Untouched by Trouble July 8, 2008

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

What a powerful verse!! If only I would be untouched by trouble!! Every day, all around, people talk of the difficulty in life now: high fuel & food prices, unbelievable economy,  earthquakes, flash floods, tornadoes, repossessed houses, more crime!! And we are to be untouched by trouble?? How is that to happen? 

The answer lies in the first part of the verse. “The fear of the Lord leads to life”, trusting Him fully. When we trust the Lord whole-heartedly, that leaves no room for worry. Look at the next phrase “then one rests content”. Easier said than done. I believe we don’t trust the Lord wholly because we fail to realize who God really is!! A God who is Big enough to create the world, surely He is powerful enough to control the world and care for His own. 

All of our worries and fretting will not solve anything, but learning to trust God in all things will. It will bring an environment of contentment. I love to be in the presence of people who are contented. Living in Haiti has taught me many things. Life is so difficult there, and even now as I write this, gas is over $6.00 per gallon. People are hungry, as food prices are on the rise too. Yet, Haitians are always laughing. Change in plans, broken down vehicles, no jobs, and still they find reason to laugh.

Just this week I was challenged with the question, “what 2 words would I choose that I want to be associated with me?  Have you ever thought of that? How do you want to be remembered? The 2 words that came to my mind were “joyfully thankful”. I have not arrived at that, but it certainly is a goal that I am working on.

Recently, from the village of Zabo, many hours away from a clinic or doctor, became critically ill. She doesn’t live with her mother who lives in another village, so the  young gal she lived with started the trip to the clinic which was approximately 3 hours away. When they arrived, they were told she needs emergency surgery, but we cannot perform the surgery here, and sent her to another hospital 2 hours away. When they arrived there, again were told the same thing, and were sent to another hospital still another 2 hours away. When they arrived there, they were told the same thing, except for they could do the surgery but have no electricity and sent her to General Hospital in Port au Prince. They arrived there at night, and there was no room in the emergency room except for on the floor. And there is where she laid until Tuesday night when they finally performed the surgery. She had a ruptured appendix. 

God spared her life, and today she is back in the village, and healthy. 

What does this story have to do with our reading today? This is what is important. Every time we went to visit them at the hospital, they were thankful for all things. They had no chair to sit on, until we brought a folding chair from our house. No food is served in the hospital, no meds provided (they had to go to pharmacies to buy all meds, including IV solutions). They young gal staying with Rochla, slept on the floor on a quilt every night for 6 nights! She never complained. This family had not $1.00 for medical needs, and yet continued to pray as they went from hospital to hospital to seek for medical help. 

Let’s encourage each other to trust wholly in the Lord, and enjoy contentment, knowing the trouble around us, is nothing compared to the glory of eternity with our Lord.

 

Striving to be joyfully thankful

Barb

Choices May 11, 2008

Choices

 

Phil. 1:29 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for Him..”

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

For it has been “granted”, granted?? That means it is a privilege to suffer on God’s behalf. He chooses me because He sees I am worthy of this!!  

How shocking it is to realize that suffering for Christ is as much a part of being a part of Christ as it is to believe in Him!! I often have I suffered, endured trials, and thought for sure it is because God just isn’t so interested in me anymore. How have I missed this all these years, that when I suffer trials, He is really testing me to develop character in me? Do I really want to arrive Heaven, without being fully prepared? 

But not only to suffer, but to do so with pure joy!! I am not speaking of those BIG things, but how about those small, irritating daily things, that have the tendency to push us over the edge. Those things that are before us every day. The person you work with, live with, rebellious, disobedient children. The things that “don’t go away”. What do we do with those things? 

But wait a minute, I see another phrase in that verse in James 1, “the testing of your faith develops perseverance must finish its work so that you may mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  So faith comes into all of this. Why faith? What does faith have to do with the nagging daily trials? It is to develop character. We must be mature and complete. Without faith, we cannot grow into maturity. Faith in God to know He sees the beginning and the end. He sees it all, He has walked the road, He knows me better than I do myself. 

