The Jesus Movie

Olivia has been wanting to see a movie about Jesus. Great! I love the idea, but the only movie that I have is The Passion - a little too heavy for my 4 year old (a little to heavy for me). One day on the way home from daycare Olivia kept asking me if she could see my "adult" movie about Jesus. And I said, "Livy it is an adult movie. You are too short to watch it." Finally I told her the real reason. "O.K. Livy do you want to know why I can't let you watch that movie?" She said, "Yes!" "Well, what happens in the movie is that Jesus dies. He is treated very badly by Roman soldiers." "Is there blood?" "Yes baby, a lot." "Well He just needs to go to the hospital." "Well unfortunately they didn't have hospitals when Jesus lived on earth." Well they should have given him a shot." "Good thinking…but they didn't have doctors to help give shots." "Does He die?" "Yes baby He does. But you know what happens after three days have passed?" "What Mama?" "Livy, He comes back to life! Isn't that amazing!" "Yes Mama!"

One day after that conversation, she told me that she wanted to put on some "college lipstick" (a.k.a. for grown-up lipstick) and watch my adult movie about Jesus - she is persistent. She always wants to see the picture of Jesus that is on the DVD. One day I said, "Isn't He beautiful!" and now every time she sees the DVD she says, "Isn't He beautiful!" I love hearing my daughter speak of Jesus this way. We talk a lot about our hearts. When someone is mean or does things that are bad we say, "His/her heart is sad." When Olivia obeys or says things that makes us feel her love for us we tell her, "Oh Livy that makes my heart feel so good - Oh my heart is so happy!" We talk about Jesus living in our hearts. Lately she has said out of the blue, "Mommy I love Jesus!" "Oh baby that is wonderful! He loves you too very much." "He lives in my heart. Do you love Him Mommy?" "Oh yes Livy I love Him very much." I live for these conversations. I love that I got to tell my baby about how much Jesus loves her and about His sacrifice for us all. Oh how I pray she will choose to follow Jesus all the days of her life - But not just follow Him, but love Him and know of His love for her. Oh may it be so in her most precious life. What a privilege it is to be her Mommy.

Caught in the act

I was washing dishes and Olivia came in to ask me for my help with something. I told her after I finished cleaning the kitchen I would come and help her. Without a word from me I caught her out of the corner of my eye putting things away - helping me finish cleaning the kitchen. As she was putting the orange juice carton away she asked me, "Is this o.k. Mommy?" I grinned a grin of sheer delight and said, "Livy that is perfect." Oh boy was my heart warmed when I had caught her in the act of service. Oh how I pray that this act will become a behavior that she will perfect as she grows up.

30 minutes

I walked into the little kitchen at Olivia's daycare and I heard the girls in the room next to the kitchen say with excitement "Tortul" (the cake). As I worked to put the cake, juice, and small treats on the table one of the little cuties came up to me and started speaking to me and all I could do was smile and shake my head back and forth with a look of confusion - I got nothing. I finally said, "La revedere" (goodbye) and headed out the door. On our way home I stopped at the small pastry shop that makes great pretzels and apple strudel. The pretzels are best when they have just come out of the wood burning oven. As I stepped up to the little window the smell of fresh baked pastries caressed my senses and teased my empty stomach. I was greeted by a nice young lady. I then said in Romanian, " Cinci covrigi şi un strudel cu mere va rog" (5 pretzels and an apple strudel please). She cut a small strand of twine from the spool and began threading the twine with my pretzels. She then said, "Cu sare?" (with salt) and I said, "da doi cu sare." (yes 2 with salt). She packed up my yummy apple strudel and handed it to me saying, " Cinci lei" (5 lei - Romanian currency). I handed her a 5 lei bill and then said, "Mulţumesc!" She smiled and said, "Cu plecere" (your welcome). I got in the van and said with great joy, "I did it! I spoke Romanian!" Scott smiled as I recited my experience. It is interesting to have had two distinctly different experiences all within the time frame of 30 minutes. From complete confusion to completing a simple transaction - Such is the life when you live in a completely new context.

