Reflector of Light

Mom's Favorite Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus

2012-01-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

Another Hymn in mom's service: Beneath the Cross of Jesus:

Beneath the Cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus My eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love And my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His face,
Content to let the world go by, To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame, My Glory all the cross.

How I love the hymns about the cross!

Mom's Favorite Hymns - Spirit of God Descend upon my heart

2012-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

Hymn: SPIRIT OF GOD is really a wonderful prayer and reveals my mom’s heart, in the midst of the storms of her son’s cancer and passing and her own cancer:

Spirit of God descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; Through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies:
No sudden rending of the veil of clay;
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind;
I see Thy cross, there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to feel that Thou art always night;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear;
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels’ love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heav’n descended dove;
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Mom Promoted to Glory December 15, 2011

2012-01-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

Reflections by Cindy Langford
Mom’s faith was evidenced quietly through the years as she served her family faithfully, cooked meals for the sick, visited people in the hospital, and sent notes of encouragement..After she retired from Nyce Printing, she volunteered at GVH for 2000 hours. She loved to express her faith through music and sang in the choir for over 50 years. My first recollection of sacred classical music began in 4th grade going with her to hear Handel’s Messiah, where she was singing in the choir. It was because of her that much of my own life was spent in church music. She was also a sports enthusiast and our whole family enjoyed skiing trips during our high-school years. I also remember going with her to do Johnstown Flood relief with Mennonite Disaster Services in my late teens. But her quiet faith was especially pronounced during the past 2 years of her sons cancer and then her own. On a visit we made to see Charlotte Strouse in recent months, she told us that when she could not sleep, she would often go over hymn texts in her head. It cannot go unnoticed that Dad stayed by her side and faithfully took care of her --loving her sacrificially, caring for her until the very end. The greatest joy for me as a daughter was seeing my parents growing love for each other in these increasingly difficult days.

In a journal entry for November 16, I wrote: "Spent good time with mom talking, sharing, crying, singing hymns. We often did her daily devotional together from ‘Upper Room,‘ took turns reading the scriptures and then prayed. She always preferred to pray silently. As we discussed John 14:1-7 where Jesus says about Himself that He is the only way to the Father, I felt led to read Romans 10:9-10, If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your Heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.... So I asked her, Mom can you say, Jesus is Lord? And she said,"Jesus is Lord!" And then she agreed to pray with me a simple prayer. "Lord thank you for dying for my sins so that I may have life. Come anew into my life for the remaining days. If you want to take me to heaven it’s ok, or if not please give me endurance to continue until you do." After this we sang lots of hymns and dad joined us as we sang, ‘I come to the Garden.’"

On a Journal Entry for Sunday, December 11, 2011 "I noted several visitors that day, even though she wasn’t able to talk, even sleeping most of the time. Later that day when I was singing some of her favorite hymns to her, she interrupted me with the singing of one of her favorites:
Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord,
And He will sustain Thee,
He Never will suffer the righteous to fall,
He is at thy Right hand.
Thy Mercy Lord is great and far above the heavens,
Let none be made ashamed, That Wait upon thee..
It was evidence of the Spirit being very alive in her even though her body was rapidly declining."

On December 15, 2011 in a journal entry I was led to Psalm 136 where the Lord exhorted me to Give thanks to the LORD for His loving-kindness is everlasting. As I personalized the Psalm as a prayer I continued to write: "From out of my distress of mom’s cancer, I called upon the LORD and He answered me and set me in a large place. ..." That night Dad, Brenda, and me were gathered around her bed. We could see she was fading. At this point she was unable to move by herself at all except for a few arm movements. By now her eyes had been glazed over for a few days. Dad, Brenda, and I were singing hymns to her, reading some of the scriptures she had chosen for this service including John 14:1-7, Psalm 23, and other scriptures about heaven. At around 6:00 pm we noticed her breathing was very labored, rapid heartbeat, some congestion increasing. We kept singing and talking to her, gave her the meds to help her relax and her breathing began to be more relaxed. At about 7:40 pm her eyes opened wide as if she was seeing into heaven. We kept singing, reading scriptures, at this point her pulse was weaker and as dad kept his hand on her chest to feel the breathing, he felt her last breath at about 7:55pm, which was not forced but very peaceful. What a privilege to be with her, holding her hands and singing her into heaven where there is no longer anymore pain, sorrow, sin, suffering, but only the Beauty and magnificence of the Lord Jesus Christ and her recently deceased son, whom she grieved since his passing May 10th of this year after his year long battle with Brain cancer."
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IN STORMS OF LIFE

2011-11-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

Journal Entry from April 1, 2011
Snowing
Yesterday dad was sick in bed, throwing up whole night. Mom is doing pretty well. She gets to take care of him. Brent continues to suffer and trust the Lord with his brain cancer. (Brent went to be with Lord May 10, 2011)
Streams in the Desert, April 1:
Job 13:15: “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him.” (2 Tim 1:12 “for I know whom I have believed!)

“…I will not doubt, though all my prayers return
Unanswered from the still, white realm above.
I will believe it is an all-wise love
Which has refused these things for which I yearn;
And though at times I cannot keep from grieving,
Yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing
Undimmed shall burn.”

“I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees about a hive.
I will believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish & by pain;
And though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses
I yet shall see through my severest losses
The greater gain…”

“In fierce storms,” said an old seaman, “we must do one thing, there is only one way: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”

“You must stay upon the Lord and come what may – winds, waves, cross-seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what YOU MUST LASH YOURSELF TO THE HELM, and HOLD FAST YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, HIS COVENANT ENGAGEMENT, HIS EVERLASTING LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Richard Fuller)

Personal Reflections and personal prayers from the Psalms:
Promise: Psalm 1:2 Blessed is the man who delights in the Law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. He is compared to a tree planted by streams of water which yields fruit in its season, its leaf doesn’t wither and in all the HE DOES HE PROSPERS!

Ps 31: In you O LORD do I take refuge today. Don’t let me be ashamed ever as I go to be with Brent and parents and encourage them. Deliver me from fear when I’m with them—fear of man, fear of failure, fear of disobeying You. Listen to my prayer, rescue me speedily. Be a Rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.

I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love because You see my affliction and that of my aging parents and Brent and mom’s cancer. You know the distresses of my soul and You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, Brent, Mom, and Dad, O Lord, For we are in distress. Our eye is wasted from grief; our souls and bodies also. But I trust in You on their behalf. I say Our times are in Your hands. Rescue us today from Satan’s schemes, darts, harassments, fears…

Make your face to shine on us all save us all in Your steadfast love. O Lord don’t let us be put to shame for I am calling out to you on their behalf. How abundant is Your goodness which You have stored up for us if we fear You!

Thank you for the day all my loved ones will take refuge in you…You hear my voice in this place and answer. You rescue me. I am taking courage in You today.”

An Accurate Description of Grief from Someone in Hospice Program who Lost a Spouse

2011-11-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am including this in my blog so that we may have an idea what is in the head and hearts of our loved ones during the time of the loss of a spouse. Even as Christians we so often say things that are inappropriate or are clueless as to how we can come alongside those who are grieving. May the Lord use this to give us insights into those who may never verbalize what is actually going on within them. My sister in law has said that this in an accurate description of what she is currently experiencing. May the Lord Jesus use us as His hands and feet and heart in the lives of those who are hurting for any reason!

Please talk about my loved one, even though he is gone. It is more comforting to cry than to pretend that he never existed. I need to talk about him, and I need to do it over and over.

Be patient with my agitation. Nothing feels secure in my world. Get comfortable with my crying. Sadness hits me in waves, and I never know when my tears may flow. Just sit with me in silence and hold my hand.

Don’t abandon me with the excuse that you don’t want to upset me. You can’t catch my grief. My world is painful, and when you are too afraid to call me or visit or say anything, you isolate me at a time when I most need to be cared about. If you don’t know what to say, just come over, give me a hug or touch my arm, and gently say, “I’m sorry.” You can even say, “I just don’t know what to say, but I care, and want you to know that.”

Just because I look good does not mean that I feel good. Ask me how I feel only if you really have time to find out.

I am not strong. I’m just numb. When you tell me I am strong, I feel that you don’t see me.

I will not recover. This is not a cold or the flu. I’m not sick. I’m grieving and that’s different. My grieving may only be beginning six months after my loved one’s death. Don’t think that I will be over it in a year. For I am not only grieving his death, but also the loss of the person I was when I was with him -–the life that we shared, the plans we had for watching our children grow; the places we will never get to go to together, and the hopes and dreams that will never come true. My whole world has crumbled and will never be the same.

I will not always be grieving as intensely, but I will never forget him, and rather than “recover”, I want to incorporate his life and love the rest of my life. He is a part of me and always will be, and sometimes I will remember him with joy and other times with a tear. Both are okay.

I don’t have to accept his death. Yes, I have to understand that it has happened and it is real, but there are some things in life that are just not acceptable.

When you tell me what I should be doing, then I feel even more lost and alone. I feel badly enough that my loved one is dead, so please don’t make it worse by telling me I’m not doing this right.

Please don’t tell me I can find someone else or that I need to start dating again. I’m not ready. And maybe I don’t want to. And besides, what makes you think people are replaceable? They aren’t. Whoever comes after will always be someone different.

I don’t even understand what you mean when you say, “You’ve got to get on with your life.” My life is going on. I’ve been forced to take on many new responsibilities and roles. It may not look the way you think it should. This will take time, and I will never be my old self again. So please, just love me as I am today, and know that with your love and support, the joy will slowly return to my life. But I will never forget and there will always be times I cry.

