Closing out the Year 2010

Once again it’s time to finish the final chapter and place the last book on the shelf on the library of 2010. What a year it has been. Every year as I look back, I’m amazed at how blessed we are, and how He cares for us in each detail of life.

2010 was a tough year. It marked a year of great loss in our family in more ways than few. With that being said, it was a good year in which we made it through those storms, grew stronger, and no doubt built character along the way.

In what is now an annual tradition, here are some random things in random order that I have learned, experienced, and seen in 2010.


-If the History Channel is one of your favorite channels on TV, you might be a nerd. If you really love the channel like I do, you are fine with that.

-You can’t figure out where you are going if you don’t know where you came from. Study the book of Daniel. That statue in it…it’s your history.

-Keeping an open mind to new things can open the door to awesome things. Two examples- Yoga and Acupuncture

-Good friends are hard to find but so worth the search once you find them.

-I couldn’t figure out what was more depressing: The fact I waved good-bye to my twenties, or that I started using night cream this year. The fact that my husband didn’t seem to mind about either made it all better.

-There is a purpose for everything that happens in life…even if we can’t see it or understand it.

-My husband is still the best decision I have ever made and the biggest blessing I’ve ever received.

-Shooting guns at targets is a whole lot of fun…just saying.

-Using “outdoor bathroom facilities” while camping in the mountains does not make me feel at one with nature. It does allow me some quality time with the hubby and a chance to experience things he is passionate about.

-A freezer full of Blue Bell Ice Cream= a happy home.

-The H’s that make me happy in life: Husband, Hammocks, Ham Loafs, Happy Birthdays, and Hobby Lobby

-My brother-in-law Alan’s BBQ is the best BBQ hands down

-I make a better First Mate than Captain of sail boats.

-Praying with even just a half ounce of faith is powerful. Faith the size of a mustard seed will move a mountain just like we are told it will.

Gracie Mae

I believe the Lord has a reason and purpose for each creation and relationship in our lives. Sometimes he works miracles with His hands. Sometimes He works through His creations to do the same. My childhood dog, Bandy was the best dog a child could have. He died at 16 or 17 years old. This weekend our dog Gracie passed away as well. She was 17 years old and a sweet, sweet girl.

She proved to be a best friend to my husband long before I came along. Because she was such a good dog, it was so hard to say good-bye. I think she hung around as long as she did because she wanted to make sure my husband was going to be well taken care of. Not only did she welcome me into their lives, we even became good friends. I like to believe she passed the torch to me in taking care of him when I proved worthy in her loving eyes.

The Lord certainly used her countless times when my husband needed her. I remember during some really trying times this last year, she stuck so close to me and did her best to make me feel better. The Lord used her in many ways.

I have a sweet picture in my mind. It could be a vision or just even a longing or a hope. With the same innocence I prayed with as a child years ago, I did it again as an adult this past weekend. I don’t know if dogs go to heaven. I’m sure many could debate either side to this. I do know that if my request is granted, two of my favorites are playing up there right now. In our mourning for a dear friend, I know He is honored by us loving one of his most precious creations. Gracie Mae will be missed.

Walking Through the Fire

I’m in the midst of a study of Daniel right now. I’m learning so much by taking almost each verse apart and digging deep. We finished looking at one of my favorite stories in the Bible.

The scene is set in Babylon and ruled by an egocentric king. The king builds a statue that symbolizes himself and demands his advisors, governors, etc to worship it. Three men took a stand and said no. They would not bow down to the statue and worship it. They were Godly men who knew who God was and weren’t about to turn against Him. They knew the consequences that were clearly displayed before them. They could probably feel the heat from the furnace they were about to be thrown in when they gave their answer of, “No.” Into the furnace they were thrown with their hands tied behind their backs.

Three men. The king had three men thrown into the fire. If you can handle the powerful message within one verse…get ready. Here it comes.

“Look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted. I see four men, unbound and walking around in the fire unharmed! And the forth looks like a god!” Daniel 3:25

Have you been through any fires lately? Are you going through one now? Check out Isaiah 43: 2-3. Notice we are told “When” we go through trials (not “if”) He will be with us. When the King Nebuchadnezzar saw the forth man walking in the fire, even he saw it was Him! The Lord brought the men through the fire and the only thing burned were their ropes that tied their hands together. Not only did He save them, He took away their bondage.


