Beatings, Ribs, Scrabble

Today's topic: Beatings.

On the mission field: Check out this article on gfa.org. A pastor in Assam was accosted by militants who wanted to steal one of the ministry's vehicles. The militants beat the pastor and left, only to return again later -- this time with an apology for their behavior! Prayer requests: Pray for the pastor to recover from his injuries and for an opportunity for him to share the Gospel with those who beat him.

At my home in Kansas: Daddy got beaten up in a friendly game of basketball. Accidently knocked to the floor by another player, Daddy got the breath knocked out of him and broke a couple (or so) ribs. Mother said he's really sore. This is the second time in a year he has broken ribs playing basketball. Am I wrong? Is basketball not a non-contact sport? Prayer requests: Pray for Daddy to heal quickly and be able to do the farm work.

Here in Texas: I was badly beaten in Scrabble tonight. My intern girls and I went over to visit an older lady who volunteers at GFA. We enjoyed fried chicken and a friendly game of Scrabble. They said next time they're going to "put the egg timer" on me. I wonder why? It only took me five minutes to decide to place the "a" next to the "s" on my last turn. Prayer requests: Pray that I would be faithful to fix my eyes on the Lord, not on my circumstances. Pray that I would honestly, humbly serve and not seek to draw attention to my service.

Tulsa for the weekend

I traveled to Tulsa, OK for the weekend for a college friend's wedding. There were six of us classmates that traveled from KS, OK, and TX to attend the wedding, so it was a wonderful time catching up. (Oh, and a beautiful wedding! Congratuations, Gina and Jimmy!) With large Catholic families, the wedding dancing was still going on when I left.

I'm heading to try to spend some extra time with the Lord tonight -- I'd continue to appreciate your prayers for my heart to be sensitive to Him and my trust to be wholly in Him. Pray that I would believe with my head and my heart that He'll be faithful to guide me as I follow after Him.

Brother K.P. used an illustration in a message the other day that caught my attention. He told about a man who was coming to visit him a friend in a large city. He studies the maps and watches the road signs and still ends up lost when he arrives in the city. Frustrated, he calls his friend and describes the landmarks. His friend, figuring out where he is, comes in his car to lead him to his destination. The man starts his car back up and follows his friend's car. He doesn't study the map or try to figure out the road signs -- he just follows his friend's car. A few turns and a couple blocks and he's there.

"Wow!" he says. "That was easy!"

Simply following.

Small contributions

I IMed briefly this evening with an acquaintance from the past. "VB Mike" (as I like to call him) had responded to a GFA news email a couple years ago and mentioned that he could volunteer some time to assist with programming projects. We took him up on his offer and he helped put some Excel macros into place for a ministry-wide planning spreadsheet. After a couple other small codings here and there, he and his wife had their first child, life got busy, and we gradually lost contact.

So when I saw him online this evening, I had to greet him and let him know -- that small Excel project we worked on over two years ago is still functioning happily (and crucially) today. The time he donated years ago has been saved many times over through that project.

And more people have heard about GFA because of that project.
And more people hearing means more missionaries sponsored.
And more missionaries sponsored means more churches planted.
More people to rejoice with in heaven!
Thanks, VB Mike!

Messy Business

What is that quote? "Discipleship is messy business."

Okay, so maybe that doesn't directly apply, but it's been a day that reminds me of God's faithfulness -- His faithfulness to use the people and situations around us to make us more like Him. It doesn't always happen in the holy, spiritual way that we think it will happen, but He grows us just the same.

Thanks for all of your prayers -- I and the interns living with me continue to covet them.

Thanks for praying

We had a quiet weekend -- one of my girls headed to CA to visit family and friends and the rest of us enjoyed some downtime. The lawn was supposed to get mowed. I spent most of the time pulling up weeds instead -- prickly weeds that I don't really want to cut up into pieces and scatter all over the lawn for fear of multiplication. I know, the plant probably doesn't work that way, but I'm not taking the chance. This plant would if it could. Personal vendetta and all that...

Part of my work this morning was busy getting new GFA volunteers logged into our network and helping them understand security and our computer system. New staff/volunteer login is part of my regular responsibilities and I look forward to it -- it allows me to meet all the new people personally.

I know someone out there is praying for me -- today started and ended as a God-Where-Are-You day, but inbetween there was peace. And even in the midst of the ending, there was the reminder that I can't stand on feelings. I need to be girded with truth, defended by righteousness and faith, and having done all -- to stand.

It's one thing to use your defensive armor. What does it look like to advance with the Word? (Eph 6:17)

14' foot walls

Saturday, the intern team went to Stony Ranch - a challenge course about 30 minutes north of us. We spent the morning doing team-building activities and challenging each other. The afternoon was spent on the high ropes course and challenging ourselves.

We closed the day with a 14' challenge. It was a 14' wood wall -- straight up -- with a platform on the opposite side. It was our job as a team to get all 12 of us team members over the wall in 16 minutes. It took some struggle, quite a few bruises, and a lot of trust.

At the end, it was a reminder to me. I didn't feel badly about stepping on Sara's knee to help me reach the top, or holding for dear life to the hands that grabbed me from the top. I knew I couldn't get over the wall by myself and I knew I needed the help of my team.

When I face obstacles or trials in my life, they often look like that 14' wall. But I don't have to face them by myself. Each of you are a part of my team -- supporting me, praying for me, grabbing my hands and pulling me up, reminding me that you're not going to let me fall. I praise God for you.

Supper and outpouring

We had supper this evening with Nepali friends Nanu and Amit. It was fun to sit on their living room floor and eat food with our fingers and share stories of international travel.

Was reading through the stories of Peter and being reminded of the differences in his life from denying Christ to becoming one of the leaders in the early church. What made the difference in just a matter of weeks? The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in his life. That's what I want. Not for me, but so others can see Him through me.

Peace at the Bible College

Thank you for your prayers!!! We got word today that calm has returned to the Bible College that was attacked last week. We praise God for so many people who were praying for this situation. Continue to pray for all of those involved to come to know the Lord. Please take time to visit the website's full story!

I took time this evening to hang my world map and pictures of my supporters. I've got quite a few of you to add, but no pictures! If you've got a digital picture, you can email it to me. I praise God for you!

To Kansas and back

I took a three day weekend to Kansas for an open house in honor of my sister's marriage. It was a short three days, but an excellent time. Memorable events and highlights:

• Sharing the ride up and back with my cousin L.
• Enjoying an unexpected late night heart-to-heart time with my grandmother (I love you!)
• Sharing 1 bathroom with 9 people
• Listening to the familiar creak of the basement steps
• Trying to sneak downstairs in the middle of the night and being reminded where the creaky spots are in the upstairs steps.
• Ad-libbing through "emcee" opportunities at the open house
• Seeing the baby calves
• Seeing servant hearts in action in family friends (Thanks, Bob and Becky!)
• Staying up until 3am talking with family
• Having dad's biscuits and gravy
• Singing "The Love of God" with C and J and Grandmother at the piano.

The simplistics

Sometimes I create my own challenges by simply not believing God in the everyday things of life.  I forget to believe that He will guide me when I ask.  I forget to believe that He is faithful for each situation.  I forget to believe that He is bigger than my shortcomings.  Believe --> Trust.  Relax and trust.

 

Oh, to remember who He is: "I AM"