Thankful and then some

 Greetings to one and all,

  You know the Lord is awesome, right?  Well, if you know me, you know that is my favorite word to describe the Lord, AWESOME!!!   He is always right there when we need Him the most, right?  We've been hearing and studying more and more about mountain tops and valleys.  How easy it is to be on that mountain top and be happy and thankful, but not really giving the Lord a whole lot of thought.  Then, when in the valley...where do we turn, yes, THE LORD!!  "Why am I here Lord, why did you allow it, help me, please."  It's SO easy to turn to Him when we have needs.  But He should also be right at the top of our thoughts when we are on that mountain top.  He IS great, He IS awesome, ALL THE TIME!!  

   And here I have to thank Him for letting me go through those rough times, as well, as being right by my side when things go smoothly.  I AM learning to praise and thank Him in and through all situations. I know most of you know one of my life verses is in 1 Thess. 5: 16-18.   "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

   I wanted to share our latest posting on email: 

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     In the last few weeks things were rather hectic, but the Lord knew, and He worked things out.  Our visitors, April and Asher arrived safely.  They did have to drive through a bit of that storm in Florida, but made it here as planned.  They totally experienced what it is like to do the buckets.  They filled zip lock bags, then filled buckets, then lifted and stacked buckets and then were able to load the truck and deliver most of them.  They were also able to go the IDADEE Children’s Home and help us get all 41 children weighed and measured.  And they were able to tour the IDADEE children’s home, hospital and clinic.  Of course, they experienced a real Haitian meal, too.  And they even had some down time.  They left Thursday morning which started out with a few concerns.  First RAINS… which thankfully calmed down, then the vehicle didn’t start, but got it moving again.  And I pray they had a smooth flight back, and were able to return to family safely!!  I pray they felt they had a productive and informative time here. 

   I’ll ask that you keep MFI in prayer.  They are doing so much for so many and we want to keep them uplifted in prayer.  They have been doing an awesome job in these difficult times and we praise the Lord for being with them in and through it all.  Please add them to both your prayer list and to the praise list, too.  

   We’ve had frustrations and some upsetting things going on, too.  We had thought our inverter was acting up, but it seems it’s our batteries that are doing it.  So, Don will have to work on that.  And of course, the vehicles need work.  But I think Don will have to get someone to help with some of that. 

   Each night as we gather to pray together, I’ve been realizing that I wasn’t the only one praying for some things, and praising for other items.  Abbie has a heart of gold and she is so concerned about so many things.  But to hear her pray that the Lord will pour out His Spirit over Haiti, then north and south America and then the world…and to hear her heart in all of it, is such a blessing.  She has been raised right, just as her mother was.  Her love for Haiti, and the people here is amazing.  She is following in her mom’s footsteps, for sure. 

   One of my devotionals last week was from David Jeremiah on having “An Attitude of Gratitude”.  At times this is so difficult, but I know that is where the Lord wants us to be.  And although he didn’t use the verse, I keep coming back to 1 Thess. 5: 16-18.  That really sums it all up.  “¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Now, to try and live that verse…

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Some interesting things have happened since I wrote this.  But that will be in another post.  Right now I'd like to share a few photos of the buckets and our team who filled and delivered them.

This is Pastor Janiel, Pastor Marcot, Vero, April and Asher.  April and Asher did almost all of the work in creating these buckets.  And then they were able to deliver them to Pastor Janiel's church. They blessed a lot of families with all of this work. 

These first 2 pictures are of Pastor Janiel's church and congregation.  

This is Asher, helping with the weighing and measuring of the IDADEE children.  The one after that is the front of the IDADEE Children's Home.  I wish I had taken photos, but my mind was on getting these 41 kids taken care of. These are thanks to April for thinking of taken some.

   I had to laugh when Asher got excited at meal time.  I couldn't grasp what was going on.... then he said, "Look at this!!!  They spell it right here... Catsup!! It's spelled with a C and not a K."  (We sent a bottle or two with him when he left!)

   All of this, to say, "PLEASE, not just on Thanksgiving, but EVERYDAY, give thanks to the Lord for all He is, all He's done, and all He will do for you!!!"  Keep praying and praising and God bless you all!!!  

November 10th update

Obviously having problems posting on here again...please know I'm trying... 

Greetings,

   There are times when you want to step back and look up and say, “Really Lord?  Now, with all that is going on?”  I’ve hit that in the last few days.  And then this morning, in my quiet time, the Lord showed me in a mighty way that He is THERE, in all those troubles and hard times.  I’ve been doing 4 different devotionals, and believe me, I need them all at times.  But this morning, miraculously, they all centered on what I needed TODAY!!  And then the song, “Sometimes It Takes a Mountain” came to mind.  I’m putting it here because I felt someone else needed to read the words and grasp onto them, too.

 I faced a mountain
That I never faced before
That's why I'm calling on the Lord
I know it's been awhile
Lord please hear my prayer
I need you like I never have before

Chorus:
Sometimes it takes a mountain
Sometimes a troubled sea
Sometimes it takes a desert
To get a hold of me
Your Love is so much stronger
Then whatever troubles me
Sometimes it takes a mountain
To trust you and believe

Forgive me Jesus
I thought I could control
Whatever life would throw my way
But this I will admit
Has brought me to my knees
I need you Lord and I'm not ashamed to say

Chorus……

   I know you’re thinking, what could be so bad that it brings me down?  It wasn’t ONE thing, it was just the culmination of a lot of things.  Some big, some little, some that were just annoying. Have you ever been there?  I guess the one that was “the straw that broke the camel’s back”… was our refrigerator started having some major problems this morning.  And guess what?  FINALLY, I simply said, “Okay, Lord, I can’t solve any of this.  Can you please help?  Show me what to do?”  Then I came in here, sat down picked up the devotionals and here I am.  I have released all these burdens and am now at peace about all things.  Oh, some may need attention, but I know the Lord will direct either Don or I on how to deal with it.  Yes, I faced that “mountain”… and now I am about to the top of it praising the Lord for being with me through all of this. 

    Do we need prayers?  Yes, we sure do!  That is what keeps us on the field doing what the Lord called us to do.  Are there specifics?  Okay, I’ll share a few.  We have a gal and her son coming to visit on Thursday.  We really are looking forward to this.  Pray that the storm in and around Florida will not stop them from coming.  Vero and helpers will be going from the airport today to pick up food items for the buckets we will be doing while April and Asher are here.  Pray for wisdom and protection as they do this.  Pray that the problem with the refrigerator will be something minor that can be taken care of.  Pray for the powers that be at the airport who are charging outrageous prices on anything brought in, that God will speak to their hearts and help the missionaries and national pastors dealing with this situation.  And pray with us for both Haiti and the US, that the Lord will pour out His Holy Spirit to cover and spread over both countries and lives will be changed.  But also, pray with us and thank the Lord for all He HAS done, IS doing, and WILL do, to bring glory to His Name!!

     Have you been trying to climb your mountain of problems?  Believe me, the Lord is right there waiting for you to reach out to Him for His help.  It may seem impossible, but He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He knows and can get you through things.

   James 4: 7-10.  “⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”

 

   Blessings and joy to you all,