Going through a recent difficult time, I imagined God sitting up on high and looking down at me. I mean in the way of a Father lovingly looking down at His child. I did feel He was allowing me to go through the season for a reason, and I was accepting that. However, this old story that I’d first heard as a child suddenly had new meaning. Why would the creator of the universe come down from the glory of Heaven to walk through a fire with me? Because He said He will..every time.. and He never lies.

Powerful.

Where's Waldo?

We dressed up this year as Where’s Waldo and his friend Wenda. It was an easy costume to make. We didn’t have shirts with red and white stripes. That was an easy fix…just bought a couple rolls of red electrical tape and put them our clothes. It didn’t ruin the clothing like duct tape may have. We rolled a small ball of paper up in some red felt and pinned it to white stocking hats I bought for a few bucks at a discount store. My glasses came from the dollar store. It was from a Groucho Marx mask that we took a part. His glasses were something we already had. There ya go…a couple’s DIY costume!

Broken Glass

Today I was grabbing something out of the cupboard and knocked a glass jar of pasta sauce on the floor. Glass objects and our concrete kitchen floor do not make a good combination. Sauce and glass went all over the place. There must have been a thousand shards of broken glass on the floor. In an instant, the place where I was walking barefoot so carelessly just an hour before was now a danger zone.

It took about 20 minutes to clean up the mess. By the time I was done, the sauce that had splattered on my feet had dried. I grabbed a paper towel, dabbed it in some water and blotted the sauce. It was stuck on my skin. I then did what only made sense at the time. I added some elbow grease and started scrubbing vigorously to get the sauce off. I was in a hurry and needed to get cleaned up fast. Pain radiated all over my foot. “Ouch. I must have rubbed a nerve or something,” I thought to myself. Five minutes later, my foot still hurt and when I looked down at it, blood was everywhere.

Apparently I had broken glass on my foot and had pushed it into my foot while scrubbing. It hurt. Thankfully, it’s not too bad and I won’t need stitches or any medical attention. My pride is probably more wounded than anything. I felt pretty stupid for not being more careful. How did I manage to make a bad situation worse, or yet even painful?!


As I cleaned the broken glass and red sauce from the floor, I couldn’t get over what a mess I had on my hands. I realized that no matter how good I cleaned, I would no doubt miss a piece here or there. I’m sure I’ll be finding missed pieces for a while. It wasn’t the easiest mess to clean up. I found myself thinking about what a mess we are at times, and how the Lord manages to clean up our mess. This is all if we allow Him to. He can pick up the pieces and put things back together in a way that is sometimes better than it was before. Again, if we allow Him to. He doesn’t miss any pieces and doesn’t throw the broken mess in the garbage either. If and only if we allow Him to. Oh, the pain we would avoid if we trusted Him and let Him do the work. What brokeness could you hand over to Him to fix? What mess is in front of you that you could use His help? Allow Him to help. He wants to lend a hand.

Canning

My family is going through the difficult job of sorting through my Grandmother’s belongings. Unfortunately, they are doing all the work since I am not nearby to help. While visiting back home, I spent a couple hours helping in the effort of going through things. Grandma had a house full of things, most of which each hold a memory or two.

In an almost hidden storage place in the basement, we found what seemed to be a storehouse of mason jars for canning food. It instantly brought back memories of my grandmothers on both sides canning when I was a little girl.

Canning is something I have never attempted on my own. I’ll be honest, I was a little intimidated by it for some reason. However, I decided today that I would try following in the footsteps of my Grandmothers’ legacy.

Here is the result of my first attempt. I canned carrots, green beans, and homemade applesauce. I also cooked a big pot of corn on the cob. I shaved it off with an electric knife, and put it in freezer bags in the freezer. I have to admit, it was easier than I was expected. In fact, I found it enjoyable and almost therapeutic. Has that feeling been passed down from generations of canning women in my family? Maybe!

Sometimes you try new things and it doesn’t go so well. This time, it did. I’m already thinking of other foods to try next time. What’s something you have been thinking about trying but are a little timid? Give it a shot. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised!

Smelling the Roses

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.” -Helen Keller

It’s funny how certain smells bring back memories. Not long ago, I took a trip back home. As I was walking into my childhood church again, the aroma of a certain pesky weed reached my nose. That smell brought back a memory from my childhood.

I was probably only six or seven years old when my Dad told me that he would hire me to do a job. He told me to go out to our gravel driveway and pull weeds. For every weed I picked he would give me a penny. I was so excited. I thought I’d hit the jackpot and would be rich in no time. I ran out and started pulling weeds as fast as I could. After pulling about twenty or so, I realized it wasn’t the dream job I thought it was going to be. I had only become 20 cents richer and was starting to get tired. I even felt a little ripped off. Some of the weeds took quite the effort to pull up. I hadn’t thought about this memory for years until the smell a few months ago brought it flooding back.


