Thursday, June 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Prayer-Walking day in Wieliczka! An Old Synagogue; Destroyed during WWII.
Taking a lunch break. We usually walk for about four hours, around the town, praying for anything God brings to mind!We (I am the Prayer-Walking Coordniator),have divided the city into sections, each team has two large areas in which we pray for the city and the people of Krakow and all of Poland.
Greetings, In the name of the Lord Jesus,
I finally decided to just take the day off to write a newsletter. Today is Mother’s Day, and I will be spending most of the day alone. Allan is making his bi-monthly trip to a Roma village about two hours away.
I want to wish all of you mothers a very Happy Mother’s day! If you are not a mother, then as Chuck Swindoll has said recently on 99.7 Family Life Radio: You make a wonderful contribution just being a Godly Christian woman, aunt, sister, etc., so happy day to you, also! May God bless you all in your raising Godly children, because they are HIS! We are only His stewards of these precious little ones!
I am expecting a call from Michael today. He wants to call me on Skype, and I am hoping that he will be able to get through. There are usually about 9 million people on Skype on a slow day! I was able to talk to him for a little while yesterday, so if I can’t today, then I will soon, again, Lord willing!
Michael seems to really love his new team. He is very busy every day, and that is what he wants. God has met his need for a national translator, who is also a believer! He is so amazing! To GOD be the glory! Thank you all for your faithful prayers for him in this.
You know, Allan and I have been doing our personal Bible study online. We found the most wonderful program. It’s called Audio Bible. The narrator is very dynamic in his readings. We have gone through: Jeremiah and Lamentations, recently. We are now in Ezekiel. The thing that really brings me to tears is how very much God loves His people, and how His chosen people (which includes us!) continue to reject, turn from, and refuse to walk in HIS ways and obey Him, trust Him, and listen to Him. Listening to Ezekiel (and all of the Bible), in this way, reveals a heartbroken, loving, ever forgiving, just and Holy God, Who gives and gives, blesses and blesses, and loves us so endlessly, yet as in one of Michael's favorite songs, "Come Thou Fount", we are all so 'prone to leave the God I love". It makes me wonder why are we so prone to lean on man and our own ways, than to lean on the Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in it! He is always so ready to forgive us out of that deep, never failing love! Why do we ever grieve Him (Eph. 4:30)?
I am so awed by His faithfulness, forgiveness, and willingness to take us back, when we stray from His ways.
As we read in Ezekiel, I said to Allan; “Aren’t you so thankful that we live in the period of Grace?” I am so thankful that we have the Holy Spirit, to lead us, guide us, and teach us! I am so thankful for the written Word and the Living Word!
Now, if I can do such a task, I’ll try to catch up on the news! I just read my last newsletter, written in February! I am so very sorry that it’s been so long!
I am thankful to Linda Adrian, who has graciously shared some of my letters with you. I feel as if I’m back in Paul’s day, when the letters were shared among the churches! Thank you, Linda.
I thank my God for all of you. I thank you for your prayers, and for your letters. I think about all of you and pray for you and for our church family, the body of Christ.
As I recall the past couple of months, my mind is a jumble of many things happening. I’ll do my best to tell you all that’s going on here in Krakow.
We have had some pretty terrible weather, but like a birth, when it’s over, you tend to forget what it was like, and only remember the best of things about it. The weather is now much warmer, sunny, and the days are getting longer.
The early morning sun awakens me about five a.m. I awaken with God in my heart and mind, always. I lie there for a time, praying for my family, and just worshipping Him, and praising Him for Who He is, and for His many blessings. I am so thankful for the sunshine because it has brought many beautiful flowers and budding tress to life!
The dismal black, and very dark days are a distant memory. The city is bustling with thousands and thousands of tourists. The sidewalks are filled with cafes. The streets are lined with art, music, and people selling their wares.
Balconies are open to diners, and there are horses and carriages to take you on the many tours of the city.
I suggest to anyone who wants to come here, make it summer! The lilacs are in full bloom, and the parks filled with tulips and flowering shrubs and trees. It is a far more enjoyable sight than the long cold winter!
God so blessed me in March! I was able to make a very quick trip back to the states. It was for the purpose of doing our taxes for 2007. The best thing was that I was able to see my precious grandsons, Lora, and Jim. I enjoyed every moment with them. I could not get over how they’ve grown in the past six months! They are all taller than I. I had tried to surprise the boys, but Ian found out when the tax accountant called their house to verify my appointment! So much for secrets! I am the one who was surprised at the airport. I didn’t think Ryan would be there because he had a swim meet, but when he found out I was coming, he wanted to be there to surprise me!
We each had a day together, plus several days with us all together. I was blessed with the opportunity to see two of my dear friends and sisters in Christ, during my visit. I had coffee with Ellen at our favorite coffee hang out, The Chocolate Mousse, in Portland. I had tea with Lora and Cathy, one of my friends from the hospital, where I worked in Michigan. Cathy has been a faithful supporter and prayer warrior from Michigan. Ellen, if you remember from my letters, was my prayer -walking partner, during my time in Michigan. She is still one of my most faithful supporters from the Michigan area. My time with my family there was such an awesome blessing, and I thank God for the time we had together!
Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife, Susie, and their children are in America right now. They have 'company' summits and meetings to attend. They will return here soon.
The regional leader, based in Prague,(Rodney) will be leaving the region soon. It seems as if Mark will be taking on those responsibilities, as well as his own, for a time. What will that mean in terms of my work? I am praying for him to have a truly qualified secretary! As you know, I am a Registered Nurse, and although I have been assisting Mark with several things here in Krakow, I believe he needs someone who is more qualified to help him more in office management, and all the details of his ever-increasing responsibilities!
Please pray about this with me!
I am interested in helping Allan and Jerry with the Roma ministry more than I have been able to do in the past. I ask you to please pray about this also.
We have had several teams come help with the various ministries. There was a team of eight football coaches, who helped with the Sports Ministry. They also had a camera guy along with them. They were a real blessing to our team here!
We presently have seven here, and a team who are sharing His Word through drama, coming soon.
There will be a team of two coming on the 16th of this month. In June and July, we will have two large groups, one of them being International World Changers. They will help with the Roma Day Camp. Please pray for us during the AGM in Finland in June-July. Pray for our Prayer-Walking Seminar!! Please also be praying for the Jewish festival here in Krakow in July. I am not sure if Jews for Jesus will be bringing a team, but pray for their work throughout the world! If I hear more about a team coming for the festival, I will let you know, of course.
There have been a couple of small groups also. They do prayer walking, help with the coffee house ministry, and they participate in helping in the ministry at the International Fellowship, among other things.
Ryan, our oldest grandson, is trying to raise money for a mission trip to New York, this summer with the First Baptist Church in Portland, Mi. He is supposed to send out ‘mission letters’ to family, friends, churches, etc. This is part of his responsibility to raise the money himself. Please pray for Ryan, his trip, and his fund-raising efforts, and most of all, that he will be a shining witness for Christ!
Ryan, Ian, and Zane will be attending church camp at Lake Ann, Michigan, again this year. I am so thankful for the opportunity for them! Camp, to me, is priceless for these young children! I can still remember my own camp days!!! A long time ago, indeed! My grandsons have become very good friends with the Johnson boys, and love to get together when they can. They are hoping to share the same rooms at camp again this year. I hope they can! I love those boys!!! (And their entire family, of course!) They are all such beautiful children. Karlene and John are very blessed, as are Jim and Lora!
Sarah, one of our team members, recently had an emergency room experience. One that could be written about! We learned; that we need to put together an emergency kit. I am planning to see if I can locate, or have sent to us, some scrubs, a couple of hospital gowns, and a few other things. We discovered that they do not supply drinking water for the patients! She had no gown, no soap, toothbrush, toothpaste; she was given absolutely nothing! If you want something to drink, you must go to the nearest store to buy it! I wondered why I had seen patients walking down the streets! Well, now I know.
They don’t give antibiotics often, even with infections, they rarely give pain meds, you have a small curtain that only goes about half the length of your bed, for privacy, and you may have men and women in the same room, we are told. Sarah had nausea, but had no emesis basin, in case she needed it.
I prepared a small bag for her and took it to the hospital. They only kept her overnight. Thank God that she didn’t stay longer!! The staff was friendly, and tried to answer questions as best they could. It's just very different than in the states...which is ok, once the surprise is gone.
Allan, Janik, (a Roma believer) and Eva, our Polish Baptist translator, and I, went to Charnow’ on Thursday. We met another Roma family there. We visited with them for about two hours and shared the gospel. They say they are believers, already. They do seem to know about the Bible. They also offered to help with a plan to show the Jesus Film to a large (hopefully!!) group of Roma this month.
