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
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"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:

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!
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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.)
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                                  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!

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

No!! Don't put the snake in with the baby!

My grandson Micah is a voracious reader.  He loves books!  Reading at a level well beyond his 7 years, he has a rather eclectic interest in reading material.  He came to mind the other day when I saw that someone had recommended that his folks get him the "children's" book series that is so popular these days, books filled with wizards, magic and violence.  "No!",  I thought, "not MY grandchildren!"

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Not long after, I had a dream.  A vivid, heavy dream that left me on the alert.  In it, I was sitting on a bed, and someone's little boy was laying down under the covers.  There was a very long green snake in the area, and suddenly it was on the bed beside me.  In order to confine it and keep it under control until someone came to deal with it, I stuffed it under the blankets.

In the dream, I continued talking and reading...until I suddenly realized what I had done:  I had put the snake under the covers...where the baby was!  I tore the blankets away, and my heart froze.  The snake was just finishing up swallowing the little boy.  All I could see was the top of his head.  I frantically searched for ideas of what to do...couldn't find any...then I woke up.
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One of the first things that came to mind then was the series that had been suggested for Micah. In it, the "heroes" are those who know magic, and they lie, steal and murder.  There is torture, drinking of animal blood, spells and incantations, revenge, humans beings possessed and controlled by spirit beings, necromancy...

Unfortunately, it's NOT all fantasy! I read a letter from an ex-witch who said that all the spells and incantations are exactly the ones used in the occult. She called the series "orientational and instructional manuals of witchcraft woven into the format of entertainment."  A real wizard wrote that he loved the books because the spells described were exactly the same occult formulae he used! 

I'm horrified that there is action being taken to make this series a part of public (gov't) education. If that happens, then I say, "Blessed are those whose children are NOT in the public school system."  I also read some comments from young children who say they'd love to learn to handle magic so they could get even with others, and be able to do all those things.  And you know kids...when they read something, they usually want to know if it works in the "real world".  They are researching all this stuff on the Internet, trying to learn all they can, craving the magic, craving the power.

No, it's not all harmless fantasy. It's dangerous.  Many Christian parents won't let their kids read these books. (Bravo!)  Sadly, there are some who think the books are great fun!  But I also learned in my research that even some NON-Christian parents have become concerned about the fear they see in their kids after reading these books.  Now the author has said that in future books the protagonist will be "doing things with girls".  Great...just what our kids need.
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What we let our children read and see is what feeds into their minds. If we let them read inappropriate and dangerous material, that's what stays in their heads...and hearts.  Why pollute them?..at any age...but especially so young!  (Our beloved Micah is only seven!!)  It's like putting the snake in with the baby!  Let's not give our Enemy the opportunity to plant these seeds in our precious children's lives. If we're not careful, the day will come when we realize what we've done and find that The Snake has already begun to swallow them!
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You may wonder if I'm against fantasy.  Not at all!  I love fantasy.  But not when it involves such insidiously-introduced emphases on the occult, with skewed morality. I grew up in an area where there were real witchdoctors.  I have had personal experience with, and heard first-hand reports of, the powers and activities of Satan and his evil spirits.  They're not a joke.  They are very real...and nothing to play around with.  But we must fight them with the power of God, NOT with occult magic.  God's power can protect us and destroy them...ONLY God's power.  Now, THAT's what we should make sure our kids grow up learning...protection and freedom from the Enemy comes only from the mightiest Source of Power there is!
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I was thrilled when Dan told me that he and KC feel uncomfortable about letting our smart, perceptive, active Micah read this particular series of books.  Good for them!  I'm sure Debbie and Steve feel the same way about what they let their girls read, what movies and programs they let them watch.  I pray that more and more parents will come to similar conclusions and decisions.

Have a wonderful week, full of God's peace, nestled in His arms of freedom and protection...and very, very great love! 

What do you think...does he look like his father?

First of all, you need to know who this little boy is, right? He's definitely a Rhon...but is he Dan (our son) or Micah or Eli (grandsons)?  And who's his little friend?  Does the background tell you anything? (Probably not...sorry!  Looks like they just escaped from behind bars, eh?)

Here's a picture of Dan with KC and the kids.  Micah is between his parents and Eli is on this end.  Which of the three looks like the boy in the top photo?  ("All three?")

  But you had to choose one, so...see if you were right!  The top picture was taken in Dan's birthplace, Australia, when Dan and his friend Ingrid were around three-and-a-half years old. (Is that about right, Nélida?)   (Ingrid's folks were good friends, from Argentina, and co-workers in the Spanish-speaking church.) I think this was taken in our back yard, in front of the fence the owner of the property put in so that he could keep a sheep back there.  (The lot was very large.)  We named the sheep Charlie.  After that, every time Dan saw another sheep he'd say, "There's a Charlie!"  (Although he said it in Spanish, the only language he spoke til he was five.) 

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If you haven't seen  my husband Germán (to see if son looks like father)...here he is reading to Eli, and granddaughters Liliana and Miriam. Somewhere, someone has a picture of Germán when he was two, with ringlets!!  But no one seems to know where it is or who has it.  Even without that photo, I can tell you that Dan didn't look much like his dad on the outside!  When Germán carried Dan on his shoulders, the contrast between the father's jet-black hair and the son's very light-brown (almost blond) hair was impressive.  Some people didn't believe they were father and son at first!  Micah and Eli do look  more like their dad, and in some older pictures of them, it's hard to tell who it is!

