"I am responsible for my impact on the world whether I acknowledge it or not." (by somebody but can't remember who)

The heat has been especially hard this year and I have done my share of complaining.  Day after day of temps over 100F (feels like 330F) seem to be harder to cope with the older I get.  Then I read these verses this morn in my QT. Paul says, "I have learned the secret of being content in any or every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want..... (or whether living in cool temperatures or sultry hot ones.) Philippians 4: 12-13.  Hmmmmm- I really want this attribute to be true of me, even when we start the sweating as soon as we wake up.

I will say pulling into our driveway and seeing my petunias enjoying the heat always brings a smile to my heart.  They brighten up my return everyday.

Another encouraging passage  was:

 Psalm 37:23-24, 

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him,

 though he may stumble, he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand." 

Afresh Each Day

Beautiful Chiang Rai Province last month! 

These verses were a huge encouragement to me this morning.....

Lamentations 3: 21-26

Yet, there is one ray of hope: His compassion never ends.

It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.

Great is His faithfulness;

His loving kindness begins afresh each day.

My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him.

The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek Him.

It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  (LB) 

Psalm 117

I love the way this Psalm is so short, concise and sweet in it's entirety!!!

Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere.

Praise Him, all the peoples of the earth. 

For He loves us very dearly and His truth endures.

Praise the Lord!
Psalm 117

We are at CSU  now and have started our summer of training and Bible classes.  This borrowed picture of Fort Collins, Colorado only gives you a small glimpse of the beauty we see each day.  We are so very thankful for the opportunities this summer to study God's word and take classes for spiritual enrichment in this beautiful environment! His truth endures forever! 

David and Goliath

I am reading through the Bible this year in the chronological order. (Thanks to Marisa's encouragement to do it as a family)  Today I read I Samuel 16-17 and absolutley LOVE the story of David and Goliath.  I'm pretty sure that it is many a little boys favorite Bible story, with a good reason and one of my favorites,  too. Cannot ever be reminded of the lessons in this story enough......

• I Samuel 16:7, God said to Samuel "Do not look at appearance or height of stature....for God sees not as man sees, man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." God, please help me to not judge people by outward impressions- before I even know them.

• I Samuel 17:45, David shouted to Goliath- " You come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven."  Oh, if I only had  faith like this little boy that all I really need is the name of the Lord and what can be done in God's power.

 If you want a good and encouraging bedtime storry tonight.  Read it in the Living Bible to your kids. It is so down to earth and suspenseful and powerful.

What would you choose?

I decided recently while reading John 14 - that it was definitely one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. It is just full of so many nuggets.  Like verses: 2-5, 6, 12-14, 15, 16-17, 26, 27. I decided that if I was stranded somewhere and could only have one chapter of the Bible with me- I may choose this one.

Not much later, I read Isaiah 40 and felt the same thing.  It too is an amazing chapter full of promises and reflections on God's greatness! So I decided I could choose one chapter from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. I'm all set now if I get stranded to choose my chapters!  I could take weeks to study and meditate on them!

I choose John 14 and Isaiah 40.  Just curious, what are your favorite chapters and what would you choose?  I'd like to enjoy soaking in your favorites, too! I'd really like to hear from you!

A bit discouraged

I have not felt well for 20 days now.  The symptoms have been a bit weird; low grade fever, swollen and painful feet, and low energy levels.  I've been going to the Dr.- but it has not been figured out yet.  It has sure made me appreciate my normally good health.  I feel like I'm running on half steam and really just want to know what is going on.  Right now my Dr. has presented four options.  Please pray that we can get to the bottom of this and that I will be teachable to learn what I need to learn during this time. Lori arrives in 13 days, and I can hardly contain my excitement.  However, I do not want to be hobbling around and taking naps while she is here.  Thanks for your prayers!

This week, I was looking over some notes from our training in Colorado this summer. The place that we stayed at was nearby a lake with beautiful homes around it.  I enjoyed taking walks there for exercise.  On one walk, I journaled this entry. It will give you a peek into a missionaries heart.  I'll call it:

Conversation with God on a lake

God, I love these homes, they are so beautiful. I want a big pretty home with picture windows overlooking the lake, and snow capped mountains in the distant view.  The smell of the lake produces a flash of fun summer vacation memories.  I want a home in the USA that my kids and grand kids can come home to.  I want a home that we can gather at and be together for holidays and I cook for them. I want a home with air conditioning that is comfortable when it is blazing hot outside. BUT more than that, I want to obey you God. I want to follow where you lead. I want to follow my husband and I want to be in the center of your will. I want the fulfillment that comes with knowing our lives are being spent for eternity.

Thank you God for the exciting adventure you have been leading us on as we journey with you. Thank you for all the places we've been and people we've influenced as we walk with you and follow your path for us!  Help me to be content wherever I am and to make the most of each day  for you.  I John 2:15-17 says it better!

