Going

Gaby is going. In fact, she went. In my blog post labels I have selected God, Family, Going, Staying. Gaby goes....alot.



This is her 6th time overseas, her 3rd time to Germany, and as I was driving her to the drop off point before she left, she was sharing her plans for going one year from now; where it would be, who it would be with, and how the Lord was already showing her the details of that.



How can a mom feel so much joy and cry so much at the same time? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing so peaceful as to know your child is in the center of God's will. It's not peace disturbance I'm complaining of. It's "I miss her so much" pain I'm complaining of.



As Guy and I shared tears recently in private (Not private now), in anticipation of her 4 week departure, I found myself double fisted and hitting him in his bicep area wailing, "Why did you have to take her to China when she was 12! She loves it! Dang it! You did this to us." With tears streaming down his face, he laughed and said "Yea, dang it. She loves it."



Would you pray for her as she listens and follows Christ? Pray He will be glorified in the place He has sent her. Yea, Gaby goes. But God goes before her, and she gets to see Him meet her there and do His thing. Going is really just getting front row tickets to see How God is active in the world to work His plans for the nations, including this one.



Would you like to go? Call me, I can probably hook you up with Gaby. For those who are called to stay, come on over, I can hook you up with some pretty interesting things here. (see previous
Persecution blogs)

Persecution cont'd

Two blogs ago I shared about the persecution "F" is going through. I saw her yesterday and she is fine and is relieved to have found a new living location. I also learned she is in her English classes with the Christian teacher. The Lord is showing her faithfulness...something she has limited knowledge of with humans. Continue to pray for her. She is coming to our annual BBQ at our church this next weekend, and of course, offering homemade hummus and tabouli! Yum !Yum.

I was also able to meet her older daughter, a high schooler, that I had not met before.
we will call her "H" and pray she comes to faith in Christ also.

Birthday Man

Yesterday was my man's birthday. I'm so glad he was born. He adds tremendous value to life, the world, and the church. Here's why:
1. He is principled: lives with consistency and deeply rooted principles that guide him every day, down to the nitty gritty details of living.
2. His presence commands respect: Not just respect for him, but respect for life, for humans, for God.
3. His mercy over me, our children, the lost people of the universe is long in his own nature; but add Christ's nature to the mix and you really have some severe mercy.
4. His sacraficial love every day. He puts aside what he would like to do in order to make provisions or get provisions for his family and perfect strangers : "Gonna be a bit late honey, trying to track down a bed for these people tonight."
5. He works hard. He plays hard. MMm may sound cliche' but you try following him around for 24 hours.
6. He never gives up...no matter how deep the discouragement strikes.
7. He brings so much adventure and energy to life. His faith is simple, but it is never simple to be as consistently committed as he is.
7. He loves me. No matter what, he's all in.

I thank my God for picking him for me. I reap the benefits every day of having let God pick my mate. You understand I had really screwed things up in my relationship life before Guy came on the scene. I had surrendered my quest and my list, and my contentment or lack thereof. He took it all and in exchange, he brought me this man. I am humbled once again and obviously in deep like.

persecution

Those of you who are regular Rox Talkers will remember my asking for prayer for my friend "F". She came to Christ from Islam, Guy baptized her, and she identifies with our fellowship now. She has sense come to find terrific conflict and pain from her family and Islamic community. Thus our fellowship was able to help her make her rental deposit so that she could remove herself from the situation and find a new location to settle in.

Please pray for her and her 4children: that they would all come to know Christ, God would continue to confirm her decision, she would find enough peace and rest to settle down and study her new found faith, and of course, His divine protection over her emotional, spiritual, and physicial well-being.

Will keep you updated when possible.

Playcation

Gaby's gone. Guy's gone. Time to detox from the box my life becomes and play with....

• the son
• the floaties in the pool
• the dog
• the facebook
• the ideas
• the journals (3 different ones)
• the hair
• the exercise
• the menu
• the friends
• the mantle (thank you Trina)
• the photos
• the fabric

Will have something to post later......or not.

Forgiveness and Hurt

As a counselor, I run into situations with people where there has been so much hurt. Forgiveness is necessary in order to move on, however, it is not a journey to be rushed. The standing of forgiveness with God happens at the moment we give it to Him, but forgiveness between humans takes some time. Here are some thoughts on forgiveness:



For the Offended

• it's really about letting go (right to punish, control, or get revenge)


• let God administer the justice ( He will do it so much more effectively)


• release the offender from the feeling of having to prove self or perform for the offended


• who are we to think that the offense was so horrendous that the incredible, excruciating, humiliating, scorging death of Christ was NOT ENOUGH to cover the offense or our deep hurt


• refusing to forgive is not an option for the believer, but timing of the release is important


• consider the question: "am I afraid of what will follow letting go?"

Thoughts on anger (which is usually found on the path toward forgiveness or the path of waiting for forgiveness):

• anger is hurt turned inside out


• deal with the hurt and anger will subside


• a curse-filled mind is driven to care more about appearances


• a grace-filled mind is anchored in the true condition of the heart


• "fixing" will only lead to feeble attempts to try to change the other person


• gracious serving keeps a heart tender and open to receive God's grace in the situation

For the Offender

• God in Christ Jesus is the true forgiver and source of all human forgiveness


• Stay tender toward Christ and the one offended until the offended completes their process of entering into forgiveness


• Be transparent and open about the offense so God can gather an audience in time to see Him glorified at the point of final release and forgiveness


• Continue in your walk with Christ and act like a forgiven person with tremendous gratefulness.


• Proceed in your life with brokenness and tenderness toward the offended in order for their heart to be open to healing


• Pride and secrecy blocks complete healing in both parties

I have witnessed horrendous acts be forgiven and surrendered to the loving grace of Christ and watched people move on in their life with a beautiful ability to comfort others with the comfort given to them on the journey of hurt and forgiveness.

May it continue to be so....Be encouraged...it's a beautiful thing. By the way, all principles and scriptures apply to forgiving ourselves...

(Ephesians 4:31-32; Luke 6:27-28; 1 Pet. 3:9-12; Ps. 30:11-12; Colossians 3:8,12-13)

God's Voice

I was reading recently and came across a great dialogue about the voice of God. Let's have some inspirational fun. Think about how God directs you. What does his voice sound like?

Someone said it was like giant snowflakes peacefully coming down. Another one said it was a whisper in her heart. Please post a comment and describe God's voice.

To me, it is fatherly and gentle and entreating.