Monday, July 25, 2011

Something Missing?

The Snap, ready to sail...
It should have been a perfect evening...sunshine, blue sky, beautiful lake. The mast was finished. The sail was up. Our very first sailing adventure was about to begin! My husband and I were ready to go places! But there was something missing. There was no wind. We drifted around peacefully in the middle of the lake. We still enjoyed ourselves, but there was no excitement, no challenge, no energy, no purpose. Without the power of the wind to drive us, we were going nowhere. 
Are you drifting by or sailing along in your ministry? Are you going places or going nowhere? Pray for God's almighty power to drive your ministry. When it does, your days will be filled with excitement, challenge, energy and purpose.
Watch the beauty and power of one of the world's largest sailing ships.

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Beauty of an Oscillating Fan

I sat in the hot, stuffy church and wished, for the umpteenth time during the service, that this beautiful old building had modern air conditioning. In a moment of silence during the prayer time I heard the soft whirring of an oscillating fan nearby. I knew that other people were feeling the benefit of its presence but I could not feel it. I yearned for it to turn and blow on me. And suddenly, there it was- a wonderful breeze blowing right on me- so refreshing, so cool, so welcome! It made all the difference.
That oscillating fan reminded me of the Holy Spirit. We know it is there. We know that other people are affected by its presence, but we might not always feel it ourselves. 
Friends...the Holy Spirit is always ready to turn and blow on you. When we yearn for its presence and feel it moving within us, our ministry will be refreshed. Seek out the Holy Spirit- its presence and power in our lives will make all the difference.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Acts 1: 8
Holy Spirit Rain Down: Hillsong United

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Secret to Being Content

Click on the photo to see 
my 87 year old dad,
in Times Square, New York
Yesterday I returned from a 1,750 mile road trip that spanned five states and took us across to the east coast of the USA. Accompanying us as we traveled was my 87 year old father, who enjoyed every minute of this busy adventure. On our travels we experienced two extremes of American life. One day we spent our time in the Amish city of Lancaster, where my dad loved the beauty of the calm, unhurried, peaceful lifestyle. Two days later we were flying in a yellow taxi cab through the crazy streets of New York, where my dad loved all the noise and excitement, the hustle and bustle of the big city. My dad has the amazing capacity to enjoy life wherever he is and to see the best in everything- whether it be a place, a person, or a situaton. It is his secret to being content. Of all the many lessons that he has taught me, this has to be one of the finest- to deliberately see the best in everything, to focus on the positives and choose to appreciate life wherever we are. If we can do that in our ministry, we might just find the secret to being content.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Philippians 4:12