We have another team coming at the end of May, so we plan to rent a facility to show the film to anyone who will come. We plan to pass out flyers a few days before the film showing. Please pray that there will be many seekers, and that they will come to know who Jesus is and desire to follow Him!
I will close for now. I hope that my next letter will not be so far apart from this one! I appreciate your patience with me. If you don’t get mail often, please forgive me, and just know that you are all still in my heart, mind, and prayers!
I thank my wonderful God, always for you!
Please let us know how we can pray for you! I Th. 5:16-17-Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing!
In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
The Fishermensline
Krakow, Poland
P.S.
Shelby, if you read this, please send your e-mail address! Thank you for your comments! My address is: fishermensline@yahoo.com OR you can send to: allwea@everyheart.net
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Fishermensline-March 2008
Allan In The Village of Chrzanow
Greetings In The Name of Jesus!
I hope this newsletter from Krakow finds you all well and prospering in the grace of our Lord.
As February nears its closing days, we are enjoying some sunny days, however the March winds are early and often cold and severe in intensity. Even so, we have had much warmer weather here in Krakow than in Michigan, where our beloved daughter, son in law, and grandsons are living.
Michael is enjoying the sixty –plus degree temperatures after more than a month of forties and below! I think he was not prepared for those forties and below, by the comment “I wish I had known, I’d have brought heavier sweatshirts!”
God has been working here through the new Krakow International Fellowship worship services! Not only are we blessed with worship in our own language, there have been some Poles come to faith in Christ, and I am praying for (and ask you to join me) a lady that I have become friends with. She is Polish and is Catholic. She is a wonderful, kind, and friendly lady. She and her daughter have been visiting almost since the new services began. She and her daughter both made a comment that they feel like crying during our services. Last Sunday, before the service, as we were talking, she said to me, “I am truly questioning my faith in the Catholic church, when I go there, I feel nothing, yet when I come here, I feel such joy and want to be so close to God!”
Please pray for her and for me, that God will help me to share the personal walk that Christ calls us to, and that no one comes to God, except through Him, and that there is no more sacrifice for sin; that He paid that price as the perfect and final sacrifice for the sin of the world and how He is the only mediator between man and God. I am here to share His love with any who will listen and with whom He is calling to a saving faith and walk with Him. Please pray for this lady and her family!
Allan has been very busy with Jerry and the Roma ministry. They are constantly having meetings, Bible studies, and outreach days, where they go to a new village and seek out the places where Roma live.
In the past couple of weeks, they have gone twice to a village where there are many Roma, and none of them know about Jesus. Please pray for this village of Charnov.
Allan wants me to go there with him on a day that we can just go prayer walking around the village. He talked (through a translator), with a man who had survived WWII and he told Allan and Jerry that the village used to be the home of over 15,000 Jews. This was half of the village population at that time, now there are none. How sad when entire villages are wiped out because Satan was given a foothold in people’s hearts and minds!!
The coffee house ministry is still making efforts to reach out to the young people of the city (young or not so young!!). There have been several who have come for the music and snacks, conversation and games, etc., but so far none seem to be very interested in the gospel, but thank God, He tells us His Word will not return void. Therefore, we have faith that the seeds planted will bring forth fruit in due season.
We must continue in the planting to have a harvest, so pray that we will faithfully continue to plant, even as it seems sometimes that it is not fruitful at the time, after all; how many of us can plant a seed and the same day see the fruit?
We are waiting on the Lord for many things. I, for one, must learn what I know to be true. Walk by faith and not by sight!
I am praying for so many people and so many things, and events, that I truly know the meaning of my signature verse; pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:17
Lora and Jim are in the midst of many concerns and changes in their life and the life of the children. As many of you may already know, Jim will be deployed this fall for, possibly Kuwait. Please pray for them as they make plans for this. The heartbreak of their dad leaving is one that I ask my Lord, daily, to help them through, as with Lora, seeing her husband leave again, and her left alone to care for the three boys. They are the age, where support and encouragement from their dad is crucial. Please pray for Jim, also, as he has to leave them all behind. Our God is able to do the most amazing things, and nothing is too big for Him to accomplish!!
Please also pray for Michael. He is seeking God’s will in finding someone to travel with him, someone who is a believer and who speaks both languages, and someone he can trust. I know that God will meet all his needs.
Pray for Allan as Jerry and his family go to the states for two months for a turn-around time. Pray for the Goss family as they go through the process of going state--side, physicals, travel, and all the many stresses that come with the paper work and plans to return to Krakow.
During the two months that Jerry and his family will be in America, Allan will take on the full responsibility of the Roma ministry. There will be IWC teams and another team from Romania coming to work here during that time. It will be Allan’s responsibility to find lodging, transportation, and all the logistics of the teams, until Jerry returns. Jerry has a lot of responsibilities and we (from our past work history!) know about the un-seen, behind the scenes responsibilities that a strategy coordinator has to do, in addition to the Bible studies, travel, meetings, etc.
I am in the process of doing a newsletter for the Krakow Team, Baltic Field, and one for the churches in America that Mark has asked me to do. If you like, I will send the Krakow letter to you each month. This would give you more information about the families here in this city. Each month, I plan to do a “Spotlight on…………..” using one family unit per month to share information about the family, their ministry, a bit about their history, etc.
A funny thing about the Weaver’s: remember when we were in East Asia and we occasionally shared a bit of humor about the funny (ridiculous!!) things that happen when you don’t know the language or other little incidents? Well, here goes!
Allan and I have been shopping at the little store nearby. As we were looking for detergent for the laundry, we saw an advertisement (all if Polish, of course!!). It was a promotion. We know that from the word “promicija!”
We happily made our purchase for the ‘detergent’ and washed our clothing for two months. Our clothes didn’t seem to be very clean, however. When you get older you often don’t connect the dots (my phrase for you just don’t get it!!) W ever rationalized the lack of suds by saying, “well, maybe it’s the environmental protection kind of detergent” (well that made no sense with black air in our lungs!!!)
Finally I went online (the dictionary has no word translation for brand names) to see if I could figure out what this stuff is.
I started laughing aloud. Allan said ok, “what’s so funny?”
I said, “well we have been washing our clothes for two months in fabric softener!”
We had noticed one good thing about the ‘detergent’ was the clothes were very soft! Isn’t that scary!!!!
Lord, help us as we age! I have to tell you we did have help in choosing this ‘detergent’! A friend’s daughter told us this is what her mom uses!!
Well, dear friends and family, I will close for today. I pray that the Lord will richly bless you and yours. If there is anyway we can pray for you, please let us know. We faithfully remember you each day, but if you have a specific request, please let us know. It’s an honor to pray for you!
“What does the LORD your GOD require of you, but to revere the LORD your GOD, to walk in all HIS ways, to love Him, and serve the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your being.” De.10: 12.
“For by your words, you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned and sentenced.” Matt.12: 37.
Choose your words carefully and wisely and wait for the LORD’S Blessings!
The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland
Feb.24, 2008
Two building in the Village: Old and New
I hope this newsletter from Krakow finds you all well and prospering in the grace of our Lord.
As February nears its closing days, we are enjoying some sunny days, however the March winds are early and often cold and severe in intensity. Even so, we have had much warmer weather here in Krakow than in Michigan, where our beloved daughter, son in law, and grandsons are living.
Michael is enjoying the sixty –plus degree temperatures after more than a month of forties and below! I think he was not prepared for those forties and below, by the comment “I wish I had known, I’d have brought heavier sweatshirts!”
God has been working here through the new Krakow International Fellowship worship services! Not only are we blessed with worship in our own language, there have been some Poles come to faith in Christ, and I am praying for (and ask you to join me) a lady that I have become friends with. She is Polish and is Catholic. She is a wonderful, kind, and friendly lady. She and her daughter have been visiting almost since the new services began. She and her daughter both made a comment that they feel like crying during our services. Last Sunday, before the service, as we were talking, she said to me, “I am truly questioning my faith in the Catholic church, when I go there, I feel nothing, yet when I come here, I feel such joy and want to be so close to God!”
Please pray for her and for me, that God will help me to share the personal walk that Christ calls us to, and that no one comes to God, except through Him, and that there is no more sacrifice for sin; that He paid that price as the perfect and final sacrifice for the sin of the world and how He is the only mediator between man and God. I am here to share His love with any who will listen and with whom He is calling to a saving faith and walk with Him. Please pray for this lady and her family!
Allan has been very busy with Jerry and the Roma ministry. They are constantly having meetings, Bible studies, and outreach days, where they go to a new village and seek out the places where Roma live.
In the past couple of weeks, they have gone twice to a village where there are many Roma, and none of them know about Jesus. Please pray for this village of Charnov.
