Re-entering the blogging world...by God's grace

God has made it very clear to me that He wants me to share with others the process of growth He is taking me through. There have been many dimensions of this growth. I will share them a tiny bit at a time. My prayer is that these lessons I have and am learning will be at least a small help to someone struggling in similar situations. God is good!  I'm thankful beyond words for His faithfulness and loving-kindness to me!  Tomorrow's post will be some light-hearted humour as I ease my way back into the blogging world. 

Urgent Prayer for Collette Michel

Please pray for our friend Collette Michel, she and her husband Joel have been missionaries to the Netherlands only a short time.  Today Joel was in a car accident which immediately took his life.  Please pray for Collette and her three young children Annita (4), Timothy (2), and Annalise (10 months).  We love you Collette and we are bearing you up in prayer.

Pre-Field Ministry

Never did I comprehend the new ministry God was giving me when I left my home to begin pre-field ministry in February of this year.  God has done unspeakable things in my life.  He has polished and encouraged using so many wonderful folks along the way.  Pre-field ministry, or deputation at it is commonly known, holds many blessings as well as trials.  The Lord has given me the burden to share these blessings as well as some of the trials along the way.  I believe there are three reasons the Lord would like me to write about these things: 1) to encourage other missionaries by testifying of God's provision for us  2) to help those who pray for us to know how to pray specifically  3) to encourage those who are considering God's calling upon their lives that God is able and WILL take care of them if they will but trust and obey Him.  I pray God will use the upcoming posts to accomplish these things.

May I Go?

As I was sorting and getting rid of yet more of our earthly belongings, I ran across this poem.  This was included in the program at the funeral of my beloved Grammies.  Grammies was my mother's grandmother and her best friend after losing her own mother at a young age.  I'm sorry, I do not know who the author is.

May I Go?

May I go now?

Don't you think the time is right?

May I say good-bye to pain-filled days

and endless nights?

I've lived my life and done my best,

an example tried to be,

So can I take that step beyond

and set my spirit free?

I didn't want to go at first.

I fought with all my might!

But something seems to draw me now

to a warm and loving light.

I want to go!

I really do!

It's difficult to stay.

But I will try as best I can

to live just one more day. . .

To give you time to care for me

and share your love and fears.

I know you're sad and are afraid

because I see your tears.

I'll not be far, I promise that,

and hope you'll always know

that my spirit will be close to you

wherever you may go.

Thank you so for loving me.

You know I loved you too.

That's why it's hard to say good-bye

and end this life with you.

So hold me now, just one more time,

and let me hear you say, 

because you care so  much for me,

you'll let me go today.

I realize, being a poet who writes in traditional form, that this is not properly laid out, but I have typed it here just as it was given at the funeral.  Also there are some things I know are not true or are obscure.  That "something" drawing for a Christian is God in Heaven.  Further down the poem says, ". . .my spirit will be close to you. . . ."  This is also not true as we know that our spirit goes to Heaven or Hell after our body dies.  These things aside.  It was a solemn reminder to me today to be thankful for life and to love those around me while I can.

What is Charity?

It's silence when your words would hurt.
It's patience when our neighbor is curt.
It's deafness when the scandal flows.
It's thoughtfulness for another's woes.
It's promptness when stern duty calls.
It's duty when misfortune falls.

--author unknown

Think Twice

Before you push a brother down, THINK TWICE.
Before at another's sin you frown, THINK TWICE.
For who are you in judgment hall
Your brother to the bar to call
Tomorrow you may slip and fall--THINK TWICE.

Before the stinging gibe and quip--THINK TWICE.
Lest you yourself should feel the ship--THINK TWICE.
Withhold the gossip's idle sneer,
The thrust that draws the bitter tear,
For Fortune's favoring gale and veer;  THINK TWICE.

Is charity a quickened art?  THINK TWICE
And does it thrill both hand and heart?  THINK TWICE
The mercy you to others show,
That mercy you should some day know;
With other's faults be kind, be slow--THINK TWICE.

--author unknown

The Difference

I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task;
"Why doesn't God help me?"
I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on gay and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys in the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.

Author Unknown