I need to know that you care about me. I need to feel your touch, your hugs. I need you just to be with me and I need to be with you. I need to know you believe in me and in my ability to get through my grief in my own way, and in my own time.

Please don’t say, “Call me if you need anything.” I’ll never call you because I have no idea what I need. Trying to figure out what you could do for me takes more energy than I have. So in advance, let me give you some ideas:

a. Bring food or a movie over to watch together
b. Send me a card on special holidays, his birthday, and the anniversary of his death, and be sure to mention his name. You can’t make me cry. The tears are here and I will love you for giving me the opportunity to shed them because someone cared enough about me to reach out on this difficult day.
c. Ask me more than once to join you at a movie or lunch or dinner. I may say “no” at first, or even for a while, but please don’t give up on me because somewhere down the line, I may be ready, and if you’ve given up then I really will be alone.
d. Understand how difficult it is for me to be surrounded by couples, to walk into events alone, to go home alone, to feel out of place in the same situations where I used to feel so comfortable.
Please don’t judge me now—or think that I’m behaving strangely. Remember

I’m grieving. I may even be in shock. I am afraid. I may feel deep rage. I may even feel guilty. But above all, I hurt. I’m experiencing a pain unlike any I’ve ever felt before and one that can’t be imagined by anyone who has not walked in my shoes.

Don’t worry if you think I’m getting better and then suddenly I seem to slip backward. Grief makes me behave this way at times. And please don’t’ tell me you know how I feel, or that it’s time for me to get on with my life. What I need now is time to grieve.
Most of all, thank you for being my friend. Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for helping, for understanding. Thank you for praying for me.

And remember in the days or years ahead, after your loss—when you need me as I have needed you – I will understand. And then I will come and be with you.

Precept Upon Precept - Kinsman Redeemer - Testimonials

2011-10-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

A few Student testimonials from an Exton Womens Precept Upon Precept Class which recently finished the book of Ruth. For more information about Precept Inductive Bible Studies just click on the title of this blog.

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"The Bible is even more amazing that I thought--I keep getting 'blown away' by the dove-tailing of events throughout the Word that are the fingerprints of God's precious plan. I learned so much about the customs of the time: the meaning of Ruth lying at Boaz' feet, uncovering his feet; the meaning of handing someone your sandal; the whole concept of kinsman redeemer; the incredible forshadowing, the type of Christ. I could go on with the cities of refuge, etc. This class on Ruth was like puzzle pieces falling into place in a way that is impossible without "intelligent Design!" Even though I know that, having it proved over and over is a thrill to me. It makes my foundation all the more firm. The proof over and over adds layer on layer of strength to my faith, like a fine pearl. It is strength through knowledge of the Word. Each study helps me get out of my own way and allows Him to work more easily. I fine there is less resistance in the midst of the trials and an instant turning to Him in Prayer." V.B.

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"I learned that the book of Ruth has so much more meaning than I ever knew. I never related the book to our Kinsman Redeemer (Christ) and all of what that means.
My Kinsman Redeemer knows everything that is going on in my life and I can trust Him.
He has given Israel the land for a possession and He will ensure they have what He has promised, because He is faithful, just and true. This is comforting to me, as the world is in such turmoil, to know that He is in control no matter how it looks to us." D.M.
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1. As an archetype for Jesus, the way that Boaz gently and lovingly treats Ruth and recognizes her hard work as a person is touching. The way Jesus views and treats us, especially when we do not deserve it, just melts my heart and causes me to fall even more in love with Him.

2. I am struck by how wonderfully God plans everything. All things are indeed under His control. Even the seemingly little details --from which field Ruth chose to glean in, to who Boaz's mother is. Boaz would have intimately understood and empathised with what it meant to be an outsider. R.Y.

A Better Resurrection

2011-10-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Elliot quotes this poem in her book, The Savage My Kinsman. She writes that she had marked these words shortly after the death of her husband Jim by the Auca Indians. She also remarked that the Lord had answered the prayers in this poem! The Lord has used the writings of Elizabeth Elliot in a huge way to comfort me during my own difficult trials in life. She is a great woman of faith, who deals with the reality of loss and suffering in redemptive ways. May the Lord bless you as you read the words that she quotes by Christina Rossetti.

A BETTER RESURRECTION

by: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

I HAVE no wit, no words, no tears;
My heart within me like a stone
Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears;
Look right, look left, I dwell alone;
I lift mine eyes, but dimm'd with grief
No everlasting hills I see;
My life is in the falling leaf:
O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,
My harvest dwindled to a husk:
Truly my life is void and brief
And tedious in the barren dusk;
My life is like a frozen thing,
No bud nor greenness can I see:
Yet rise it shall--the sap of Spring;
O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,
A broken bowl that cannot hold
One drop of water for my soul
Or cordial in the searching cold;
Cast in the fire the perish'd thing;
Melt and remould it, till it be
A royal cup for Him, my King:
O Jesus, drink of me.

"A Better Resurrection" is reprinted from Goblin Market and other Poems. Christina Rossetti. Cambridge: Macmillan, 1862.

Divine Mystery in Suffering

2011-10-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

Journal entry from Sept 10, 2011
Streams in the Desert: Ps 138:8 "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me."

"There is a divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by human reason ... There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering."

"When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixon begins to weave itself into a crown... the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it... hinder it..., it seeks only for God's will and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe... work together for its good."

"Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee, under the omnipotent feet of Jesus. " (Streams in the Desert 9/10)

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Personal Comments:
The thought comes to mind, even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane wrestled with the will of God, sweating even great drops of blood, until He came to the place that He said, "Nevertheless, Not my will but Thine be done. He was able to endure the cross for the Joy the was set before Him!"

In watching my mother currently suffering with cancer now for 2 years, on the heels of my own brothers battle with brain cancer, discouragement seems to lurk around many bends, especially when watching loved ones ongoing pain. Yet I have seen the faithfulness of the Lord. When I cry out to Him He is ever present. He continues to give my dad endurance to take care of mom with a great attitude. When other challenges come to us, health, currently no job, God continues to give me grace to do just the next thing. He has enlarged my heart to grieve with others who are grieving heartache. He has given me greater love for those who don't yet personally know the beautiful Saviour. He has made the Psalms alive. David was a man who was often depressed, but knew where to run in time of distress. What great comfort I have received from the Psalms and continue to receive. And most of all He has given me time to study the Bible inductively and teach to others hungry to know him, many of whom are also in grave trials.

Psalm 40 is the Psalm the Lord gave me when I was saved November 12, 1975. One of the promises in the that Psalm is "Many will see and fear and will Trust in the Lord." I continue to claim that promise and long to see in heaven a great harvest of souls, because of the Lord's mercy to me in delivering me out of darkness into His glorious light."

Thank you Lord for the great company of witnesses who have suffered but kept entrusting themselves to you and so endured so I would see your faithfulness manifested in my own life.

What a wonderful saviour is Jesus My Lord!

Isaiah 50:10 Walking in Darkness and have no light?

2011-10-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 50:10 is a favorite passage of mine. In the reading from Streams in the Desert for October 7, here are some excerpts plus personal comments from my journal:

Is 50:10 "Who is among you that Fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." (NASB)

"What shall the believer do in times of darkness--the darkness of perplexity and confusion, not of heart, but of mind? Times of darkness come to the faithful and believing disciple who is walking obediently in the will of God, seasons when he does not know what to do, not which way to turn..."

"Listen!.... Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely upon his God."

"First thing, to do is nothing!"

"Trust God! While we trust, God can work. Worry prevents Him from doing anything for us."

"The power of God must quiet our minds and rest our hearts. We must put our hand in the hand of God like a little child, and let Him lead us into the bright sunshine of His love."

"Hold on my heart thy believing---
The steadfast only wins the crown;
He who, when stormy winds are heaving,
Parts with its anchor, shall go down;
But he who Jesus holds through all,
Shall stand, though Heaven and Earth should fall."

"Hold out! There comes an end to sorrow,
Hope from the dust shall conquering rise
The storm fortells a summer's morrow;
The cross points on to Paradise
The Father reigneth! Cease all doubt,
Hold on, my heart, hold on, hold Out!

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Psalm 7:10 Lord My God in You I have taken refuge

Psalm 37 Don't Fret over ________________________.
Trust in the Lord and do good... Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!

Lord God, may your omnipotent grace abound today for my parents during this season of suffering and may you be glorified to the utmost because they are on this difficult path. I ask also for a great harvest of Righteousness because of their lives.

"Ministry of Loss"

2011-10-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Journal entry for Cindy Langford October 6, 2011:
Excerpt from Streams in the Desert: I Kings 17:7 "it came to pass.. the brook dried up."

"The Education of our faith is incomplete if we have not learned that there is a providence of loss, a ministry of failing and of fading things, a gift of emptiness... The dwindling stream by which Elijah sat and mused is a true picture of the life of each of us...that is the history of our yesterday, and a prophecy of our morrow."

"In one way or another, we will have to learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting the Giver!"

"God's hard words are never His last words. The woe and the waste and the tears of life belong to the interlude and not to the finale."

"Whensoever in you life and mine some spring of earthly and outward resource has dried up--it has been that we might learn that our hope and help are in God who made Heaven & Earth." FB Meyer

..." If thus, ah soul, the brook thy heart hath cherished doth fail thee now no more thy thirst assuage--If it's once glad refreshing streams have perished, Let Him thy heart engage."

