Keep Jesus on the Throne of life

I shared with you one of my favourite hymns a couple weeks ago; today I am sharing one of my favourite songs, Rhonda Vincent's, "Keep Your Feet on the Ground."

But whenever things get really tough, I think back on the times.
When I was just a girl and Dad would say.

Keep your feet on the ground, what goes up must come down.
And solitaire's a lonely game when there's no one else around.
Keep Jesus on the Throne of life no matter where you're bound.
He will always help you keep your feet upon the ground.

The past few months have been a roller coaster, to say the least. Life is tough; I must cling onto Jesus, who will always help me keep my feet upon the ground! I do not know what is next, nor do I know when, or what the diagnosis will be. What I do know is God is here and ever present.

Health Update

As the days go by, my body seems to be healing, but there is still something wrong. Over Christmas holiday, I went to Taos Ski Valley, NM, with my family. On the way home, my blood pressure spiked, quite a bit. Was this from altitude? Elevation? Going to the washroom?

Upon arriving back in San Antonio, I did another 24-hour urine, and blood work, at the endocrinologist. I also went to the family doctor, where I had an EKG and some more blood work done. All tests have turned out normal. I fear waiting for the 24-hour urine, and not doing it during the drive home was a bad choice. As far as the blood work, same thing, it was too late. At the family doctor, he was just checking some numbers that had been previously high...and now they are normal--that is good news.

Due to my spiking blood pressures (which spike both high and low), and a normal EKG, I am going to be seeing a cardiologist.

Please continue to pray for a clear diagnosis. I do not enjoy being a medical mystery. One benefit...I am getting pretty good at doing one of my most hated things--going to the doctor!

Be Thou My Vision

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

This has been one of my favourite hymns for years--the words so simple, yet so true. How often do you just want someone to say "Good job!" or "Way to go" or "I just love that", etc. God does not tell us to seek the attention of man. We should not be doing things, simply for praise from other people.

In Psalm 90:17 it says, "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands. Yes, confirm the work of our hands." Isn't Gods blessing on what we do so much sweeter than mans? How often do we forget to ask God and just seek the opinion of other people?

That being said, writing a blog, and keeping up with it regularly is quite difficult for me. I do not have a hard time writing, or sharing opinions, or even sharing snipits of my life; I do want to know that man (people) not only read what I write, but like and accept what I have to say. I want you to leave comments and reactions, not just tell me that you read my blog sometimes. I want confirmation that I'm not just doing this in vain.

I keep this blog to glorify God, not for my own good--otherwise I would've stopped writing a long time ago. My theme is "Let me tell you what great things God is doing" for a reason. I want to share with you Gods greatness in hopes that we can glorify Him together! :)

The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer has really struck me recently, and if I really, truly, believed it worked, I would pray without ceasing. As I was reading, First Press, a bi-weekly news and information mailer, from First Presbyterian Church, I was blown away, after reading the following story.

An Inkling, posted by Keith Hill

"Tears streamed down his cheeks as he told about the letter. His Mom had just died at the age of 97. As he was cleaning out her house, he found an old box of letters, one of which was written to him as a baby by his grandparents. His mom had filed the letter away, and he had never known that it existed. In the letter his grandparents told him that they were very proud to have him in the family, and that they would pray for him daily to become a Christian, and then to become a pastor.

The man I hear tell about this letter is Gary Demarest, a retired pastor, and a leader among evangelicals in the the Presbyterian Church. One reason that the letter touched him so deeply is that he never really knew those grandparents. Moreover, his parents were not practicing Christians, and so Gary grew up ignorant of the faith. By God's grace others introduced him to Christ as a teenager. Soon after, he determined that Go had called him into the ministry. He served as a pastor for over 50 years. Gary was so overwhelmingly grateful for those grandparents who prayed for him that he could hardly tell the story.

All of which leads me to ask: for whom are you praying?"

A friend of mine, Jessica, posted a great blog entry on praying for missionaries. I still covet the prayers of my family and friends because either you are a missionary or you need a missionary. :)

Ways to be active in prayer for missions.

Even if you are unable to go on a cross-cultural missions trip, or financially support missionaries, you can still support us and be involved in missions through your prayers.

The following ideas were taken from World Gospel Mission's magazine The Call, and can be found online here.

1. Select a missionary whose work and daily life are accessible to you. Privately, each morning or evening, pray with fervent desire that your missionary will be blessed.

2. Give prayerful consideration to your life and to all the people in it. Is there any group of people, nation, or race against whom your heart is hardened or whom you struggle to understand or love? Study this group, and learn more about them and their history.

3. Jesus commanded His disciples to begin their missions work in Jerusalem. What center of power is there to which you submit? The national capital? Your school? Your family? Whoever it is, contact them and ask them specifically how you can pray for them. Later, contact them again and ask how things are going in the area where you prayed.

4. Each day for a month, start your morning with a sincere plea to God to make clear His will for your life. Do not argue or bargain—just ask God to show you what He wants.

Gods Promises will come into Fruition!

Do you hear that? Gods promises will come into fruition!

