Wednesday, March 25, 2015

She dreamt...she saw...HE conquered!

There was a lady in our church some years ago, who, although she wasn't a believer yet, came fairly regularly with her small grandson, the only family she had.  She had never seen me, because I could only go once-in-a-while, and we had never coincided.

Then one Sunday we DID coincide.  Though I didn't know her personally, I saw her respond when Germán gave an altar call towards the end of the service.  She went forward and gave herself to Jesus.  Afterwards, she came to me and told me this lovely, true account of what had led up to this decision.  I have never forgotten it.

The night before, she had had a dream.  In the dream she saw me, although she had never met me or seen a photograph of me and she somehow knew I was the pastor's wife.  In her dream I was wearing a certain outfit...which she had never seen before (obviously, since she'd never seen me!).  Then she was standing beside a shallow, muddy pond, wanting to get to the other side, but not being able to because she could see no bridge or stepping stones on which to cross it.

In the dream, I told her I would help her, showed her where to step...and together we made it to the other side.  Then she woke up.

A few hours later, she was sitting in church and saw me walk in...the first time we coincided and got to church the same day!  She was surprised to see that I was wearing the exact same outfit she had seen me wearing in her dream!  (Remember, she had never seen me or any of my clothes before.)

It impacted her so much that, recalling the rest of her dream, she made the decision to take hold of the hands that could help her, showing her the Bridge over which she could cross to the other side of the "muddy pond" that separated her from God.  She walked over...and became His daughter.
                            ***************************************

God calls different people different ways.  I may have figured in the dream, but I had nothing to do with what happened...it was all HIM!!  And that's how it should be.

God may use us...or not...as He works in other people's lives, directly or (as in this dream) indirectly.  Let's just remember that when someone comes to His Son, it is not WE who deserve the credit.  It is HE who conquers!
                          *****************************************

Have a great week!   


Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Where did THIS birthday come from?!

Someone once said that having birthdays is really good for your health...after all, the more birthdays you have, the longer you live!

Two days ago I turned 61.  (Doesn't feel any different from 60!)  In the midst of the e-mails, Skype-ings, Facebook greetings, etc...from husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends...it seems to me that there's Someone else who deserves recognition, because this birthday is a gift from Him. My whole life is a gift from Him!  I can't imagine it without Him...it would be impossible.  So can I give Him something back?  He gives...He should also receive.


                       GIVER

Giver of peace far beyond human scope,
Grace-wrought and studded with gemstones of hope.

Giver of healing when my spirit bleeds,
of joy dancing gently as sorrow recedes.

Giver of Light when I fear being blind
and I crave just a glimpse of your infinite Mind.

Giver of love who will never back down,
your passion pursuing me til I am found.

Giver of son-ship that makes me your own,
and with it the freedom to come to your Throne.

Giver of Truth as I search out your Ways,
now be the Receiver of all of my praise!
                                                                        -Becky Rhon
********************************************

"For You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!"  (Psalm 92:4,5)

"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever."  (Revelation 5:13)


Let us continue to learn to be so aware, so conscious of all we have to be grateful for, all that He does, all that He gives, and, most importantly, all that He IS, that we can truly say:







Wednesday, March 11, 2015

A Flabbergasting "Fleece"!! HIS answer allowed a dream to come true...



                       Liliana Risa...this 2-month-old cutie is now a 6-year-old beauty!
                                        ****************************
When Debbie told us that she and Steve were expecting, we were thrilled.  They were going to present us with our third grandchild!

Then came an awful thought:  how in the world could I manage going up to California to help my daughter and son-in-law after the baby was born?  I had never traveled alone internationally;  always with my husband to help me out (due to my poor health).  Besides, we didn't think we could afford it.  (Most missionaries aren't exactly rolling in money!)  It seemed like an impossible dream...but I wanted so much to go!

So I decided to place a "fleece" before God and wait for His answer.  (I'm very cautious about "fleeces"; one should be very careful, as, like with many things, it's possible to manipulate them to suit one's desire.  But I had used this method of confirming something with God before, and it always worked.)  Now I had to think of what that fleece would be.

This is what I decided:  if it was OK with God for me to travel to be with Debbie and Steve, and if He was going to guarantee that I'd make it through the international airports alone without any trouble, then  I asked Him to prod someone - anyone - to offer to pay at least half of what my ticket would cost.  I knew that there were some people who, when they knew Debbie was pregnant, would offer to help with smaller amounts - and they might even add up to enough for us to be able to buy the ticket.  But I couldn't think of any one person who would be able to give me at least the half.  So my specific request was that half of the fare come from one person alone (something I viewed as being quite unlikely).  If that happened, I'd know He was giving me the "green light".  I told Germán that I was going to use a "fleece", but I purposely did not tell him - or anyone - what my "fleece" was (precisely so that no one could influence its result, no one could bend it in my favor).