The smell of gasoline reminds me of boating in the summer with my family. The smell of rubbing alcohol reminds me of my many childhood trips to the hospital. The smell of fresh tar on the road reminds me of riding bikes around town with my childhood best friend. Each of the perfumes of my past have a season of life memory themselves. Then there is the smell of wood burning reminds me of the heating systems used in the villages in Romania. The smell of a city dump reminds me of the precious children I love who live in the trash in Kenya.

I guess our life story could be told in the form of a timeline of smells. Out of all of them, the two I like the best is my husband’s cologne (whichever one he is wearing at the time) and the smell of our house after a long trip away. They both bring me comfort and serenity.

I think sense of smell is a gift. It helps us remember things we would have long forgotten at times. It brings us comfort and reminds us of seasons gone by. In Proverbs, we are told to take time to smell the roses. This piece of wisdom means to go through life slow enough you savor each moment and enjoy what is going on around you.

The moon was so beautiful the other night. We saw it on a drive home, and I realized how many times we shuffle by such beautiful scenes and don’t even notice them. No, it didn’t have a scent that will trigger my memory of it years from now. It did give me a peaceful feeling though. For a minute, I stopped and smelled the roses in that moment and was left with the sweetness of the moment and a grateful heart.

What I am up to....

I've been so busy lately getting ready for a big event. I coordinate Angels from Abroad with Buckner International.

Check out my blog there the next few weeks as we work to give 17 Russian Orphans a vacation experience of a lifetime.

http://www.angelsfromabroad.org/

Curve Ball

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Sometimes life throws a curve ball at you. I guess one of a few things happens when it does. You either catch it, duck, or it hits you. Sometimes you just can’t avoid getting hit. As most of you know, when you do get hit, it hurts.

My husband reminded me recently of a scar that is on my knee. It is from a wound that is deep not only physically but emotionally as well. He reminded me that although it took time, the wound there healed and didn’t hurt like it did once before. The scar however, will be there the rest of my life. I think the same thing happens when one of those curve balls hits us. It hurts terribly and eventually heals, but always leaves a mark.

I recently got hit harder than I ever have before. I’m still recovering. I know the Lord allows trouble and pain in our lives only if there is a way He plans to use it for His Purpose and Glory. I am thankful for the comfort and peace from above that He is in control and has a plan. Although there is no guarantee the sting from the hits are not going hurt in this world, the scripture above gives me hope. I’m still on the team that wins in the end.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve send how God works far ahead of that curve ball’s path. He knows what we will need before we actually need it. He provides.

-Our Pastor just finished a series on how the Lord doesn’t cause the lemons in our lives to be. He does however take the lemons life gives us and turns them to lemonade. If, and that is a big “IF,” we allow Him to. I had no idea that during the weeks of listening to these messages, the Lord was preparing me for what was just ahead.

-Once a friend told me “Heaven gets sweeter as we age.” I didn’t completely understand that at first. The more loved ones I let go and know are with Jesus, the more I understand her words. He is holding so many I will joyfully be reunited with one day. The last couple weeks, the words in that statement came alive to me.

-“Sadness is better than laughter, for sorrow has great influence over us.”- Ecclesiastes 7:4 I once heard someone interpret this as “The tears we cry in the midst of our pain, God uses—much like water softens hardened ground—to tenderize our hearts.”–Scott Hasenbalg. I wrote this quote down years ago not knowing why. I hit the save button and randomly ran across it just at the right time a few days ago.

-A little over a year ago, I said “I Do” to an amazing man. This man not only shares the pain I go through, but gives me strength and joy in the midst of a hard time. He is a gift. I can’t imagine going through the joy and pain in life without him.

As I pray to see lemonade though it may seem impossible, I realize I pray to the One who makes the impossible possible. I am renewed by His Power, Grace, Hope, Love, and Healing. I take heart, He has overcome the world.

A Honk, The Bird, and A Miracle

Recently we were sitting in a long line of cars at a stop light. There was a break in the line where people were letting cars cross to make a left turn at the road median. When the driver crossed the line, they either had to be quick and/or brave that there weren’t any cars coming that they couldn’t see. We were sitting in the best seats in the house to witness what was about to happen.

