Line of Defense

Upon finding our home in Ireland, we quickly noticed that we had a strawberry patch already developed in the back garden. It was winter time, but the anticipation set in of what was to come. We researched what maintenance would be best for the kind of strawberry patch we had before Spring arrived. Slowly we began to see a change. First it was the buds of the flowers. Then came the blooms of the flowers, and finally the fruit!

Excitement of eating our very own strawberries was in all of the family. We watched the strawberries grow in size and darken in color. Plans of making strawberry jams, pies, breads were on the brain. The day arrived when we thought we would take our first pick.

We gathered a bucket to collect the strawberries and the family headed out only to find that the largest, most ripened strawberries were already eaten by none other than bugs! We stayed optimistic and thought maybe it was just these first few that we found. To our dismay, the bugs had the first pick long before our day of delight. Our reaction was to research what we could do now to the patch in hope of saving the strawberries to come. From what we could find, there really wasn't a good method of defense on our part with a strawberry patch low to the ground without using chemicals.

After a few days of this discovery, the thought came to mind, "How grateful I am that God has given His children the means to defend the enemy!" His Word is our line of defense. As we read the Word of God, we not only equip ourselves to fight against the enemy, we become more aware of the enemy before the fight. We do not have to live helpless awaiting the enemy to devour us. God has blessed us with His Word!! 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

DREAM 2015

 After weeks of preparing, shopping and praying, we set off for DREAM 2015 last week. Kendra was asked to oversee the creche, which is similar to our nursery/preschool. She prepared the sessions for the 1-3 year olds. The overall theme of the conference was “Made for More”. There was a morning and evening session each day with a total of 5 sessions. 

Upon arrival, we quickly began unloading and setting up this “Creation” themed room for these little ones. We should’ve taken pictures of the before scene (meaning before the children arrived). With a team of 12 rotating throughout the sessions, we cared for, prayed for, played with, and had moments of teaching for 25 young hearts. 



How did it turn out? We didn't use every activity prepared for them. In fact, we weren't brave enough to bring out the colored rice, or many of the other sensory play items for fear of creating even more of a mess than we already had. We also weren't able to use every story board planned, or even have a time for songs each session. The story blocks that were made soon became presents to unwrap rather than blocks to stack during the first session. There was no schedule, and it may have even looked like chaos to some.

However, a verse came to mind in 1 Corinthians that says, "Let all that you do be done in love." It was a true pleasure for us to oversee this age group. The greatest highlight was giving parents the opportunity to engage in the worship service without being called. Each session we were able to call fewer parents. 

I can remember a time in ministry when I would've been frustrated at the situation. Thinking about all the hours of preparation, and walking away disappointed. I praise God for the growth He has done in me to walk away rejoicing for the gift we were able to give others. How rewarding it feels!!

WITH or WITHOUT

The above verse in Philippians has crossed my mind over the past couple of weeks several times. I would like to believe that I would be strong enough to say I am content in any situation; however, after walking along a refugee the past couple of weeks, I wonder how strong would I be?

For several weeks, I would see a particular lady at early morning prayer on Thursdays. She was obviously at the end of her pregnancy. It was the week that she was due when I found out she was a refugee from Nigeria, she didn't know anyone except a couple of people in the church, and this was her first baby. I would have never known these circumstances from her smile she had each time I saw her. She looked and sounded as if joy filled her life in every way.

When I began to investigate a little further, I found out that she was climbing 7 flights of stairs each time she went out, and she was to walk to the hospital when it was time for the baby. Her response was that it was good exercise. Once she had the baby, she was to travel to another town about an hour away for other instructions. I thought "oh, she'll go home and in a week or so, they'll move her." I was surprised to find out that she had a friend pack her belongings while she was in the hospital, and when she left the hospital she boarded a bus with her newborn and went to Portlaoise. 

I began to think of my own experiences with having a baby: how many visitors I had, how much baby stuff I received in showers, how all of our kids had a nursery, etc...My heart broke. This is not the first time I have seen lives with such little, and thought how blessed my life has been. Her story challenged me once again to be very grateful each and every day, and to share the goodness of God with others. 

God orchestrated this lady to go to Porlaoise where we were able to connect her with some other missionary friends and a great church. We are looking forward to hearing how she is doing over the next few months. 

To answer my question, how strong would I be? I know from Paul's next verse that we all can be strong in any situation...

1910

What is 1910? It’s the year that the house in Ireland we live in was built. It was the house that our Landlord lived in as a child. He refurbished the house around 2004, so it does not seem that we are living in a home over a hundred years old. The Landlord now lives in a newer home on the same property just up the hill from the old house. He calls our house the old house. 

When driving around Ireland, it doesn’t take long for you to recognize that history is cherished in this culture. Our tendency is to toss away that which is old, but here what is considered old has a history. What is history? One definition states “a tale, story”, and another says, “a chronological record of significant events.” History may not always be something we are proud of, or even something we want to remember. On the other end, history may bring joyful memories and laughter. Either way, it is our history that has brought us to where we are, and has a definite story to tell.

