Am I Sticky Enough?

     The other week my friend posted a Christmas craft project on her blog.  She gave instructions for the project and new ideas.  During her posting she asked if anyone had any other ideas for a better adhesive.  She needed something that would stick to anything and hold permanently.
      I sent a suggestion to her of an adhesive that will stick to anything.  This all happened the same week that I found out that my support was growing to 80%.  I was rejoicing over all that the Lord had done for me and at how far I had come.  There are times when you are raising support and it seems like you are getting nowhere/at a stand still.  Then, as usual, the Lord proves His faithfulness.  I sat and took inventory of all I have learned so far on deputation.  The Lord has allowed me to grow so much in my spiritual life.  
     As I looked back I was reminded of those tough times.  Times when it was hard to "stick to it".  I am sure there will be more of those hard times.  I wonder, what makes me "sticky enough" to last this long (in April I will be on deputation for 2 years.)  Two years is a long time to raise support.  Though it is a long time, there are many missionaries who go as long as 3-5 years raising support till they get to the mission field.  I am not sure how much longer it will be till I can leave for South Africa, but what really makes a person "stick" to God's will.  
      It certainly is not me that makes myself "sticky" enough to continue on.  I can only say that it has been the Lord who has been there as my Strength, Guide, Deliverer, and Provider.  I am able to faithfully rely on His leading because of all that He has faithfully done for me in the past.  Because He has brought me through hard times in the past, He has been making me "sticky" enough to continue trusting Him into the future.

      My heart was humbled and yet overwhelmed by God doing a mighty work in me.  I know that there are times in our lives when we want to move on, feel like giving up, or become impatient (if you haven't experienced any of that, then you are not human).  Praise God that He changes us to become more like Him.  I know without a shadow of doubt that He will make me so "sticky" that I will be like that adhesive that I recommended to my friend.  I can be that adhesive that will "stick permanently", but only if I am willing to be made "sticky" by Him.


Here are a few verses that show us how our adhesive can "hold fast", "stand fast", and "be strong"-
Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. 

 Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
 Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 Re 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

1Co 16:13 ¶ Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 Eph 6:10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

REJOICE!

My mission field !

My current 

support level 

is 80%!

Please continue to pray for me as I schedule meetings 

for the first half of 2012 and hope to be on the mission field by Fall 2012.

Praise the Lord!

Joy to the World!

Years ago, I chose the above verse as my life verse.  Ministry has always been dear to my heart.  God has richly blessed, by allowing me to serve Him in ministry over the last 18 years.  

It is not always easy to serve the Lord.  Satan tries His best to distract and detour you from God's perfect plan.  Sometimes you get so busy with the "doing" that you forget God's plan.  Many times a lack of joy follows us into our busy schedules of serving Him.  

As I designed the above bookmarks to send to some kids to remind them to pray for me, I was once again reminded of my life verse.  My desire is for others to see a true joy in my life that only comes from knowing Him.  Sadly, that is not always the case.  Many times my fleshly nature creeps in and I complain, or speak out of a lack of faith in the One who has called me to do His will.  Sometimes my lack of joy also comes from being "weary in well doing".  That is when I really need to rely on the joy that comes from God. 

 Let's see what God's Word tells us about joy.

 Ne 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: 

neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Ps 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.

Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; 

at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 Lu 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God 

over one sinner that repenteth.

 Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, 

that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: 

ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

We live in a world without joy, because they do not know our Lord.  

This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us not forget that He has given that joy to us.  Let us share that joy with others - Joy to the World, the Lord is come! 

(Please read my latest prayer letter on more about the shepherds spreading the joy.)

Latest Prayer Letter

Click on Prayer Letter to Enlarge

My "Constant"

When I was a little girl, 

my mom would often repeat a cute little rhyme to us 

when we saw the moon.

"I see the moon and the moon sees me,

God bless the moon and God bless me".

Even now that cute little rhyme brings a smile to my face.

We know of course that the moon really can't see us because it is made of cheese, right? 

Just kidding!

This past week, while driving home from a meeting, 

and then yesterday, while taking an evening walk -

the Lord used the moon to remind me that He is "constant" in my life.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary says that the term "constant" means 

"fixed; not varied; unchanged; permanent; immutable."

Isn't God all of those things in your life?

I know He is in mine.

He especially seems "fixed and unchanged" in my life when I need Him most.  

As a single person, there are many alone times.

There are also times when it seems like no one really knows what you are going through.

It is during those times when God brightly shines His light on me 

to remind me that He is always there.

The "constant" in my life.

Last night, as I walked by myself in the still of the night, I glanced up at the bright shinning moon.

It seemed so far away.

If our personal relationship with God is lacking, then God will also seem far away.

 James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. 

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded".

Sometimes the moon looks like just a little sliver.

You may not even see it, but we know it is there, just like our God!

Other times, the moon is hidden behind the shadows.

What shadows are in your life?

