This morning I picked up my Bible and asked the Lord to allow me to hear His word. To hear what He wanted me to do. How he wanted me to live. I told Him that I did not want to live as others of the world nor live up to their expectations or mine but to His. As I child and as an adult I suffered through many things that still effect my life today. My flesh struggles at times of knowing what to do with the pull of desire and emotions. What do we do with those emotions, those feelings?
Before opening my Bible the Lord laid on my heart Psalms 101. The title before the Psalm is “Promised Faithfulness To The Lord”. It is a Psalm of promise to the Lord to be pure, to behave wisely, to walk within my house with a perfect heart, to not set anything wicked before my eyes. I knew the Lord had lead me to this verse. I then remembered that on Friday during prayer a friend had suggested that I read Psalm 91. The heading to this Psalm is “Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God. His promises to those who abide under the shadow of the Almighty. When I make the Lord my dwelling place no evil shall befall me, no plague shall come near me and His angels will keep me in all my way. When I turned on my computer I received the Spanish word for the day through Spanishdict.com. It is “el sentimiento” meaning feeling, emotion. The other message I received was “ Love Worth Finding”. The scripture verse was James 1:2-4 My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you my be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. The question was what does God want of you? The answer is that He wants us to experience the fullness of Christ. The other question was, “What are you struggling with?” Suggestion, “Give it to Jesus and trust in His timing and His provisions”
I believe these are all things that He would have us to focus on. I know it is for me. He just told me so.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Understanding The Purpose Of Delays Posted 8/31/2009
Wow. Another great day among friends. I continue to see the Lord at work and His mighty hand directing my path.
There is a large group of single women that arrived for this trimester. I met several of them yesterday and have already created a bond between them.
When I returned to the states to begin counseling I had no idea what to expect as a result. I have to admit that I was scared and apprenhesive but the Lord gave me a sense of peace to let me know it was going to be okay. The purpose was to help me understand my past. It was to teach me how to develop healthy relationships, to trust and to help learn how to resolve issues that kept me revolving to a place of insecurity and loneliness.
As a single woman there are struggles that lead to doubt. There are questions that are hard to ask. There are challenges that seem to hard to bare. My hearts desire and need has been to connect with other women that face these same issues.
Well, I am here to share with you again that God continues to hear your prayers for me. I praise Him for His mighty love. His timing is perfect. His purpose is profound.
Today I was told by my new friends that they are wanting to begin a prayer time and study of living a life of purity before the Lord as single women. I was asked if I would be willing to open my home for this wonderful occasion. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You see what I mean. I have not told them about the things I have been struggling with nor about what allowed me to be here at this time, yet here they are asking me today to join them in something that the Lord has laid upon their heart and has already been dealing with mine. Imagine that. I am so excited and thrilled about what the Lord is going to do in our lives.
Nina is a new friend of mine that just lives a few doors up from me. We have already discovered that our lives have traveled very much the same path. We both agree that our great Lord has healed us and restored us to new life. I have no doubt that the Lord delayed my timing of being in school for such a time as this. In my heart I am dancing. In my soul I am rejoicing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for your love and prayers. I can't say it enough.
There is a large group of single women that arrived for this trimester. I met several of them yesterday and have already created a bond between them.
When I returned to the states to begin counseling I had no idea what to expect as a result. I have to admit that I was scared and apprenhesive but the Lord gave me a sense of peace to let me know it was going to be okay. The purpose was to help me understand my past. It was to teach me how to develop healthy relationships, to trust and to help learn how to resolve issues that kept me revolving to a place of insecurity and loneliness.
As a single woman there are struggles that lead to doubt. There are questions that are hard to ask. There are challenges that seem to hard to bare. My hearts desire and need has been to connect with other women that face these same issues.
Well, I am here to share with you again that God continues to hear your prayers for me. I praise Him for His mighty love. His timing is perfect. His purpose is profound.
