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As I speak internationally to English speakers as well as through an interpreter, some of my greatest joys have been speaking to groups where participation from the audience is possible. Not only do I value the input of those in my conferences, but if they are actively involved (share testimonies, participate in prayer, read Scripture aloud), it is obvious that everyone is with me. I am interested in theological study, Christian writing, historical application of Biblical principles as well as writing as a craft and the current status of the publishing industry as a whole. As a result, I find myself following blogs of those whom I have learned to trust who contribute information in those fields. It occurred to me that blogs are the internet equivalent of audience participation in a conference setting. So, this blog is a result of that discovery. As much as possible (sometimes when I travel I do not have internet access), I will be making weekly posts of how everyday life is related to what God has revealed about Himself in His Word - maintaining one focus on that most important relationship. I would welcome your participation.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Preparation, Hope and Predicting the Future

None of us can predict the future.  Or can we?

Like the rest of my country, I watched and prayed this week as Hurricane Irene made her way along the eastern coast of the United States.  Weather experts noted the historic nature of this storm and the impact it could have and eventually did have on those in her path.

Even those of us who were not directly affected by her knew she caused havoc all over the nation by interrupting air travel.  Eventually, I believe this will bring about yet again higher prices for airline travel - which will directly impact me.

There will be a ripple effect on the entire nation because of this storm - just as there has been a ripple effect from the dismal economic crisis.

I heard the phrase, "Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best," several times during this week.  The advice was directed toward those who would potentially be in the path of Irene's fury.  With all the technology available to the experts, their best predictions were still an educated guess. Some of them, when questioned about what would happen, said, "Give me 24 hours, then I can tell you."

There were, sadly, many who lost loved ones and property because of this storm.  The losses would have been greater still, though, had people not heeded the advice to prepare, evacuate or stay in during the storm. The capabilities of prediction today are so much greater than they were in times past that saving lives and protecting property is more possible than it used to be.

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best could also be applied to the economic situation.  Experts in every financial field have been asked to make predictions about unemployment figures, home foreclosures, hopes for reviving retail figures, the stock market, the value of the dollar and everything else related to the crisis. Expert opinions run from dismally pessimistic to cautiously optimistic.

However, no one really knows for sure.  We must prepare for the worst. Hope for the best.

We cannot live effectively with blinders on.  We must be aware of the big picture.  At any given moment, circumstances beyond our control can change our lives. Prepare and hope is good advice.

As a Christian, I believe that I can prepare for the best and hope for the best.  The best in this life and in the next is knowing the love of Jesus. My hope is in Christ, my Savior. That hope is not a "hope so," but a solid expectation that what He has promised will come true.

Preparing for the best, to me, involves being ready to greet Him either when I meet Him in my death or when He comes to receive His own.  In that sense, I can predict the future.  I know without a doubt the best is yet to come.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39 NIV).




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Value of Encouragement

I attended nine schools before junior high school. All of those schools and the teachers are a little fuzzy in my memory, with the exception of one teacher.

In seventh grade, my English teacher asked me to stay after school.  After reading essays and stories I had written, she wanted to encourage me to write more.  Her name is the only teacher's name I remember from all those years of attending different schools.  I have never forgotten her or her encouragement.

As an adult, I have enjoyed writing and teaching Bible studies - in churches and conference settings. Through my husband's encouragement, I have written a book, established a website and this blog and am currently working on other books and Bible studies.

I am convinced that none of this would have taken place without encouragement.  I have my husband to thank as well as friends and family who have encouraged me to continue to write. Those who encourage others have a vital part in participating in their work.

I am not alone in this. Most of us wither a little when someone discourages us.  All of us thrive on the encouragement of those we know and love.  Recently I read an interview with a best selling author.  She said the most encouraging words she had received were from her eight year old grandson who said, "Grandma, you are a good writer."

Never underestimate the value of encouragement.

God's word can encourage you each time you read it.  He also wants His children to strengthen and encourage one another.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT).




Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Current Economic Crisis: Don't Give In To Fear

I am a self-confessed news junkie. Lately all news sources (internet, television, newspapers and magazines) have concentrated on the current economic crisis.  Words like fear, nail biting, stress, perilous, risk-adverse, nervous, panic are commonly part of these news reports.

It is very hard not to give in to fear. The current situation has been compared to the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt has been remembered most for his comment that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." His wife Eleanor said, "He who loses money loses much; he who loses a friend, loses much more; he who loses faith, loses all."

Since FDR presided from a wheelchair (as a result of polio), the nation listened to him with admiration and respect. He also commented, "Once you've spent two years trying to wiggle one toe, everything is in proportion."

