Blogger, Facebook, Twitter....how does one keep up with all the places to post information, thoughts, actions, results...oops, I forgot email! It's almost more than the brain can process, especially when it comes to logins and passwords. I wonder how much time is spent by people like me who forget their password?

I remember listening to a testimony which was quite interesting. She'd had a dream about entering heaven. The people ahead of her were asked why they should enter (the needed a password) and they were failing miserably, not allowed to enter. This made her very nervous (as it would anyone watching others failing to enter heaven and not having the right password). It finally became her turn to be asked the question. All she could say, knowing she had no merits of her own to use was: The Blood of Jesus. To her great joy, the door was opened. She got right in. She had the right password.

Gary and I have nothing within us that would cause a ministry to be successful other than the Holy Spirit. It's as though we are standing on the sidelines watching things happen and are awestruck. Last week, we said yes to parents who'd come to enroll their handicapped daughter. She is about 8 years old, unable to use her hands to grip anything. The parents were overjoyed because who would take her into a regular school? My only comment was: why not? She is a child who needs to be loved, accepted, trained. Knowing the way things work in Haiti, there will be more parents come with their handicapped children.

This could be a door for the Lord to work mighty miracles. It could be a door that leads to a whole new ministry to the outcasts. Passwords can be simple or complicated but they must be remembered or no entrance. Ours is simply, Jesus. It's His work, we stand and watch amazed.

Trying to figure out how to work the blog....once again

I am wondering why there is no icon for pictures any longer on the posting part of the blog. It's very frustrating to not find what is normally there. Just like not being able to find glasses, keys, you name it. One of the things that I could not find for nearly two years was my wedding rings. I was ready to leave for Haiti, started to put them in the bowl in the bathroom, heard the Holy Spirit say, That is not a good idea. Well, when we got back from Haiti, nine months later, I went to the bowl and the rings were not there. I looked high and low, and no rings. So for nearly two years, I decided that they'd been stolen by a neighbor who moved quickly after wrecking the house they were renting. That was my story any time the subject came up. Right before my birthday in August of this year, I said to the Lord, after hunting again for my rings (although I believed they were stolen, I never gave up hope of perhaps finding them in the house)...I said, "Lord it sure would be nice if you gave me my rings for a birthday present." Fifteen minutes later, the rings were on my fingers! That's God. He's so good. Now,I would really like to understand why this blog is not allowing me to post pictures. Oh, you are wondering where I found the rings aren't you? Well, seems when I'd heard the Holy Spirit's caution, I must have gone to a jar above the refrigerator on a shelf and placed them there. He guided me to them and to my surprise, even though I was thinking, there is nothing in that jar, they were there!!! I don't remember placing them there. But, He knew all along. I had to repent for thinking my former neighbor a thief, and for not listening the first time I prayed as to where the rings were. Or could it be that they had been stolen and returned and an angel placed them in that jar? I'll know someday, just like I'll soon know why I can't post pictures. Carolyn

Getting Closer.....

Did you ever want to get so close to a loved one that you plaster yourself against them? Love is like that. Desire is like that. "Wanting" is like that. Emotions run deep when it comes to family and friends, but I wonder how deep they run when it comes to God.

No matter how close I'd like to be to my grandchildren, they don't see the desire the same as I do. Father God wants to get close, so close that we can hear His heart beat and yet, we don't always have the same desire He has.
What is it that causes us to falter in drawing close to Him? Each must answer that question for themselves. My answer may not be the same as yours.

I was at my 50th high school reunion last night. It was very interesting to see all the "kids" from yesteryear, now grandparents, some ailing, some fit, some lost, some saved, but all of us dying. Some have already gone to eternity, 48 out of 253 graduates. Forty eight makes a long list. The man who read it had a hard time getting through the list as he reflected on knowing them as young, vibrant personalities. Listening to each name was very sobering. I think the hugging we did was a celebration of the life we have yet to live. But, how many there has LIFE? My best friend's kidneys are failing, another gal was on oxygen, many of the men were not in good shape....all I could think of was their eternal state. Do they know the Lord? They go to church. Do they know the Lord?