Two cars crossed the line without any trouble. Then a truck with two men crossed. They crossed our lane and the one next to us. However, there was a car driving up the third lane when he was trying to cross it. The car honked at the truck. I don’t think it was a honk to be rude, but rather to just warn the truck they were coming. The truck inched forward and then stopped. No, there was no crash. What happened next was the truck driver got out of his car and walked back to the driver that honked at him. He was yelling. No, it was more like screaming at the man for honking at him.

Next he got back in his truck and pretty much spun out and drove right into a parking lot near by. Good…he's going there to cool off, we thought. Then we saw the car with the driver that honked, follow him into the parking lot. The fight was on.

The car then pulled up next to the truck and we saw an ever so gracious hand (or shall I say finger) gesture from the car driver out his window towards the men in the truck. The men in the truck both opened their doors and started to jump out of the truck. The car sped off and the guys jumped back into the truck and slammed the truck into gear. This is where the Lord intervened!

When the truck driver was about to chase after the man who flipped them off, the truck jerked and something fell out of the bottom of the truck! The truck didn’t move and we could see something hanging down. It broke down. In fact, on our way home, the truck was still sitting in that parking lot a few hours later.

All this being said, I think something very bad was avoided. What are the chances that the guy’s truck would break down right at that moment?! He was such an angry man. It was clear the Lord stopped him in his tracks before he could do something dangerous.

We went on our way, but this whole scene has stayed with me for days. I just love how the Lord steps in and saves us even when we don’t know we need to be saved! Hopefully the truck driver learned his lesson. I prayed that he did.

In the Arms of Love

“I’m found in the arms of Love.
For Your Love
It has saved my soul
I’ll run to your arms of love
Your Light’s gonna lead me home.”

-Lyrics to“King of All Days” by Hillsong

We sang this song Sunday at church. When I was singing the words, I couldn’t help but flash back to the times I have literally felt wrapped in the arms of Love. What a great feeling that is!

Often we are asked the question, “Where do you see yourself in __ years?” If you know and accept the Love of Christ, I know where you will be found. You’ll be found in the arms of Love. It’s a pretty good place to be…actually the best place to be.

We may not know what we will be doing in the next 5 years. Some of us don’t know what we will be doing in the next 10 minutes. However, if we are walking with Him, we will always know where we can be found. It’s in His arms…if we will have Him.

With a Thankful Heart I Write

Today I am reminded of how God answers our prayers. Years ago I started praying for someone very hungry and confused on their journey to Him. It was a person who had it all figured out in life. They were confronted with a void in life that they were trying to fill, but had a wall that was blocking the view to seeing who He was, is, and will always be. “I think I struggle with my faith because I don’t really believe there is a God.” Words once spoken by a conflicted heart. Words that pierced mine when heard. I thought this person was struggling with the concept of salvation. I didn’t realize they even doubted God’s existence.

You can’t force someone to believe. It is in their own time. Faith is an individual thing…a choice. I gave as much advice as I could at the time. Although I realize now nothing I could have said was as powerful as silent prayers spoken by my pleading heart for them.

Now, years later, I see those prayers were answered. I give thanks. This person is living a life and walking with the One they once doubted existed. I give thanks. It may have taken longer than I had hoped, but it happened. I give thanks.

For all those who have an unbeliever you have been praying for, be encouraged. Trust me, your prayers are being heard.

Tool Time

I’ve seen this game around and thought it would be fun to have. However, I figured it could be made cheaper than I could buy it. (I’m going through a bargain minded season in life.) I researched it and found what I needed to get it made and realized we have a ton of old golf balls in the attic. I mentioned it to my husband and said we should make one of these. By “we” of course I meant “him.”

My husband responded by saying “Go ahead, make one.” He then explained he thought I should make one by myself. He would set the tools out for me, but I needed to do it all by myself. So….I did! I used the saw, drill, etc. I even picked out all the supplies I needed at Home Depot by myself. I made the game for a fraction of what it would have cost in the store. Who says girls can’t use all the tools in the garage??

Line Between the Two

There is a song by Mark Harris called, “The Line Between the Two.” Since the first time I heard it years ago, it has stayed with me. The title refers to the line in between two dates. They aren’t just any dates though, they are the dates on a head stone. You know that little dash line in between the date you are born and the date you leave this world? That’s the line. That line represents what our life was about, what we did while we were here, and our legacy we leave behind. It’s a little line but has huge meaning, and it’s where you and I are right now. It’s the reason why we were put here and the reason why we will wake up tomorrow. It maybe small, but it’s mighty.

C. S. Lewis once said “The future is something in which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes per hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."