True Giving

What is true giving? I've been pondering this  lately.  I love to sort through old clothes and things around our house that I don't really need anymore and give them to "poor" people.  It makes me feel really good that I am giving to them.  I love to see them wear  the clothes and get use out of my old "stuff".  Possibly it is because I am a fairly frugal person and like to see things used instead of just throwing them away.  But is this true giving on my part?  Giving things that I don't really want anymore????? Is that sacrificial giving?

When I think of "true giving", my mind remembers church services in the church on the island with the Moken people.  These people have practically nothing at all- but every Sunday they take up an offering.  They pull out of their pockets just a few coins that is not worth much to most people-- but "true giving"  on their part.  It is one principle that they have been taught from the Bible - that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and they are faithful to give of their meager possessions. They give when they have almost nothing. They are like the widow in Luke 21 who gave all she had.

I think that the truest giving is when it hurts to give. It is not giving our scraps to the poor. In I Timothy 6 Paul tells Timothy to be generous and willing to share.  If I give generously, abundantly, and sacrificially-- that does not sound like  giving because my stuff is old and bad. II Cor. 8: 2 talks about an overflowing joy and extreme poverty welling up in rich generosity.  That's what I want! I think it's still ok to enjoy seeing villagers wear my old clothes, too!

7 Billion- Seriously?

So the talk  of the world is that today the world population will reach 7 Billion people.  I seriously do not know how they can accurately count that many people in the world.  It feels very overwhelming to me.  7 Billion is a whole lot of people, the majority who do not know why they were even created in the first place and do not know their creator. I think of God saying that he does not want even one to perish. (II Peter 3:9)  Wow that is too big of a job  and definitely overwhelming.  Since I can't reach all 7 billion people- what exactly does God require of me?  I sort of like formula's and clear direction.  I like to know what is expected of me, so that I can know if I am on track and reaching my goals. Thank-you God for leading me to this verse that lets me know just what you require of me:

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you,

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with God!

I can handle this... but not the 7 Billion statistic! 

And... Happy Halloween today! This is one holiday that we have totally missed living in Asia.  Wish the USA could skip it, too.  But I do love the fun of creating little homemade costumes and cannot wait to see how our little tiger, bunny, owl, and raccoon  turn out in Arkansas.

Chiang Mai Mountains

Exodus 15:11-13

"Who among the gods is like you, LORD?

Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies.

 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

Splendor and Majesty

I woke up this morning to the biggest brightest rainbow that I've seen in a long time. How is that for a great start to a new day?  But by the time I ran downstairs and grabbed  my camera, it had already faded to this. Then I read:

I Chronicles 16: 23-29

Sing to the Lord all the earth

proclaim his salvation day after day

Declare his glory among the nations

his marvelous deeds among all peoples

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise

he is to be feared above all Gods

For all the Gods of the nations are idols

but the Lord made the heaven

Splendour and majesty are before Him

strength and joy in His dwelling place

Ascribe to the Lord O families of nations

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength

Ascribe to the lord, the glory due his name

bring and offering and come before him,

worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

God, you made all the heaven (v26) in splendor and majesty, which is greater than idols (v26). Help me to proclaim your salvation day after day (v23)  among all peoples (v24) and worship you in the splendor of your holiness.(v29)

A few other thoughts from today:

Steve Jobs death is inundated in our news here too.  I'm not an Apple person, but he truly was an amazing guy. The most profound thing though that I learn from his life is:

"Steve Jobs was born out of wedlock, put up for adoption at birth, dropped out of college, then changed the world. No matter your situation anyone can change the world. God has a plan for your life."

And lastly, today was Grandparents day at Collin and Summer's school today.  Summer called me last week and innocently asked," Nina, can you come here next Thursday for Grandparents day?"  Little ones don't have the concept of how far away we are.  Collin was sad too, that the other kids would have grandparents to do the special activities with and he would not. I guess that's where the last verse comes in: " Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name, bring and offering and come before him."

Remedy for the Activity Addiction of this Age

Isaiah 30:15

In repentance and rest you will be saved,

In quietness and trust is your strength! 

PSALMS 22:27-28

"ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL REMEMBER AND TURN TO THE LORD

AND ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE HIM FOR

 DOMINION BELONGS TO THE LORD

AND HE RULES OVER THE NATIONS!

Wow- Perfect Timing!

This morning, I read this devotional that was dated for August 23.  I'm pretty sure it was written just for me, although thousands of others probably read it today, too. I love that last sentence.  Taken from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

ENTRUST YOUR LOVED ONES TO ME; release them into My protective care.  They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands.  If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself.  Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac.  I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship.  Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions.  I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.

When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand.  As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them.  My presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me.  Watch to see what I will do.

Genesis 22:9-12;   Ephesians 3:20;   Exodus 33:14

Psalm 22:27-28

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord and

 all the families of the nations will bow down before Him for

 dominion belongs to the Lord and

he rules over the nations.