Maybe you can't see God because the shadows are clouding your view.

Give it all over to Him, He cares.

 1Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."

Here are some verses I found about the moon -

Psalm 8:3 " When I consider thy heavens, 

the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, 

which thou hast ordained;"

-God gave us the moon.

 Psalm 72:7 "In his days shall the righteous flourish; 

and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth". 

-No wonder I take comfort in the moon, it was given as a sign of peace.

Psalm 89:37 "It shall be established for ever as the moon, 

and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."

-That "faithful witness" points me to my Faithful God.

 Psalm 104:19 "He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down."

-Thank you Lord, for the seasons, made possible only by the moon.

(By the way, did you ever stop to think of all of the things 

that God's creation of the moon makes possible? 

For example: the seasons, high tide & low tide, plant growth, animal growth, 

... just to name a few.)

 Psalm 148:3 "Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light."

-Even the moon, as God's creation, praises Him.

 Isaiah 60:19 "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; 

neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: 

but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."

Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, 

neither of the moon, to shine in it:

for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

-No need for the moon in heaven.  Christ is the Light!  Lets share that Light with everyone around us.  May we each be reminded that God is "constant" in our lives.

(Pictures taken by me.  I love photography!)

Addicted to Youth Ministry

   

For the last 18 years I have had a part in youth ministry.

If you have any part in youth ministry, you know that it has lots of drama.

Some days you love working with teens,

 and other days you never want to see another teen again.

Oh, the DRAMA!!!

My favorite years during my experience in youth ministry

were those that I served with this faithful group of interns.

(this picture is over 5 years old)

They were "my kids"!!!

We lived on the campground together,

 played together, worked hard together,

played harder together, sang together,

laughed together, cried together,

did devotions together,...

Those were the days!!!

When you work with teens, you wonder,

"how many will continue to serve the Lord?"

God only requires us to be faithful to His ministry.
It is not our responsibility to make anyone do anything.


I am happy to say that most of the teens
in that picture are serving the Lord!


Today, there is one in particular that I want to tell you about.
His name is Steve.

Steve has a great family.  

His dad works with the youth at their church in New Jersey.  

Like his dad, Steve also has a burden for youth ministry.  

He feels God leading him to be a youth pastor one day.

Steve has a great relationship with God, his parents, his pastor, and is involved in ministry.  God is certainly  using all of his years 

of hard work and service to prepare him for future ministry.

This Wednesday, I was asked to speak to their youth group.

There were between 65-70 in attendance, with some visitors.

As I began to speak, more teens came in.  It was standing room only.

What a thrilling experience.

As I spoke, the teens watched and listened intently 

to descriptions of my ministry in South Africa and an object lesson 

(which I will share with you in the near future).

I saw Steve again this evening.  

He told me with tears in his eyes just how blessed he was.

This evening at the camp chapel was a special testimony time called 

"Share the Gift".

It is a time when the staff, interns and campers get a chance to share with each other how they accepted the "gift" of salvation and how God has changed thier lives.

Steve was taken back at how many of his past campers

shared that they were saved in his cabin.

He was so blessed to hear how they had grown in the Lord.

After he left, I thought how blessed I was to be able to hear him explain to me how he was so overwhelmed with being used by the Lord in others' lives.  How blessed each and everyone of us are.

Like me, he is addicted to youth ministry.  

18 years in youth ministry and counting!

Take a look at some of the youth that 

I will get to work with when I finally get to South Africa -

(Me and Londiwe)

(Friday Kids' Club)

(Young Ladies Bible Study)

Already, I can say, "I have no greater joy
than to hear that my children walk in truth.  III John 1:4".
May the Lord bless  each of us (who serve in Youth Ministry)
with many years of blessings.

The Great Hunters

   

 
     If you are a hunting enthusiast, you know what this Monday was.  The big day - Rifle season!   On Sunday afternoon, my dad and brother came over and we scouted out the land behind my house.  It was so much fun tramping through the woods looking for deer trails.  The wooded area where I live is so beautiful.  There is a creek at the bottom of the hill that divides the hillsides.  
      On my side of the creek there is a rock formation that overlooks the creek.  It brought back memories of times when I would take my kids (who served under me in the camp ministry) out to that rock to have an early picnic breakfast (juice boxes and breakfast sandwhiches).  After fellowship and breakfast, we had devotion time.  What sweet and precious memories! 

     So, I was blessed to see my dad 
and brother on both Monday and Tuesday.
Early, before the sun (or I) rose, they arrived
to walk into the woods and wait for sunrise 
(and hopefully the movement of deer).
    They saw other hunting friends, a few deer
farther away, and some noisy squirrels.  They
did not get a deer this time. I don't know about 
them, but, even though they didn't get deer, I 
was thankful to see and talk to them both days 
(something I will not be able to do in South Africa).  
     As you can see, dad also enjoyed a little time 
with his grandson, Buddy!