February 22, 2011
This past weekend I attended a women's retreat at a near by retreat center.
The theme of the retreat was "LIVING INTENTIONALLY."
Elim Evangelical Free Church is a congregation of about 200 in Puyallup, Washington. They sent over a team of 6 women to lead this retreat for us. They are also doing another retreat for missionary women in Manila. One of the missionary family's they support used to live here in Davao but are now up in Manila.
It was a wonderful time of laughing, playing fun games, having quiet time to pray and talk, make new friends/deepen existing friendships, etc.
making jewelery during free time
playing "In it to Win it" and trying to stack 6 apples in under a
minute. We played several other games like this - the room
was filled with laughter. It was great fun!
For me, it was also a much needed break. The theme verse was
Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the
Lord and may please Him in every way: Bearing fruit in every
good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Praise and worship time
"Living Intentionally' - "Living with my past", "Living with Boundaries",
and "Living with Brokenness" were the three primary sessions. Good food for thought.
I am thankful these women were willing to work on planning this retreat, make the financial sacrifices needed to fly over here, bring us good messages, USA chocolates, chex mix, Starbucks coffee...but mostly I am thankful for the 6 new friends I have gained.
Thanks, Tomina, Gretchen, Nancy, Kim, Frances, and Cheryl.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust
in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
February 21, 2011
Mothering is hard work and to be honest, it has taken me a while to re-mold my priorities back to being a stay-at-home mom of toddlers again. When my older three were little I was a stay-at-home and home-schooling Mom. I'm so thankful I was able to stay at home with them.
Our three older kids were all school-aged when James and Jerard came into our lives. I was "doing ministry" outside the home with our mission's guest house and as hospitality coordinator to new missionaries coming on to the field.
But God, in His infinite patience and wisdom, has worked a change of heart in me to desire again the role of full-time homemaker/Mom. We only get one chance to really impart scriptural truths to our kids and the soil is so fertile in their little hearts as toddlers. I can honestly tell you I am enjoying being a stay-at-home mom again. James and I enjoy playing, reading, baking. He loves to be outside. Jerard loves me to throw a ball with him, sing, massage his limbs, sing and talk to him. These two boys are such blessings.
And God has been encouraging me to memorize His word and pray scripture for my kids. His Word is our lamp and light. His Word is our food.
We've traveled over (and continue to travel over) many rough roads here on the mission field. He alone is our rock (Psalm 18, 19, 27, 31, etc...)
Praying for my children is a high spiritual priority for me. Spiritual growth in my children's lives is accomplished by the power of Jesus. "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
As each of my kids have dealt with various issues in their lives, I have tried to pray based on scripture for that situation. Truly "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
It is humbling and awe-inspiring to see my Abba work in the lives of each of my family members and in me. Here is one scriptural prayer I've been praying for each member of this family. Perhaps you'd like to pray it for yourself and your kids too!
(Based on an article by John Piper - http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/how-to-pray-for-the-soulyours-or-anothers)
Dear Loving Abba,
Incline (my - insert names of whomever you are praying for) heart and soul to You; to desire deeply and passionately to know You. Incline _______ heart to Your testimonies and not to gain (Ps. 119:36). Open the eyes of ________ heart to see all the wonderful things from Your law (Ps. 119:18). Enlighten ____ heart to perceive the glory in Your word. (Eph. 1:18).
Father, You know the condition of ____ heart, how fragmented our hearts are as humans. Parts of our heart can be enlightened while parts are in the dark. I long for ____ heart to be united with You, God. Create healing and wholeness in ____ heart - unite ____ heart to fear Your name (Ps. 86:11). Satisfy ___ in the morning with Your steadfast love, that ____ will rejoice and be glad all (my/his/her/their) days. (Ps 90:14). But I don't want ___ happiness to be fragile or weak, but to be strong and durable in the face of the worst adversities You see fit to ordain. Grant ___ to be strengthened with power through Your Holy Spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3:16) I do not desire this strength to be simply for (myself), but for others. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) so produce good deeds and works of love for others so that Your glory will be seen in ____ life and others will taste and see that You are good. Help ____ walk in a manner worthy of You, Lord, bearing fruit in every good work. (Col. 1:10)
I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ.