Allan wants me to go there with him on a day that we can just go prayer walking around the village. He talked (through a translator), with a man who had survived WWII and he told Allan and Jerry that the village used to be the home of over 15,000 Jews. This was half of the village population at that time, now there are none. How sad when entire villages are wiped out because Satan was given a foothold in people’s hearts and minds!!
The coffee house ministry is still making efforts to reach out to the young people of the city (young or not so young!!). There have been several who have come for the music and snacks, conversation and games, etc., but so far none seem to be very interested in the gospel, but thank God, He tells us His Word will not return void. Therefore, we have faith that the seeds planted will bring forth fruit in due season.
We must continue in the planting to have a harvest, so pray that we will faithfully continue to plant, even as it seems sometimes that it is not fruitful at the time, after all; how many of us can plant a seed and the same day see the fruit?
We are waiting on the Lord for many things. I, for one, must learn what I know to be true. Walk by faith and not by sight!
I am praying for so many people and so many things, and events, that I truly know the meaning of my signature verse; pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:17
Lora and Jim are in the midst of many concerns and changes in their life and the life of the children. As many of you may already know, Jim will be deployed this fall for, possibly Kuwait. Please pray for them as they make plans for this. The heartbreak of their dad leaving is one that I ask my Lord, daily, to help them through, as with Lora, seeing her husband leave again, and her left alone to care for the three boys. They are the age, where support and encouragement from their dad is crucial. Please pray for Jim, also, as he has to leave them all behind. Our God is able to do the most amazing things, and nothing is too big for Him to accomplish!!
Please also pray for Michael. He is seeking God’s will in finding someone to travel with him, someone who is a believer and who speaks both languages, and someone he can trust. I know that God will meet all his needs.
Pray for Allan as Jerry and his family go to the states for two months for a turn-around time. Pray for the Goss family as they go through the process of going state--side, physicals, travel, and all the many stresses that come with the paper work and plans to return to Krakow.
During the two months that Jerry and his family will be in America, Allan will take on the full responsibility of the Roma ministry. There will be IWC teams and another team from Romania coming to work here during that time. It will be Allan’s responsibility to find lodging, transportation, and all the logistics of the teams, until Jerry returns. Jerry has a lot of responsibilities and we (from our past work history!) know about the un-seen, behind the scenes responsibilities that a strategy coordinator has to do, in addition to the Bible studies, travel, meetings, etc.
I am in the process of doing a newsletter for the Krakow Team, Baltic Field, and one for the churches in America that Mark has asked me to do. If you like, I will send the Krakow letter to you each month. This would give you more information about the families here in this city. Each month, I plan to do a “Spotlight on…………..” using one family unit per month to share information about the family, their ministry, a bit about their history, etc.
A funny thing about the Weaver’s: remember when we were in East Asia and we occasionally shared a bit of humor about the funny (ridiculous!!) things that happen when you don’t know the language or other little incidents? Well, here goes!
Allan and I have been shopping at the little store nearby. As we were looking for detergent for the laundry, we saw an advertisement (all if Polish, of course!!). It was a promotion. We know that from the word “promicija!”
We happily made our purchase for the ‘detergent’ and washed our clothing for two months. Our clothes didn’t seem to be very clean, however. When you get older you often don’t connect the dots (my phrase for you just don’t get it!!) W ever rationalized the lack of suds by saying, “well, maybe it’s the environmental protection kind of detergent” (well that made no sense with black air in our lungs!!!)
Finally I went online (the dictionary has no word translation for brand names) to see if I could figure out what this stuff is.
I started laughing aloud. Allan said ok, “what’s so funny?”
I said, “well we have been washing our clothes for two months in fabric softener!”
We had noticed one good thing about the ‘detergent’ was the clothes were very soft! Isn’t that scary!!!!
Lord, help us as we age! I have to tell you we did have help in choosing this ‘detergent’! A friend’s daughter told us this is what her mom uses!!
Well, dear friends and family, I will close for today. I pray that the Lord will richly bless you and yours. If there is anyway we can pray for you, please let us know. We faithfully remember you each day, but if you have a specific request, please let us know. It’s an honor to pray for you!
“What does the LORD your GOD require of you, but to revere the LORD your GOD, to walk in all HIS ways, to love Him, and serve the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your being.” De.10: 12.
“For by your words, you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned and sentenced.” Matt.12: 37.
Choose your words carefully and wisely and wait for the LORD’S Blessings!
The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland
Feb.24, 2008
Two building in the Village: Old and NewMonday, January 28, 2008
Why God Chose Israel
Pictured Above: Allan, Sue, Isabella, John, Zosha, and Valdi. This is the wonderful, gracious, and loving family who hosted us as guests in their home in Poznan, during our time there for the Conference.
God chose Israel to be a ‘Nation of Royal Priests’ to be a witness and light to guide all the nations to God. When Israel failed, and broke the covenant with God, He took them into captivity. In their captivity, and in their redemption, His heart and His plan was always to show Himself as a God of great love for all His children, to lead them all to Himself and to salvation.
When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, he became a world -wide missionary, to carry out God’s plan for Israel and the nations of the world. The blessing God would give to the nations, including Israel, and through Israel, would be the written Word, and THE LIVING WORD! (The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us! John 1:14)
The law was given to the Jewish people to convict of sin, to show God’s character, as a testimony and a witness to the world.
When the Jewish nation broke God’s covenant, they broke HIS heart! The ones chosen to be a witness and light to the nations became idol worshippers, and like the pagans, the people did not want their God! They cursed God rather than desired to know Him. God sent His prophets again and again, to warn the Jewish people of their great sin and abominations toward God. He continually forgave them each time they repented. His love is boundless and His forgiveness is endless.
When Israel continued to disobey God, He told them, you will live in darkness and in exile! The consequences of their disobedience, was to be a lesson to the nations and to the Jewish nation, as well.
God keeps His promises to us, even when we fail to keep ours. When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish people thought it was all over. No! It was just beginning!! God’s plan to redeem the nations and the Jews was just beginning to teach salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and repent! Jesus told the Jews that they would be His witnesses through out Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world!
We must preach salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles! We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not the peace of the world, which is a good thing to pray for. Not for military peace, not through a peace treaty, nor peace policy, but the peace that ONLY comes through the Jewish nation knowing WHO JESUS really is. Jesus said, ‘you will not see Me, until you say, ‘blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!’”
The Jews MUST know Who Jesus is! Israel still needs to fulfill God’s call to them!
Pray for: Peace of Jerusalem, the peace only found IN the Prince of Peace!
Pray for: Behold Your God! Campaign in May being held in six cities in Israel.
Pray for Jews for Jesus in this campaign, for their protection and for the Jewish people to hear their words and believe the WORD of God, Jesus, the Messiah!
Pray for: Teams for this historic event!
Pray for: teams for Krakow Jewish festival this summer.
Pray for: The Christians to be in constant prayer for the Jews to come to know their God and His HOLY ONE, JESHUA!!!
Pray for: ‘Life from the Dead’ a group in Europe, involved in missions.
Pray for: the Catholic church here in Krakow and Poland.
Pray for the Poles to love their Jewish brothers and for renewal of relationships! Pray for the Jews to love the Poles, also!
Pray for: The Poles of Poland to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Pray for: the Jewish festival in Krakow this summer, for open eyes, ears, and heart of understanding.
Pray for: team Roma and for team Krakow.
Pray for: all the missionaries of Europe.
Pray for: support from home, both prayer and financial.
Pray for: the Olive Tree Organization, here in Poland, a group of believers who have a ministry to the Jewish people.
Pray for: Sue, and desire to serve God in a new Jewish ministry here in Krakow, or wherever he may lead.
Pray for: Allan and Jerry and their work with the Roma.
Pray for: the families of the missionaries, both here and those back in the states.
Pray for: Michael in East Asia, that God will bless his work there, for his traveling, health, and a trusted worker to come along side him to help with the work there.
Pray for: America, that our country will never forsake Israel!
Pray for: The president, both current and future, for God’s will in their life, to seek Him for His leadership and direction.
Pray for: Godly leaders in our government!
Pray for: God to prepare the soil of people’s hearts and minds.
Pray for: Mark and his leadership role and for his family.
Pray for: The Baptist Union, here in Poland.
Pray for: God’s perfect will in our life and ministry.
Thank Him for: Blessings, salvation, family, finances, prayer supporters, His WORD, for the missionaries, for the Jewish nation, from whom the Messiah came, for Lottie Moon, for so many wonderful and awesome blessings!
Thank Him for the young people who came here to join us here in our work!
When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, he became a world -wide missionary, to carry out God’s plan for Israel and the nations of the world. The blessing God would give to the nations, including Israel, and through Israel, would be the written Word, and THE LIVING WORD! (The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us! John 1:14)
The law was given to the Jewish people to convict of sin, to show God’s character, as a testimony and a witness to the world.
