Tenacity

One lone Nasturtium survived the killing frost this week. The desire of nature to grasp that last possible moment to bloom, to pollinate, to procreate...there is something to be said for tenacity here.
We gathered the harvest from our garden and I am grateful for all we have. There is another "harvest" that is even more important than this. In 2 Kings 4, Elisha tells the widow who was about to lose all she had, including her two sons because of debt, to gather jars from her neighbors ~ "Don't ask for just a few", he says. He tells her that when they have gathered all the jars they can find, to pour the little oil they have into each of them. Of course, the miracle was that they poured and poured, and the oil didn't run out until they ran out of jars. Now, they could sell the oil and would have enough money to pay off the creditor and live on what is left! As I read this, I began to see the jars as the people in my life that aren't filled with the "oil" of knowing Christ. God will provide for as many jars as I can find. I just have to pour what I have into them, and He will do the rest. He will provide the harvest.

The Power of Prayer

This is Lucas. During our first two days of teacher training, he slept. At first, I thought he was just a good baby but Tuesday morning, I saw that his eyes were crusted shut and his nose plugged. He clearly was not well.
My heart ached for him. On Tuesday, he was still listless, and I asked a woman who was a nurse from a different team if she had seen him. She had and said his mother was giving him some medicine and that lots of people in his village were sick; even his mom didn't look like she felt well.

"Well, it's good he's getting medicine. Surely, he will get better"....
But little Lucas kept tugging at my heart. During one of the breaks, I found Pastor Jonathan and asked him if he would ask Lucas' mother, Julia, if I could pray for him. He did ask and I prayed.
The next day, I arrived in the classroom to this sight:
Lucas was up and around, bright eyed and ready to play! He looked like a different child.
I am sorry to say I was surprised~
Since I left Mozambique, I have been bothered by my surprise that Lucas got better after being prayed for. What am I praying for if I don't believe God will do the work? So, I have since been praying "expectantly"~trusting God to heal those He brings into my life for prayer. I continue to pray for Lucas and his mother. I thank God for the power of prayer!
Amen.

Devil's Den

Most people drive to my home and never see this waterfall, Devil's Den. Local lore says it is named after a similar waterfall in Gettysburg. Most of the time it is a trickle or a muddy run that remains hidden if you don't know where or when to look. But it is always there, whether we notice it or not.
There is something significant to gain from this hidden treasure. So often, we move through life at an astounding rate, zooming from place to place, missing so much of the beauty and glory of the Earth. Next time you come out my way, take your time and look for the hidden den on the right. Where ever you travel, slow down and look for the treasures that are tucked in the hillsides and over the ridges. The beauty is there. We just have to seek it. Praise God for the incredible gifts found in His creation!