Friday, August 24, 2012

Fear and Faith

It was the first morning devotional in Juarez.
She said, "I know you live by faith because your fear did not keep you from coming."















For several years Carmen and Juan would host church people who were coming down to Juarez to build a place to house interns, to have meetings, and to gather local kids in the yard.  Then, the drug lords took over the city.  And people stopped coming to build because they were afraid.


And Carmen says to us, "You live by faith and have come even if you are afraid."  And she smiles quietly.  Affirmatively, she looks around our table in appreciation.  

All we have done is shown up.  Loving Lord, You have given a blessing through our obedience.  Period.  We haven't even shared anything or taught anything.  We just came . . . 

And isn't that what God asks of us?  Just show up.  
Love always,
Angie
Do not fear,
     for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you,
     for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
     surely, I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you 
     with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10



Monday, August 20, 2012

Dancing in the Dark


On my last night in Juarez, with quiet laughter, we made shadow pictures on the cement block wall of the casa.  The street light was our back light.  And simple child-like joy overflowed into the dark, into the night.  We had brought a blessing to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

That was last week.  

Today, while reading back through my journal, I paused to look at pictures again and to read the words that kept catching my heart.


Choose Justice
(and I wanted to add the rest of that verse: love mercy, walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8)

 Awake, Awake Juarez City!
Chase away the dark + pity.
Take your streets back again!
I declare this is a battle you can win!
"And knowing Him like I do,
I count it done!"

 Through these doors may the atmosphere of heaven 
invade those that enter,
may darkness, hopelessness and unbelief be replaced 
with light, hope + belief.


And we walked through the doors to a work room where 5 ladies came to sew.

Father, may the atmosphere of heaven invade my heart every day!  I claim the words above their door as the prayer of my heart . . . may darkness, hopelessness and unbelief be replaced with light, hope and belief as I walk into each day with You no matter where I wake!

They came to learn new patterns and new tips for sewing so they can market their goods.
I came looking for God shine.

And I found it.

Father, thank You for showing me how to dance in darkness by looking for Your shine.  This past week the Light of Your Word, Your Son, was shining on the faces that came to learn to sew in this room.

And my heart still glows from the warmth of His Shine.
Love always,
Angie



Sunday, August 19, 2012

God-worth


We were eating salads on the patio of a restaurant when my husband realized all 3 of his girls were wearing a cross on their necklaces.

He voiced a question to no one in particular, "Why do we wear an object of persecution around our necks?   Wearing something with such connections could be a morbid thought." 

I reached for my little 1/2" cross, fingering it gently and thinking.

Father, How should I answer that if a stranger asked me that question?

It represents the cost Jesus Christ paid for my sins. It represents a gift He gave to me and to anyone who believes He is the Son of God.  The gift is forgiveness for sin and eternity with Him.

The cross is the icon representing my story, my worth in the eyes of the God of Life. 
 IT IS MY PRICE TAG!
I touched my little cross, again, and remembered His Words.


For God so loved the world,
that He sent His one and only Son,
that who ever believes in Him 
will not perish,
but will have everlasting life.
John 3:16

I am bought with a price.  I belong to God.  And I am no longer a slave to sin, but live as a free woman. (Galatians 5:1)  And the life I now live abounds in His grace and kindness because He directs my steps.  There is joy that begins to bubble up as I ponder these truths.  (gentle smile)

He gave so much!  As I stand in a time of brokenness and "darkness" as to what will come next, I have prayed for God's light to shine brightly, as stars in the night sky.  Since praying that prayer, His cross represents the first shine He has brought to my mind.

I have been crucified with Christ; 
and it is no longer I who live, 
but Christ lives in me; 
and the life which I now live in the flesh 
I live by faith in the son of God, 
who loved me 
and gave Himself up for me.  
Galatians 2:20

And I remember that I have God-worth because of Jesus Christ's LOVING sacrifice on the cross.
GOD-WORTH!
Father, thank You for reminding me of the reason a cross hangs around my neck.  I have worth because Jesus Christ set my price . . . He stretched out His arms and died on a cross in place of me.   "You are worth this much to Me.  Eternity with you is worth this price."  