"He will not fail, nor mock, nor disappoint thee, His consolations change not with the years, with oil of joy, He surely will anoint thee, And wipe away thy tears." J. D. Smith

(For free online subscription to Streams in the Desert, click on title of this blog.)
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Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words O Lord. Consider my groaning, Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King & my God. For to You I pray in the morning O LORD, You will hear my voice, in the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch. (12) For it is You who bless the righteous man O LORD. You surround him with favor as with a shield.
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In the past year and a half walking with a brother with cancer, now with Jesus, and currently my mother with cancer, I have learned that the Lord is indeed close to those who cry out to Him in times of grief. He continues to speak through His word comfort and courage. He is indeed doing eternal things in those He calls to walk through the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil, because He indeed is with us. His grace is so sufficient and His power is perfected in those who are weak.

Are you weak? Are you broken hearted. Cry out to Jesus. He will never fail you nor forsake you!

Brent Hedrick Promoted to Glory

2011-05-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Picture includes Brent and Brenda and his daughters Carrie and Kristi.

May 10, 2011 around 8:30 pm, Brent Hedrick, my brother had his last seizure and went into the arms of Jesus, His Lord and Savior into heaven where there is no more suffering, no more sorrow and no more pain.

His new life in Christ began Janury 28, 2010 when he cried out to the Lord who forgave his sin and removed the burdens of life that he had been carrying, and came into him in the power of the Holy Spirit. He experienced immediately the peace that passes understanding. He did not know until May that he had glioblastoma, the worst form of brain cancer. He was operated on May 10th. Miracously he survived for another year with family and friends. During his last year on earth he experienced chemo, radiation, and the effects of powerful drugs he had to continue taking until he went to glory. In all of his physical suffering he continued to cling to the Lord and love his family. He never gave up.

While he was looking forward to heaven, he prayed often for his wife Brenda, and the 2 children and 5 grandchildren, mom with cancer, dad with a heart condition, and other friends who stuck by him. He never stopped laughing and maintained a sense of humor.

It broke my heart as his sister in Christ to watch him suffer physically day in and day out. I cried out to the Lord often for the Lord to deliver him through healing. But the greatest testimony of all is the one we read of In Romans 11 of those suffering through sickness and even death whom the world is not worthy of because they continued to worship God in the mist of suffering. This is my brothers testimony.

I loved it when we were together and he would read from passages he had marked. One of his favorite passages was Psalm 116 which the Lord gave to him after his brain surgery.

PSALM 116: BRENTS PSALM!(NLT)
1I love the LORD because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
2Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!
3Death wrapped its ropes around me;
the terrors of the gravea overtook me.
I saw only trouble and sorrow.
4Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“Please, LORD, save me!”
5How kind the LORD is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!
6The LORD protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
7Let my soul be at rest again,
for the LORD has been good to me.
8He has saved me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
9And so I walk in the LORD’s presence
as I live here on earth!
10I believed in you, so I said,
“I am deeply troubled, LORD.”
11In my anxiety I cried out to you,
“These people are all liars!”
12What can I offer the LORD
for all he has done for me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the LORD’s name for saving me.
14I will keep my promises to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
15The LORD cares deeply
when his loved ones die.
16O LORD, I am your servant;
yes, I am your servant, born into your household;
you have freed me from my chains.
17I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
18I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people—
19in the house of the LORD
in the heart of Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

While I have great joy knowing that He is with the Lord, I also miss him very much. I've never experienced the death of a close friend or relative. But I am continuing to experience the beauty of Christ and the reality that He is truly with the Brokenhearted.

I am praying for a great harvest of righteousness to come from this ones life of enduring faith!

Must Read: Vanya - A True Story!

2011-02-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

"In keeping silent about evil, in burying it deep within us, so that it appears nowhere on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future." Alexander Solzheinitsynn, The Gulag Archipelago

This is the true story of Ivan (Vanya)Moiseyev, a soldier in the Soviet Red Army who was ruthlessly persecuted and incarcerated for his faith. Through two years of trial and torture, he never denied his Savior, and he never hesitated to share the gospel with anyone who would listen.

Over and over Vanya testified that he prayed. Regularly he was up before Reveille and prayed. The Lord often delivered him from experiencing hunger, pain from cold and gave him visions of angels. In all of his trials his desire was not to be ashamed of the gospel and persevere no matter what. The Lord did not fail him, even during his final hours...

This book will challenge your faith and teach you about true worship and prayer. How are you doing in your current circumstances? Grumbling like Israel in the wilderness? Hebrews has a grave warning to all of us as believers to continue to trust the Lord no matter what.

In the Precept Upon Precept Study on Hebrews Part II Kay Arthur had a recommended list of missionary biographies and this was on that list. Next to Bruchko, this is definitely one of the most riveting stories that I've read.

(Click on the title to find the book at amazon.com)

Miracle of Thanksgiving (Christmas Mom was in the Hospital)

2011-01-18T12:38:00.001-08:00

Christmas eve mom went into the hospital following by Brent few days later! Both were weak and shaky for the next few days. Currently both are back home. Mom is back to more normal things like food shopping, knitting, and some cooking. Brent went sledding for one run with the grandkids last week end. Celebrating life one day at a time.

Living with Thorns

2010-12-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

As I've been on a journey of suffering with a brother and mother with cancer, the Lord has used many authors to encourage me on this journey. The most recent book that I've read is Living with Thorns. The author, Mary Ann Froehlich gives several steps for survival in a thorny life. Under the points I share my own journey and thoughts.

1. Mourn and seek God
At first all I could do was cry for the first few months. Sometimes I couldn't even pray. It was hard to read huge chunks of scripture like I was used to doing.

2. Trust that God will rebuild your life

3. Engage in honest communication with God pouring out your heart
I got real with God including just confessing that I didn't even believe the Bible some days and asking Him to forgive me and cleanse me of such unbelief.

4. Be open to God's honesty by reading entire books of the Bible
Eventually after several months I'm now able to do this for which I am so thankful to God. In fact just started Hebrews PUP Part II and am loving it. The journey is by no means over, but I know that God is with me in fresh new ways.

5. Allign your visions and goals with God's visions and goal
I have totally laid down all my dreams even in ministry. I am truly living one day at at time serving my husband and family as the Lord leads

6. Understand your family's thorns
Learning to ask my family questions about their lives including their loves and things about growing up that shaped them. Why have I waited so long to do this? I guess just plain preoccupied with myself and plans all these years.

7. Practice daily forgiveness
As I reflect on my past and the disappointments and expectations I had for others even my husband and just plain confess them and ask God's forgiveness, I'm sensing God refreshment all over again.

8. Confess envy, resentment, bitterness
For years I've carried bitterness that we couldn't have our own children and watching over and over when in prison ministry especially all the unwed mothers having loads of children. Someday I'll really see God's love in this and not feel punished. But now I'm trusting this fact by faith.

9. Take care of yourself and find true rest
God Himself has made me to lay down in green pastures. I do not have a job and am so thankful, so that I can be involved in my families lives. God even provided a company car for Dave so I have transportation to visit them.

10. Make music to God
God has given me a song in the night and continues to do so. I especially love Christmas and am loving the classics and old hymns.

11. Invest in deep and intimate lifeline relationships
The Lord in His awesome grace has provided just the right people for such a season to come alongside of me in prayer and encouragement for which I am so grateful.

In the book Mary Ann gives Biblical examples and current day Christians who have shared awesome insights as well. Some of them are Elizabeth Elliott, Joni Ereackson Tada, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Margaret Clarkson to name a few. I had a few theological differences but overall I recommend it to any looking for comfort in a thorny life.

When the Hurt Runs Keep - Kay Arthur

2010-10-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Wow,Kay has done it again! Her recent book, When the Hurt Runs Deep, deals with the subject of suffering in a redemptive way. She elaborates on the following:

Healing Truth #1: If God has allowed pain in our lives, He has allowed it for a purpose--a good purpose, because He is a good God.

Healing Truth #2: Deep and genuine healing will always be tied to an accurate knowledge of God's sovereignty and character. The clearer our understanding of who God is, the more profound our healing will be.

Healing Truth #3: Because God is love, and because God rules over all, everything that comes into our lives is filtered through His sovereign fingers of love.

Healing Truth #4: Because God is all-knowing, He knows the very source of your deepest pain--and He understands exactly how to touch it, heal it, and use it to bring about your highest good.

Healing Truth #5: No hurt is so strong that it can separate you from His love. Your hurt is not intended to drive you from God but to God.

Healing Truth #6: Nothing that has ever happened to you has escaped God's notice. You can trust that He will bring to account everyone who has hurt you, in His time and in His way.

Healing Truth #7: Deep hurt can happen to upright, blameless people; it is not always deserved or earned.

Healing Truth #8: When we sin, we will find ourselves facing the consequences. But when we submit to God in repentance and seek His help, we can get through those consequences an step onto the path to hope and healing.

Healing Truth #9: Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you have done, there is hope because there is God. He is a God of hope; redemption is His business.

Healing Truth #10: God's grace is brought to fullness in our lives as we release our hurt and draw on His power in our weakness.

Healing Truth #11: Deep, exhausting, unrelenting hurt can bring you to the end of yourself--to complete and total dependence on God--which is the best place you could ever be.

Healing Truth #12: Whether your hurts have been caused by someone else's actions or by your own sins and failures, healing begins at the cross--the greatest expression of God's love for you.

I strongly urge you to purchase your own copy of this encouraging book which will take you into the scriptures and bring comfort and healing to your soul! Click on the title to hear Kay's broadcast!

Hope in Suffering

2010-09-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Currently being ministered to in this season of my brother and mother's cancers through the following:

The Devotional - Streams in the Desert by Cowman
Psalm 4:1 "Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress."
"The chain that unites me to humanity must be an iron chain--sorrow. My soul if you would be enlarged into human sympathy, you must be narrowed into limits of human suffering...It is your limit that is your enlargement. It is the shadows of your life that are the real fulfillment of your dreams of glory...Say not that the shades of the prison house have enchained you, your chains are wings-- wings of flight into the bosom of humanity. The door of your prison-house is a door into the heart of the universe. God has enlarged you by the binding of sorrow's chain.
(G.M. Matheson.) Example seen in Joseph's life where he goes from the prison to governor over several years...."