We all face the future at the same rate. We all will one day have a line between the two. What will your line represent? What purpose does the Lord have for your line? How do we make the most of the line we are given? Those are questions I don’t have clear answers for. Thankfully, I know the One who does.

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!



1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

Sometimes I Wish I Could Walk On Water....

Sometimes I wish I could walk on water…. If I could, then maybe I would have the power to heal a hurting heart. Maybe then I would have arms big enough to hold anyone who needed to be wrapped tightly. Maybe then I could cast away a lingering dark cloud with the wave of a hand. The truth is, the last time I stepped into the ocean, my foot went straight to the bottom and hit the sand. It seems I am not meant to fix it all, although I wish I could.

Two weeks ago, my father-in-law passed away. It was very unexpected and shook the world around us. Phil was in another part of the world, but felt the shake as he heard the news by phone so far away. I wanted to change so much. I wanted to change the outcome of that Friday afternoon. If I had, my father-in-law would still be sitting in his favorite chair in the living room and answering, “I’m still upright” when asked how he is doing today. As I watched, almost in slow motion, the tears drop from my mother-in-law’s face and hit the sleeve of my shirt, I painfully realized something. There was not one thing I could say to stop her heart from hurting in that moment. I hated the helpless feeling I had right then. I wanted to fly through the air and be with my husband and cry with him while he sat in an airport alone with this news. Once he was home, I wanted to change the fact that my arms felt so small. When I’m sad, he has a way of holding me to where I am totally supported to just let go. I’m not big enough to return the favor. I try, but it’s not the same, I’m sure. I longed to fix the pain he was going through, but couldn’t.

I may not be able to walk on water, but another powerful place to be is on your knees….in prayer. That is where I went. Through it all, I saw Him work. I heard Him speak, and I felt Him near. Although I still don’t understand God’s timing of it all, I don’t question His plan. We know Brink is there with Him, and it was his time to go home.

As life goes on after what was a difficult couple weeks, things are different. One thing stays the same though. God is good. No, I may not be able to walk on water, or at least I haven’t been able to yet. I know someone else who can though. Miraculously I have seen Him work. The hurting hearts still hurt, but laugher and smiles are on the faces that were once soaked with tears. My arms haven’t gotten bigger, but my heart did. Just when you think you couldn’t love someone anymore, you heart grows even bigger for them in the midst of their pain. The sun shines again, and that dark cloud that wasn’t mine to take care of is under the control of Someone much greater than me. God is good.

1 Peter

I am studying 1 Peter with a group of women from my church right now. Here are a couple verses that really stood out to me.

1 Peter 2:2-3
“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

What a great visual! Do you cry out for Him like a baby cries out for milk?


1 Peter 3:10-12
“For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

How often do we pray with a longing for happiness. Does the Bible not clearly give us instructions on how to obtain happy days? Yet, we go searching for happiness in other ways.

Yo-Yo Emotions

Recent things on my mind and my reactions to them:


The other day I heard someone’s cell phone alert them. It was the same setting I had on my old phone back when I was dating my husband. I heard the sound and my stomach suddenly did a flip like when I would get a love note text from him when dating- *Smile* The realization I’m not so different from Pavlov’s dog- *Frown*

Shaun White’s record breaking run on the halfpipe- *Smile* Shaun White doing the air guitar to the National Anthem on the Olympic podium- *Frown*

My favorite show “LOST” is in a new season- *Smile* This is the final season for my favorite show “LOST.”- *Frown*

US Olympic Ski team’s medal winning performances- *Smile* Visions of the man I accidently stabbed in the stomach with my ski pole during my first ski experience- *Frown*

The sound of flatulence during my yoga class- *Frown* The feeling of thankfulness that it wasn’t me- *Smile*

Olympic figure skating- *Smile* Men’s figure skating pants- *Frown*

Signs that summer is on its way and warmer weather is near- *Smile* Signs at the department store that bathing suit season is near- *Frown*

Smoked Barbeque Ribs- *Smile* Our President smoking in the White House- *Frown*

The 1980’s McDonalds commercial where Ronald McDonald helps a little boy ice skate- *Smile* Freakish looking clowns in general- *Frown*

Where Do You Dump Your Stuff?