Today I am reminded Your Son's death gives my life worth.  Thank You, Father.

He "shines" in the form of a little cross around my neck!
May you know your God-worth today.
Love always,
Angie


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

God Shine


In a season of forced change, 
it takes the greatest courage to obey God
when there is no direction given, 
when the way looks dark,
when He can't be seen.  

And I shared this thought 
with a new friend while on vacation.  

This person challenged me, 
"The sky is filled with stars all day long.  
Do you believe they are shining 
even though you can not see them?"

Yes.

With a look of deep knowledge in his eyes, 
he added, "It is only the night sky 
that contrasts star light the strongest.  
God shines His brightest when circumstances seem dark."

Father, thank You for letting us see You shine into our lives.

This is our work each day: 
to believe He is . . .

Love always,
Angie

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

His Vacation for Us

Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.

So we went.

We met with believers in another state,
     and listened to a teacher of the Word from another country,
          and slept in a room offered by people who opened their home to us.
We enjoyed His rest!























Leaving the heavy-laden load at home for a time,
     God prepared a way for us to see Him freshly,
          to hear Him hourly,
             to play in His creation daily,
                    and then He sent us back with blown kisses from new friends.

Take My yolk upon you
and learn from Me, 
for I am gentle and humble in heart;

And in this broken season, I have learned He makes gentle requests that cost me self-satisfying ways.  He asks me to believe Him, be silent, and be still.  He commands me to seek His face, to seek the kingdom of God.  And He reminds me to live in today, for tomorrow has enough problems of its own.

Some days, it is hard to get out of bed and begin again.
     Some days, I feel lost and confused by all that has happened.
           Some days, it seems foolish to not be searching the papers or online job listings.

But this I know:  
Jesus reminds me that my greatest work is to believe in the One whom the Father has sent. The Living Water.  The Bread of Life.  The Good Shepherd.
Jesus refreshes the soul.

And you will find rest for your souls.
For My yolk is easy 
and My load is light.
Jesus

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Love always,
Angie

Monday, August 6, 2012

Humble Faith

He cried the sound of brokenness.  The sound of nothing left.  Empty, again.

I heard him from our bedroom.

The stairs on the side of our home offered a view of firewood neatly stacked for someone else to use this winter.  Someone who buys our home.  There, he sat with his head in his hands.

I joined him.  And the hurt drained our souls.  Hummingbirds dive-bombed each other over our heads, oblivious to the struggle going on below.  Cleo the cat even came to watch this new sound, the heartbeat of brokenness.





As I sat with the man I love, my cries whispered to God.
Father, do You see him?  Do You see us?  Or have You turned away?   
I will never desert you, 
nor will I ever forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5

Stillness reigned.  His Word filtered into the cracked places.





I know Your answer in my head . . . You are God and You see.  You are El Roi.  But my request is this: Could You show me that You really do care about this moment, . . . right here, . . . right now?  


I asked, to no one in particular, while staring at the wood pile, "Am I not trusting if I am doubting God will answer our prayers any time soon?"  

My husband slowly turned his head for an honest look at my face and asked back, "Can you really, truly, not trust God?"

I dropped my head, "No.  I cannot not trust in my Lord." A moment passed.  Then, I looked into my husband's eyes, "So, this is faith."  He nodded, a slow grin spreading across his face.
 . . .the assurance of things hoped for, 
the conviction of things not seen.  
(Hebrews 11:1)

That was yesterday.

Today was my turn to cry.  While standing in my closet, among hangers and clothes ready to be worn, waves of gratitude washed my cheeks and dripped on shoes.  It was the humbling thought that God answered my prayer in a mighty way.  He answered in a way I never imagined!

He was telling me, 
"Of course I cared about that very moment 
when you no longer had any resources left.  (John 6:5-6)
I waited for that moment because I wanted you to know: 
My grace is sufficient for you, 
for power is perfected in weakness.  
(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Today, God graciously answered the prayers from the stairs.  He used a community of people to deliver His answer.  He let us know we had not been forgotten.  He had not lost sight of us.

Humbly walking by faith.
Love always,
Angie