Elizabeth Elliot's "Be Still My Soul":
How to deal with grief, suffering:

1. Choose your attitude. Delight in weakness (2 Cor 12:10). "When I am weak, then I am strong." Bring to the cross your weakness and receive God's strength, exchange your sins for His righteousness, your sorrows for His joy. Choose to trust his faithfulness in every detail of your life and in turn that choice enables you to delight in the same many details that could have dismayed you.

2. Offer your pain to God! He knows how to bring good out of evil. You may need to repeat this many times.

I have found this most liberating. Through many tears and prayers, God brings peace and comfort.

3. Receive what God has given you with open hands. This thing is the will of God for you.

4. Choose to renew your commitment to Him. Ps 56:3-4 when I am afraid I will trust in you.

This reminds me of Romans 12:1. Present your bodies a living sacrifice.....your reasonable service of worship! I continually recommit the pieces of brokenness to Jesus who was a man of sorrows!

5. Praise Him as Habakkuk did! Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.

The Lord has given me a song in the night and has revived an interest in many old hymns plus some awesome praise music....

6. DO THE NEXT THING.

Like cleaning, washing, cooking, going to store... Praying with friends over Coffee!!!!

Ps 68:19 Blessed be the LORD, who daily bears us up

Why Study Precept Upon Precept?

2010-09-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a testimony of a student in the Precept Upon Precept Hebrews class who took several other inductive studies prior to Hebrews:

I am really enjoying Hebrews. My favorite part so far was the part where we studied angels. They fascinate me and I don't think I give them enough credit. My other favorite part is when we looked into Jesus's humanity and deity. He became like us in ALL things - even in form - so that He could be a faithful High Priest. He knows exactly what we are going through when we struggle because He went through it too, but He did it perfectly without sin. We have an EXPERT to go to when we are hurting, sick, tired, aching, struggling, confused, rejected, etc. Why go to anyone else? And without Christ being a human man, we would have no payment for our sins! Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for becoming God in the flesh (John 1) and shedding HIs literal blood for us so that we would have a payment for our sins. He sits on the mercy seat of God for us, and I'm so thankful for it!

Leviticus, Exodus, Genesis, Romans, and now Hebrews - God is connecting all of the pieces for me through this study. I've even been given the opportunity to teach a friend how to do inductive study and see fruit growing in him from it! He had the chance to share with a coworker from Romans (we are going through that together) something that we had learned the day before! He's remembering Scripture, understanding it, and using it. The word IS living and active :-D

Click on title for link to Precept Ministry International

PSALM 71:20

2010-08-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

"You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth."

Praises this week:
1. Went with Brent & Brenda to Sight and Sound to see "Joseph." It was magnificent! Taste of heaven! Brent wanted to return to "Miracle of Christmas!"

2. Took mom to radiation treatment #11 then went to lunch. She is perky and doing pretty well.

3. Had a great day with Great niece and Great nephew last Friday. They were so brave to spend the whole day with us! They've only ever seen us at family gatherings. We pray they'll be back soon. They enjoyed VBS and wanted to return!

NEVER QUIT!

2010-08-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post for an inspirational video where you will see an illustration of the Father's love for you when you think you can not go on another step.

Impact of a godly wife - Sarah Edwards!

2010-07-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

The difference that Biblical faith makes in a marriage can be seen in the book by Elizabeth D.Dodds, "Marriage to a Difficult Man," on the life of Sarah Edwards, wife of Jonathan Edwards. I do believe that this book is wrongly titled. For example his last words to her were, "Give my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her that the uncommon union which has so long subsisted between us has been of such a nature as I trust is spiritual and therefore will continue forever."

Elizabeth writes about Sarah, "Sarah Edwards, wife of Jonathan Edwards, managed to train a brood of children whose social contribution is a phenomenon of American history. In 1900, A.E. Winship tracked down fourteen hundred of their descendants and published a study of the Edwards children in contrast to the "Jukes" family, the notorious clan who cost New York State a total of $1,250,000 in welfare and custodial charges who all originated from one immigrant who settled in upstate New York in 1720 and produced a tribe of "idleness, ignorance, and vulgarity." (p. 37)

According to A.E. Winship, "Much of the capacity and talent, intensity and character of the more than 1,400 of the Edwards family is due to Mrs. Edwards." By 1900 when he made his study, this single marriage between Jonathan and Sarah Edwards had produced:

13 College presidents
65 professors
100 lawyers, and a dean of an outstanding law school
30 judges
66 physicians and a dean of a medical school
80 holders of public office:
3 US Senators
Mayors of 3 large cities
Governors of three states
A VP of the USA
A controller of the US Treasury

"Almost all the men had college degrees and many completed graduate work in a time when this was unusual. The women were repeatedly described as "great readers" or "highly intelligent," although girls were not sent to college then, members of the family wrote 135 books. They edited 18 journals and periodicals, entered the ministry in platoons and sent 100 missionaries overseas, as well as stocking many mission boards with lay trustees. One maverick married the daughter of a South Sea Island chieftain but even that branch reverted to type, and its son became a clergyman... and the list of accomplishments goes on. Yet all this achievement came out of a family with no large inherited fortune. (38,39)

It was refreshing to see the impact of obediant servants of the Lord. May He be glorified to the utmost in our lives and our families as we continue to love others to Christ and sow seeds of faith and righteousness.

These Strange Ashes: Is God Still in Charge? by Elizabeth Elliot

2010-07-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

In "These Strange Ashes," Elizabeth Elliot writes about her first year as a missionary to the Colorado Indians in Ecuador and specifically sites 4 tragedy's that revealed deep insights into suffering in the believers life.

She speaks of how her parents often had missionaries as guests in their home as she grew up one of them was Betty Scott Stam - Missionary to China. Here is Betty's prayer that Elizabeth kept in her Bible:

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all, utterly to thee to be thine forever. Fill me and seal me with thy Holy Spirit, use me as thou wilt, send me where thou wilt, work out thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."

The cost, for Betty was quite literally her life only a few years after she had prayed that prayer. Elizabeth continues to write, "I had never forgotten the picture on the front page of our newspaper of the Stam's baby daughter being carried in a rice basket by a Chinese woman who had found her after her parents' execution. (p. 126)

One of the four examples of tragedy in Elizabeth's first year as missionary to the Colorado Indians, was the death of Macario, the one whom the Lord had raised up to help Elizabeth as she began to write an alphabet for the unwritten language of the Colorado Indians. She writes, "I had desired God Himself and he had not only not given me what I asked for, but He had snatched away what I had. I came to nothing, to emptiness." ...It was a long time before I came to the realization that it is in our acceptance of what is given that God gives Himself. Even the Son of God had to learn obediance by the things that He suffered. (p. 127)

"Each separate experience of individual stripping we may learn to accept as a fragment of the suffering Christ born when He took it all... This grief, this sorrow, this total loss that empties my hands and breaks my heart, I may, if I will, accept, and by accepting it, I find in my hands something to offer. And so I give it back to Him, who in mysterious exchange gives Himself to me." (p.127)

So during this time of my brother's brain cancer and mother's Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and the physical suffering and mental anguish they are going through, I am learning to offer this pain up moment by moment as an offering of thanksgiving, that God will indeed work out His great glory in their lives and a host of others as well. How thankful I am to the great cloud of witnesses all around cheering us on in the faith.

American History in Black & White

2010-07-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

David Barton has done his homework. In the well documented American History in Black & White by David Barton, one can see the finger of God. The following excerpt includes a side of history untold today.

"While students in school early learn that the first load of slaves sailed up the James River in Virginia in 1619 and thus slavery was introduced into America, few learn about the first slaves that arrived in the Massachusetts Colony set up by the Christian Pilgrims and Puritans. When that slave ship arrived in Massachusetts, the ship's officers were arrested and imprisoned and the kidnapped slaves were returned to African at the Colony's Expense." p. 6

******
For David Barton's website: www.wallbuilders.com just click on the title of this blog.

This book has been a wake up call to me personally along with Sacred Fire by Peter Lillback on the life of George Washington. God desires that we as believers use the weapons he has given us to impact the nation, beginning with prayer and fasting and then upholding the standard, the Word of God.

Brent, Kids, Grandkids and Dog!

2010-06-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

This was only a few weeks after Brents Brain surgery! Praising God that he's driven a car, taken walks, and eaten lots of great meals provided by family and friends. God is good!

Thanks to all of your for your prayers! I'm feeling them as well. It's been the best of times and worst of times!

Currently mom has had her 2nd monthly chemo/rituxan treatment. Today following the chemo she spiked a temperature, ended up in ER, but seems to be doing much better.

Leviticus Study

2010-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

When one thinks of Leviticus one often skips it and goes to the next book! It's just like God to make this the jewel of the first 5 books of the Bible! Why? Because in this book we see God's desire for Israel - that they be a holy nation, because He is a Holy God. The details of clean and unclean regarding sacrifices, ordination of priests, foods,and behaviors were designed that they be distinct from the world. The laws were made to protect them, in an polluted culture, from disease, immorality, natural disasters, and the ravages of war. The foundation for this idea of separation from other nations was laid out in Exodus 19 where God said they were to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people of His own choosing.

