to me he will always be Johnny) was older than us but he also was at our school before their family moved up to the Tokyo area. He lives in Calgary now.

My parents helped serve food.

The kids got to sit in a fire engine...

and be "bubbled".

On SATURDAY morning, we finished the garage sale and then in the afternoon ran to church to have a surprise anniversary party for our friends, Terry and Connie. Terry is part of the elder board and Pastor Dave called an "emergency" elder meeting. Wives were also to come discuss some sensitive issue. Tami, their daughter, said that they can never, ever surprise their father and that it would be a miracle to pull this off.

WE DID!

You should have seen Terry's jaw drop to the floor when they entered the room. And he was all red in the face. It felt so good to surprise them!

Then right after that party, we were off to a coaches' party at the Claassen home. (In our church, we have coaches who help small group leaders or Community Life groups. They pray for them and help them with any needs or direction.) The Claassen's have an amazing set up in the country and love to host parties for groups. Lots of good food and lots of fun! Unfortunately, Adam was sick and couldn't eat the great brisket and other delicious foods. He came, but only for a brief time. This whole weekend was disappointing for him as he missed all the parties and great food.

SUNDAY afternoon, Webers and us (we are both coaches)had our Community Life young married leaders together at "Uncle Tom's Cabin", out at Haven. Sarah's brother, Tom, owns this camp ground and so it was good to spend time together there. We missed Adam and Jill (who were not feeling well - we took Hannah with us) and Joel and Jess too.

If you go too fast on this slide, you will fly into the lake!

The fish weren't biting, but it was still fun. Hannah was not at all squirmish about holding the wiggly worms. (Too gross for this grandma!)

Thank you, Webers, for inviting us out to the campgrounds!

Now, to recoup from this very busy weekend!

Necessary Food

That was quite a storm that rumbled through town last night. We woke up in the middle of the night as the winds were howling and screeching. I ran out onto my deck to save my hanging planter that was thrashing against the house. I will have to transplant the poor thing as the planter broke.

In our spiritual lives, God is the refuge from the storm - the storms of our lives. He rescues us and stills the storms. Luke 8:24 mentions the time when the disciples were in the boat with Christ and they were so afraid. But Christ rebuked the storm "and the storm subsided and all was calm."

A fellow blogger said this past week "since I have started reading the Bible, there is a sense of calm. I love it."

Many people feel that they just don't have time to read the Bible. Our pastor had an excellent sermon on time management yesterday that you can listen to here! (and if you say you are too busy to listen, you really ought to take the time to do so - ha!)

Two people this past week asked me what I do for my Bible reading time. Do I have a method, certain tools to help me? Over the years, during the various seasons of my life, I have done different things.

First, though, I have a place. This is my "holy of holies" so to speak. The place I read the Word and pray. Meet with my Saviour. I like to do this first thing in the morning.

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence." Psalm 16:11

Job 23:12 says "I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. "

I love reading God's very Word to me!

Where do I read? I've done various things.

One time I read a chapter of Proverbs each day (31 chapters, one for each day of the month) along with a chapter from Psalms.

The Navigators have an on-line study and also other resources that are excellent! There are many devotional guides out there.

Some years I have done the "Read through the Bible in a year". It helps to ask 2 questions when doing that and recording the answers. From the passage:
1. Who are You, Lord?
2. What would You have me do?

For the past few years, this is what I have done:
"Today in the Word" that is put out by Moody Bible Institute (click on Today in the Word at the top of the page). You read a portion of Scripture and then it has a little devotional with it. You can read this on-line or have a copy sent to your home each month. It is free! I like to have the printed word because I don't much care to sit with the computer on my lap or sit at my desk to read. I like my chair! And a cup of coffee!

A few years ago, going through a "storm"in my life, a friend gave me a copy of "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman. So, along with "Today", I read "Streams" every day. There is a short devotional for every day of the year. This book has been like a bandaid on a wounded soul. Not that I feel wounded all the time; usually not, but it speaks to me all the same. And it has brought much healing during suffering.

I have a prayer journal. I write down thoughts from my devotions, and also I printed out a prayer request/answers to prayer page that I punched holes in to fit into my binder. It has been absolutely breathtaking at times to see how God answers prayer!

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation!"
Psalm 5:3

When time permits, as some mornings allow, I also will read a portion from another book. I love books by DL Moody, Anne Graham Lotz, Stowell and many others. These men and women of the faith have strengthened my own walk with the Lord. I have my song book that I often go to and sing also. Sometimes I will sit at the piano and play it. I have a terrible voice but He created it so He will just have to "enjoy" it! And I stink at the piano but no one hears it but God. I close the windows so the neighbors can't hear it either.

