Friday Night Fire

Alone, but not lonely, I went to the bottom land near the creek where we have carved out a piece of ground based on memories of campfires and volleyball parties of former days when all this land belonged to our family and we had freedom to enjoy every acre.

The crackling fire accompanied by the songs of the coming night~birds, crickets . . . then dirt bikes and ATVs break into my silence. But they're just having fun. There's no malice as the screams of gasoline engines pierce the sweetness of the evening. Still, I'm grateful when it passes and I can soak in the silence again.

As I gaze into the fire, the recent promptings I've sensed from God lately come to mind.

Words from God come to us mostly through Scripture or personal prayer, but sometimes he will speak to someone else in prayer so they can speak it to you. Daniel, a man known for his sensitivity to God's voice, prayed for me on June 11th. One of the things he said was, "Relax". Lots of people tell me I should relax, but hearing it from God was most effective. I have obeyed. I went to the beach for a week without my laptop, without anything that could even resemble work. Several mornings, I awoke quite early and walked to the beach for some alone time with God~listening; seeking God's direction for my life.

"Scribe" ~ that was one of the prophetic words I heard. As I walked along the beach, I began to ask him what it was that I was suppose to write. Silence. If he spoke, I didn't hear.

Then tonight, sitting silently before the fire, I asked again.

"Write what you see", I sensed.

"What am I going to see, Lord?"

I immediately think of my journey to Mozambique.

"Am I going to see people healed? Will I witness sight returned to the blind? Will the lame walk? Will the oppressed be set free?"

That is my hope for this mission into Mozambique ~ that God will use the Healing Hands team to heal his people in Mozambique.

Of course, he wants to heal his people everywhere, even here. But the climate in Mozambique increased the probability. There's so much doubt here ~ so little perceived need. The people of poverty and pain are ready to receive healing. And I am ready to write what I see.

Moments to remember

Summer is such an exquisite time of the year. The annual trek to the lake house with long-time friends was lovely, as always. There is nothing more relaxing to me than floating on a raft watching the clouds shift in shape or staring into the campfire enjoying the silence of the evening broken only by the croak of a frog or the gentle splash of a fish~and, of course, conversation.

But moments such as these must end and we are called back to life as we know it.

The drive back into the city was peaceful enough. Not much happening on the highway at 6:30 a.m.

Serving breakfast to the hungry folks at East Liberty Crossroads campus followed by worship was a good way to re-enter the real world. The day was filled with busyness and meetings and even some frustration, but deep in the back of my mind, I was still floating on the raft. I can retreat anytime I want by simply revisiting that experience~

As I prepare to return to Mozambique this fall, there are memories I revisit to remind me why I want to return. Little Lucas, who was so sick then after prayer was playing and healthy, is a memory I revisit often. It reminds me that God wants to heal his people and he wants to use us to accomplish that purpose! How amazing to be a part of such a moment.

This next trip is stretching me, stretching me beyond my comfort zone to be sure. We call ourselves the "Healing Hands" team, and it is our intention to allow God to use us any way he chooses as we share the good news of Christ and pray for healing for the people we meet while we are there.

In Scripture, healing always seems to go beyond the physical realm to the spiritual. In 2Chronicles 30, Hezekiah prayed for the people who came to the Passover unprepared~ unclean. They had strayed so far from the ways of God, they had forgotten the ceremonial cleansing required by God, and Hezekiah asked God to pardon everyone who "set their heart on seeking God". Then he says, ..."and he healed them". God heals us where and when we truly need healing. When we ask for physical healing for someone, we often overlook the spiritual condition of that person. God does not overlook the spiritual needs; as a matter of fact, he goes right to the heart of the person and heals them from the inside out.

It is my humble prayer that God will have his way this September with the Healing Hands and use us to bring healing, physical and spiritual, to the people we meet in Mozambique.

Something about the sand

Busyness is a dangerous thing.
"Relax~ refresh . . . Go on vacation", they say.
It was wonderful to get away; not easy to be "unplugged" but oh, so necessary. The early mornings called me to the sea to walk alone and listen for the still, small voice of God . True refreshment happened there. Not in the normal trappings of "vacation", but in the tuned-in time I spent totally focused on what God is doing in my life these days, and what he might be saying to me. I was reminded of my desire to make a difference in the world and to keep that purpose in mind as I pursued the goals before me. It is so easy to lose sight of the very thing God keeps putting before me as I am so busy doing the "stuff" that needs to be done.
And so I retreat~for me the definition of "retreat" is to come apart from the things of the world and seek the face of God; to listen to his voice and be refreshed by his presence.
Sometimes the presence of God is like the sand. It rubs away the outer layer to bring forth what's underneath. In an oyster, a simple grain of sand can produce a pearl! I think God allows these grains of sand into my heart so that I will grow as a result of my mistakes and learn how to use the very things that irritate me to produce something of value. It isn't easy to find the value in the painful processes of life, but the promise of the pearl keeps me going. Only God can take something like a grain of sand and make a pearl of it.