I am far from perfect. (Big surprise.) I, like the next person, am what we call “a work in progress.” I have just as many faults as the next person, I suppose. With that being said, I don’t feel bad to say I am not a messy person. Generally speaking, I feel at best when things are in order and clean. When my house is clean, I feel like there is peace, harmony, and good in the world. There is however an exception to this statement. My dining room table. When I get home from wherever I have been, it’s where everything gets dumped. I’m not the only one in the house that does it. Not sure if I projected this habit on my husband or maybe he has always suffered from it too. Doesn’t matter, the fact is the table is messy. It has mail, receipts, my purse, keys, papers, junk, and anything else that gets dumped there each day. It’s a convenient place to dump all that is weighing my arms down when I walk in the door. It’s the first thing I do when I walk in. I don’t think twice about it, and I walk away with a sense of relief by getting rid of what was weighing me down. By the time cleaning day comes in the week or company is coming over, it’s the place I dread cleaning the most. It takes the longest to get orderly. If I would just put things in their place each time, I would avoid that headache.

Why are we so quick to dump our heavy load on places like the kitchen table, but are hesitant to give God the things that are weighing us down in the important areas of life? "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

He tells us to come to him with our troubles and allows us to unload our baggage at the foot of the cross. What an amazing gift to each one of us! Yet, each day we pass it up. We continue to carry it around ourselves. Maybe we give him some, but we can’t let go of the grip we have on the really heavy stuff. We long for that sense of relief from getting it off our shoulders, but we refuse to let it go completely. We end up with a mess to clean up in the end, but one that could have been avoided if we had placed our anxiety and concerns where they would be safe…with Him. We walk around with junk strapped to our backs, but have a Father who stands one step beside us with open arms to take it off.

What junk have you been walking around with lately? Consider handing it over to the one who can take it from you, clean things up, and replace it with a sense of peace, harmony, and relief.

Some Things Transcend Borders...Others Don't

Some things transcend cultural borders. For example, the sign for choking is universal. It’s a good thing. On the other hand some things that we do in our own culture are not such a good thing in another culture. Here are some observations I’ve made while traveling internationally AND domestically.

A toothpick is a toothpick no matter where you are. It’s one of those simple things in life where “If it isn’t broke…don’t fix it” A toothpick in one country is going to be the same somewhere else..that you can count on. Toilets on the other hand are not as simple. A luxury in one country might be a shelter with a hole in the ground while heated and cushioned seats in another are considered nice. What I’m trying to say is “Nice Toilets” are relative.

Success is relative too. What is successful in one country may be different in the next. For an orphan, working a low paying job but staying out of a life of prostitution may be a lifelong dream. Let’s not negate the work the Lord puts into keeping these children from that world by saying if they don’t attend college..they aren’t successful. For some, this accomplishment is a miracle. Success is living in the Lord’s will. Period..whatever that may be.

5 people with 8 cell phones (in any country) = interesting lunch meeting.

Americans don’t know the best way to do everything...sometimes (generally speaking) we just act like we do. Realizing “different” doesn’t equal wrong is a necessity of understanding other cultures. If you master it, you actually learn a lot. This must be done by eating a slice of humble pie daily. A slice a day will keep an overactive ego away.

What is cool in one country can be rude in another. For example, talking to someone with your sunglasses on may be common in one place. In another you may be offending those you care about. In other places it is strictly for protection of the eyes due to UV damage. In case you didn’t know…..Sunglasses can be controversial.

“Speed Limits” are relative. In some countries they are merely suggestions. In others, they are followed strictly. It has nothing to do with safety but only about how likely you are to get caught while breaking the law.

A Smile is a smile anywhere. It means the same in all countries and is contagious in all places. This is always true unless you are standing in line at the DMV in the US. If you are smiling you are obviously oblivious to your location, or I’m pretty sure you missed the sign that said “No smiling allowed.”

While on a recent road trip, I stopped at a McDonalds to get a drink and to use the restroom. A woman followed me in the restroom to try and sell me homemade bracelets. Apparently in Louisiana, the McDonald’s restroom is a hot spot for marketing crafts.

Not all cultures find it necessary to provide hand towels in the hotel. If you want to dry your hands, do it on toilet paper or wipe them on the towel you used to dry off after a shower that morning.

The phrase “It’s just spitting out” when referring to a light sprinkle of rain is not to be used in Texas. People will think you are crazy. If you say this and dare to do something like put ketchup on a hot dog, then they will really think you are nuts.

In Kenya if someone is raising their eyebrows at you repeatedly, it doesn’t mean they are hitting on you. It’s their way of saying “Yes” to whatever you are talking about. It’s pretty funny when you spend a couple weeks there without this knowledge.