Do I know the Lord the way I know my granddaughter? Do I know Him so well, that I want to press myself against Him? If we don't get to know Him here, get close to Him here in this life, do we have eternal life with Him? I'm sure that question would bring a myriad of answers and perhaps some heated discussion! It's not a theological question, it's really a question to cause each one of us to ponder this life and eternity. If I didn't know anyone at the reunion would I have belonged? My granddaughter permits me to lean against her because I spend time with her, not because I am her biological grandmother. Remember at the "Last Supper" when John leaned against Jesus breast? He longed to get as close as he could to the Lord because he loved Him. I pray we too have a longing to get close to Jesus day by day, so that when it comes time we will pass from this life to a greater one. Time is given to us all and how we use it will determine what our future state will be.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33).

Fear Full

Four years ago, we purchased land in St Marc, Haiti. With hopeful hearts we knew we'd see a building or two in no time. There are no buildings on the land to date. The question always rises up: "Why?" Can we logically answer why when we don't see what God sees? Does asking "why" stagnate us so that we never move from where we are? When the whys come, so does fear. Fear that what is so hoped for will never become reality.
There have been instances since this picture that fear has tried to all but dominate me. What a battle! When does the battle rage? As soon as it's time to sleep. Remember the little prayer we've taught our children before we knew how to pray and believe God? Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Thank about that prayer a minute or two and what it does to a child. If I should die before I wake........when I was a little girl, I was so afraid I'd die during the night that I couldn't stand to hear my heart beat. I feared it would stop beating. Maybe it was that prayer that instilled the fear? It could have contributed to fear but the fear was there then and now, thoughts of why and how and what if this and find their way into my thoughts when as I lay down to go to sleep. Is it aging that causes this fear battle to rage more today than ever? What is it that I'm afraid of now? I remember my mother saying, "If I just knew you kids would be okay, dying isn't a problem." I still hear her and it's exactly how I feel. I think I fear everything from what will happen to me to what will happen to my children, and what will happen to my grandchildren.
STOP! This is not the way a born again, spirit filled woman should be thinking. There are so many scriptures that encourage but sometimes I wonder if we want to be encouraged? Sometimes it may seem easier to wallow in the fear. Fear of everything negative is greater when my heart has dipped into what is around me, circumstances...situations...and why does that happen? When we don't take time to fill our hearts and minds with God's Word, all sorts of thoughts take over.......fear being the basis for them all. Remember when God spoke to Cain? Genesis 4:5-7: ...but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
We know that Cain didn't listen and killed his brother. What if we change the word "angry" to "fear." When fear rules us our countenance does fall doesn't it? We try to hide it but it shows (either on our countenance or in the words we speak). And if anger is a sin that lies at the door wouldn't fear be sin that lies there as well? If when I lay down to sleep I become filled with fear, isn't that the same thing as sin lying at the door? Why is fear a sin? Because it consumes our thoughts. Whether it's anger or fear, anything that consumes the mind and all thoughts go that way, it's sin. So, without belaboring this point any longer, I think it's right to find the solution. What is the solution?
The solution is to find scriptures that combat the fear. Does that sound too easy? Or maybe it sounds too hard. It's actually very powerful. The Word of God is alive, it's sharper than a two edged sword, even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. And it's a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) The Word goes forth and doesn't return to the Lord void, but accomplishes that which pleases Him.(Isaiah 55:11) It goes forth from His mouth and when we speak what He speaks.....it conquers the sin that lies at the door. It destroys that which is trying to rule over me. I speak it out of my mouth, it goes forth. What scriptures should I use to conquer this fear? How about Psalm 23? The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, he makes me to lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul, he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake, and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for He is with me. (HE is with me)! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. How much greater a prayer to teach a child than "Now I lay me down to sleep". Psalm 23 gives hope and faith that no matter what happens He is with me and I will dwell in His house forever. As this particular scripture goes forth from my mouth, it goes forth containing everything I need to rid myself of fear. I have green pastures. I have protection, I walk in righteousness and no evil can befall me. The fear that lies at the door suddenly isn't ever present in my mind because the Word accomplishes what pleases God. God is pleased when I'm filled with Him. No more fear. What will happen the next time I lay down to sleep? Fear will still try to come and take over my thoughts but from now on I will keep my foot on the sin of fear by using the Word of God against it. Amen!