When the Jewish nation broke God’s covenant, they broke HIS heart! The ones chosen to be a witness and light to the nations became idol worshippers, and like the pagans, the people did not want their God! They cursed God rather than desired to know Him. God sent His prophets again and again, to warn the Jewish people of their great sin and abominations toward God. He continually forgave them each time they repented. His love is boundless and His forgiveness is endless.
When Israel continued to disobey God, He told them, you will live in darkness and in exile! The consequences of their disobedience, was to be a lesson to the nations and to the Jewish nation, as well.
God keeps His promises to us, even when we fail to keep ours. When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish people thought it was all over. No! It was just beginning!! God’s plan to redeem the nations and the Jews was just beginning to teach salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and repent! Jesus told the Jews that they would be His witnesses through out Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world!
We must preach salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles! We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not the peace of the world, which is a good thing to pray for. Not for military peace, not through a peace treaty, nor peace policy, but the peace that ONLY comes through the Jewish nation knowing WHO JESUS really is. Jesus said, ‘you will not see Me, until you say, ‘blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!’”
The Jews MUST know Who Jesus is! Israel still needs to fulfill God’s call to them!
Pray for: Peace of Jerusalem, the peace only found IN the Prince of Peace!
Pray for: Behold Your God! Campaign in May being held in six cities in Israel.
Pray for Jews for Jesus in this campaign, for their protection and for the Jewish people to hear their words and believe the WORD of God, Jesus, the Messiah!
Pray for: Teams for this historic event!
Pray for: teams for Krakow Jewish festival this summer.
Pray for: The Christians to be in constant prayer for the Jews to come to know their God and His HOLY ONE, JESHUA!!!
Pray for: ‘Life from the Dead’ a group in Europe, involved in missions.
Pray for: the Catholic church here in Krakow and Poland.
Pray for the Poles to love their Jewish brothers and for renewal of relationships! Pray for the Jews to love the Poles, also!
Pray for: The Poles of Poland to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Pray for: the Jewish festival in Krakow this summer, for open eyes, ears, and heart of understanding.
Pray for: team Roma and for team Krakow.
Pray for: all the missionaries of Europe.
Pray for: support from home, both prayer and financial.
Pray for: the Olive Tree Organization, here in Poland, a group of believers who have a ministry to the Jewish people.
Pray for: Sue, and desire to serve God in a new Jewish ministry here in Krakow, or wherever he may lead.
Pray for: Allan and Jerry and their work with the Roma.
Pray for: the families of the missionaries, both here and those back in the states.
Pray for: Michael in East Asia, that God will bless his work there, for his traveling, health, and a trusted worker to come along side him to help with the work there.
Pray for: America, that our country will never forsake Israel!
Pray for: The president, both current and future, for God’s will in their life, to seek Him for His leadership and direction.
Pray for: Godly leaders in our government!
Pray for: God to prepare the soil of people’s hearts and minds.
Pray for: Mark and his leadership role and for his family.
Pray for: The Baptist Union, here in Poland.
Pray for: God’s perfect will in our life and ministry.
Thank Him for: Blessings, salvation, family, finances, prayer supporters, His WORD, for the missionaries, for the Jewish nation, from whom the Messiah came, for Lottie Moon, for so many wonderful and awesome blessings!
Thank Him for the young people who came here to join us here in our work!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Prayer for Israel to Know Jeshua As the Messiah!
Greetings from Poland!
Allan and I just returned from the Jewish Conference in Poznan, Poland. God richly blessed us through the conference and through his many gracious children there!
If you are receiving this letter, it is because I consider that you are faithful in praying for the needs of the children of God!
I will post a bit of information on my blog: www.fishermensline.blogspot.com within the next couple of days. I wanted to write to you immediately, however, about an urgent prayer request that I encourage you to get everyone involved in that you possibly can!
In May of this year Jews for Jesus will hold a campaign in six cities in Israel. The campaigns have been held throughout many countries in the past, yet this is the very first time it is planned for Israel! The campaign is called "Behold Your God!" The teams will be in constant jeopardy during this time, Please pray for the safety of these Jewish Christians. Nothing like this has been done since Paul the Apostle, and we all know what Paul suffered for the sake of HIS name, Jeshua, the Messiah.
Please also pray for the Jewish people to know WHO the God of their Father's really is! Pray that they will come to know Peace through the Prince of Peace! There is no world peace and there will be no world peace, until the world knows The Prince of Peace!
Jesus told the Jewish people during His time here with us on earth, "you will NOT see Me again, until you say, 'blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Pray that the world will cry out, "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!!"
The Jewish people still have a broken covenant,( broken by them, NOT by God, Who is faithful, even in our unfaithfulness) to honor and keep with God. Until we all pray for the Salvation of the Jews through their (and our) Messiah, the Prince of Peace, that covenant will remain broken. We MUST pray for the salvation of the Jews. They are NOT automatically saved, salvation is through CHRIST ALONE, and we can not allow our concentration on the world being evangelized, to the exclusion of the Jews! To exclude the Jews would be to permit Satan to deceive us once again through anti-Semitism!
We need to pray for this mission of Jews for Jesus! We need to support their desire and commitment to make the Messiah-ship of Jesus known to their people.
Their covenant with God was to be a witness to the nations through their obedience to His statutes and commands, when this was broken by His chosen people, they became not a light, but a 'by-word' and a nation living in darkness and exile and persecution, according to the warnings they had been given through the prophets found in God's written, inspired Word.
Avi, from Jews for Jesus (European Director), preached messages regarding this. We all were asked to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Praying for political peace, etc. is good, but they need the Prince of Peace before any true peace will ever be found.
Please join me, and please ask the congregations to join in fervent, continual, prayer for this campaign in May, 2008! God is working in so many hearts and lives. This is my desire, that we pray as Christ wants us to pray for our Jewish family who are not yet IN the family of God in the way of salvation through Jesus the Messiah.
They have suffered much persecution. It is because of God's love for us that the Jewish nation was chosen. Just think...it could have been any other nation who had undergone such persecution, such dislike and disrespect if they had been the chosen people! We should be forever THANKFUL to the Jewish nation that they went through this for us! They were God's instrument for the written word and the Living Word which we have today!
Thank you so much for your fervent prayers for this undertaking. The Jews for Jesus are willing and aware that they may be in such danger for their lives! Please Pray!
Also, I truly desire that any support we can give as believers in Jesus would be most appreciated. You know, I have not been asked to say this, and I doubt in this world of 'political correctness' that this is even appropriate, and I know we have so many times given above and beyond, financially, but I believe with all my heart, that this campaign is so important to the entire world, that I am stepping outside of the boundaries of political correctness, doctrines, etc. to say that if anyone wishes and feels led to support this endeavor, you can go to the Jews for Jesus website; www.jewsforjesus.org to give to their organization. I also for the sake of political correctness add that any giving to anyone must be above and beyond your tithes to your local church, Lottie moon, etc. I read their newsletter and the work they are doing is truly God inspired!(and risky). When we find people who risk their lives, friends, and families, we need to support in any way we can and feel led.
Please write with any comments or questions!
In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
Sue
Allan and I just returned from the Jewish Conference in Poznan, Poland. God richly blessed us through the conference and through his many gracious children there!
If you are receiving this letter, it is because I consider that you are faithful in praying for the needs of the children of God!
I will post a bit of information on my blog: www.fishermensline.blogspot.com within the next couple of days. I wanted to write to you immediately, however, about an urgent prayer request that I encourage you to get everyone involved in that you possibly can!
In May of this year Jews for Jesus will hold a campaign in six cities in Israel. The campaigns have been held throughout many countries in the past, yet this is the very first time it is planned for Israel! The campaign is called "Behold Your God!" The teams will be in constant jeopardy during this time, Please pray for the safety of these Jewish Christians. Nothing like this has been done since Paul the Apostle, and we all know what Paul suffered for the sake of HIS name, Jeshua, the Messiah.
Please also pray for the Jewish people to know WHO the God of their Father's really is! Pray that they will come to know Peace through the Prince of Peace! There is no world peace and there will be no world peace, until the world knows The Prince of Peace!
Jesus told the Jewish people during His time here with us on earth, "you will NOT see Me again, until you say, 'blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Pray that the world will cry out, "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!!"
The Jewish people still have a broken covenant,( broken by them, NOT by God, Who is faithful, even in our unfaithfulness) to honor and keep with God. Until we all pray for the Salvation of the Jews through their (and our) Messiah, the Prince of Peace, that covenant will remain broken. We MUST pray for the salvation of the Jews. They are NOT automatically saved, salvation is through CHRIST ALONE, and we can not allow our concentration on the world being evangelized, to the exclusion of the Jews! To exclude the Jews would be to permit Satan to deceive us once again through anti-Semitism!