Knowing the language of the place you are in is very important. Saying “I love you” instead of “Jesus loves you” to random homeless people can give the WRONG impression. One little word can make a big difference in a sentence. It’s fine though if you want that person to follow you around while thinking you are in love with them.

Having the toilet 3 steps away from the bed in a hotel room is normally not a desirable thing. If you have food poisoning and need the toilet to be as close as possible to where you are laying….its a VERY good thing.

Good Food is all about what you are used to. Raw meat in one culture is normal. It is unheard of in other cultures. So, what is cooked throughally in one home may equal “didn’t even touch the grill” in another. My advice…stick to the bread on the table. You never go wrong with the bread, and it’s usually always good across the board.

Air travel makes people do weird things. If you want to find me on a plane, I am almost always the one sitting behind the person doing those weird things. If you want to find me in a line at any given airport, I will be standing behind those people in the line too. This is true for domestic and international travel. My magnetism towards this kind has no boundaries.

Why?

If we had to trace it back, it all started with that first bite, I suppose. What makes me angry now is a result of the first bite of the forbidden fruit. It answers my questions of “Why. Why, oh Lord must this be?” We live in a fallen world and are living in a place of sin. That’s why. As I watch an 18 year old girl hold herself tight and rock back and forth, I swallow the lump in my throat and resist the selfish urge to close my eyes and pretend I don’t see it. As she rocks back and forth in rhythm, “Why…Why…Why repeats in my head with her every beat.

Within her eyes sits that blank stare that haunts me as I write. It’s the ”institutional daze” that I shutter to observe. I hate it. I hate what, God only knows, has happened to her. I look around me. In a cold orphanage, a broken window lets in winter air to the room that is close to zero degrees. No heat in this room. She has no coat.

As I travel back in time it seems to streets with horse drawn buggies and buckets hanging from water wells, I do see improvements. However, too many children are still left in the cracks. Why is this girl here? Is it because of her Gypsy race? Has she been so badly abused that she has crawled into an emotional shell and can’t come out to function properly? Has she been abandoned by everyone she knows? What will happen to her? What will happen to the young little girl on the other side of the room? She is smiling and dancing. What a contrast she is to the girl rocking back and forth. She is the only one in the room with a sparkle in her eye. As I look around at the other girls, that sparkle is missing. When did they lose it? How many days does this little girl have left for her sparkle to shine? At what point does the sparkle get robbed from them? Will she be rocking back and forth, like the older girl in the room, next year at this time?

As I emotionally recover from what was a great trip, I can’t help but be left with some harsh imprints on my heart and in my mind. These kids aren’t just a statistic. They are children. From five years ago, I can see large steps have been taken forward. Overall, things are definitely better. However, for the ones that haven’t seen improvement, my heart aches and wonders how long they will be left sinking in the cracks of the system. They have been robbed. The enemy has indeed robbed them, but it’s easy to put all the blame on him. What about us? Do we sit silently knowing they are out there and do nothing? Aren’t we to blame for some of this suffering? No, maybe we didn’t cause it but we certainly have turned the other way when confronted with the need and ways to help. We all have. Maybe we aren’t so far removed from that first bite of fruit long ago.

Please pray today for the children suffering in Romania. Start there and then move to a prayer on ways you can help. He will lead you in what direction He wants you to go. He is waiting for you to ask.

Hope for Change

As I roamed the streets of where it all began, I was reminded how my journey led me here. Where I am today is a result of what the Lord did in my life in a place called Romania. It still amazes me how He works, how He plans it all, and how He uses our whole lives to take us to wherever we are today.

I took joy in seeing the improvements in the lives of so many orphan children here. The country has come so far in 20 years. In many ways it is a miracle. It isn’t perfect just as no place truly is. 3 steps forward at times result in one step back. I saw improvement were that the government seems to understand the value of preserving families. They understand that institutionalizing children is not the solution to the orphan epidemic. They understand measures need to be taken to build families up and to break the cycle of abandonment from the beginning. How to do that is the million dollar question. It isn’t easy.

Still in the midst of trying to figure it all out. Children are left in limbo. They aren’t considered young enough to be labeled as undamaged and aren’t old enough to have learned enough lessons to be equipped with making wise decisions and lead productive lives on their own. And so…the cycle continues for them. No jobs, no money, no education, no family, where is their hope? Many don’t know the true Author and Perfector of hope. They live in a world that most would consider hell on earth. They don’t live…they exist. This is the story of so many orphan children. Then of course there are the success stories. The ones we have reached. They are the ones that were saved by the prayers of people they may never meet. Seeing the look in their eyes reminds us that yes, there IS good in the world.