Today I was told by my new friends that they are wanting to begin a prayer time and study of living a life of purity before the Lord as single women. I was asked if I would be willing to open my home for this wonderful occasion. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You see what I mean. I have not told them about the things I have been struggling with nor about what allowed me to be here at this time, yet here they are asking me today to join them in something that the Lord has laid upon their heart and has already been dealing with mine. Imagine that. I am so excited and thrilled about what the Lord is going to do in our lives.
Nina is a new friend of mine that just lives a few doors up from me. We have already discovered that our lives have traveled very much the same path. We both agree that our great Lord has healed us and restored us to new life. I have no doubt that the Lord delayed my timing of being in school for such a time as this. In my heart I am dancing. In my soul I am rejoicing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for your love and prayers. I can't say it enough.
Hello From Costa Rica Posted 8/28/09
Each time that I have made this trip my Father has made His presence known. He has shown me through the Little Things that all my cares matter to Him. The week before departing I spent a lot of my time packing and unpacking, weighing & weighing again as I tried to figure out what to take. Some of you know that it is a challenge to pack for a week, try packing for four months. My flight allowed me to bring 2 cases at 50 lbs, 2 carry on and a purse. I wish you could have seen me. I had a back pack, my camera, a large full bag, a carry on with my pillow, umbrella, sweater & jacket attached to it and the two large cases that were completely full. As I placed my first peice of luggage on the scale I held my breath as I just knew that it would be over the weight limit. Surprise, it wasn't, it weighed exactly 50 lbs. I placed the 2nd one on the scale and it to weighed exactly 50 lbs. I told my mom that the Lord placed His hand on the luggage and kept it from going over. I said my good by's to my mom and dad, which was very hard and continued through the process of baggage check. No one ever stopped me or questioned me about the amount of luggage that I still seemed to have with me. As I now know it was far more than I was suppose to have. My clue was when I began entering the plane and was having difficulty getting my baggage through the entrance. Then one of the airline steward's spoke up. She asked if I was traveling with someone. I told her no. Well, that was the wrong answer. She immediately ushered me back into a little space and told me that I had way to many bags and that she would have to call someone. After a short time of waiting for others to pass and sharing with her that I was going to be staying in Costa Rica for four months she agreed to allow me continue on board but she didnt know how I would store everything. When I got back to my seat I was relieved that no one else was sitting there at the moment. A man behind me offered to place my luggage in the overhead compartment. It almost took up the entire bin. As I sat in my seat I began to wonder why no one else was sitting next to me. Everyone else seemed to have someone sitting with them. It bothered me because this has happened at other times in my life and I have often felt alone. I said to the Lord that He obviously had something for me to learn out of this. Then the light went off. His reply was, My child, didn't you need all three spaces. If someone else had sit on your isle then you would have had to find another place to put your luggage. There wasn't any place left.
I am so happy that my Father knows me. I am sure that He is shaking His head at me and laughing out loud at some of the things that I do but He never stops paving the way to make things easier, even when things seem to be so difficult.
I love my new apartment. It is clean. I have hot running water, bright lights in my bathroom which I have been missing for a long time, a comfortable clean bed and roses outside my front door. A friend took me to buy some groceries and cleaning supplies. When you haven't had a place of your own in a while it takes an unexpected amount of money to purchase these things but thanks to many of you I was able to do this without having to take extra money from my mission account.
I am surrounded by loving neighbors who I am blessed to have as friends. Yesterday I had lunch with Trisha & Bonnie. We had a great time getting to know each other. Last night I met with my Costa Rican friends to study God's word, pray and sing songs. I didn't know everything that was being said but I sure did love being among them.
Thank you my loving friends and family for your prayers that were lifted up for me for I know without a doubt that the Lord heard you and answered.
I am so happy that my Father knows me. I am sure that He is shaking His head at me and laughing out loud at some of the things that I do but He never stops paving the way to make things easier, even when things seem to be so difficult.
I love my new apartment. It is clean. I have hot running water, bright lights in my bathroom which I have been missing for a long time, a comfortable clean bed and roses outside my front door. A friend took me to buy some groceries and cleaning supplies. When you haven't had a place of your own in a while it takes an unexpected amount of money to purchase these things but thanks to many of you I was able to do this without having to take extra money from my mission account.
