A SPECTACULAR MINISTRY

I was at an event over the weekend. I was working at our trophy store booth. Across from me was a booth that was very creative and attractive and was getting alot of attention. I was thinking about the ministry the Lord has called Missy and I to - the Day Spa for Women. I was racking my brain trying to think of a catchy title, a slogan, a marketing idea.

Then a lady stopped at my booth - she said, "I've been wanting to call you and ask you for Missy's email address. I wanted to tell her how much her testimony touched me." Now this lady had come to a Day Spa that we held in early February, 2007. That was 14 months ago. And this lady still remembers the word the Lord gave her through Missy's message. That is amazing to me!

And I remember what the apostle Paul said in 2-Corinthians 2:14..... '' God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. For we are all like a sweet smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost. For those who are being lost (it smells bad), but for those who are being saved it is a wonderful fragrance! Who, then, is 'capable' for such a task????!!!!! We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were 'cheap merchandise'."

I think about what a spectacular ministry we all can have, if we just let Jesus keep changing us. Because then there is a 'fragrance' that comes off of us...... not a cheap dime store perfume, but some of that stuff that costs $100's of dollars, you know, that kind where the smell just lingers..... Well, that's what Jesus does in us. And just like this lady, 14 months later, is still remembering that fragrance, so too we can have that kind of impact on others. And not only the 'fragrance' of Christ, but the 'reflection' of Him, too! We just don't have a clue what kind of impact we can have on people that don't 'know' Jesus, if we would just let Him work in US! What a spectacular ministry!

So I decided to quit trying to "market" the ministry the Lord has given us, as if it were some cheap merchandise, and instead let him continue to change me.

...............Waiting..........

CHORUS: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for His Word to come true

In each and everything.

Throughout the ages He has proven

Himself to be faithful and true

Everything He says, He will do,

Yes, He's faithful to me and you.

That's why I'm: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for His Word to come true

In each and everything.

I'm waiting for Him to return

in Glorious Majesty

and all creation will proclaim

His Sovereignty!

Has He made a promise to you?

and you're wondering if it all is true?

Don't give up hope, just wait on Him,

He'll do what He promised to!

Just wait, you'll see it's true!

That's why I'm: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for Him to return

and take me back with Him,

yes, He'll take you and me back with Him!

written 12/29/07

CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY; WAITING FOR A RETURN

I've been awake since 3:00 a.m. this morning. My heart is troubled.

I have a loved one that is 'bound up' with those chains of dissatisfaction that Satan so craftily ensnares so many with. It makes me angry, that now - at this time of the year - when we should be free to do nothing but think on the birth of our Savior, to celebrate that wonderful day, to think about what it must have been like: angels in the sky, shepherds in awe, a young mom holding a tiny little baby, a baby SHE knew was a very special baby...... Instead I see so many (including my loved one) becoming more and more depressed, convinced that life 'sucks', blinded by discontentment because of a 'perception' of lack of that #1 IDOL in our world today, yes MONEY. Money, things, 'toys', spending. I hate it! I hate seeing all those tv commercials that imply that everyone is having so much fun, spending a bunch of money, buying this, buying that..... a surpise car here, a beautiful diamond there. And all it does is (1) make a person feel guilty because they, once again, have 'fallen short' of society's expectation, or (2) they buy into the lie and charge up credit cards, buying things they can't afford.

Over 2,000 years ago the Jewish people were longing for their Messiah to come and 'rescue them'.

Today, in 2007, on Christmas eve, Jesus, I long for You to come back. We know You ARE coming back. We just don't know when. But I am waiting, Lord. Waiting.

AN ANGEL

Oh yes, she's everything and more. She looks just like her pictures! She's so beautiful, she looks like a china doll. She's got short stubby feet (like me) but long toes and fingers (unlike me). She's an excellent burper. She's a good cuddler, like Missy said. I can't wait to hold her in my arms.

Part of my testimony is that the Lord gives me 'songs'. They just come into my head and I write them down. It's strange because I don't play the guitar that good, and I don't sing that good. But the Lord gives them to me.

He gave me a song for Angel this morning, and I sang it to her this afternoon. I think she liked it. (She fell asleep.) Here it is:

An Angel came to us this Christmas
What a blessed surprise!
After years of waiting, praying, crying
Here she is! Right before our eyes!

CHORUS: Angel, do you know how much we love you?
and that God has chosen this time, this place,
this family for you?
And we praise Him Our God above
Who sent us such a bundle of love.

So every year at Christmas
when we're singing about angels on high
We remember how God sent us an Angel
who brings us so much joy!

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11

We're going to Sioux Falls today to meet Angel. I don't get to hold her yet because only the parents and siblings can feed and hold her the first couple of weeks. This is so she bonds good and tight with them. I understand. I know I'll get the hold her soon enough.....

I was thinking about God's faithfulness.... that's the reason for the title of this post. God is so awesome in His sovereignty. I recently left a job that I was convinced I was going to be at until I retired. 7 years ago I felt God 'call' me to leave my career as a USDA Farm Loan Officer/paralegal and become a houseparent for a houseful of Native American teenage girls. Al and I had been doing that since 2001 - we would have anywhere from 8 to 10 girls in our home.... we were their 'parents' did everything that parents do. I got to share Jesus' love with them. But then last summer I started losing my sense of the Lord's peace, and I could tell things would be changing. It's a very long story, and I don't have room to tell it all here, but the Lord used Al, opened up a job opportunity for me through him (I didn't even have to fill out an application!), and I am now working as an Optomotrist Assistant. Sounds wierd, doesn't it? Doesn't sound like a ministry opportunity. But I meet and greet dozens of people every day, and sometimes just a smile, a caring touch, an understanding ear is such a ministry opportunity in today's world! But the best part of it, is I have more time off now, to be able to be with my new grandaughter!

God knew that. He knew that 2007 would be ending with a new baby in our family. He knows all the details. He knows exactly where He wants us at each specific time in our life. He is so faithful. I love having someone like that whom I can trust my life with.

A SAVIOR IS BORN. A BABY IS BORN. AN ANGEL JOINS THE FAMILY.

I'm a Grama! I have to say that again...... I AM A GRAMA.

Angel Marie became Missy and Pat's daughter on December 21, 2007. Read all about it at: http://www.quittemlife.blogspot.com/





What a great Christmas present!






Angels are singing on high about the birth of Jesus! And I'm singing about the birth of our Angel! Thank you Jesus, most of all for your Birth and what that meant for mankind, and second for this precious blessing and what she means for our family.

HERE SHE IS:

Angel Marie

15 PLUS JESUS!

As usual, the Lord showed up! It was a truly blessed day. There were 15 of us and we were so blessed. We had the Day Spa in the Youth Room of Abiding Savior - and that room is so 'warm'. You could really sense the Spirit there.

The highlight of my day was when I was beginning to massage a lady's hands - she grabbed MY hands, and started praying over me. The Spirit was leading her to pray very personal encouragments into my life. It was SO AWESOME!

Thank you Jesus, oh how we need to hear from You in our crazy, busy lives! We know it's not YOU that's not talking, but US that's not 'listening'. Help us, Jesus, help us to slow down and quiet down.