BumbleBee

BumbleBee isn't actually a bee. He is a transformer. A transformer that is in a box somewhere waiting to be delivered to the country that we currently live in. At least that is what we are hoping. He is a birthday present for our son and we have been waiting for him to come since the middle of November. Now our son is doing a good job of waiting but at times he is doubtful. Other times he is hopeful especially if there is news that someone on our team received a package. One thing he does know is that his parents have promised to get him a BumbleBee. It may come in the mail or it may come when his father takes a training trip to the states. But we have promised this to him. He knows we will keep our promise unless of course circumstances beyond our control prevent it.

As followers of Jesus, we have many promises given to us by our heavenly Father. Some of these promises we have seen fulfilled and some are yet to be fulfilled. We have hope not only in our present salvation but that we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Just as my son is believing that his parents will keep their word so we even more can depend on God's word. At times we may get impatient to see the fulfilment of these promises but the fulfilment will come. At times we may doubt but that does not negate what God says. So as the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." May we be faithful as the men and women in the hall of faith were. They lived their lives in hope of God's words knowing that life would not be easy but that God was good and the ultimate promise keeper.

Many times we get so caught up in the every day details of life forgetting about the hope we have in God and His promises. Or maybe we are so overwhelmed by a tragedy or circumstances that surround us that we are blinded to what the truth is. I wonder how my life would be different if I lived each day remembering the hope that I have in me and the hope that awaits me in the future? I don't have an answer. I do know I would like to live as faithfully as those found in the hall of faith. (Heb 11) Only with God's grace and help can that be done.

Dear God, Thank you for your promises. Thank you that you are faithful. May I live life to its fullest and for your kingdom. May I live in expectation of seeing your promises be fulfilled in my lifetime. Amen

Something Parents Do

Do you ever find yourself repeating again to your children something that you have told them either that week, that day, that hour or even them in the previous minute? Why do we do that? I am not sure why other parents do it but I usually do it for two reasons. The first is that I know my children did not get it the first time either by the look on their face or by their actions in not following my instructions. The other reason stems from the fact that it is information that I consider important. I smiled today as one of my students was talking about how her teacher repeated everything three times and she demonstrated for me. I reminded her that all of his students were probably not as bright as she was and did not understand the first two times. She did not think that was quite it but she was able to repeat word for word one such item that the teacher had repeated three times. Which I think proves my point.



In Colossians 3, Paul has some repetition that at a first glance looks like he is repeating himself but on a second glance he is just making sure we get it. I am referring to Colossians 3:1,2. "Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (niv) We have been raised with Christ. We are no longer dead. So where is my heart? Is it with my Savior and is with someone or something else? Honestly I struggle with this daily. I want so for my heart to be with my Savior but often it strays to what is comfortable or what is easy. It is not something I can do on my own but only through God's spirit. The heart deals with my desires, longings and passions. It is only when our hearts are set on things above that His Kingdom can truly be advanced. But Paul says that God not only wants our hearts but also our minds. Set your mind on things above not on earthly things. This almost seems to be saying the same things but I think it is different. The mind for me refers to my thoughts, what is going on in my head. It is a conscious act of my will that I am setting my mind on thing above. I am actively choosing the kingdom over the things of this earth. When I say that it is a conscious act of my will, I am not saying I am doing it on my own power. But when the Holy Spirit prompts, I still have to act. I still have to choose the things above. I have to choose if I will follow the Spirit's leading to pray instead of sleeping in. I have to choose to talk about the things of God with a friends instead of just everyday things. God doesn't just want my heart but my mind also. In fact, He wants all of me. I don't know if I am up to the task but I know I have a God who is.

Dear God, May today I set my heart on things above with your Son Jesus. May my wants and desires be for your kingdom. May I not only set my heart on things above but also my mind. May I choose the your kingdom over the kingdom of comfort I often try to build for myself. May Your Kingdom come. May your will be done. In earth as it is in heaven. Amen

Quotes for January 2010

I love collecting quotes or writing down things out of books that I am reading. Here are a few that I have enjoyed in the last month or so.

From Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves by Edmund Spenser
"Despair breeds not," quoth he, "where faith is staid." (Arthur)

From Boundaries p.258
"It may comfort you to know, that if you are afraid, you are possibly on the right road- the road to change and growth."