The Lord tells us in the NT that believers in Jesus as the Messiah are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation made possible by the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb - Jesus the Messiah. In 1 Peter 1, because of the finished work of Christ and indwelling Holy Spirit, we see that He expects a holy life from us as His kingdom of Priests. It is all of our responsibility as believers to intercede on behalf of those around us who so desperately need to see an alternative to a life of hopelessnes and despair.In addition we are to be different, separate from the world, living life styles that bring glory to God and the message of salvation to a world that desperately needs it.

Let my people go to serve(worship) me!

2010-05-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Tuesday Evening Women's Precept Upon Precept Class ended with a celebration of food, testimonies, fellowship and prayer. What an awesome group of women all digging into God's word and being transformed from glory to glory! It is breath taking to watch God work through the trials in our lives and His word. We'll be starting Leviticus in 2 weeks. Can't wait. Several women were unable to be at the covered dish.

Night Shift

2010-05-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Recently attended an ACMC Missions Conference and picked up the book by Dave Shive entitled, Night Shift. He's got great insights into suffering in the Christian's life as part of God's equipping ministry. David writes about "Seven Stages of the Night Shift Cycle:"

1. The Pit--the miserable place of testing and brokenness
2. The Wait--the period of time one is forced to spend on the night shift, lingering there at God's pleasure, often without divine explanation.
3. The Cry--the desperate prayer of the one who is forced to wait in the pit.
4. The Answer--God's response to the sufferer as He opens His Word and reveals the message that is to be the core of future ministry.
5. The Deliverance--the glorious liberation of the suffering servant in God's way, God's timing, and for God's purpose.
6. The New Song--the music inspired by freedom from the fear of man that produces true delight in God alone.
7. The Impact--the usefulness that comes to the one who allows the season of suffering to do its work. (p. 43)

In the waiting room of God's relinquishment is the surrendering of all ambition, dreams, and goals to the authority of Jesus Christ to be consumed as He sees fit. This is the great passion of God for His people and the majestic goal of the pit: that we would love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. And time is usually required for us to be ready to relinquish all to Jesus. (p.66)

Personally this has been a season of God's silence. Dreams of even career missions dead, currently no career, and life has come to a halt in many ways. But the passion to mentor disciples and teach people how to study the word inductively, burns in my soul. In the meantime I am continuing to diligently study the scriptures book by book, precept upon precept and learning anew how to pray in the night shift.

Noah's Ark Found by Chinese Christians

2010-05-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Click on Title for details!
This is a clip from Noah's Ark Ministries International - group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers looking inside a structure that they claim might prove the existence of Noah's Ark, on Mount Ararat. The team said on April 26,2010 they recovered wooden specimens from the structure on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey that carbon dating proved was 4,800 years old, around the same time the ark is said to have been afloat.

Brokenhearted? Worship the Creator

2010-02-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

Click on Title for link

Stay Tuned for Blizzard #4!

2010-02-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

We All Bow Down

2010-02-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Click on Title for UTube

Blizzard #3 of season West Chester, PA February 2010

2010-02-17T13:04:00.001-08:00

MISSIONS for Midlifers!

2010-01-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Ready to change careers to fulfill God's purposes in the nations? Click on the title of this blog for the website where you will find lots of helps including an application to be filled out, whereby agencies will contact you! Look at the opportunities ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Now with all of your experience, you're a viable candidate for a whole new adventure! This site will connect you with local or worldwide mission opportunities!

For such a time as this you've been raised!

Christmas Day!

2010-01-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Top picture is my mother! Yes we do look alike! Below is my brother Brent, Mom and Dad and me!

Dave and Julia's Wreath TSA - PHILA! (Click here)

2010-01-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Recently, my awesome husband Dave, who works at the Divisional Headquarters of The Salvation Army of Philadelphia, and his admin. assistant Julia, had to decorate a wreath for their office door, much to their chagrin! As it turns out they used all of the things common place to The Salvation Army at Christmstime. As it turned out they won 3rd Honorable Mention! (I didn't even know there was such a prize!) In my book they won first prize for imagination, fitting into the theme - Christmas at the Salvation Army and having most fun doing it! I think the truth is that Julia did all of the work, but Dave gathered the props! Congratulations Dave and Julia!

Answered Prayer - Well of Life Center!

2010-01-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

After years of dealing with diverticulitis, stomach, and energy issues, various alternative routes, and of course medical doctors, the Lord led us to the Well of life Center in Springtown, PA. Things had came to a head prior to our mission trip to Africa in September of 2008, where we would be going to one of the most unsanitary places in the world - slums of Nairobi. Prior to this trip, in February of 2008, I had returned again to the medical route of several blood tests, antibiotics, etc. My Doctor even suggested surgery at some point. Four weeks from our departure date we were introduced to the Well of Life Clinic close to Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Through the program of diet and various kinds of supplements, immediately my stomach began to heal, and other digestive issues began to turn around!

Those who work at the clinic are an awesome Christian staff of male and females who understand how God has created us to heal through proper nutrition and supplements as determined through nutritional response testing. I have been to other similar places in the past, but none were this extensive in their understanding of the body, and also the fact that they required us to keep food journals. There are many testimonies of people that I have met personally through this clinic, who have been healed of chronic diseases, including most of the staff that work there! To God be the glory!

One of the root causes in me personally was parasites in various locations of my body that I had accumulated over time. For the first time in years I have energy and can eat the natural foods that were forbidden by my former diagnosis - strawberries, nuts, berries, to name a few. Speaking of Africa, this center gives part of their proceeds to building wells that provide clean drinking water to the people in Africa! Pictured with me is Cynthia Hoffman, co-founder of the center. For more information check out their website by clicking on the title of this blog or: http://www.welloflifecenter.com/ which includes a healthy diet and healthy recipes and other stuff! Another neat thing is that if they cannot help you they will direct you to an appropriate source that can!

Recent Genesis Class (Part IV)

2009-06-30T11:39:00.001-07:00

This is part of the class that started the book of Genesis last Fall. It's been an awesome group of women hungering and thirsting after God, studying His word Inductively, viewing the world Biblically, Serving the church faithfully, in the power of the Holy Spirit. As you can see there are all ages represented!

How I praise God for this class.

Recent Precept Ministries Int'l Workshop VFCC

2009-06-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

There were 57 in the teen workshop, led by Mick Hammel .
These students studied Titus inductively and had a great time - for 8 hours, imagine that!

The total attendance for the workshop for 223 from as far away as Illinois! Classes included How to Study the Bible, Accurately handling a Difficult Subject, Creating a Word Centered Student Ministry, Structuring, Word Studies, and How to Study the Bible for Teens! This was the answer to a 3 year prayer! In the 3 year wait God provided a brand new facility with the latest in hi-tech equipment.

May the Lord God raise up laborers from these work shops who will go into the harvest or local churches and teach people how to study the word inductively - allowing the Bible to explain the Bible!
God is moving! Join Him!

Isaac & Joshua Cowley

2009-03-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Paul & Marcia Cowley's 2 boys!
Not a real giraffe!

Elizabeth & Abigail in USA

2009-02-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and Abigail have extended their furlough in the USA for 8 weeks due to health reasons. We are so sad that we couldn't connect in person, but it was great talking with her over the phone. Robbie is back in Kenya and returning to the many demands of ministry. Lord willing we will see them again in Kenya!

Our Salvation Army Friend Writes from Kenya

2009-02-18T18:28:00.001-08:00

I recently visited our nursery school in Kibera again. As you know, it is one of my favorite places to be. I picked up one little girl that I am close to (and cuddle every time I go) and noticed that she was especially light and terribly thin. I asked the teacher about it, worrying that she might be HIV positive. The teacher told me, "Well, she just got back from the school break. She probably didn't eat much in the month that she was home with her family". I was blown away, because we almost lost our funding for the feeding programme there this year. We had a plan to cut out "luxuries" like fresh fruit and meat in the menu. Fortunately, we all put our heads together and put out a plea for help. Thank God we received a grant to cover the cost of food for the whole year! I never considered that these kids may be kept healthy ONLY because they eat well when we are caring for them. After that conversation, the teacher pointed out two other little ones that are HIV positive. I picked them both up for a hug and a kiss. I am so glad that they have somewhere safe where they are loved to go every day. That is our ministry. That makes the hard times worth it.

Chesebros come to visit!

2009-01-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

Recently had an awesome visit with Roger and Kathy. God provided them with open doors at CCCS Wednesday evening missions night, Thursday even Calvary Philly small group, CCCS men's retreat for Roger, Missions prayer for Kathy Saturday and a table in between Sunday services at CCCS where they could connect one on one with many interested in receiving their newsletters. We were all blessed and stretched by these two who are trusting God to provide for to return to Kenya in 2 montsh. It was great to hear Kathy's heart and spend time with her one on one. How it was so encouraging to see how God works with those whose hearts are fully His. It was good to pray for those that we met last fall and hear all that God continues to do in the heart of the slums of Nairobi. Kathy reminded us Saturday at the prayer meeting how much God has to say in the Psalms about the oppressed and the promises He has for them. My prayers have changed for my dear friends in that place as a result.

Chesbro's Coming to Visit!

2008-12-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled that Roger and Kathy of Disciple Support Ministries are coming to visit in January. They are currently on furlough beginning in Albuquerque, where they are from and traveling across the country to Pennsylvania. They will be speaking at our Celebration of Missions evening, January 14, 7:00 pm. In addition, Kathy will be coming to our women's missions prayer group Saturday, January 17. We are also expecting Elizabeth and Robbie Gordon sometime in January as well. (In first picture, Elizabeth Gordon is on the right. On second picture Kathy is the one in between 2 Nairobi pastors!)