Last Christmas, my Aunt Millie gave me a copy of the devotional "Bedside Blessings" by Charles Swindoll. That is how I close out my night before falling asleep.

So anyway, that answers your question, to those who asked. I would love to hear what you do! What I do to "feed" on God's Word may not at all fit you. Just like one person might love brocolli and another hate it, although we all need to feed on the Word of God, how we go about it, what else we read, how He speaks to each person will vary.

As believers, we all need to feed on the Word. A loss of appetite is a sign of disease isn't it. The sick have little appetite. It is the same I believe spiritually. If spending time reading the Bible sounds boring to you and you have little desire to do so, ask God to give you that desire.

I have read some comments on Jess' blog where people have said "I wish I had faith like that". They can! In 1 Thess. 3:10 Paul prayed that God would supply "what is lacking in your faith", and we see the answer in 2 Thess.1:3 "your faith is growing more and more". Christ desires relationship with us and He desires our faith to grow.

Physically speaking, when we are hungry and we eat, we get full. But spiritually, the more we eat of it, the more we hunger for it and the more we desire it. The sheep follow their Good Shepherd to green pastures. He will give you the desire to "eat".

"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer." Psalm 18:2

God rocks!

(ok. that's corny. but I wanted to post this picture!)

Petersons

Yesterday Tommy and Helen Peterson and their four children arrived at our home - the first stay on a 3-month journey. They are missionaries with Avant and are planning to go to France as soon as they are able to raise support. Jill, our daughter, went to Moody Bible Institute with Tommy and that is how we became acquainted.

After their 8 1/2 hour trip yesterday from Denver, the children enjoyed "swimming" in the bubble bath!

Onward to Houston today - an 11 hour drive.

May the Lord go before you and prosper your work for Him!

Hog Wild!

On Sunday, we showed our Sunday School teachers and helpers our thanks by catering Hog Wild for them and for their families for lunch.

Our workers are incredible!! I think about the nursery crew (I'm the Nursery Director) - I have 43 people who serve regularly in the nursery (83 infants to young threes). That is excluding those rotating volunteers who serve once a quarter during 1st service. During 2nd and 3rd service, these workers serve every week or every other week. There are check-in people, teachers (some teach weekly, others co-teach), and LOTS of helpers, someone who cleans the toys and sheets, and one who does the scheduling and calling. These people are so great with the children! They love on them, bounce the babies, feed them, change diapers, greet them with smiles and comfort those who are crying. They take them for walks in the strollers, play outside or in the gym (can't wait for that new playground - Cora's Playground coming soon!, do playdough, bubbles and of course, most importantly teach the children about our Lord Jesus!! Thank you workers!!!

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 1:2,3

Huh?

My mother received this timer. Made in China.
We had such a good laugh over it that I just have to share it.

On the front, it says it is an Illustrative Stopwatch that "Only Need One Button Cell". You can see the words Pi Pi Pi Pi written by it. I guess it makes that sound when the timer goes off. "Cooking? Take me with you!" I think it means you can clip this on your shirt and if you are outside while your cookies are cooking, it will let you know when the cookies are done. Only problem is, who can really understand how to use this thing??

Here are the operating instructions from the back just as they have it typed (errors in spelling included):
One, production use
This production can enactment noon break time, study time, hair dressing time, stew wime, sun edition time....and so on.
Two, production function
This production is be read disply maximum countdown capacity of 99 minutes 59 seconds.
Three, use means
1. Press M button to set desired minutes.
2. Press S button to set desired seconds
3. Press START/STOP button once to start timer.
4. press M to show the S key to return the zero to reset at the same time.
5. Beenactment time to countdown is "zero" second hour occurrence alert.
6. Press RESET button to stop alarm.
Four, bateries usr and barter
1. Replace battery when ever reading becomes dim & difficult to read.
2. usage button G13 type battery.
3. Open the battery door, and take out the old battery, and peg out the new batery plus or minus very put into, and press back, nome position the battery door.

HUH? I think the Chinese instructions on the left side were just as instructive as the "English" ones.

Cuckoo

Today a yellow-billed cuckoo flew into our picture window on our back deck. (I spared sharing a photo of the dead bird and found one on-line instead.) I am so sad. I'm sure he broke his neck. I have these sticky leaves that I have put on my window that I purchased from the Wild Bird store in Wichita. They are supposed to keep the birds from flying into windows. I believe it has cut down on how many do. But sometimes it still happens. When it is such a beautiful bird as this one, I just cringe. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to prevent this?