We need to pray for this mission of Jews for Jesus! We need to support their desire and commitment to make the Messiah-ship of Jesus known to their people.
Their covenant with God was to be a witness to the nations through their obedience to His statutes and commands, when this was broken by His chosen people, they became not a light, but a 'by-word' and a nation living in darkness and exile and persecution, according to the warnings they had been given through the prophets found in God's written, inspired Word.
Avi, from Jews for Jesus (European Director), preached messages regarding this. We all were asked to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Praying for political peace, etc. is good, but they need the Prince of Peace before any true peace will ever be found.
Please join me, and please ask the congregations to join in fervent, continual, prayer for this campaign in May, 2008! God is working in so many hearts and lives. This is my desire, that we pray as Christ wants us to pray for our Jewish family who are not yet IN the family of God in the way of salvation through Jesus the Messiah.
They have suffered much persecution. It is because of God's love for us that the Jewish nation was chosen. Just think...it could have been any other nation who had undergone such persecution, such dislike and disrespect if they had been the chosen people! We should be forever THANKFUL to the Jewish nation that they went through this for us! They were God's instrument for the written word and the Living Word which we have today!
Thank you so much for your fervent prayers for this undertaking. The Jews for Jesus are willing and aware that they may be in such danger for their lives! Please Pray!
Also, I truly desire that any support we can give as believers in Jesus would be most appreciated. You know, I have not been asked to say this, and I doubt in this world of 'political correctness' that this is even appropriate, and I know we have so many times given above and beyond, financially, but I believe with all my heart, that this campaign is so important to the entire world, that I am stepping outside of the boundaries of political correctness, doctrines, etc. to say that if anyone wishes and feels led to support this endeavor, you can go to the Jews for Jesus website; www.jewsforjesus.org to give to their organization. I also for the sake of political correctness add that any giving to anyone must be above and beyond your tithes to your local church, Lottie moon, etc. I read their newsletter and the work they are doing is truly God inspired!(and risky). When we find people who risk their lives, friends, and families, we need to support in any way we can and feel led.
Please write with any comments or questions!
In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
Sue
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Fishermensline December- Krakow!
Greetings from Krakow!
December has come and gone very quickly. The wonderful and festive days of anticipation filled with excitement, secrets, and wonder are already a memory. Moments of quiet recall make us smile and sigh, for yet another year has quietly slipped away.
In recalling December (here in Poland, called Grudzien), I have quite a few things to share with all of you back home.
Team Krakow made many plans for the month, one being a Christmas Party in which we would make flyers and invitations to announce our new Compass International Fellowship. In our new fellowship services we will have several worship songs, a testimony at each service, a brief message, scripture reading, a couple more songs, prayer time, and then a team meeting afterwards. The fellowship will have volunteer helpers for the very young children and infants during the meeting. We are welcoming all English-speaking people to attend (or multi-lingual, of course!). You may say to yourself, this sounds a lot like church! You would be correct. Since we can’t establish a church, we have a Christian Fellowship.
We are all looking forward to the fellowship times because it is such a blessing to worship God in our own language. We all love the Roma and Polish church, but of course, just as they need worship in their language, we do, as well.
This will make our already full Sundays, filled to running over with activity, but then we will appreciate Mondays more! You know very well, that no one has ever appreciated Mondays! Right?
We also planned a small Christmas party for the team so that everyone could get involved and enjoy time getting to know each other and having some fun time with games, good food, etc. We had a gift exchange and played the game where you may take another’s gift or choose from the tree. Having children’s gifts in the pot made it a lot of fun (hoping some one would take my gift of little toy cars!!). Thankfully, we have a five year old who eyed my little cars immediately. (wheeew) I chose someone else’s gift of Tabasco sauce for Allan and gee, I got to keep it!! He loves Tabasco on everything. You all probably remember that about him.
In the first Christmas Party for the CIF introduction, we had a lot of fun games, beautiful Christmas carols, and a little nativity play that even our team’s four month old played a part and was the ‘star’. Nathan Dowdy played baby Jesus, and he did a perfect job. The youth sang Silent Night as we recited Luke 2. The children did a fantastic job and I was very proud of them (especially since I was in charge of the play). I did a lot of praying you can be sure. During practice I had thought, “what have I gotten myself into?” God is so amazing!! He is forever glorified!
We did prayer walking around the city square and several blocks on the way there and back. We made a few trips to Zakopane and Tarno’v. These are cities where there are a few Roma villages. We had Bible study and prayer time with the Roma.
Ed and Ann Dayton, the couple I mentioned a few times before, graciously sent a check for the Roma for us to buy Christmas gifts for those under 15.
Allan and I shopped for the gifts and supplies, and the stores were so crowded that it was unbelievable. When it came time to check out, I kept letting people with only a few items in front of me, because we had so much in the carts.
It actually took three buying trips, but Jerry and Allan did the last one (PTL!). I never thought spending $500.00 could be so difficult! (hear that Lora??) It really CAN be difficult to spend money. We had to buy 53 toothbrushes and split them into age groups, etc. There were at least 53 children of varying ages to buy for. FUN, I say. Next year it will be more organized because this was an unexpected donation. Hopefully we can get any donations for Christmas in November or prior.
In addition to the above, Brenda and Jerry hosted their daughter’s wedding here in Krakow. It was quite an exciting time for the Goss family! Tara is getting married, Kristen coming also, from the states. Tara’s fiancée’s arrival, and all the activity going on for Christmas; well you can imagine the coordinating efforts involved.
Allan and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time. It was in a beautiful hotel in the center of Old Krakow (well all of it is old!) The food was good (it seems all we had done in Dec was eat!!!), and everything was perfect for the bride and groom. They left the following morning for 10 days in Italy. (WOW)
The MK’s had a retreat just after barely recovering from Christmas and the wedding. I understand that it was not only fun for them but very busy as well. They had to get up at four or five a.m. to get in all the fun possible in their three days time.
We had a very quiet Christmas ourselves. Mark, the S.A. for the Baltic Region, had family from the states over to visit. The Goss family were blessed to be together again (except for Tara on her honeymoon!), others on the team either left on trips to visit family or friends.
We had a visitor in town; and not wanting her to be alone on Christmas we invited her here for a small Christmas dinner. She is a missionary from farther north in Poland. We had a good time talking about missions. She had been in Asia in the past, so we had a few things in common.
As for the office work in which I am involved; I’m still learning (trying that is). I will do my best, of course, but I am still not really ‘office material’.
I just want to honor and glorify God in what ever I do and in any way that I can. Please pray for me about this.
The conference in Poznan: I am so excited and looking forward to that! I have learned that Avi, from Jews for Jesus has been invited to speak on two different topics. He sent an e-mail saying that he will talk about how to best pray for his people and the call of the Jewish people. Doesn’t that sound exciting!!! We are truly looking forward to this conference. At the wedding we talked to a guy named Richard (Allan had met him before), and when we mentioned the conference, he wanted information about it, so I believe he plans to attend. For us, that would be yet another blessing. He speaks fluent English and could help us with translations.
Health: although this will bring us into January, we certainly want to tell you these bits of information. Allan is so happy about the shoe inserts he received! His feet are painful most of the time when he walks. He appreciates these gifts so much and so do I.
Since we are already into January; we received the three boxes from FBI Church in Indialantic. God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of our heart. I opened the huge box of Charmin and I just about died with excitement and from laughing. You are amazing!
For those who aren’t aware: we got gourmet coffee of every known flavor, Caribou Coffee bars, energy bars, CHARMIN, Peter Pan by the dozens of jars, books, DVD’s, sweet n’ low, long johns, spices, more than I can say. It was so wonderful opening the boxes with all the treats and oh, yes!!! I got Jergens lotion! We can’t thank you enough. We love you, and hopefully, you know that.
Lora sent movies, cards, and sweet n’ low!! We will have enough to last our three years and enough to share with those who love these things as much as we do!
I have just been getting over my third bout of laryngitis. I have been coughing a lot. I went to a Polish Dr., who speaks a little English. He gave me a prescription for an inhaler for use for three or four days to see if it helps. He also prescribed some cough medicine and lozenges. He said if I don’t improve on this, I’d begin antibiotics (they don’t use them here as much as in the states). I had a 102-103 temperature through the day and all night on Tuesday with aches, etc. but it seems to be on the mend. It’s just not a good way to start your year.
Praise Him for His Faithfulness!
Praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace!
Praise Him for Our Family!
Praise Him for our Churches!
Praise Him for our Team here in Poland!
Praise Him for our Missionaries!
Praise Him for answered prayers!
Praise Him for the beauty of the Universe HE created for our pleasure!
Praise Him for His healing!
Praise Him for His Constant Presence!
Praise Him for His WORD!
Praise Him for the Lessons He teaches us!
Praise Him For He is Great and Greatly to be Praised!