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 "What do you think...does he/she look like The Father?"  If this were asked about you...what would people say?  Jesus definitely looked like His Father! "If you really knew Me, you would know my Father as well....Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:7,9)  Can the same be said about us, His children?

 What one looks like inside is much more important than physical resemblance. It's fun to see baby pictures and compare, isn't it?  But more importantly, we know that Dan makes an effort to model behavior and ethics that Micah and Eli can learn from, so that they can, even in their own individuality, grow to  resemble their dad inside as they understand that he strives to resemble his Father..and we pray that they will purpose to do the same.  Jesus left us the best example of how we can "look like our Father". Studying how He lived, how He spoke...in such a way that He could say "I and the Father are one"...is enlightening.  And challenging!!  (Maybe even a little intimidating!)  None of us could ever compare to Jesus, but we can learn from Him what it means to be "one with the Father".

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Have a wonderful week!

Sometimes, it's really hard to go on...

...like now, when I've been "under the weather" for several weeks, still not feeling all that well, and  behind in SO many things, and wondering if anyone really understands, with my brain whirling around, trying to figure out how to keep half-way stable...


You've never felt like that, have you?  Oh, you have? Or you're feeling like that right now? Well, let's try to cheer each other up with the words to this song.  Our Lord invites us to give Him ours (love and life) as the best way to open ourselves to receive His.  And so we find PEACE...  
                                                                                              

                       Give Me Your Love
 
Give Me your love, and I'll fill you with mine,
til its soul-piercing heat melts your fears and your pride;
til my Peace marks your pathway before and behind.
Oh, give Me your love, Child,
and I'll fill you with mine.

Give Me your thoughts, and I'll fill you with mine,
til your words and your dreams with Eternity rhyme;
til they burn on your lips like the taste of New Wine.
Oh, give Me your thoughts, Child,
and I'll fill you with mine.

              Give Me your eyes; and now come, look through mine,
              til the way that I see things is etched on your mind;
              til your faith and your hope cross the boundaries of Time.
              Oh, give Me your eyes, Child,
              and then come, look through mine.

                       Give Me your life, and I'll fill you with mine,
                       til your soul drinks the essence of goodness divine;
                       til my Joy makes you strong, and my Light makes you shine.
                       Oh, give Me your life, Child,
                       and I'll fill you with mine!
 
                     *******************************************   (Becky Rhon)                                                                               

It helps to remember that peace is NOT the absence of pain and problems, but rather the confidence and trust we have as we go through the pain and problems, knowing that we rest in Arms of Strength... Arms of Love... Arms of Life... Arms of Joy.

                                                 Rest in His Arms this week!

A Noe sandwich? What a creative idea!

Do you know what one of the greatest gifts of being a grandmother is for me?  So often, I would tell my children than I loved them...more than they could possibly imagine.  I wished it were possible to transmit to them, somehow, the strength of my love, so they would know how immensely I cared for them.

When my first-born welcomed his first-born into the family, my wish came true.  He could now understand, first-hand, what it is to love a child unconditionally.  He could now understand what I felt for him and his sister.  Later, Debbie would also experience that love when she had her two girls.

We have five beautiful, precocious, very articulate grandchildren.  Noemí (Noe for short) (9), the oldest, is on the far left.  Micah (7) is the next oldest, and he's on the far right.  Eli, Dan and KC's youngest, (4) is in the middle, between us.  Debbie and Steve's girls are Miriam (almost 5), on my lap, and Liliana (6), on Germán's lap.

We don't live close enough to be able to take a very active part in these precious lives, but God has allowed us to see them all at least once a year, sometimes more often.  We have been able to get glimpses into their growth, watching (usually from a distance) as each one develops his/her own personality.  We have so many special memories tucked away...for example: the Noe sandwich.

When Noe was two years old, we were with our family in San Antonio, and some relatives made a visit to meet the newest arrival, Micah.  The relatives left...and when it sank in that they were gone, Noe started crying.  She was so upset, I couldn't follow what she was asking. Then I heard KC answer,  "Of course we can make a Noe sandwich!" 

I watched curiously as Dan and KC faced each other, put Noe up between them and gently pressed in on her, effectively turning her into the "filling" of the "sandwich"!  Then they began to tickle her and soon she was laughing and back to her normal vivacious self.  What a fun way to revive a little girl's spirits!

A couple of years later, Noe and Micah were eager to know if the new baby KC was carrying would be a boy or a girl.  Noe, of course, wanted a sister.  The day Dan and KC were to find out the sex of the baby, they told the little ones that they would get a cupcake...pink frosting if they were having a girl, and blue frosting if a boy.  When Noe and Micah uncovered the cupcakes and saw the blue frosting, Noe was quite upset.  "I am not at ALL happy about this!" she huffed, with a clipped, very adult-toned voice of disapproval.  I doubt she knew how amused we were to hear her 4-year-old opinion.

Our beloved Noe is now a beautiful 4th-grader, often fearless and up for anything, and very tall for her age.

In this picture she's playing tether ball with Aunt Debbie.  She's on the left.  One could believe that she's several years older!  But she's always been "older than her age" in other areas, so why not in this? 
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There's no way I could tell you everything about the grandkids,  but I'll share at least a few "bits and pieces" as I continue.  They are wonderful gifts from God and we love them with all our hearts.
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We treasured Isaiah 54:13 for our own children, and now we treasure it for our grandchildren.  "All your sons (and daughters) will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace."  Awesome!

If you're a grandparent, I'm sure you can relate.  If you're not yet, I hope you have something wonderful in store for you some day! God bless each one of you.  See you next week!