Does this mean it is easy? No, there will be pain, frustration and those moments of wanting “throw in the towel” but we don’t. We press on! There will be tears, and solitude, and even more, being misunderstood and feeling so alone. But God sees it all!! He cares. Jesus knows all about all of this…He walked the Road!!

1 Peter 1:9 “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ..”

I love the illustration of how the refiner of gold knows when the gold is pure, and that is when he sees his image in the gold, then he knows he can turn off the fire. So it is with us, God keeps us in the fire until He sees His image in me and you. 

So why do I call this choices? We have many choices to make while our faith is being tested. For myself, I can choose to be joyful or angry. I can choose to leave the fire of purification, or stay and take the heat until He sees His image in me. But there is another choice, if it is people that are the cause of our trials, we can choose to love them in spite of the situation, or we can reject them or hate them. We know hating them will  not shine God’s image from our lives.

If you have not yet, chosen Jesus for your life, do so today. If you are in the middle of a trial, let’s choose to be joyful, and see this as an opportunity to serve Jesus!! He grants us this privilege! He wants me and you to be complete in our life with Him. He wants us to be mature, and ready for Heaven and life with Him eternally when He calls us home. 

 

Until next time

Barb

True Treasure April 11, 2008

Real Treasure

 

 

Proverbs 15: 6 “The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.”

 

There is a great deception in our understanding of wealth. Wealth, we immediately see the dollar signs. We see a nice home filled with all we can ask or want, good cars, stable jobs. So we tend to measure our success in life with this definition of wealth.

Then of course, there is the word treasure, something to be valued, something of great worth. We think of diamonds, jewels, very valuable trinkets in our collections. When our son was little, he treasured his collection of basketball cards. The players on these cards made this piece of paper valuable. Isn’t it strange what we value? Oh sure I have a collection of beautiful tea cups. I enjoy them, but don’t set my life on them. Would my life change if those were taken away?? I hope not. 

When we look at this verse, we are sure that God has something totally different in His approach for treasures, than physical wealth or collective items. Why do I think that? If the house of the righteous contains great treasure, then that would mean there are no wicked people with great wealth. We know that is not true. Actually some of the most wicked men (by human understanding) have the most wealth. 

So we must know that God has great treasure only the righteous have. I think of the woman in the book of  Luke, when she lost her coin. She searched, she tore the house apart to find it. After she found it, she was dancing. Everyone was rejoicing with her. But remember, that story was a parable that Jesus gave, and we understand this  coin was an example of a lost soul. It is easy to forget that the most precious treasure we can have is bringing others to the Lord. 

Just recently, I had a wonderful experience. One of our workers wasn’t a christian. He was very nice. Easy going, very compassionate, but just didn’t have the Lord at the root of this niceness Often I would encourage him to give his life the Lord. He always replied, “I will, I promise”. I always reminded him that we have no promise for tomorrow. So one day, I looked at him, and said “It will be a happier time in heaven if I know you are there too.” Then 2 weeks ago, we were all in Mayette and were having a conference at church. The last night the speaker gave an invitation (not for those to be saved) for all who wanted God’s power to go out and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The altar was filled with people. But the most precious person was Enock. He came and pulled on my arm, and said, “Come on Barb, let’s go pray!!” I was not expecting that at that moment. He had come to the services to learn more English, as the speaker was American and Patrick was translating. God had another purpose for him being in the service. After the service he was laughing and said “Ohhhh, I feel Jesus all through my heart.” What a treasure. His house has treasure now, as well. 

That is real treasure!! Yes, the house of God has treasures. Start a new collection of new souls for God’s kingdom. Those treasures cannot be stolen, rusted out, or taken away. They are God’s forever and you will have them through eternity.

Richly.