Pray for Michael!
Pray for Lora and her family!
Pray for Health!
Pray for perseverance!
Pray for Poznan Conference!
Pray for the Roma!
Pray for this team in Krakow!
Pray for East Asia!
Pray for times of travel!
Pray for the New International Fellowship!
Pray for the Jewish Ministry!
Pray for our churches! Pray for each other!
Pray for our grandchildren!
Pray that we will see family soon!
Pray for Workers in the Harvest!
Pray that His WORD will be spread and the TRUTH be understood and Believed and accepted!
Please tell us HOW we can pray for you! You are so important to us, let us be part of sharing your burdens and taking them before the THRONE of GOD!
In Christ Alone My Hope is Found!
Sue and Allan
He said, “ Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”
December has come and gone very quickly. The wonderful and festive days of anticipation filled with excitement, secrets, and wonder are already a memory. Moments of quiet recall make us smile and sigh, for yet another year has quietly slipped away.
In recalling December (here in Poland, called Grudzien), I have quite a few things to share with all of you back home.
Team Krakow made many plans for the month, one being a Christmas Party in which we would make flyers and invitations to announce our new Compass International Fellowship. In our new fellowship services we will have several worship songs, a testimony at each service, a brief message, scripture reading, a couple more songs, prayer time, and then a team meeting afterwards. The fellowship will have volunteer helpers for the very young children and infants during the meeting. We are welcoming all English-speaking people to attend (or multi-lingual, of course!). You may say to yourself, this sounds a lot like church! You would be correct. Since we can’t establish a church, we have a Christian Fellowship.
We are all looking forward to the fellowship times because it is such a blessing to worship God in our own language. We all love the Roma and Polish church, but of course, just as they need worship in their language, we do, as well.
This will make our already full Sundays, filled to running over with activity, but then we will appreciate Mondays more! You know very well, that no one has ever appreciated Mondays! Right?
We also planned a small Christmas party for the team so that everyone could get involved and enjoy time getting to know each other and having some fun time with games, good food, etc. We had a gift exchange and played the game where you may take another’s gift or choose from the tree. Having children’s gifts in the pot made it a lot of fun (hoping some one would take my gift of little toy cars!!). Thankfully, we have a five year old who eyed my little cars immediately. (wheeew) I chose someone else’s gift of Tabasco sauce for Allan and gee, I got to keep it!! He loves Tabasco on everything. You all probably remember that about him.
In the first Christmas Party for the CIF introduction, we had a lot of fun games, beautiful Christmas carols, and a little nativity play that even our team’s four month old played a part and was the ‘star’. Nathan Dowdy played baby Jesus, and he did a perfect job. The youth sang Silent Night as we recited Luke 2. The children did a fantastic job and I was very proud of them (especially since I was in charge of the play). I did a lot of praying you can be sure. During practice I had thought, “what have I gotten myself into?” God is so amazing!! He is forever glorified!
We did prayer walking around the city square and several blocks on the way there and back. We made a few trips to Zakopane and Tarno’v. These are cities where there are a few Roma villages. We had Bible study and prayer time with the Roma.
Ed and Ann Dayton, the couple I mentioned a few times before, graciously sent a check for the Roma for us to buy Christmas gifts for those under 15.
Allan and I shopped for the gifts and supplies, and the stores were so crowded that it was unbelievable. When it came time to check out, I kept letting people with only a few items in front of me, because we had so much in the carts.
It actually took three buying trips, but Jerry and Allan did the last one (PTL!). I never thought spending $500.00 could be so difficult! (hear that Lora??) It really CAN be difficult to spend money. We had to buy 53 toothbrushes and split them into age groups, etc. There were at least 53 children of varying ages to buy for. FUN, I say. Next year it will be more organized because this was an unexpected donation. Hopefully we can get any donations for Christmas in November or prior.
In addition to the above, Brenda and Jerry hosted their daughter’s wedding here in Krakow. It was quite an exciting time for the Goss family! Tara is getting married, Kristen coming also, from the states. Tara’s fiancée’s arrival, and all the activity going on for Christmas; well you can imagine the coordinating efforts involved.
Allan and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time. It was in a beautiful hotel in the center of Old Krakow (well all of it is old!) The food was good (it seems all we had done in Dec was eat!!!), and everything was perfect for the bride and groom. They left the following morning for 10 days in Italy. (WOW)
The MK’s had a retreat just after barely recovering from Christmas and the wedding. I understand that it was not only fun for them but very busy as well. They had to get up at four or five a.m. to get in all the fun possible in their three days time.
We had a very quiet Christmas ourselves. Mark, the S.A. for the Baltic Region, had family from the states over to visit. The Goss family were blessed to be together again (except for Tara on her honeymoon!), others on the team either left on trips to visit family or friends.
We had a visitor in town; and not wanting her to be alone on Christmas we invited her here for a small Christmas dinner. She is a missionary from farther north in Poland. We had a good time talking about missions. She had been in Asia in the past, so we had a few things in common.
As for the office work in which I am involved; I’m still learning (trying that is). I will do my best, of course, but I am still not really ‘office material’.
I just want to honor and glorify God in what ever I do and in any way that I can. Please pray for me about this.
The conference in Poznan: I am so excited and looking forward to that! I have learned that Avi, from Jews for Jesus has been invited to speak on two different topics. He sent an e-mail saying that he will talk about how to best pray for his people and the call of the Jewish people. Doesn’t that sound exciting!!! We are truly looking forward to this conference. At the wedding we talked to a guy named Richard (Allan had met him before), and when we mentioned the conference, he wanted information about it, so I believe he plans to attend. For us, that would be yet another blessing. He speaks fluent English and could help us with translations.
Health: although this will bring us into January, we certainly want to tell you these bits of information. Allan is so happy about the shoe inserts he received! His feet are painful most of the time when he walks. He appreciates these gifts so much and so do I.
Since we are already into January; we received the three boxes from FBI Church in Indialantic. God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of our heart. I opened the huge box of Charmin and I just about died with excitement and from laughing. You are amazing!
For those who aren’t aware: we got gourmet coffee of every known flavor, Caribou Coffee bars, energy bars, CHARMIN, Peter Pan by the dozens of jars, books, DVD’s, sweet n’ low, long johns, spices, more than I can say. It was so wonderful opening the boxes with all the treats and oh, yes!!! I got Jergens lotion! We can’t thank you enough. We love you, and hopefully, you know that.
Lora sent movies, cards, and sweet n’ low!! We will have enough to last our three years and enough to share with those who love these things as much as we do!
I have just been getting over my third bout of laryngitis. I have been coughing a lot. I went to a Polish Dr., who speaks a little English. He gave me a prescription for an inhaler for use for three or four days to see if it helps. He also prescribed some cough medicine and lozenges. He said if I don’t improve on this, I’d begin antibiotics (they don’t use them here as much as in the states). I had a 102-103 temperature through the day and all night on Tuesday with aches, etc. but it seems to be on the mend. It’s just not a good way to start your year.
Praise Him for His Faithfulness!
Praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace!
Praise Him for Our Family!
Praise Him for our Churches!
Praise Him for our Team here in Poland!
Praise Him for our Missionaries!
Praise Him for answered prayers!
Praise Him for the beauty of the Universe HE created for our pleasure!
Praise Him for His healing!
Praise Him for His Constant Presence!
Praise Him for His WORD!
Praise Him for the Lessons He teaches us!
Praise Him For He is Great and Greatly to be Praised!
Pray for Michael!
Pray for Lora and her family!
Pray for Health!
Pray for perseverance!
Pray for Poznan Conference!
Pray for the Roma!
Pray for this team in Krakow!
Pray for East Asia!
Pray for times of travel!
Pray for the New International Fellowship!
Pray for the Jewish Ministry!
Pray for our churches! Pray for each other!
Pray for our grandchildren!
Pray that we will see family soon!
Pray for Workers in the Harvest!
Pray that His WORD will be spread and the TRUTH be understood and Believed and accepted!
Please tell us HOW we can pray for you! You are so important to us, let us be part of sharing your burdens and taking them before the THRONE of GOD!
In Christ Alone My Hope is Found!
Sue and Allan
He said, “ Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Dec. Fishermens Line
http://www.fishermensline.blogspot.com/ Fishing in Poland!!
Greetings!
Have you ever been ice fishing? Today is a chilly 30 degrees here in Krakow, but I notice that it’s an even chillier 28 degrees in Michigan, where Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, live!
We always watch the weather on our pc desktop to monitor Lora and family and Michael, in his tropical 75 degrees!
Today is one of the busiest days of the week for us. Sundays we have two church services, travel to and from one house church, which is about two hours drive each way, then a meeting of the entire Krakow team at the end of the day! So much for rest! Therefore, we usually have our rest time, when possible, on Friday.