When through no fault of your own, your accumulated nest egg disappears (as is happening with multitudes of people at this time), there is a natural tendency to be afraid that:

  • you will no longer be able to provide for your needs or the needs of your family
  • diminished or depleted savings will result in a bleak future
  • a lower standard of living will mean unhappiness
  • education and experience will no longer do you any good
Loss of resources you have worked hard to acquire is a major blow. 

However, despair is not inevitable.

If a lifestyle change is necessary, it need not be devastating. Solutions begin with a positive attitude and a faith that God is with you and has a plan for your life - a plan for your good and His glory.

My natural tendency is to panic and be fearful.  At age 13, I became a Christian. At that time, my father gave me a Bible inscribed with his favorite verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). That verse, along with many others, has helped me make the choice to fight fear and trust God no matter what the circumstances.







Monday, August 8, 2011

Teamwork: My Job, Your Job, Our Job

My sons are both pilots in the U.S. Air Force.  I have visited many of the bases where they have served. Today was another chance for me to learn a little more about their jobs. I had the privilege of taking a guided tour of my son's Air Force base by the Airfield Manager.  As he was showing us the flight line from a different perspective than I had seen before, I was again reminded of the cooperation that is mandatory between military personnel.

Everyone in the military community seems to have some understanding of what the rest of their team does. Cooperation and big picture awareness is a trait of all Air Force personnel.

Base commanders are expected to see everything from the standpoint of the workings of the entire base; however, their operations are part of the workings of the entire U. S. Air Force.  Squadron commanders are not only concerned with their own squadrons, but must coordinate with the other squadrons on base.

Pilots see things from a unique perspective but they know that their safety depends on every other person on the team, especially maintenance personnel.  Without people dedicated to taking care of the airplanes, the pilots would not be safe.  Pilots are trained to recognize when something is wrong with the airplane, but keeping them airworthy is the assignment of the maintenance personnel.

Airfield maintenance is another category altogether, but a very important one.  The flight line must be clear of debris and maintained so that take offs and landings can be made safely.  The controllers in the tower have a most important job as they are must be aware of everything that is happening on the ground and in the air.  Teamwork is a necessary part of being safe, being productive and doing the assigned job.

This same teamwork principle is practiced in team sports.  Baseball, football, soccer and many other sports give examples of the necessity of working together.  That should also be the case in business and politics. The many examples of breakdowns in business and government are largely due to the inability to work as part of a team.

Being part of a whole is God's plan for the church, His family.  We are part of a family, a team, a body. When Christians follow His guidelines, His body functions as it should.  When some in the Body of Christ do not cooperate with the rest of the church, it becomes dysfunctional.  Not only can we learn from each other. We need each other to accomplish His will.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another (Romans 12:4-5).

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Christian Day of Worship

Yesterday was Sunday. I worshiped the Lord in my home church in Texas. As I did so, I was struck with the reminder that we were joining other Christians all around the world.  No matter where we live, we are all part of one family.  That family has a special bond on Sunday.  Our spirits are joined together in praise to our God.

Since my husband and I travel all over the world in our ministry, we are often in a different place on Sundays.  I might worship in America one Sunday, Cuba the next, France the next or Poland, Germany, China, Africa or Austria after that.  Wherever we go, I have a sense of belonging.  Even when I can't speak the language or totally understand the sermon, I feel the Spirit.

The First Day of the Week?
If you have ever traveled internationally, you know that there are differences in the way countries mark their dates and times.  If you observe local calendars or need to date a local document, you must check to see what standard is used.  The date is written differently across the world.  The International Organization for Standardization would use 2011-08-01 for today's date. Europeans would write it as 01-08-2011 while 08-01-2011 is the American usage.

There are, of course, many other differences in noting time.  While many countries use a 24 hour clock, there are several that use a 12 hour clock.  Among those that use the 12 hour clock, the military, aviation and some other industries of those countries use the 24 hour clock to avoid confusion.

Many European countries do not count Sunday as the first day of the week.  They follow ISO 8601, set in 1988 by the International Organization for Standardization, which marks Monday as the first day of the week.

Most Christians today observe the day of worship on Sunday and regard it as the first day of the week.  They will often tell you if, for some reason, they cannot worship on Sunday, their week does not start off right. Of course, we should worship Jesus all during the week.  There is something about corporate worship, however, that energizes the soul.

No matter how one tells time or marks their weekly calendar, across the time zones of the world, there are gatherings to worship Christ and thank Him for the wonderful gift of His salvation. His Spirit joins us together. I have been privileged to worship Him with people from many nations.  It gives me a little taste of what eternity will be like when every knee will bow before Him.

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb (Matthew 28:1).  Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week. . . Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you" (John 20:19). Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul. . . spoke to them and continued his message until midnight (Acts 20:7).