Barb

 

 

Mission Team April 6, 2008

We have returned from Mayette with a mission team. The team was divided into several activities. We have now used the conference, but not for a conference. It was a welding center for the bench frames. The 2nd story of the dorm rooms is now started as well, so that the lower level can be revised and remodeled for the clinic.

                      

There was a medical team, which included medical, dental (cleaning & flouride treatment for children and eye clinic. 

The eye clinic was the way God used to bring another person into His Kingdom. We praise God this lady gave her heart and life to the Lord.

                                    

 

The medical clinic went to work, as soon as we arrived, as there was a little boy at school who fell while running and fractured his arm. We didn’t have a splint with us, but a palm tree branch was a wonderful substitute. A suitcase belt worked great for a sling. 

The team worked hard and furiously to accomplish all they came to do. God touched many hearts each evening during the teaching series on Evangelism. And now the church is Mayette is going to another town to visit the sick in  a hospital. 

Into the Fortress March 9, 2008

 

Proverbs 14:26 “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”

Immediately when reading this verse a vivid image comes to mind. In the north of Haiti is the “Citadel”  a fortress built by Haitians to protect themselves from the attacks of the French. Inside the Citadel, one can see to the far reaches of the horizons all around.  I am certain, during that time in history, there were watchmen on the wall, prepared to fight any approaching enemy.

The Lord is our Fortress. He is my protector from the enemy. He has given us the weapons to fight against the evil one. He has called us to “stand in the gap” for each other, to strengthen our arms in the battle. One soldier can hardly win a battle, but an army can stand against the enemy, and win!! He has given us the Victory!!

According to Proverbs 1:9, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Knowledge helps us to live in discretion, understanding and wisdom. Fear of the Lord is to recognize His Holiness, to honor Him, to Trust Him wholly. The fear of the Lord is our Fortress.

The second part of the verse, says that our fear of the Lord will be our refuge. I would like to carry this a bit further, with some questions. Do our children know we fear the Lord? Do we spend as much time teaching them to fear the Lord as we do to have them excel in academic studies? If you as a parent, would die today, what legacy would you have left for your children?  Does your life exemplify having a secure fortress in God? Or will they remember your success by worldly standards?

When our children were small, they always ran to us when there was trouble. They trusted us to protect them. They wanted us to hold them, put our arms around them. God wants us to run to Him. He wants to enfold His arms around us. Have we led our children to trust the True Fortress of their lives? Do they know who to turn to when they are grown up? How much have you, as parents, taught your children to fear God?

The safety of a citadel is for a fleeting moment; the fortress of the Lord is eternal.

 

 

Reckless Words February 24, 2008

Reckless Words

Proverbs 12:18 “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Have you ever been the recipient of reckless words? Perhaps you can still picture the place, and incident of when it happened. Perhaps there are still “scars” from that piercing. Oh the pain!! 

But even more, have you ever been the source of reckless words? The one who spewed them out of your mouth!! As you well know, reckless words are usually not thought out very well. They are those times when we speak before we think. Or maybe we have thought about it so long, and “just can’t take anymore”, and decide you have the right to speak your mind!! I have done just that, and immediately have wished I hadn’t. As James 3:8 says, “but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” What chance have we then? If I can’t control my tongue, then who can? Or do I just let it be unruly?

I wonder how many wounds have I caused in people’s hearts? I am afraid if I knew, I would hardly be able to forgive myself, but God already has. He has buried those words in the sea of forgiveness. What is the answer to our dilemma? Where do we start to change our words from piercing to healing? It needs to come from the heart. Jesus said,  “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). We need a change of heart. If we truly love others, we can hardly speak rashly and destructive to them. If we love others, we want to bless them. 

I think of children. We, as parents, can pierce our children’s heart so easily. Those words are not soon forgotten. How often have you heard yourself say to your child, “How stupid are you? Can’t you do anything right?”  Start listening to your words as you speak to your children. Are those words of healing, or destruction? In Haiti, children are not usually respected so well. They are often humiliated in front of others. I cringe at some of the words I hear parents say to their children. Words which should never be spoken to a child.