Isaiah 55:11, "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

And because Gods promises will come into fruition...

Isaiah 55:2,3, "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you."

God wants us to delight in abundance! He wants us to live, and to live gloriously!

Happy Boxing Day!

Actively living Scriptures!

God wants us to be an active part of scripture. Deuteronomy 30:14, "The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it."

Micah 3:8, "I (Faith) am filled with power--With the Spirit of the Lord--And with justice and courage."

Micah 4:5, "Though all the peoples walk, Each in the name of his god, As for us (Faith), we will walk In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." It's a choice. What god are you walking with?

Romans 11:36, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Notice the wording--from, through, and to, all encompassing of the past, present, and future.

I am learning how to take scripture and own it! :)

In closing, this weeks prayer, as part of the First Cup readings had the following portion of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem."

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight...descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today...O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Dealing with Disappointment

I have been struggling with being stateside. My heart is in Ukraine, and I cannot wait to go back. People keep telling me, you'll get to go back...the question is when? I have been preparing to go to Ukraine for five years; I find being stateside terribly disappointing. Last night, I dreamed that I was a pilot, and I flew people to Ukraine! (That meant I got to go too!)

When a person looks forward to something, prepares, and says, "Yes" to God, what happens when plans abruptly change due to unforeseen circumstances? How do I (Faith) continue to say, "Yes" to God? What is God asking me to do now? Just chill out and wait?

I am thankful to have a wonderful family--extended family included! My Mom mentioned that a cousin of mine has had to deal with some disappointments due to health reasons, and that I should talk to him. My cousin gave me some very good advise. Number one, read the whole book of Micah, maybe twice, and pay particular attention to Micah 7:7-8. I love the fact that my cousin pointed me to scripture!

Going back to appropriating scripture...

Micah 7:7
But as for me (Faith), I (Faith) will watch expectantly for the Lord; I (Faith) will wait for the God of my (her) salvation. My (Her) God will hear me (Faith).

I believe that is where I am right now, I need to watch expectantly, expecting that God wants to and will do great things through me! I will wait (and waiting is hard!) God will and does hear me as I cry out to Him and struggle through the disappointment of being stateside.

Micah 7:8
Do not rejoice over me (Faith), O my enemy. Though I (Faith) fall(s) I (Faith) will rise; Though I (Faith) dwell(s) in darkness, the Lord is a light for me (Faith).

This goes back to what John was telling me about appropriating scripture--even though I've thrown away some of Gods promises, I can pick them back up again--though I fall, I will rise! I am in a period of darkness and a lack of understanding; Christ is my light.

Number two, keep praying and seeking Christ. See what the last thing He told you was, and then ask for the wisdom to carry that out. Sometimes God works in strange ways, but He's working with people (you and me) that do strange things.

Number three, keep on worshiping Him. Sing praise to Him, glorify Christ!

Number four, pray with friends, regularly!

Recurring themes--Loving Obedience

As I study the Word, I am blown away by people's devotion to God, and His faithfulness to them. Our last sermon was about saying, "Yes!" When Jesus asks us to do something, the proper response is, "Yes!"

God was/is faithful to

• Noah
• Abraham
• Moses
• Mary
• the Disciples
• Me (Faith)

Each of these servants of Christ was faithful, regardless of how absurd, ridiculous, or weird it seemed, because they loved the King! (Faith is learning how to be faithful to Christ no matter what!) I want to do what God asks, because he asks!

Mary had the faith that God would do something amazing. (Luke 1:26-38) Do you have the hope and faith that God wants to and will do great things through you? Saying, "Yes" is a moment to moment decision, a pledge of obedience; what would look different if God was your King and you said, "Yes?"

Standing on the Promises

I attended the funeral of Cecil Sparks today. He was an incredible man of God that chose to serve others out of love. Before his death, Cecil chose the hymns that would be sang at his memorial service. One of them he chose was, "Standing on the Promises."

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Those words speak to me, as I have been struggling with standing on Gods promises the past few months. It was stated that Cecil knew Jesus Christs promises intimately--I want to be like that, but I know it is not an easy road.

This past Sunday, Ruthie preached on Preparing for Christ the King. It spoke to me when she said, "Watch for and see how God takes interruptions in your life and changes them to divine appointments!" She then challenged us with the following question, "Are you prepared to be used by God?"

What give Jesus Joy?

What gives Jesus joy? That was one of the points stated during last Sundays sermon. I think that it gives Jesus joy to see us serve others through love. On Saturday, Mom and I went down to Bethany UMC to help put up Christmas decorations. Instead, we helped clean up the nursery. Funny how things like that work.

Love is a force that conduits through people. --Cecil Sparks

What are you doing that gives Jesus joy?

Pray for Micah

Please pray for my friends, Derek and Claire Plantenga, and their new baby son, Micah. Derek, Claire, Noelia, and Micah are missionaries in Sucre, Bolivia through Food for the Hungry (FH). Click on the link below to read their blog and about their son, Micah, who is in need of your prayers right now.

http://derekandclaire.blogspot.com/

Appropriating Scriptures

During my stay in TN my Uncle Bert invited me to spend some time in prayer and conversation with a co-worker, John. John is very well rehearsed in spiritual warfare among other things. I want to share part of our discussion. I will also share our greatest possession that God has left with us—scripture. Abundant life flows from me, because the Word is inside of me. Thank you, John, for reminding me of this.