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Check out these resources: - - http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/10-reasons-to-pray-the-scriptures - - "Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers" and also, "Praying the Scriptures for your Children" both by Jodie Berndt
February 21, 2011
James recently received a "Hermie and Friends" vcd entitled "Flo the Lyin' Fly." He absolutely loves this show and watches it numerous times on a daily basis! It's a kids cartoon about telling the truth and not teasing people.
One of James' favourite lunches to have is scrambled eggs and rice.
Today he requested I make some eggs and rice for him, so I said I would. But his Lola, our helper, Arlene, teased him and said, "we have no eggs, James!"
As the Hermie video was playing in the background he says to her "Don't tell a lie, Lola!" We all cracked up laughing! The message is sinking in to him from this excellent Max Lucado video series for kids.
Colossians 3: 9 - 10
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the
old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of
its creator.
Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;...
February 20, 2011
God has been directing my Bible study time to the book of Colossians, especially chapter 3.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
The word 'set' really jumps out at me lately. Faith and obedience are active. We don't grow as Christians taking a passive stance towards our faith. God's word is our spiritual food and He wants us to obey Him. Obeying His word is like the wise man building his house on the rock. (Luke 6:47)
In Colossians chapter 3 there are many commands - set your hearts..Set your minds... Put to death.....rid yourselves ....Do not lie...clothe yourselves...Bear with each other...forgive one another...put on love...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...be thankful...Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly...teach and admonish...singing to God with gratitude...whatever you do, ... do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks.....submit yourselves...love your wives...do not be harsh...Children, obey your parents...do not embitter...obey...work at it with all your heart...
As I read and re-read and study Colossians I am thankful that God helps me grow in His grace and wisdom. Sanctification is a life-long-active-faith journey. It is not achieved in my own power but in "relationship with the Abba of Jesus, who is infinitely compassionate with my brokenness and at the same time an awesome, incomprehensible, and unwieldy Mystery." (Brennan Manning).
This hymn sums up my prayer for each of my kids, my husband, and myself.......
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.
May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.
May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.
May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.
(Kate Wilkinson, 1913)
February 12, 2011
Kurt and I recently attended a marriage conference hosted by our mission organization with the "Love and Respect" video series of talks by Emerson and Sarah Eggerich.
The room full of couples at the Love and Respect conference.
The counselor with our mission organization moderated the event.
Kurt and I are in the front left hand side of this picture!
If you ever have a chance to attend one of their conferences or see the DVD series, I strongly recommend it. Kurt and I both really enjoyed the series.
excerpt from an article by Emerson Eggerich from their website
http://loveandrespect.com/blog/not-wrong-just-different/
"Not Wrong - Just Different!
....Friends, a wife needs to feel loved for who she is. A husband needs to feel respected for who he is.
A husband has two choices. He can either condemn his wife for her pink lenses, or he can appreciate God's design of her pink outlook. And, I might add, if he seeks to see through her pink lenses, she tends to engage him on his blue perspective. If he is sensitive to her need for love, he can appeal to her to soften her disrespectful reactions.
A wife can either judge her husband's blue lenses as stupid, or thank God for His design of this man. Too, if she seeks to see through his blue lenses, he tends to respond to her pink perspective. If she is aware of his maleness, she can appeal to him to be tenderer in his reactions.
Who is right and who is wrong? A husband is right when needing to feel respected. He is wrong when reacting in unloving ways.
A wife is right when needing to feel loved. She is wrong when reacting in disrespectful ways.
A beautiful discovery a couple can make is this: my spouse is not wrong, just different. Pink is not wrong for being pink. She is simply different from blue. Blue is not wrong for being blue. He is simply different from pink."