From William Tyndale
"Go boldly to God. He desires your prayers and has commanded you to pray. He promises to hear you, not because you are good but because He is good."

From Love and Respect by Ralph Emerson
"Forgiving is the direct opposite of judging. Nothing is easier then judging, nothing is harder then forgiving, and nothing brings more blessing."

The Best Thing/ The Worst Thing

Supper is a time that we alway try to eat together as a family and find out a little about our children's day. We have one child that loves to talk and one not so much. Also when you ask, what did you do today? You will sometimes get a I don't know or similar type answer. To help our conversation, we have started going around the table and each person sharing the best thing and the worst thing about their day. We got the idea from a movie we had watched. It is fun to hear what they consisder the best thing and worst thing. Best things might be some food they had eaten, some game they had played, time with a friend or parent or even a package from the states. Worst things might be something they don't like that I fixed for supper, homework, or something else that was hard about their day. Sometimes they don't have a worst thing since most of the time Big D and W. are pretty optimistic. It also gives my DH and I to share with the kids about our day. Overall it has been a fun idea that I thought I would share.

My Resolve Part Two

I guess I have too much resolve this year that it takes two posts. Today I want to look at verses 5 and 6 of Colossians chapter 4. Verse 5 starts with Paul cautioning the believers to be wise in the way that you act toward outsiders. In our case outsiders means the nationals that we come into contact each and every day. I think this can mean two things. First, it is talking about what kind of example am I setting in the way that I live and interact with the people here. Am I living a life of integrity? It also reminds me to use my brain when I interact with others. We live in a culture here in Central Asia where bribes are common and being an a foreigner can make you a target for scams. I need to be able to reach out to others in the name of Jesus but also be be aware of the people I am dealing with. Thankfully most of the people we have met here have been wonderful but we still need to be wise in the way we interact with them.

The next verse talks about my conversation being seasoned with salt and knowing how to answer everyone. Again this has a double meaning for me. First, is my conversation full of grace? Do I choose to talk about topics that could lead to spiritual things? Does my speech reflect the one who is inside of me? The second meaning for me is in actually being able to communicate with the people here. I am in the middle of language learning and can carry on a basic conversation but not a very deep one. My prayer is that as time goes on, I will be able to give answers to everyone in the language I am learning. This would truly be a God thing. To start in this area, I have started writing out bible stories in simple words and then trying to translate them to my new language. I pray that someday I will have the opportunity to share these stories with someone.

Dear God, Thank you for the opportunity to serve you here in Central Asia. May I be wise in how I interact with the people you send my way each day. Give me the words to say. May my speech be with salt and grace. May I be able to tell them your story. Only by your grace can this be done. Amen

My Resolve for 2010

The past few years I have tried to find a passage of scripture that I would like to put in to practice as a resolution for the year. Last year's post talked about wanting God's word to be the most read book and to work on memorizing more verses. I don't know if I accomplished the first part, but memorizing scripture has been fun and good for strengthening my brain. This year I was thinking about what needs to be better in my life and I picked a passage which fits our circumstances at the moment. Colossians 4:2-6 "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Today I just want to look at the verses 2-4.



Sometimes we get busy and certain disciplines get neglected. For me, it has been prayer. It has been hard for me to be consistent on a daily basis. I am also aware that I need to pray now more than ever. Devoting myself to prayer will be challenging but the rewards for God's kingdom will be great. Practically I am setting aside a few minutes each day when I can pray scripture and intercede for my family and friends and the issues around me. It means when a person comes to my mind that I lift them up to the Father. It also means committing each day and plan to what God wants me to do. It will only be through prayer that I will be able to tell God's message. It will only be with God's help and prodding that I can be consistent in this endeavor.



Dear Father, Thank you that we can speak directly to you in prayer. Thank you that you hear us when we pray. May I be watchful in ways that I can pray. May I never forget to live a life where I give thanks to you in all things. God I am weak. Help me to be strong through the power you give us when we but ask. May I be a faithful friend as I intercede for those near and far from me. May you be glorified in all things. May your kingdom come. In Jesus name, Amen