I’ll try to update everyone on our developments over the past month. My office helper, Ann, will not be coming to the field, most likely. She and her husband, Ed, still plan a short trip, maybe this summer. Ed just this past week (on the 6th of Dec.) had a tumor removed from his brain. It apparently was non-malignant, thankfully. They just don’t think it’s very likely they will come here to stay. Please be praying for Ed and Ann.
Another note about this lovely couple (whom we have only met once, and love them both dearly); they have donated a gift for the purchase of Christmas presents for the Roma children. Brenda, her daughters, and I will be doing the shopping for these gifts. Most likely, it will go for much needed items, and maybe a small treat that the children will appreciate.
Michael is very busy traveling for about a week at a time. He tells us he gets a big kick out of people thinking about him being in a beautiful, tropical island, with monster surf, and beautiful women! He has seen the beach once! He says knowing the waves are so big, is absolute torture, not being able to even see them! He says, ‘it’s so different than how I used to be, when surf was up, I was there, and now, I’m being so responsible!” Allan told him, “We all have our cross to bear!”
I have been telling him that he will have a time of R&R, and that he’ll be able to do that, Lord willing, of course. Anyway, he’s doing great and still loving his work for the Lord. Pray for him and for the lost souls of his area.
Lora tells us that she put up her Christmas tree. I haven’t seen a picture of it yet (Lora?!), but she always does a beautiful tree. This year it is filled with natural decorations, pine cones, etc.
I have been in touch with one of the representatives for Jews for Jesus, here in the European region. Allan and I are hoping to meet him at the conference in Poznan, in January. I am still not sure where God will take this desire to minister to the Jewish people of Poland, but He has already placed several people in my life, that are even connected to each other, across oceans and country boundaries!
It seems by our conversation on Skype, that he knows the lady here in Poland that I have been in touch with through e-mail! When we discovered this, it was clear that it was God at work.
Allan and Jerry are hard at work with the Roma people. They have a Bible study on Tuesday and Thursday evening. They also attend the 3rd Baptist Church on Sundays (the Roma), and they often try to attend the house church in Tarno’v.
Last Saturday we attended another baptism of 5 Roma and 3 Polish believers. It is a blessing to see them follow Jesus’ example of obedience to be baptized.
The really wonderful thing that happened on that Saturday, was that the pastor of the Baptist church in this nearby town (about 45 min. away from Krakow), wants to get involved in a Roma outreach! He said it was a divine intervention that Allan and Jerry came there. He told Allan that the little city is full of Roma. Allan asked if there are any Roma believers there, and he said, “not even one, that I know of!” Please pray for this opportunity to further this outreach of this persecuted people. Please also pray for this pastor, who has such a heart. He seems to be most humble! Also pray for his church and the believers that they, too, will share his vision of reaching these people.
Most of the Roma are too poor to tithe much, but they contribute greatly to the church’s ministry. They usually struggle with daily survival in a world of extremely high costs of living, and no healthcare, very little government aid, etc.
Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife Susie, have family here for the rest of Dec. Jerry and Brenda, have their two daughters here from the states. One of the daughters, Tara, is getting married on the 21st. Her fiancée’ Will, is here also. We will attend Tara and Will’s wedding and after the ceremony, they will fly to Rome for 10 days then back to America.
I’m not sure what Allan and I will be doing for Christmas. We will miss our family so much, that I am hoping we can take a drive to somewhere nearby. I was hoping Austria for only a night or two, but it’s about 8 hours drive. I’m not sure we would have the time. If not, then maybe we can make a trip to Zakopane. Zakopane is in the Tatra’s, part of the Carpathian Mountain Range. It’s a beautiful little ski village and will be completely decorated for Christmas. I don’t think I’d get on skis, however, but a ride on the lift should be safe enough for my bones!
We are having a Christmas party on the 16th to announce the opening of the New International Fellowship here in Krakow. Please pray for this fellowship! It will be our worship time in our own language, and wow!, do we ever need that!
It will be an English-speaking fellowship, and we’ll have music and a message that we can understand. I know, more than ever what Paul is talking about when he talks about someone in the congregation who cannot understand without an interpreter. If there is no interpreter, how can one be edified?
Usually, in the services, we can pick out a word or two, and if we listen extremely carefully, we may be able to tell what book and chapter they are reading from! The numbers here are very long and they speak rapidly. It’s very difficult to understand, so often, someone (usually Jerry) will lean over and whisper to us which book, chapter and verse, so we can at least follow in our own Bible. Please pray for us in this too!
I believe that is about all for this month. Oh, one more thing though. The office is pretty well set up. We also have two or three rooms where guests can stay. If anyone wants to come for a mission trip, visit, etc. we can accommodate you with bed and breakfast at least! Allan and I will also have one extra room. Everyone here would be happy to help out to keep expenses down.
Please pray about sending a small group in July for the Roma camp! There is much to do and if anyone has musical skills of any kind, it would be awesome to have you help out! Please pray, also, that Lora, Jim, and the boys can come over this summer! Ryan wants to be here for the Roma camp, to help us with that. They also want to return to Lake Ann Camp this summer. I’m praying that this will all work out. (Ps.37:4-5!!!)
Thank you so much for your prayers, and we both want to know, how can we pray for you? Please let us know. We will certainly pray! Pray for our prayer team, that we will be faithful in intercessory prayer! Prayer is our foundation, and all work must be based on His plan and direction!
God bless you one and all! Have a wonderful Christmas! (Lu.2:1-16). John 12:27.
I have inserted two or three pictures of Zakopane. This is where we go to visit with Roma believers. There are several towns and villages where there are believers, thanks to LOTTIE MOON and the generous gifts of the believers back in America. Pray for LOTTIE MOON offering this year. Pray that the offerings will exceed beyond our imagination. We know, first hand, what this Christmas offering accomplishes worldwide. God uses this wonderful offering to spread His Word to those who are lost and desperate and without hope. LOTTIE MOON makes visiting villages and nearly impossible to reach, out of the way places, possible! LOTTIE MOON gives missionaries all over the world a chance to do HIS work un-hindered, as it should be done!
Please prayerfully consider your giving this year! Please remember what Jesus meant when HE said in Matthew 24:14 “and this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL Nations; and then the end shall come”
In His Great Unfailing Love,
Sue and Allan
Greetings!
Have you ever been ice fishing? Today is a chilly 30 degrees here in Krakow, but I notice that it’s an even chillier 28 degrees in Michigan, where Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, live!
We always watch the weather on our pc desktop to monitor Lora and family and Michael, in his tropical 75 degrees!
Today is one of the busiest days of the week for us. Sundays we have two church services, travel to and from one house church, which is about two hours drive each way, then a meeting of the entire Krakow team at the end of the day! So much for rest! Therefore, we usually have our rest time, when possible, on Friday.
I’ll try to update everyone on our developments over the past month. My office helper, Ann, will not be coming to the field, most likely. She and her husband, Ed, still plan a short trip, maybe this summer. Ed just this past week (on the 6th of Dec.) had a tumor removed from his brain. It apparently was non-malignant, thankfully. They just don’t think it’s very likely they will come here to stay. Please be praying for Ed and Ann.
Another note about this lovely couple (whom we have only met once, and love them both dearly); they have donated a gift for the purchase of Christmas presents for the Roma children. Brenda, her daughters, and I will be doing the shopping for these gifts. Most likely, it will go for much needed items, and maybe a small treat that the children will appreciate.
Michael is very busy traveling for about a week at a time. He tells us he gets a big kick out of people thinking about him being in a beautiful, tropical island, with monster surf, and beautiful women! He has seen the beach once! He says knowing the waves are so big, is absolute torture, not being able to even see them! He says, ‘it’s so different than how I used to be, when surf was up, I was there, and now, I’m being so responsible!” Allan told him, “We all have our cross to bear!”
I have been telling him that he will have a time of R&R, and that he’ll be able to do that, Lord willing, of course. Anyway, he’s doing great and still loving his work for the Lord. Pray for him and for the lost souls of his area.
Lora tells us that she put up her Christmas tree. I haven’t seen a picture of it yet (Lora?!), but she always does a beautiful tree. This year it is filled with natural decorations, pine cones, etc.
I have been in touch with one of the representatives for Jews for Jesus, here in the European region. Allan and I are hoping to meet him at the conference in Poznan, in January. I am still not sure where God will take this desire to minister to the Jewish people of Poland, but He has already placed several people in my life, that are even connected to each other, across oceans and country boundaries!
It seems by our conversation on Skype, that he knows the lady here in Poland that I have been in touch with through e-mail! When we discovered this, it was clear that it was God at work.
Allan and Jerry are hard at work with the Roma people. They have a Bible study on Tuesday and Thursday evening. They also attend the 3rd Baptist Church on Sundays (the Roma), and they often try to attend the house church in Tarno’v.