Believing that God has a master plan brings history to even a new level of appreciation. Psalm 37:23 says from the New Living Translation, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” How exciting to think the Lord takes our history, every part, to fulfill his master plan.  To think His heart is to never throw it out, but only to refurbish and bring new life is a joyful thought! Also, to think how each of our lives hold a chronological record of significant events brings His wonder into reality.

We are a prized possession, one to be cherished...history and all!

This photo was taken from the window of our living room

ZOOM OUT!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

 and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

One of my favorite children's books is called Zoom and another is called ReZoom. They are some of my favorites because they remind me that God sees the Big Picture. These wordless books challenge your imagination and keep you guessing. Just when you think you know where you're at, you turn the page to see you're probably wrong. They are pictures within pictures. One book will zoom you in while the other zooms you out.

As some may remember, it was my desire to be in Ireland in time for the boys to start school in August. While I thought this plan made the most sense, it was God who zoomed me out the past 2 months to realize what they needed was to homeschool with mom. 

As challenging as it has been on our finances, I am grateful that the Lord sees the big picture and gave me this time with the boys and away from work. I've enjoyed our daily walks and listening to all their questions. Their walk with the Lord has deepened over the past couple of months, and it has been amazing to see how God cares about preparing ALL of our family for the mission field in Ireland. I know these past few months will be a mark in their spiritual walk with the Lord, and one they will never forget!

Too many times we sit in a zoomed in position in our life and complain where He has us. We live frustrated and disappointed. It would have been easy to be disappointed that the boys missed starting school and now I have to homeschool. I could have questioned that I no longer had a job and how are we going to pay the bills? If I stayed in those zoomed in emotions, I may have missed some of the greatest days God had planned for my children. I chose to believe and trust God that He knows best. He sees the zoomed out pages, and His plan is good!

A Twenty Year Prayer

At the age of 16, I had the privilege of attending my first overseas mission's trip. It was in the beautiful country of England.  When I found out there was a mission's trip to Europe, I knew I had to go. I had a longing to see Europe ever since I was a young child listening to my grandpa's stories of WWII. I didn't care where in Europe; I just wanted to go. I was intrigued with culture.

During those 10 days in England, God began to deepen my longing from the landscape of Europe to the people who lived there. I remember after I came back home asking God, "how can I still be a part?" His simple answer was to pray, and pray particularly for the children of Europe.

Twenty years later, I am still praying for Europe. That question at 16, "how can I still be a part?", still resonates in my spirit. Only now, my part is not only prayer. God has brought our family through a journey to answer the call to serve the nation of Ireland. Excitement doesn't begin to express our feelings. We believe in a matter of weeks, our feet will walk on this great land as Missionary Associates! 

And what is God saying now...

As we were preparing for a service a few months ago, God showed me something about my years of praying. I was looking at a picture from Students for Christ (Europe's ministry to college students), when God reminded me how long I have been praying for Europe. He brought this thought, "the very people you have been praying for the past 20 years could be some of the very people you reach while you are in Ireland." This thought brought me to my knees yet again. I may never know until heaven what impact my twenty years of praying has brought, but I do know that God asked a young girl at the age of 16 from a small town in Oklahoma to begin praying. I know He is a God of purpose. I know that God has had a master plan from the beginning of time, and He has given our family the opportunity to minister in Europe for such a time as this. God is good!!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18

From Paul...dictated by Randal

My study of the Apostle Paul the past couple of weeks has brought several thoughts. Paul is known as one of the greatest men in the history of the church. His personal experience with the Lord was life changing at the least. However, I found there are some similarities between Paul's life and my own that the Lord revealed to me while I was studying that are worth sharing. 

There have been various times that I have questioned "Can God use me as a missionary?, Am I even qualified?" Another battle I face from the enemy is the reminder of my age. It was these questions and thoughts that the Lord brought such encouragement from studying Paul. Here are just a few comparisons that the Lord showed me from reading about his life and qualifications to be a missionary:

Both the Apostle Paul and myself...

• were over 40 years of age on our first missionary journey
• were a believer for at least 10 years before our first missionary journey
• were called by God
• were given great grace
• were given a thorn in the flesh that kept us humble (If you're unfamiliar with me, I lost my right hand in a tragic accident at the age of 10)
• have a great love for people
• were filled with the Spirit
• have a heart of a servant
• known to be diligent and persevered to run the race
• Paul was trained in theology, and I continue my training

Why are these important to know? Encouragement. It was the last 20 years of Paul's life that he had the most impact in his ministry. I'm excited at the thought of my next 20 years of ministry. My prayer is to be fruitful! A verse of Paul's that I love and relate to is Philippians 3:13-14, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

I am thankful for the work the Lord has done in my heart, and how He continues to mold me. I pray you too have found encouragement to press on toward what is ahead in Christ. The outcome can only be good! I am 50 years old now, and will be leaving for my 2nd missionary journey to Ireland soon. God is never late!