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!!

Consecration and a contrite heart

"Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5 (NIV)

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

Consecration - What does it mean? Does Psalm 51:17 describe consecration? A broken and contrite heart represents a grieving of sin - a conviction of sin that is so intense it causes transformation because the heart is drawing nearer and nearer to the glory of God. Sin cannot come near Him - the One who is pure, holy, and righteous. Sin separates us from God. In the old testament the act of consecration was performed through sacrifice. Psalm 51:17 states "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart". Does this mean that to consecrate myself I have to allow God to break my spirit and convict my heart in order for the Lord to do amazing things among us? Maybe. I want the Lord to do amazing things among us. What is God trying to teach me through this journey of faith? - Consecration, sacrifice, brokenness, conviction of sin, etc. How serious am I about God's purpose being served in my life and the lives of others? Serious enough to allow God to break my spirit and consecrate me for His amazing work?

Help us Abba to be serious about You and your work.

A Letter of Thanks

Abba,
Where do I begin? What a year! I want to reflect on your grace and tell you what I am thankful for. I must begin with your amazing love. Your love is unconditional yet you are a just father who wants the best for your child. Your love transcends all things. Your love is a beautiful description of your most precious being. The characteristics of your love (patience, kindness, peace, goodness, gentleness, forgiveness) truly paints a picture of the essence of who you are. I thank you for showering me with your love - I Thank you for your love for me.

Thank you for your patience and persistence. This year you have patiently and persistently brought me through times of difficulty. When I continued asking why, what, when, how much longer…your patient and persistent love held me. You patiently reminded me over and over of your unfailing love for me. Thank you for your patience and persistence.

Thank you for my continuing ed. courses. You are the ultimate teacher - The best there is. And you have consistently taught me through experiences and situations that you are the sovereign God of all creation and that you have me in the palm of your hand. You continue to tell me that you have a plan for my life and that you will not fail me. Your gentle, teaching spirit continues to tell me that what you are teaching me will only bring me to a greater understanding of your most amazing being. You have used my relationships to teach me and to break me. But, as you know I am a slow learner. I continue in my stubbornness to not listen or learn. And in those moments of failure, your gentle voice reassures me that you will not give up on me and that you will continue to help me in my pursuit of you. Abba, Thank You for not giving up on me…Thank you for your persistent love for me.

Thank you for spending time with me. You know, when I sit still to talk with you and to leave heavy burdens at your feet, you give me your undivided attention. You listen and you respond. I treasure my time alone with you. It amazes me that you, The God of the universe, YOU, want to sit and be with me. It amazes me that you chose me…that you have a plan to use me in the furthering of your kingdom. What a privilege and an honor. Thank you for faithfully spending time with me. You are never too busy…you are always available – Your door is always open.

I thank you for the peace that I have for the future. I have discovered that the more I trust, believe and place my faith in you the more peace fills my soul. There is nothing in this world that compares to the peace and security that is found in you and you alone. Thank you for using difficult times, questions, heavy burdens, times of uncertainty to drive me closer to you. Through these experiences I have discovered that when I trust you, when I believe in your word, and when I put my faith in you all else fades away and what remains, is your peace. Please don’t stop stripping me of all doubt and uncertainty. I thank you for taking me deeper in my understanding of you and what it means to truly trust, believe and put all of my faith in the sovereign God of all. Thank you for the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Abba you are worthy of all that I am. You are my everything and I treasure you.

My Abba, I love you…