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.

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

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

A Beautiful Work in Progress...

 

Two and a half years ago I stood at our garage door, looking doubtfully at the simple skeleton frame of the wooden boat that my husband was building. He showed me the detailed plans he was working from. He produced a picture of what it would look like one day. I was still doubtful. Could these bare wooden bones really become a boat? Last month my husband and I rowed our beautiful boat on Reeds Lake...exactly as my husband had purposed. One day, she will have a sail and a motor- she is not quite finished yet.
Do you ever doubt your calling into ministry? Do you ever doubt that you can complete the work that God intended? You are a beautiful work in progress. You are fully able to become exactly what God has purposed. He's just not finished with you yet.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Phil 1:6
Wait and See: Brandon Heath











Nine Years Old...

Marnie is on the right. To her left is
 her new friend who lives in this 
Kentucky home.

When I was nine years old my days were filled with climbing trees, riding my bike, and bouncing around precariously on my Pogo stick. I had no clue what a chisel was, I had never heard of a pry bar, and the only paintbrush I had ever held was the one in my Painting By Numbers set. Marnie, on the other hand, knows exactly what a chisel is, can efficiently use a pry bar, and is not afraid to climb a ladder to help paint the soffits at the back of a house. Marnie and I just returned from a Family Mission Trip in the rolling hills of Red Bird, Kentucky- an area of absolute beauty but also abject poverty. As she painted alongside her new found friend who lives in this poor Kentucky home, Marnie learned far more than how to use tools. She learned what a privilege it is, at nine years old, to be in ministry with the poor. And that is far more rewarding than bouncing around on a Pogo stick ever could be.
Ministry With the Poor
Read the Expanded Article Here

Staring At The Words

Click on this photo to see
Xander enjoying his Baby Bible

My beautiful little grandson is barely 3 months old, but already he has been introduced to the magical world of books and reading. A recent text from my son read, 'Mom, Xander is loving books right now. He is enthralled by the pictures and is really staring at the words.' The book that James was reading to his baby son was the Bible. The power of God's Word is already at work in his little life.
Friends- we are never too young or too old to be enthralled by pictures of God and to stare in awe at His Word. We just need to be introduced to that magical world. Where can you bring the Bible into a child's life this week?
Basic
Information
Before
Leaving
Earth
Amy Grant: Thy Word

In The River

Me, canoeing on the Hersey River

If you had been standing on the banks of the Hersey River in Reeds City, Michigan on Monday morning, you would have seen several colorful canoes and kayaks as they meandered lazily downstream. My husband and I were in one of them, enjoying the different sights of the river as it twisted and turned. Even though it was easy canoeing, we had a guide at the front of our party, and a guide at the back, just to make sure that everyone was safe. As we came around one of the bends in the river, we had to steer our canoe in between two large rocks. We successfully avoided one, but became grounded on the other. Thankfully, standing right there in the middle of that freezing cold water was one of the guides, waiting to help us.
As we meander through the twists and turns of our lives and ministries, God is like one of those guides- He is ahead, and behind, and everywhere in between. He is waiting to help us, right there in the river.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2