I am surrounded by loving neighbors who I am blessed to have as friends. Yesterday I had lunch with Trisha & Bonnie. We had a great time getting to know each other. Last night I met with my Costa Rican friends to study God's word, pray and sing songs. I didn't know everything that was being said but I sure did love being among them.
Thank you my loving friends and family for your prayers that were lifted up for me for I know without a doubt that the Lord heard you and answered.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Profiting From Trials
Last night I had a dream. I found myself running to take cover from a tornado. The wind was very strong. The clouds were dark. The walls were caving in and it seemed as though there was no where safe to go. As I ran I saw a little girl ahead of me and then she disappeared. When I found her she was lying underneath some rubble but she was safe and unharmed. In times past when I have had such a dream it always seemed that shortly after a personal storm would occure in my life. One very much like my dream. The comforting thing about my dream was that after it was all over I was safe and unharmed.
Since my last entry in November I have encountered many times where I felt like I was caught up in a tornado or that a bomb just exploded. I don't know if the dream I had last night was to remind me that I will continue to come through the storms of life safely or that a new storm is ahead. Whatever it may be I do trust in the ability of my Lord to protect me.
This morning the Lord lead me to the Book of James.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
From the beginning of this journey I have asked the Lord to prepare me each step of the way. I didn't know where that would lead but each time I came to a new fork in the road He would remind me that it is not about my ideas and plans but about His if I continue. The fork in the road always gave me a choice to decide where I would go next. One of the roads held a sign that said "This way back." I have to be honest, there have been times when I have considered taking that road. Not that I really wanted to but because I had allowed my vision to become clouded I began to doubt the things that the Lord has confirmed so many times in my life. The storms around me where keeping me from seeing ahead. I was tired. I am so glad that He always reminded me where He has brougt me from for it is those times that keeps me taking the road that says "This way Home"
In the next few months my challenge will be to face some more very difficult issues. One of the things that I learned on my first mission trip was that I needed to be flexible. I believe that this is something that the Lord has been developing in me for a very long time. The other is a more recent lesson and that is that "Discipline has a sister and her name is Sacrifice."
Lead Me Lord for I Am Willing
Since my last entry in November I have encountered many times where I felt like I was caught up in a tornado or that a bomb just exploded. I don't know if the dream I had last night was to remind me that I will continue to come through the storms of life safely or that a new storm is ahead. Whatever it may be I do trust in the ability of my Lord to protect me.
This morning the Lord lead me to the Book of James.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
From the beginning of this journey I have asked the Lord to prepare me each step of the way. I didn't know where that would lead but each time I came to a new fork in the road He would remind me that it is not about my ideas and plans but about His if I continue. The fork in the road always gave me a choice to decide where I would go next. One of the roads held a sign that said "This way back." I have to be honest, there have been times when I have considered taking that road. Not that I really wanted to but because I had allowed my vision to become clouded I began to doubt the things that the Lord has confirmed so many times in my life. The storms around me where keeping me from seeing ahead. I was tired. I am so glad that He always reminded me where He has brougt me from for it is those times that keeps me taking the road that says "This way Home"
In the next few months my challenge will be to face some more very difficult issues. One of the things that I learned on my first mission trip was that I needed to be flexible. I believe that this is something that the Lord has been developing in me for a very long time. The other is a more recent lesson and that is that "Discipline has a sister and her name is Sacrifice."
Lead Me Lord for I Am Willing
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Emmanuel Children's Home
In October I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the dedication service of ECH. It was a great day. One that had been anticipated by many for several years. The home is very beautiful and we now have two girls living there. Their names are Luz, she is 12 & Melissa is 15. Both were very excited to be a part of this celebration. Melissa was pregnant at that time but has since then had a baby girl and both are doing well. During this visit I spoke with Beth about the needs of the home. They are in need of spanish children's books and clothes for girls of ages 10-16. If anyone would be able to make a donation for these needs it would be greatly appreciated. You may contact me through email at theresa@bmdmi.org.
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