It’s been two and a half years since I had been in Romania. It was way too long. This place will always hold a special place in my heart. I doubt that will ever change. The people, the language, the countryside, the culture, the history, the way the Lord has a way of showing Himself to me there, I truly love this place and am so thankful I was able to go back. However, just as each time before when the airplane lifted off the runway from this place called Romania, my heart silently cried out for the abused, abandoned, and suffering children I leave behind there.

I think of the children I saw in one orphanage that were clearly abused in more ways than I can imagine. I think of the Gypsy boys on the street that smelled as if they hadn’t been bathed in months. I think of the young children that begged me for food while I ate KFC and drank a cold Pepsi one day. I think of the young girls in a transitional home that are clawing their way out of a messed up cycle and a past they try desperately to overcome. I think of an orphan that was told her whole life she would never amount to anything and who says she just can’t seem to say the words “I love you” to others for reasons she doesn’t quite understand. I think of the blank institutionalized stares of the abandoned’s eyes that often haunt me in the darkness and silence of the night. As I whimpered through my prayers each night for those kids, I heard a quiet and still voice saying “I am in control.” I know it’s Him and I know He is calling us to go minister to others for Him. That is my hope for change.

Romania

Very soon I will go back to where it all started. It’s hard to believe that a little more than five years ago, I embarked on a journey that would dramatically change my life and the world as I knew it. It was here I experienced Christ in a way I hadn’t ever before. It was here the Lord met me where I was and gave me a second touch as if I were that blind man from Bethesda. It was here that I learned that loving the “least of these” will change your life forever. Now I go back to where it started. I go back to Romania.

I remember packing my bags to come home after my first trip had come to an end. I was in the hotel and couldn’t seem to get my things into the bag. After a long effort in silence that had resulted in nothing being put in the bag, I spoke. “If I am supposed to go back home, way does it feel so wrong to leave?” I knew I would be back one day. That was true. In fact, I went back twice more the two years following that trip. I haven’t been there since 2007. It seems like a lifetime.

Although my trip isn’t a mission trip to work in the orphanages, I’m still excited to be going. I’m accompanying my husband on business this time around. However, I hope to see many in Romania that I have come to love and pray for over the years. I can’t wait! Please keep us in prayer as we travel abroad. We will take your love for the children of Romania with us and give thanks for you coming along for the ride in our travels.

Haiti

There is a picture stuck in my mind of a woman in pain. She sits on the pavement next to a dead body of someone she loves so dearly. The sound pouring from deep within her is a moan of absolute sadness and mourning. She sits next to the body on a sidewalk as people walk by. She rocks back and forth and wails with sorrow and pain. Bodies line the streets. Homeless children wander for someone to tend to their bloody wounds. The images are heartbreaking. These are just some of thousands facing the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti.

The Haitian people need our prayers. Please pray for my friend Larry (pictured above) who has invested his heart in Haiti. He will make his way there this weekend. He goes looking for his friends who have become like family to him. He goes to check on his children in the orphanage. He goes to find people who need medical attention. He goes to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Prayer is a powerful thing and the very thing they all need. Please lift Larry and the people of Haiti up in your prayers today. The need is great, but our God is greater.

James

I’m a part of a women’s study group that meets each week. Next week we are looking at the book of James. A new member of our group whispered to me, at the announcement of what we will study next, and said “I’ve never read James..have you?” I told her that I had and the cool thing about it was that even if you have read it many times, you still learn something new when you read it again.

Since James is pretty short, I decided I would make it a goal to read it every day for a week. I tend to remember things more if I read something more than once. Plus, I was recently challenged to do more memorization of God’s Word to invest in my spiritual life. It’s full of golden nuggets and words that permeate the heart and soul. Once again I have gained new insight on these same words I have read many times before.

I had lunch with a new friend recently and she told me of a family she and her husband had shown Christ’s love to. At the time, she was only a few weeks from giving birth to their first child. A family of four in their church was in need. They were going through some financial hardships and seemed to need a helping hand. Even though she was just weeks away from giving birth, they offered for this family of four to move into their home and live with them until they could get back on their feet. The family ended up staying much longer than expected and not being the most gracious guests to say the least. I was touched by her generosity of showing Christ’s love. As I did my reading of James later that day, I thought of her when coming across this verse.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith: others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith, by my good deeds.” James 3:18


I challenge you to read James everyday for a week and reflect on the message the Lord speaks to your heart.