Re-entry

2008-11-01T11:54:00.001-07:00

How in the world does one return to life as normal, when spending time with the poorest in the world who are satisfied in Jesus and hungering after Him and His word? I still have faces imprinted on my brain, not to mention parts of my heart that have been deposited in Kibera and Methare.

This dear sister on the right, is an intercessor and Bible student who said the women are longing for Bible studies for them. How I would love to return and do just that. My God knows my heart, why He created me, and I am just flat out going to have to trust Him yet again with this longing. I am not God, but He is in me and with me and I feel His heart for these women as well. Father, the time is short, we are older. I am not the head of my family nor anything, just your servant. Lord send laborers and change my heart or take me back. You are the Potter and I am clay. How I praise you for such an awesome opportunity. I pray this was not our last encounter with the believers in Nairobi.

Then there was Kathy, missionary servant, who quietly served grading hundreds of tests, logging scores, shopping for food for the seminars, poured out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She and her husband left all later in life and are obeying Jesus in one of the most dangerous places in the world to live where even a traffic jam can be a life and death matter!

Matatus - Taxi style vans

2008-10-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

In a recent news article from one who was vacationing in Kenya they wrote descriptively of the matatus. "Matatus are cheap, taxi style vans (the fare was 200 Kenyan shillings, about $3, the same price as the International Herald Tribune), designed for 16 passengers but often stuffed with many more, driven kamikaze-style on Kenya's cratered roads, usually spewing earsplitting music." In addition to this description we learned that they often break down and are in accidents or cause them. They are controlled by a crime syndicate which is known as head hunters who will decapitate their enemies without batting an eyelash! We had one occasion to ride on one on route to visit the Masai women. Elizabeth, our missionary traveling companion, uses these often. Needless to say we prayed hard.

Masai Lodge

2008-10-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have an interest in the web site of the second place we stayed here it is: http://www.masailodge.com/

We stayed at the Masai Lodge the last 5 days of our time in Kenya. This was a paradise in the midst of a wilderness. We did have guards in the evening, for which we were thankful and enjoyed the peace and quiet with magnificent views of the national wildlife park. We loved getting to chat with the workers from the Samburo and Masai peoples. There were always sheep roaming the premises along with warthogs and a gecko or 2 in the rooms to keep the bugs away. (Not a problem!) Since we were so close to the game park where there were zebras, impala, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, pumas, buffalo and rhinos, we were glad that there were armed guards. In addition to animals at times of political instability people could be a problem also. But it was delightful and we highly recommend staying here! The road into this place was off the beaten path. And was about 1/2 hour of very bumpy roads like a mogul field on a ski slope! Land Rovers or four wheel drive vehicles were a necessity. Robbie and Elizabeth just live a short distance from here and usually encouraged their short termers to stay at this lodge.

Robbie & Elizabeth Gordon live next to the wildlife park. The view from their porch is breath taking, but so are the dangers. Just last week ago they had a huge Cobra in their back yard. They are not far from dangerous animals at any time and were looking to buy a certain kind watchdog while we were visiting with them. So protection from animals is a huge concern for them as well as protection on roads, from people, and from disease! Yet God is using them in awesome ways to win the hearts of many different people groups. Every go Robbie goes he takes the love of Jesus and people all knew him wherever we went. So the Lord continues to grow Living Waters Fellowship and Lord willing we will see them both at CCCS in the next few months as they are here on furlough!

Dave's Visit to The Salvation Army Nairobi

2008-10-18T11:02:00.001-07:00

Monday, Sept. 29, Dave spent the day visiting The Savation Army programs just outside the slums of Nairobi incluing a preschool setting and trade school for teenage girls where they learn cooking, catering, hairdressing and other vocational training. In each case they sang for him and recited Bible verses. He loved this visit and got to spend time with his counter part in social services in Nairobi where it is very hard to live and minister. Cindy stayed at the lodge with travelers dysentary on this day, but was up and about for the evening session of teaching at Living Waters with Dave. God was so gracious with us both regarding health.

Our Own Authentic Tour Guide in Wilderness

2008-10-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

George, a.k.a. Laseele, from the Samburo tribe, took us on a one hour walk into Massai country. Pointing out cheetah, lion, and rhino tracks. (Not kidding) All of these are dangerous. We did see zebra, wart hogs, some birds. George was lots of fun. Spoke some english but loved Americans. Funniest thing of all, he had a cell phone! As a worker for the Massai lodge which is where we stayed, he needed it as part of his job there. His family lived 8 hours away, by bus in the country. His mother had been hurt while we were there so he had to go home to her. He says that he is a born again Christian! George talks regularly with the Gordons (CC missionaries) He also enjoyed posing for the camera! He was lots of fun.

Pray for Living Waters Ministries

2008-10-07T06:01:00.001-07:00

Laboreres needed with heart for Massai women. Elizabeth has 60 women and cannot grow without helpers.

Cultural center for Massai women to have income and share gospel.

Monies for wells! They just built one, others needed. When you invest here there will be no government intervention and extortion because the missionaries are building it!

Wisdom and patience as parents.

Endurance in minsitry. Church is a growing multicultural ministry. Life is hard and dangerous for all in Nairobi. People are hungry for word of God.

Buffalo Stampeed - Help Lord

2008-10-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

The last day of our stay in Africa, Robbie Gordon of Living Waters Fellowship took us on a tour of the Kenyan Wildlife Park which bordered the Masai Lodge where we stayed the last 5 days. In this park of over 30 square miles, we saw hundreds of Zebra, Impala and Buffalo - the kind with the huge tusks that the English went hunting for. Also saw lots of Giraffes, wart hogs, other kinds of deer, some huge, some smaller, various birds, crocodile, and a hippopotamus. The scariest thing happened, we were close to a herd of Buffalo and they decided to charge our vehicle, at this point Robbie put it in reverse and floored it. The reason being, you do not want to separate the herd. Shortly thereafter (Calling out to Lord with some of you that the Lord prompted I'm sure!) the herd left us alone. They could have done major damage to our vehicle and us!It was magnificent seeing God's creation and no other cars for miles!

It was a desire of ours to go to see African Wildlife, but we only told the Lord, no one else. He opened this door through Robbie and we were thrilled. It was a great way to end the trip and we even survived to tell about it!

Robbie, Elizabeth, Abigail Gordon of Living Waters

2008-10-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

Robbie, Elizabeth, and Abigail Gordon are with Living Waters Ministry, a Calvary Chapel fellowship from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Their church has many different nationalities and is growing. Elizabeth has a ministry among the Masai women that is also growing. She started with a few belivers and now there are 60 born again Massai women! She needs helpers!!! They live on the edge of Kenyan Game Park with wild dangerous animals in their back yard! So as you're reading this pray for their protection as they travel and live! We spent our last 5 days with them and loved it. Taught the Biblical Roles in Marriage seminar, Dave preached Sunday, at the church, visited the Massai women, and did the Safari with Robbie the last day.

Paul Washes Daves Feet!

2008-10-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a true disciple of Jesus! Paul the Director of Disciple Support Ministries washing Dave's feet after he stepped into the sewage of Methare!

Praying for Disciple Support Ministries

2008-10-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

(Paul Cowley (Right), Roger Cheesbro (Left)

PRAY FOR:

Short Term Teams 10-12 Days
Sept thru November 2008/Feb thru July 2009
Seminar and Bible Teaching Teams of 2-4
Administration Assistance
14 week volunteers needed same as above
Visit website: http://www.disciplesupport.org/
Finances for Bible School and Pastor's families in crises

Roger & Kathy Cheesbro

2008-10-06T11:45:00.001-07:00

Roger and Kathy, (Right) work with Paul & Marcia Cowley of Disciple Support Ministries. Roger also teaches in the Bible School. Both of them help out Paul with administrative support in this growing ministry. They will be home on furlow November through March and hope to visit Calvary Chapel Chester Springs. They are awesome believers who work very hard and put in countless hours each week. Pray for their protection, support raising, up and coming furlough, and reentry into the USA.

Surviving the Bloodshed of January 2008

2008-10-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

The pastor on the left was praying with his family during the violence of January when the one clan was warring with another using machetes and throwing huge bolders onto homes of tin roofs such as his! As they were praying a huge bolder came onto his roof and onto his dining room table, but none of them were hurt. They stayed in this 10 x 10 home for 5 days without going out for food or anything. They could hear screams of people outside, but God sustained them. The pastor on the right asked for prayer for his children who are going to school. We visited his home (below) where his wife and daughter were cooking pastries for money so the children could go to school.

Tour of the Slum of Kibera - Wednesday

2008-10-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

We are standing with Pastor Samuel on a trash dump consisting mostly of human excrement in bags. This was the day I was "baptized" into the sewer of Kibera - I stepped on a place that went over my shoe! When rainy season comes in October and April, the missionaries and every student who lives and walks to the Bible Schools, wears boots, because they are walking in 12 inches or more of human sewage. These are fellow believers in Jesus Christ who are committed to reaching the least of these in the slums of Nairobi with the great news of the gospel. EIGHTY PERCENT of the people of Nairobi live in these slums. Unlike the USA, the government of Kenya, denies their existent. Extortion rules when it comes to the landlords of these people. In fact if someone builds a well, the government turns around and charges huge fees for the people who would benefit by them.

Tuesday, 110 Pastors at Paradise Looga Looga

2008-10-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Not everyone stayed awake for the entire seminar! This young child was quiet for the entire day - 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 pm! The church at Paradise Looga Looga was forced to relocate because of an oil pipe line that was coming through the slum. They just bulldoze down homes whether people are in them or not. This causes violence to break out because they have no where to go! This group was especially fun to be with including a pastor John who had only planned to stay the first half of the day, but decided to stay for the full day and the Lord used His word to change his life! Picture this, tent like building with feed bags tied together as walls, roof framed with skinng tree branches, plus an auto body on one side doing its work, a train running on another side, yet people were very attentive and not distracted! The man standing in the rear of the church is asking a question!