The very next day, Germán asked me, "What was your fleece?"  He seemed excited.  I didn't tell him, just listened.  He said, "Jerry offered to pay your round-trip ticket so you can go!"  WOW!!  God doubled the "fleece" confirmation!  Not only did half of the ticket come from one person...the whole ticket did!   There was no way that either my husband or our friend could have known what I was asking...but there it was!  Now that I was sure that God would help me in the airports, we bought my ticket.  Dan suggested that I request wheelchair service.  Since he figured out my itinerary, he arranged it so that I was able to stop in to see him and his family also, both on the way to California, and on the way back!
And all for the same amount that our friend was going to give us!!  So I was able to spend a few days with my other two grandkids.  I made all the flights without any trouble...alone!  (Well, not really.  My Father must have sent angels to help along the way...some of them in the form of the wheelchair-pushers, who were wonderful; they didn't just push the chair; they helped me through customs and onto the next flights, at the baggage claims, etc.)
               *****************************
                     
                                  Debbie holding her newborn.


Steve studying his newborn...and she studying him back!











                                                                                                                                                                         

Two months later, we flew to the States for Christmas with the family.  Germán met his newest granddaughter and we had fun with all three of our grandkids.

Liliana Risa is a beautiful, smart little girl (sorry...big girl!).  (To remember what she looks like now, just scroll back a few posts, to the picture of us with the grandchildren.) She has a desire to know how things go together, and happen...unusual in one so young.  She thinks things out in order, even when talking to others.  An example:  when she was 5, she was telling me about her little sister and cousins; she first of all explained exactly who each person was and the relationships (her aunt Karen was her dad's sister, etc.). Then she explained, "Crystal is the oldest, Miriam is the littlest...and I'm the middlest."


Risa means "laughter" in Spanish.  God gave us a lovely child who makes our heart laugh with joy!  His provision for my going to the States when she was born was a major blessing.  (He even added a dollop of whipped cream:  spending a few days with Dan's family allowed me to be there for Noe's and Micah's birthday parties!)

No matter our circumstances, there is always something for which to thank God.  Sometimes it's "big"  (like providing for me to travel) and sometimes it's a bit "smaller" (like providing the wheelchairs) but He'll send it our way and make sure it arrives..."sealed with a kiss". 

Let's let the laughter of joy peal out our gratitude to the One who is so kind to us, His undeserving children!




Tuesday, March 3, 2015

"Best-Seller" for longer than any other book in history...


...before there even was such a thing as a "best-seller" list!  It surpasses all the classics, ancient or modern, (and certainly trumps the kind of series I commented on in the last post).  No book has ever had as many copies produced and distributed.

But it's not just another popular book.  It's so much more than that!  It lives, it sings, it sheds tears, it rejoices...and its Grace will pull us into its Story...if we have the courage to let it.  And how the Author wants us to!


             AUTHOR!!!

'Tis You who wrote the Book  
that sings! and sings! between its covers,
        a sound that, like the minstrel's ballad,
        calls to loved and lovers,
                o'er whom the Author's passion
                with its mist of mercy hovers.

                                    'Tis You who wrote the Book
                                    that weeps the sorrow of the Ages,
                                            then dries the tears with love and hope
                                            that flow throughout its pages,
                                                    their timeless voices echoing
                                                    the wisdom of your sages.     

'Tis You who wrote the Book
that rings with battle hymns and glory,
        that weaves your victories
        through the words of Life You lay before me,
                and grants the weapons one must use
                to be part of your Story.

                                    'Tis You who wrote the Book
                                    that bubbles joy behind its portals,
                                            so eager that its seeds of Grace
                                            be planted in us mortals,
                                                    that in our hearts we crave to join in praise
                                                    with the immortals.

Lord, when its covers open up,
your Mighty Wind rustles each leaf,
        your music tumbles out and spills
        all over us who would receive
                your Love,your Hope, your Tears, your Joy
                your Strength to hold what we believe.
                   **********************************       (Becky Rhon)


Learn His Love...live His Hope...share His Tears...breathe His Joy...reach out for His Strength!  Our Father longs for us to do this, and  this amazing Book was written to teach us how!  It is one of the ways that He shows us that He loves us.  Love for the Author should compel us to read His Words and make them our Life!
                  ************************************

"...but the word of the Lord stands forever."  (I Peter 1:25)
"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"  (John 8:31-32)
               **************************************

May God's peace rest on each one of you this week!