For years I have read and memorized scripture—as a little girl for a sticker, as I grew older for some cool prize, in college for recognition, as a young woman, for use at a later time. And now is one of those times, where I must take those scriptures and promises that I have learned to know and love, and appropriate them. To appropriate scripture means to take it for oneself, to take possession of, to use for a specific purpose.

• Unlike some people, I am wired to have an answer for everything--hence I love math and teaching HS math so much! Not having an answer has proven to be quite wearisome and difficult during this time in my life, where I have gone undiagnosed.
• I am very methodical, step by step in my actions, and in the way I like things to be done...thus, John pointed out Proverbs 3:5-6.
• ^{Proverbs 3:5-6}Trust in the LORD with all your heart
  And do not lean on your own understanding.
  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
  And He will make your paths straight.
• Step 1: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart
• Step 2: Do NOT lean on your own understanding
• Step 3: Acknowledge Him in everything
• Answer: Your path will be straight!
• I like all of this, but I am struggling with the trusting and not leaning on my own understanding part. Yay for the Holy Spirit to help me work through these struggles in my faith.
• I am struggling with not being in Ukraine, this has been something I have been working towards for five years now, and I feel called to be there. I do not know why God has allowed me to spend two weeks, with two fabulous roommates, and many other amazing people, just to come stateside again. Why didn’t he miraculously heal me when I was in Ukraine? John pointed out Jeremiah 29:11.
• ^{Jeremiah 29:11}'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
• God knows his plans for me, and they are for hope and a good future. So…lets go back to the steps.
• Step 1: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart—this should be easier now, knowing that God has a good future in His plan for my life.
• Step 2: Do NOT lean on your own understanding—God has a plan, and I do not know it, going back to Step 1, I must trust!
• Step 3: Acknowledge Him in everything—God gave me the time in Ukraine, He is giving me the time here in America. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to spend the holidays with my family.
• Answer: Your path will be straight!—I will have a good future filled with hope!
• I have found myself in a place of darkness (a lack of understanding), but God is there in the darkest spots too. My Mom pointed out to me that just as the moon reflects the light, we too are to reflect Gods light, even in these dark times.
• ^{Genesis 1:2}The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
• True faith in God is a relationship of obedience, rooted in love, to Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• What does a relationship of obedience look like?
• I think it includes trusting God when I cannot see what is next and leaning not on my own understanding.
• I’ve been told not to be afraid of the darkness, God is there too—it is in these places that Christ will grow and deepen my relationship with Him.
• These past few months have been filled with stress, worry, and fear. I have thrown away some of Gods promises. John reminded me that I can pick them back up again.
• ^{Hebrews 10:35}Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
• God I want confidence in your Word and confidence that you will do as promised back, I want to believe again, help me with my unbelief. I am taking them back, to use for your glory Jesus!
• John also reminded me that it is my job to believe through steps one through three, it is Gods job to create the answer.
• I continue to struggle with the question of “Will God do this for me?” I’ve seen His miraculous healing powers, I’ve seen His amazing love, I’ve seen people change in incredible ways…but will God fulfill His promises for me? John once again, pointed me to scripture.
• ^{Psalm 126:1-3}When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,
  We were like those who dream.
  Then our mouth was filled with laughter
  And our tongue with joyful shouting;
  Then they said among the nations,
  "The LORD has done great things for them."
  The LORD has done great things for us;
  We are glad.
• And going back to hope…
• ^{Isaiah 49:23}"Kings will be your guardians,
  And their princesses your nurses
  They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth
  And lick the dust of your feet;
  And you will know that I am the LORD;
  Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.
• In placing my hope and trust in God, I will not be disappointed, nor will I regret the decision.

God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. (Even if I do not understand!)

Blessings in TN

During my time in TN I was blessed by so many--family on both Mom and Dad's side, and then many other people I came across.

Our time in TN was good. We established a doctor-patient relationship, and I had blood work done. Everything showed up normal, which is not a surprise, as I have been feeling quite well. I continue to pray that this will manifest itself, preferably sooner than later, or that if God chooses to miraculously heal my body, that he gives myself, and others, very clear outward signs.

Agape love was shared over and over during this time:

• A free massage.
  
• A free reflexology appointment, where the refelxologist pin pointed what was wrong in my body--without knowing any medical history. This man also shared his personal testimony with us! God is good. I am now seeing a reflexologist here in SATX. God gave us Eastern and Western forms of medicine; I am trying both.
  
• A special bookmark given to me.
• Many prayers and hugs!
  
• Meeting with John from Every Nations Ministries. In some ways this meeting was worth the trip alone--I was prayed with and for, and given some fabulous resources. I will share more in a separate blog posting.
  
• Lots of hugs.
• Wonderful family visits.
• Prayers and encouragement from so many people!
  

Thank you to all who made my trip so special and wonderful!