Kibera - Largest Slum of Nairobi

2008-10-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

Kibera, the largest slum of 1 million people in a 3 square mile area, first location of the Disciple Support Ministries Bible school, held the first seminar we did on Biblical Roles in Marriage. There were 40 pastors and leaders who came and you can read some of their comments on the evaluations from an earlier blog. Two of the pastors asked Dave to come to their churches and teach. As you can see this building is beautiful. As a part of their training they have to take turns volunteering to sweep and clean the latrines. The first time they saw the beautiful desks in this room, many wept because they were so thankful that God had brought a Bible school to them! In order for them to receive a certificate, they have to attend all day, take notes which are graded, and pass a test. These certificates are very important to them. Many received them with joy. All of these pastors and leaders will take this material and teach their own congregations. They so love the word of God it is refreshing to us all!

Awesome Chai Tea!

2008-10-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

This dear sister in Christ served us the best Chai tea I have every drank! As you can see their smiles are big. They are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and His joy is evident. She was thrilled to make us a cup of tea and it's so amazing how generous these people are who have so little. Quite humbling! This woman is in Elizabeth's Bible study. On Tuesday's she tries to visit them in their homes and on Thursday they meet under a big tree for the Bible study.

Elizabeth Gordon, Missionary to Massai Women

2008-10-04T16:15:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Gordon, the woman in the center, has been sharing the gospel with Massai women the past several years. To date she has 60 of them in a Bible Study! They had to put a cap on it because she cannot handle any more! God is moving in awesome ways through this ministry. This is a picture of one of the 10 x 10 homes of a Massai family. McKenna, left is holding a baby of the mother of this family (not pictured) who is very sick. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers!

Nancy's Prayer Request!

2008-10-04T16:01:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth led us into Nancy's 2 roomed 10 x 10 home which was dark. Our eyes eventually adjusted and we met this beautiful Christian sister, Nancy, a Massai mother, a sweet believer in Jesus Christ. As four believers from America, plus Elizabeth the missionary, visited her and asked how we could pray for her, she simply asked that we would pray that she would put Jesus first in everything. The amazing thing was that she didn't even have food to eat at this point, they were so poor! But she knew that as long as she was trusting in the Lord He would provide for her. In addition, Elizabeth told us that her knees were bothering her so much that it was very painful for her to walk and get water, which was a necessity for life! She also desired that all of her family come to know Jesus Christ personally! So we listened to her sweet testimony of faith through Elizabeth our interpreter and each of us (Dave, 2 other Calvary Chapel Short term missionaries and me) gave a short testimony of faith to her as well. We were humbled by her simplicity of faith and prayed for her before we left. She had the most beautiful smile. It was a moment I will never forget.

Testimony of One of the Pastors

2008-10-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

One of the pastors, Pastor Kennedy shared with us that a couple that he knew that had come to the seminar on Biblical roles in marriage had a marriage that was full of contention. The wife had already gotten divorce papers together and the husband was going to go out and hang himself. Pastor Kennedy shared that they told him that God used His word to bring healing in their marriage. Praise God that His word is powerful and does bring healing to lives who will believe it and obey it. To God be all the praise!

Why Teach Biblical Marriage in Kenyan Church?

2008-10-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Cultural Challenges to Marriage in Africa including the Christian Church include:

Polygamy
Some churches teach that you can’t marry until the wife has a child and some say it must be a son.
On the wedding night it is not uncommon for the husband to beat the wife to prove his authority and also force her to have sex with his brothers to make sure she has a child quickly.
Some pastors would quit jobs and make wives work full time to support them in ministry.
Some teach that you can’t marry until the dowry is paid which includes 1 cow and 2 goats. Some times this takes 5-10 years to get this.
Oftentimes is it necessary to live in the home of the husband’s parents and the wife reports to them.
The order is husband, then cow, then son, daughters then wife.
A common teaching allows for pastors to have an up country wife
If a woman can’t have children the husband will divorce her immediately.
Women without children are devalued more than those with children.
The reason that sons are valued above girls is that the sons can support the parents in old age. Therefore sons tend to be spoiled and self centered. This carries over into the marriage where Kenyan men are extremely self centered.

Your Prayers Were Answered!

2008-10-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some answeres to your prayers!

Health: We were strong and well every day. Cindy just had one day of intestinal stuff when Dave was with The Salvation Army ministries in Nairobi. We were up at 4:00 a.m. many days and felt strong when teaching and working with missionaries and churches.

Sessions: The Lord blessed all of our days teaching and preaching (Dave). Over 500 pastors and leaders came to learn about what the Bible teaches on roles of husbands and wives beginning in Genesis. All of them will be teaching this material in their churches and respective ministries. Many people were encouraged by the teaching on marriage.
Luggage: All of our luggage arrived safely coming and going!

Protection:

Roads: Roads are very bumpy, accidents common, dangers if stuck in traffic after dark when thieves come out. We got safely to all of our destinations.
Disease: All of the slums are breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases, with open sewage everywhere, both of us stepped in some with one leg up to at least 6 inches at least one time while there. One of the pastors actually took my shoes and stockings and had them washed by the women! We came home feeling well and pray that we will continue to do so.
Animals: At the Massai Lodge where we stayed the last week, we were escorted in the evening to our huts, by armed guards for animals and people who don't belong! Since the Massai Lodge was on the border of the Kenyan Wildlife Park, lion, cheetahs, tigers, rhinoceros, buffalo, are all common and dangerous to humans.
Matatoo: The mode of public transportation is the taxi or Matatoo. These are owned by an organized crime syndicate who are know for cutting heads off people they do not like. The one time we had to take one, we prayed that we would not have any problems with them. They are known for traveling with vehicles that will brake down while you're in them, causing accidents.

Spiritually: Two of the seminars were located next to or in the midst of cults and witches. These sessions were especially blessed. At one of them they clapped at the end.

Believers were very friendly to us and asked us when we were coming back. We asked them what it was like living during the uprising in January and heard some very sad stories and also stories of God's protection.
Great relationships with the Local missionaries. We enjoyed serving them and felt the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace. We really prayed that we would not be a burden to them, since their work load increments when short termers like us come. Knowing this we wanted to be sure not to make this more difficult than necessary
All connections went smoothly. From the time we left our home, all of the connections with the 3 missionaries, and coming home all worked out. This was especially God's grace since we did not have a phone. Even when we came home from ministering, we never got caught in a traffic jam. Just the week before, it took them 3.5 hours to get home from one of the weekly sessions. At that point it is very dangerous for all because this is when the thieves and robbers come out to loot vehicles. This in fact is not unusual for the missionaries. God protected us in great ways here.
God opened homes to us of the poorest of the poor who love the Lord Jesus and had His hope in the midst of extreme poverty and disease.
Always had electricity when needed in the classes. Sometime generators have been known to quit, or light bulbs known to blow out.
The Lord threw in an African Safari with Robbie Gordon as our guide using his vehicle in the Nairobi Game Park. We never told anyone except the Lord that we would love to do this if it would work out. The very last morning of our trip Robbie of Living Waters took us on a Safari!

First Day of Teaching on Marriage - Kibera Slum

2008-09-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

Our first day of teaching at Kibera went well. There were 40 or so pastors and leaders. Here are some of the comments from the student evaluations:

"It has been a fantastic day. The teachings have been excellent and may God bless everyone who has made and contributed to the success of this great day. Thank you for the wonderful and great facilitators." IDA

"The topic was inspired and should be carefully followed and continued in teaching." S.O.D.

"I am very glad I am empowered by the seminar." C.M.M. (female)

"I am thankful to the Lord for using you to pour out to us all. We desperately needed this. From now on a lot of problems in our marriage will be no more." O.P.

"When are you coming back? " R.P.

"I am changed through this seminar."

What part of the teaching helped you most?
"How to respect & honor my husband." E.G.

"The part that outlined my roles as a wife and how to make our marriage bring joy glory to God."

******
Several of the pastors asked us to give this at their churches, which will not happen during this trip, maybe future one.

This is The Day The Lord Has Planned!

2008-09-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

This afternoon at 3:45 pm we are leaving for the airport. We don't know if we'll be updating this blog in Africa or even sending email. God has been so faithful and He will continue to orchestrate all of our moments. We are fully in His hands. Someday we'll be looking down from the heavenlies together marveling at His wondrous works in Nairobi and around the world through your faithfulness. Thanking God in our every remembrance of you!

Only 3 more days to Nairobi, Kenya!

2008-09-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

We are certainly feeling the prayers of God's people far and wide on our behalf. We are thanking God for this wide open door that He has put before us. The missionaries that we will be coming alongside have been wonderful. We pray that we can be an encouragement to all of them and are so looking forward to joining God in the work He is already doing in Nairobi. May the Lord richly bless any of you who have taken a chance to check out this blog. We have seen the Lord grown us in our faith and expect that He will continue to do so. In understanding the sovereignty of God, He has predestined this trip, at this time, with this base of supporters, and with those who will be coming to hear the word. We so look forward to cheer on those who have forsaken all to follow Christ in Nairobi! Thanks again for joining with us to run the race and fight the good fight of faith!

Some of our friends prayed together with us last evening this scripture:
2 Thess 3:1- 4 "Finally brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command."

Last Sunday one of our elders prayed Psalm 139:5

"You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me, such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high, I cannot attain to it."

Divine Mystery of Suffering

2008-09-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wonder why God allows suffering in your life? Read what a missionary writes who nursed her dying husband for several decades on the mission field!