God is the only One who can tame the tongue. The only One who can tame it to bless others to give healing words. What a comfort on a gloomy day to have someone bless you with words of comfort and healing!!

Let’s come before the Lord, and ask for a tongue that is tamed, and speaks those healing words.

May you be blessed!

Barb

Me, Stupid?? February 10, 2008

Me, Stupid??!!

Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction  is stupid.”

After reading this verse, (I have read it many times) it amazes me that God hasn’t called it quits with us all. The world is filled with “stupid” people. That is a very harsh word, but God says it. Now am I one of the stupid ones? Do I turn my back on correction and discipline?

Often God’s discipline is not accepted as a positive action. Why would God send an army of His people into the desert, after being slaves for over 400 years? Why not put them on a mountain top or beautiful lush green valley, where life is wonderful and all their needs were readily available? Wasn’t slavery enough of a punishment? God wanted His people to have knowledge, to know Him and how to live for Him. In spite of His discipline, their hearts were turned to the godless nations around them. Does this sound at all familiar?

We really don’t need to ask God “why?”. He is God, and we are not. He sees the whole picture, we do not. Many times God disciplines us to give us boundaries, and so that we become people of knowledge and wisdom. We need to learn to see life the way God sees it. 

I have been reading the book of Hosea, and what I see in this book is a stubborn, rebellious people with a Great and Loving God. Hosea 4:6 says, “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” So there is a reason for knowledge.  So when I refuse to listen to God, and refuse to accept His discipline, I am destroying myself.

Just as parents, we discipline our children so that they will have understanding and knowledge on how to live. If we leave our children to decide their own boundaries, by the time they are teenagers, they are already on the way to destruction. Look around you, what do you see?? Crime, drugs, theft, a generation of unruly people. Prisons are full, and so we build larger ones. Prisons are not the answer, but God is!!  Yet we are not to mention the Name of God in schools or public places. We are destroying ourselves!! 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our children would thank us immensely after being disciplined? Yes, well I don’t remembering doing that either. Often I forget to thank God for His discipline. So when things go “wrong” in my life, I need to search my heart and see if it may be  a “right” instead of wrong. God has sent discipline to bring more knowledge.

I pray that neither you nor I are called “stupid” by God. I hope that we accept the discipline God brings our way. Just think about this, God didn’t plan for the Israelites to walk in the desert for 40 years. They did that to themselves because they refused to obey God. Have you been walking in the same miserable path for too long a time? Do you think there may be a reason for that?

I am not saying here, that everything will be “just right”, but our attitudes will be different and our hearts be thankful. We will have listening hearts. Then God can make beauty from our pain, bring to joy to sadness, hope in a hopeless situation.

Love Discipline!! Leave the stupid group! 

Hebrews 12:5-6,  “…my son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he love, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Be Blessed

Until next time

Barb

Be Refreshed January 24, 2008

BE REFRESHED

Proverbs 11:24-31

Verse 24 “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”

We all know someone who is always vibrant, willing to “do” whatever comes along. I think of a mother with young children, and yet has time to make a meal for the elderly who cannot. What about the one who has little income but is willing to use the little gas in her car to take someone else to the doctor?  Always reaching out to others, and finding themselves blessed beyond imagination.

Vs 25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

I picture someone holding out a cup of cold water to a weary traveler. This is something we do often in Haiti, travelers spend hours in a hot vehicle or on foot. 

Have you ever met a person who is always thinking of their own problems? Always thinking of their own pain? Always making sure everyone knows how bad life is treating them? Being around people as such, is tiring. It drains energy right out of our very being. But more than that, don’t you find that a person is miserable, unhappy and wants all the attention?

Well, there is an answer to this situation, but it also takes energy. It means blessing someone else so that you may be blessed. I guarantee if you are having pain, and you bless someone else you will soon not feel your own pain so greatly. This is what the verse is talking about…go refresh someone else, get you mind off your own problems and suffering, and you will find your problems are diminishing.