A Day Away

Those of you who know me well, know that I don't take many days "off". It seems I have to leave the nest to truly relax. Yesterday was one of those days for me. With my new Mad River Rabbit Canoe on top of the old Blazer, an old friend and a new one in the passenger seats, and a cooler with fried chicken and potato salad, we took off to have an adventure. Lake Arthur was our destination, and one of our few goals was to not tip the canoe!

It was a pleasant day, to say the least. Full of ourselves for being the independent ladies we set out to be, we managed to heave the canoe back on top of the vehicle, strap her down so she didn't move, and make our way back to Pittsburgh without incident. No serious philosophy to be spouted here or theological point~ just enjoyed the day and decided to share it with you. Thanks for coming and I hope you come again.

Tears of compassion

Often when I speak with folks about the work in Mozambique, someone will respond with overwhelm and suggest that we can't really make a difference in a place with such extreme poverty and extensive needs. Recently, I responded to one of those comments that what he was calling a "drop in the bucket" was actually a more like a tear in the ocean ~ A tear of compassion for those who have no justice in the world. When we shed that tear, God takes it and multiplies what we offer beyond our imagination. Life in the Kingdom of God is always unpredictable. From our perspective, the tear would be absorbed, diluted~ Instead of being diluted, our compassion spreads like yeast in dough and is used by God to ripple out through the sea of humanity. We rarely see what God does with our tears, but God is working out His purposes in the world and he invites us to be a part of His plan. No matter how small your offering or how ineffective your acts of love and compassion may seem~remember that in the Kingdom of God it will be multiplied and used by the mighty creator of the universe to bring mercy and grace to those in need.

“Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
Mark 16:3 NIV

The women, who followed Jesus to Jerusalem, to Calvary, and finally to the tomb were totally devoted to him. Motivated by gratitude and love, they bought the necessary spices to anoint his body and waited for the Sabbath to be over. Very early, just after sunrise, as they were on their way to the tomb, they wondered aloud how they would accomplish their mission. They had seen the Roman soldiers secure the tomb with a large stone and had no idea how they were going to roll the stone away. And yet they went.
When they arrived, the stone had been rolled away and an angel told them to “go”~ Go and tell the disciples, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you”. Redirected by God, they had a new mission!
So it is with our missions in life~ whether in a foreign land or in our neighborhood~ we gather what we need, we set out, and we wonder how we will "roll the stone away". There are always obstacles that seem too big, too overwhelming for us to accomplish what we believe God is calling us to do. In human terms, it is not possible, but God has a plan that we can’t even imagine.
Think back to the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus~ it wasn't even there. But God had a different mission for them; their mission was to “go and tell”. That is always our mission. No matter what else we are supposed to be doing in this life, we have the great commission to “go and tell”~ tell others that Jesus is risen and will meet us in our deepest need.

The Easter season is a time of new beginnings filled with hope and joy. Taking the time to focus ourselves on the meaning of life is an aspect of being human that is not found in the rest of the animal kingdom. Recently, I have been considering what it means to "lay down my life" for Christ. How do I take up the cross and follow him? I do not live in a time or place where my physical life is threatened because I am a believer~ though I know a few who do live under those circumstances and admire them greatly for their faith and courage.

Still, those of us who live in a culture where it is "safe" to worship and profess our belief in Christ are asked to lay down our lives; we are to die to self. When we are totally submitted to the will of God, our personal agenda disappears. That sounds so simple, yet it is totally complex. As a human being, my "wiring" tells me to exert my will on my surroundings, to be in control, to do it my way~ always. Like a decorative bonsai tree, our nature would have us grow in a particular direction. The bonsai artist wires the branches and forces the tree to grow the way the master desires. Unlike the bonsai master, God does not force us to grow his way. He beckons us; he woos us; he loves us into the shape he desires. Nature has always been a reflection of the majesty of God for me. From the tiny fingernails of a newborn child to the magnificent night sky, God is showing me his power, his perfection. On this Easter weekend, in exchange for his incredible gift in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, I offer him my life that he may use me in any way he chooses to reach into the lives of those he longs to touch with his love and healing. Alleluia~