"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." Ps 138:8

There is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by the human reason. There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.

It is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy Spirit works many wonderful things in our souls. In such a condition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last subdued; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops asking God questions; it stops crying, "Why have you forsaken me?"

The imagination stops building air castles, or running off on foolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it, nothing can get in its way; for, let the circumstances be what they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present, work together for its good.

Oh the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus - Soul Food. pp. 265-266 by Mrs. Charles E. Cowan

Click on the title of this thought to hear Brother Yun's Testimony.

Living Waters Fellowship

2008-09-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Just heard from Robbie, Pastor of Living Waters Fellowship. We will be teaching on Biblical Roles in Marriage at their Bible School, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, Sept. 29-Oct 1, 5-7 pm. We are now looking into logistics of changing our lodging to the Massai Lodge for the last few days of our stay in Kenya, which would be closer to him. We are TRUSTING in God to continue to work out things on our behalf, "He will accomplish what concerns us." Praising God for the prayers of His people.

Less Than 2 Weeks to Take OFF!

2008-09-04T14:06:00.001-07:00

Time is surely flying. Learning to trust God and be flexible! Really excited and feeling the prayers of all the saints. God is knitting us together with his body worldwide and it is marvelous to behold. He continues to provide for us and we are now very close to the finish line. May the Lord be glorified in everything that happens. We are His sheep and He indeed is our Good Shepherd!

Three Weeks From Today!

2008-08-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

It it so amazing that we will be on the plane 3 weeks from now! God has been so faithful! Our health is very good. We have been communicating with The Salvation Army officer of Nairobi who will be picking us up at the Methodist Guest house, Monday, September 29 to give us a tour of their ministries! Thanks to many of you we have an awesome sense of the prayers of God's people and are feeling like we are being carried even now on wings of eagles. Still some things to work out, but God is certainly faithful and will continue to be. One of the things that the Lord has been working out in me personally is trust. The other major thing that I have seen is that God delivers those who cry out to Him. It is of course in His time and His way, but He does want to show His lovingkindness to us especially through what appears to be impossible.

Teaching in Nairobi with Disciple Support Ministries

2008-08-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

We are scheduled to arrive in Nairobi 7:40 pm Thursday, Sept. 18. Friday will be a day of getting situated and resting, although we are told that we actually don't get used to the time change until Tuesday! Saturday Dave & I will be leaving our Guest House at 6:45 am and teaching from 8:30 - 4:30 pm in one of the Bible Schools. This schedule will be repeated in a total of 5 locations: Saturday 9/20, Tuesday 9/23 - Friday 9/26. Most of the teaching will be done by Dave. Sunday 9/21 we will be visiting one of the pastors churches and Dave will be preaching. Monday 9/29 we will be visiting a Salvation Army Corps with Dave's counterpart in Social Services in Nairobi! Sept 28, 30, and Oct 1, we will be working with Robbie and Elizabeth of another Calvary Chapel Ministry. God is awesome! We are getting very close to take off!

Our Meeting with Paul and Family was a Blessing!

2008-08-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

Our meeting with Paul, Marcia and their children was wonderful. We had a time to get to know them, hang out with their children, pray, and review all of our teaching outlines and plans. Paul was very encouraging and God was certainly there! Also we were able to ask other questions about details regarding living there. We are continuing to trust God for remaining funds, and the behind the scenes preparations of lives - ours and the people we will be ministering to. It looks like the plane is almost in sight! In the meantime the Lord continues to heal and strengthen me (Cindy). He is so faithful. Continue to pray for the pastors in Kibera - that they would grow in the knowledge of God's word, walk in the light of it, continue to preach the word, and God will give them the desire to have and understand God's blueprint for Marriage. Check out ministry website which has been updated at: http://www.Disciplesupport.org

Saturday Upcoming Meeting With Paul Cowley

2008-08-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

Time is flying to put it mildly! This coming Saturday Dave & I will be meeting with Paul Cowley in New Jersey to wrap up many details and provide him with some of the required paperwork - including all of our teaching outlines and exam. In the Sovereignty of God, Paul and Marcia and their children were able to come to the states for 3 weeks, before returning to start the fall semester which goes from September - November.

We are still looking to connect with Robbie and Elizabeth the other Calvary Chapel connection, but we have received word today from The Salvation Army Officer that we could see her September 29th.

We're reminded daily that God is sovereign and His plans will be accomplished! (Ps 138:8) We continue to thank God for His answer to Jere 33:3 where He promises to show us great and mighty things which we do not know! We have no doubt that this trip will be unlike any other. We are trusting that God will be glorified and that He will take care of us. One of the psalms that we pray often with the missions prayer team is Psalm 67. And the repeated phrase is that He blesses us that His way may be known on earth among the nations. God's purpose is that there will be people from every tribe and tongue and nation worshiping Him (Rev 5:9) and He desires that we have this vision as well:

Ps 67 - God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us,That Your may may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. (Millennial rule) Let the people praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him

Kenya Trip Update

2008-07-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

So far we have all the preliminary shots, tickets, visas, insurance etc. Now we're working on specific tasks. We are currently awaiting to connect with Robbie & Elizabeth of Living Waters Christian Fellowship in Nairobi who have recently moved. They were originally from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Elizabeth has a ministry to Sudanese, Maasai, and Kenyan women. We learned of this connection through Tom Hudzina, Sr. who had been to Nairobi a few years ago and has kept in touch with several missionaries. In a few weeks we will be meeting Paul & Marcia Cowley of Disciple Support Ministry in New Jersey face to face to iron out some more details regarding teaching and learn of the things we need to take to benefit them and their ministry. We are allowing a second suitcase for their stuff! We are so appreciative of all of your prayers and continue to pray God's richest blessing on all of you that are laying up treasures in heaven as you come alongside of us. May our Lord Jesus give us eyes to see where He is working even right where we are living, so that all may come to a glorious relationship with an awesome faithful God.

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

2008-07-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

When we think of preparations for a trip we think of the externals, plane tickets, shots, visas, etc. but God's ways are always deeper and involve heart issues. What better way to prepare one to minister to those who have little or none of the world goods, but by trials of all kinds. He knows what to do to prepare us now to be wholly devoted to Him and to be trusting Him in everything. He wants intimacy and longs to communicate to others through a vibrant healthy relationship with Himself above all else. So we can rejoice no matter what, knowing that He who began a good work will finish it! He who opened this door to Nairobi will continue to provide everything that we need. He actually created works for us to do before we were even born! (Eph 2:10) So why do we strive, stress, strain, get anxious? Unbelief! Ouch. Our Lord Jesus is able to do His work through us. He is the potter and I am the clay. May I remember that today and always. I love seeing vessels that are poured out for the Gospel. Lord may I be poured out for you today. First in the altar of my heart fully devoted to You, second to my husband, third to the body of Jesus Christ that you have placed me in and then the ends of the earth!

Dave Writes

2008-07-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

We are excited to be going to Kenya! The Lord is leading us to use our inductive Bible teaching skills along with the grace He has given us in fifteen years of marriage to help us bless and nurture part of the church in Kenya. We understand that solid biblical marriages are not as common as they should be, at least the churches of Kibera, the slums where we will be doing most of our teaching. We pray we can teach and model the type of marriage the Lord would like Christian couples to have. Although there are huge challenges to life in Kibera, God's grace can extend everywhere. So although we know we will have significant challenges, and that we will have to modify our usual teaching styles, we are looking forward to seeing the Lord move through us!

Preparation Through Suffering

2008-07-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all! I'm surely holding on to this promise as we prepare to go to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya in September. Currently in the throws of diverticulitis and antibiotics. I'm not sure which is worse the disease or the treatment! For those of you who have ever had to take the antibiotic Flagyl it's nasty! If I didn't know the Lord and believe He had a calling on our lives, I'd certainly never leave town! All in all we have seen that God is always faithful - whether at home or far away from home! We always come home having seen God move, loving the people, and longing to return even in tough conditions!

In Northern Ontario for several summers we did VBS among Ojibwa Indians, following a 36 hour bus ride! One of our favorite trips was Peru where we taught inductive Bible Studies to church leaders, while other members of the team did mime, puppets and just hung out. Early in our marriage we did several trips to Phila doing demolition/construction types of work in sweltering heat! There one year went to a Phillies game over the 4th and saw the greatest firework display of our lives! Another great thing to do is visit and encourage missionaries! We've done this in Europe with missionary friends and family members and in New Mexico as well.

Disciple Support Ministries

2008-07-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Disciple Support Ministries was started by Paul & Marcia Cowley whose vision is to teach pastors and leaders in the slums of Nairobi the word of God. Click on the title of this blurb to check out their website and watch the video!

A New Adventure!

2008-07-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

It has been my hope to get a blog going sooner than later for the purpose of keeping our friends up to speed on our newest adventure in life - a missions trip to Africa! Fifteen years ago as Dave and I were praying through Operation World by Patrick Johnstone, we came to Kenya and God struck a chord in my heart. I was drawn to the fact that they needed Bible teachers and that English is the second language for many! Most recently Paul Cowley from Disciple Support Ministries, came to Calvary Chapel Chester Springs and shared with us his vision and the need for short term teachers in Kibera, Nairobi. About the same time one of our elders asked us to consider this need and consider going! As the adrenaline rush was pulsating through my veins, my first prayer was one of praise and remembering my prayer several years earlier that if it was God's will for us to go to Kenya and teach the Bible, would He open the door in His timing! The door has opened and we are working through the details. Most importantly we continue to pray for the people and ourselves that God would use us to be expressions of His love, grace and power in our weakness!