But of course, if you enjoy hearing about your own problems, it will mean “laying down” self and allowing someone else’s problems to enter into your heart and getting attention off of yourself. Now that may be a different way to live!! It means allowing other people into your selfish life.

There is a promise with the verse…YOU will be refreshed!! Just try this, you may really like it!! It actually is a blessing not to always have to think of yourself first!! The refreshing feeling is so wonderful!!

Vs 31 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise”

For many years, this verse was confusing to me because I couldn’t see what the first part of the verse had to do with winning souls. In Psalms 1:3, the godly are also called a “tree planted by the streams of water”. 

I don’t think God is calling us “wood”, but fresh leaves. He is talking of spreading out, reaching out to others. The branches of a tree reach out, gives shade, puts oxygen back into the air. They give a home to birds and wild life. The Bible says the trees clap their hands in praise to God. I don’t think trees complain because they always hold their branches out, or because they “just stand there” all day long and for years and years. Trees are alive. Is a dead tree beautiful? No more beauty in a dead tree, it is ugly!!

And so for us, we need to reach out to others. We need to tell others of Jesus. This brings fruit. Once again, forgetting about ourselves, and allowing fruit to be in our lives. We don’t produce fruit by only serving ourselves or thinking of self. 

May you be challenged to reach out, be refreshed and produce fruit!!

By His Grace

Barb

PS. Just a note to those of you who have enjoyed Rachel’s writings, she is taking a break as this semester of school is a full load, working and “being a wife”. So “mom” is stepping in for a bit and hopefully you will soon hear from Rachel again. 

What a child does with money January 22, 2008

The following story is so touching, and makes one think how many state-side children would make the same choice. But we also realize that the economic condition is much different than in Haiti, and therefore, the choice would be different.A lady from another village, came to visit in the village of Mayette. She met the 9 year old deaf girl, hugged her, and was much impressed with her. Before leaving, she gave the girl the equivalent of $60 US. This is a lot of money for someone to give to another haitian, and it was someone this lady had never met or seen. But, of course, as always, someone else saw the transaction and immediately grabbed the money from the girl and took off. But the boy was immediately caught in his tracks,as someone saw him and ran after him. She retrieved the money and took the boy to his parents to tell them what he had done.That isn’t the touching part of the story. When the little girl got the money back, she put it in a plastic bag, went to her house, and dug a hole in the ground, put it in the ground, covered it up and laid a rock on top of it. She didn’t tell her father. She was afraid he would take the money and buy food with it.She did tell someone what she did. She was saving the money to give to her older sister (19 years old) when she returns to the village. She wanted her sister to buy paint and cement for the floor for their new hut that is being built. She didn’t want to sleep on a dirt floor again. She wants the walls painted. But the pastor encouraged her to talk to her dad, and tell her what she wants to do with it. He promised he would give it to her sister. Why is this such a touching story? This little girl is only 9 years old, she has no toys, her clothes are rags and her sandals are not in good shape. Instead of thinking of something for herself, she thought of what would be good for the family!!Was the lady an “angel unaware” ? I have a feeling God will never tell. A wonderful God we serve!!

VBS at Marche Kabrit December 26, 2007

We were blessed with a team (2 couples) who spent 10 days with us. The primary focus was VBS for the children at Marche Kabrit. We had 3 days  of VBS. There was a Bible lesson (David & Goliath, Good Samaritan, and The Lost Sheep). Each lesson provided a drama, a memory verse, songs and crafts. There were also outdoor games and a snack. The children waited at the door for us each morning as we arrived. They were so thrilled that foreigners came to share with them that they had planned a small program for them each day. There were prizes for memory verses, and gifts just to bless the children. The children basked in the attention and love!! Even though it was a bit of a shock for the team the 1st day, that there were no tables to work on crafts, they soon realized Haitian children can work on their laps, or on their knees and use the bench!! On the contrary, Haitian children would not have expected tables to work on!