Flying Solo

That's right I just completed my first solo mission in Bucharest. Scott went to see some property that the church owns outside of Bucharest. So today, I was on my own to get Olivia to her grădiniţa (daycare) and to go grocery shopping. With great success I made my way to Olivia's grădiniţa and dropped her off for a day full of fun (a birthday party and dance class all provided by her grădiniţa). And then onto the Bucharest Mall where I had a nice quiet morning planned - an early lunch at Starbucks, that's right we have a Starbucks Praise the Lord, and then I leisurely made my way to G Market, that's right the grocery store is IN the mall where I made a genuine effort to speak Romanian, not just point to things. When I finished grocery shopping (which was also my first time solo) I thought to myself, "independence here I come!!"

I remember going through this same experience in Costa Rica, then in Guatemala, and now yet again I work through my anxieties of a place that is unfamiliar to me. It is truly a strange thing to go from confidence to such vulnerability. I suppose the vulnerability is a great way God can, if we allow Him to, impact our lives with His deep desire to have us all to Himself. It is an opportunity to trust completely in His grace, power, mercy, love. Yesterday on our way home from school Olivia and I were talking about obedience. We have been working hard on obedience. Olivia will listen and then she will process what she has heard verbally. With her hands raised high and in a very matter-of-fact tone she said, "Just obedience Mom - just obedience!" Just as Scott and I have been diligently teaching Olivia about obedience and the consequences of disobedience, God has used my exasperation with the process to catch my attention. He too is a parent, He is our heavenly Father. And He too works diligently to teach His children about obedience and the consequences of disobedience. He whispered into my spirit, "Just obedience my child, just obedience." Life goes much smoother when we obey than when we rebel and fight God's attempts to lead us in paths of righteousness for His namesake. My experience today has refreshed me as I hear my Abba Father telling me, "As you have obeyed me by going to Romania, I will give you all that you need to fulfill my plans for your life. Cindy, life is much richer when you obey."

"Oh Abba help me to not resist your leading. Help me to surrender all things to You who are matchless - You who are limitless. Amen."

Limitless

Imagine this: You are sitting across from your Abba Father (you choose the setting). He takes your hands and as He looks into your eyes the love that He has for you rocks you to the very core of your soul. Then He says, "My child, never limit my power. It is limitless." His hand now nestled along your chin and your spirit is fully at rest in His amazing presence. He continues saying -

"Just go step by step. My will shall be revealed as you go. You will never cease to be thankful for this time when you felt at peace and trustful, and yet had no human security. When human support or material help of any kind is removed, then My power can become operative. I cannot teach a man to walk who is trusting to a crutch. Away with your crutch, and My power shall so invigorate you that you shall indeed walk on to victory. Never limit My power. It is limitless."

God Calling - February 4th devotion

Let's pray -

Our Father who is limitless hollow Your name today. Bring your Kingdom to pass around the world - From every city, town, and nation call Your children to a place of total dependence upon You whose power is limitless. Oh forgive us of our unbelief, of our ignorance, of our sin. Help us oh Glorious God to rid ourselves of the crutch that keeps us from walking in victory. Lead us to a deeper faith in You who possess power that is limitless. Work profoundly in the lives that surround us. Cover all that we do by Your grace and love. Whatever it takes Abba I ask that You bring us to the place of complete surrender to You. Deliver us from the lies of the enemy so that Your truth shines so brightly for all to see and know. Glorify Your Holy name and fulfill Your purpose today. We give You all the praise - For Only You are worthy! In the powerful and glorious name of Christ I pray - Amen.

Live in His limitless power today. May His richest blessings be yours.

Trust

His spirit was heavy. His life has changed drastically in just a few months. He continues to hold on as he waits for the Lord to help him find a job and a place to live for his family. Many people in our church are experiencing trials. The enemy is turning up the heat. I find myself in a state of constant prayer - lifting up the faces that come to mind - doing my best to pray believing, not hoping or wondering if God will provide, but believing that He is working and that His plan will be fulfilled. It is the waiting that gets you every time. The waiting experience is where the rubber meets the road and your level of faith in God is tested. God continues to challenge my prayer journey of faith with Matthew 21:22 - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Our level of faith in God is truly being tested and I hope deepened. The Christian life is all about discovering God's provision and purpose not our own. May His purpose be served and His glory shine in Romania!!