Last Saturday we attended another baptism of 5 Roma and 3 Polish believers. It is a blessing to see them follow Jesus’ example of obedience to be baptized.
The really wonderful thing that happened on that Saturday, was that the pastor of the Baptist church in this nearby town (about 45 min. away from Krakow), wants to get involved in a Roma outreach! He said it was a divine intervention that Allan and Jerry came there. He told Allan that the little city is full of Roma. Allan asked if there are any Roma believers there, and he said, “not even one, that I know of!” Please pray for this opportunity to further this outreach of this persecuted people. Please also pray for this pastor, who has such a heart. He seems to be most humble! Also pray for his church and the believers that they, too, will share his vision of reaching these people.
Most of the Roma are too poor to tithe much, but they contribute greatly to the church’s ministry. They usually struggle with daily survival in a world of extremely high costs of living, and no healthcare, very little government aid, etc.
Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife Susie, have family here for the rest of Dec. Jerry and Brenda, have their two daughters here from the states. One of the daughters, Tara, is getting married on the 21st. Her fiancée’ Will, is here also. We will attend Tara and Will’s wedding and after the ceremony, they will fly to Rome for 10 days then back to America.
I’m not sure what Allan and I will be doing for Christmas. We will miss our family so much, that I am hoping we can take a drive to somewhere nearby. I was hoping Austria for only a night or two, but it’s about 8 hours drive. I’m not sure we would have the time. If not, then maybe we can make a trip to Zakopane. Zakopane is in the Tatra’s, part of the Carpathian Mountain Range. It’s a beautiful little ski village and will be completely decorated for Christmas. I don’t think I’d get on skis, however, but a ride on the lift should be safe enough for my bones!
We are having a Christmas party on the 16th to announce the opening of the New International Fellowship here in Krakow. Please pray for this fellowship! It will be our worship time in our own language, and wow!, do we ever need that!
It will be an English-speaking fellowship, and we’ll have music and a message that we can understand. I know, more than ever what Paul is talking about when he talks about someone in the congregation who cannot understand without an interpreter. If there is no interpreter, how can one be edified?
Usually, in the services, we can pick out a word or two, and if we listen extremely carefully, we may be able to tell what book and chapter they are reading from! The numbers here are very long and they speak rapidly. It’s very difficult to understand, so often, someone (usually Jerry) will lean over and whisper to us which book, chapter and verse, so we can at least follow in our own Bible. Please pray for us in this too!
I believe that is about all for this month. Oh, one more thing though. The office is pretty well set up. We also have two or three rooms where guests can stay. If anyone wants to come for a mission trip, visit, etc. we can accommodate you with bed and breakfast at least! Allan and I will also have one extra room. Everyone here would be happy to help out to keep expenses down.
Please pray about sending a small group in July for the Roma camp! There is much to do and if anyone has musical skills of any kind, it would be awesome to have you help out! Please pray, also, that Lora, Jim, and the boys can come over this summer! Ryan wants to be here for the Roma camp, to help us with that. They also want to return to Lake Ann Camp this summer. I’m praying that this will all work out. (Ps.37:4-5!!!)
Thank you so much for your prayers, and we both want to know, how can we pray for you? Please let us know. We will certainly pray! Pray for our prayer team, that we will be faithful in intercessory prayer! Prayer is our foundation, and all work must be based on His plan and direction!
God bless you one and all! Have a wonderful Christmas! (Lu.2:1-16). John 12:27.
I have inserted two or three pictures of Zakopane. This is where we go to visit with Roma believers. There are several towns and villages where there are believers, thanks to LOTTIE MOON and the generous gifts of the believers back in America. Pray for LOTTIE MOON offering this year. Pray that the offerings will exceed beyond our imagination. We know, first hand, what this Christmas offering accomplishes worldwide. God uses this wonderful offering to spread His Word to those who are lost and desperate and without hope. LOTTIE MOON makes visiting villages and nearly impossible to reach, out of the way places, possible! LOTTIE MOON gives missionaries all over the world a chance to do HIS work un-hindered, as it should be done!
Please prayerfully consider your giving this year! Please remember what Jesus meant when HE said in Matthew 24:14 “and this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL Nations; and then the end shall come”
In His Great Unfailing Love,
Sue and Allan
Matt. 4:19
Pray for Discernment Praise Him for His Mercy!
Pray for our family Praise Him for He is Great!
Pray for the people of Poland Praise Him for His Blessings!
Pray for the Jewish People Praise Him for new believers!
Pray for the Roma Praise Him for Answers!
Pray for Discernment Praise Him for His Mercy!
Pray for our family Praise Him for He is Great!
Pray for the people of Poland Praise Him for His Blessings!
Pray for the Jewish People Praise Him for new believers!
Pray for the Roma Praise Him for Answers!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Fishers of Men
As I have contemplated my Fishermens Line ( now I must apologize because I have contemplated this for quite some time!), I realize that not weeks but months have gone by and so very quickly!
I will do my best to update the past weeks and inform you of the anticipated events of the coming weeks as well.
Let me go back to May. On the 8th of May we had the great pleasure of our son, Michael, coming to spend the summer with us. Michael is now in orientation in Virginia preparing for the field in October. (II Timothy 2:2 and II Timothy 2:15)
During Michael's time here we had many wonderful times together. We enjoyed a summer concert in the park. The concert was in Midland, Michigan. The weather was near perfect. The Christian musicians were wonderful and inspirational, the worship was fantastic. Ryan and Ian attended the concert with us (and Allan, of course!).
We worked on the house, went to a couple of movies, had cook-outs, dinner at Lora's a few times, sleep-overs with the grandsons, celebrated Michael and Allan's birthdays, took short trips ,shopped at local orchards...and oh, yes, Michael and I picked strawberries at a local strawberry farm! What fun that was! Michael made smoothies for us (several times) and we still have strawberries left in the freezer!
We have had many evenings of just sitting around talking about our upcoming journey (Michael to Asia and us to Poland). Michael took the boys (Ryan, Ian, and Zane) to Bertha Brock Park to run and swim with Cane (Michael's dog). They played basketball,played miniature golf, saw a baseball game, and Michael and Ryan went to a concert in Grand Rapids.
Shortly after Michael arrived we had to leave for a trip to Oregon to see Allan's sister. We had tickets to fly to Portland, Or. We spent ten very much needed restful days there....well, Allan certainly needed them!!
Allan fished on the Columbia River and wonder of wonders...he caught an eleven foot sturgeon!! He fought it for over two hours! He was so exhausted by the time the fish finally gave up! I prayed for him to pull it in, mostly for all the hard work he's been doing on this house...I felt so strongly that he just needed a little reward like that (you can't keep a sturgeon that big, but for Allan, it's all about the sport, anyway). Anyway, God allowed this wonderful gift for him and I'm so happy about it. The best part of it all, is the witness that Allan gave before his sister and her husband, Ed: "it wasn't me, it was God that allowed it! He gave me the strength to keep fighting with the fish and pull it in."
We had a great time in Oregon. We passed field after field of the most beautiful, vividly bright colored Iris's. They were deep reds, oranges, purples, lavenders, yellows and whites. As far as you could see, the colors blazed in the sunlight. The mountains were so beautiful! On the Columbia River, you are near an area where you can see Washington's Mt. Rainier and to me, that's always an awesome sight.
We went to one of my favorite places in Oregon; Newport Beach on the coast. It was much busier than when I had seen it a few years ago. This time it was bustling with summer activity...last time I saw it, there was very little activity, it was very cold and foggy, misty, and winter was in the air.
As we returned to Portland, Michigan and our family, I was happy to be home again.....back to my grand babies, Lora, Michael, and Jim...and back to work on the house and at the hospital (well, maybe not so glad to be back at the hospital). Although I still love nursing, I'm not that crazy about this hospital.
Lora and I had a very special time going to "The Melting Pot" for a ladies dinner night out. It was wonderfully delicious. We had such a good relaxing time just talking and talking more! I always enjoy spending time with her. She needed the quiet time away. Uncle 'Mikey' watched Ryan, Ian, and Zane for her. He stayed the night and even cooked breakfast for everyone the next morning! What a great uncle...they miss him already!
Jim is now in Oklahoma for training for the reserves. Please pray for him during this time away from his family. We miss him, terribly. The boys and Lora want him home, so we hope this happens soon! Pray for his knee. He's been having some pain since doing all the running required for physical training. Pray for strength and to be pain free! Pray for his witness among the other military men. He was able (very blessed!) to lead someone to Christ during his time there...it makes me think of Paul in Rome (under so- called house arrest, which I prefer to think of as God's protective custody, as he preached the WORD boldly in chains!), so while Jim is training; may he speak the WORD of GOD boldly to his friends and co-laborers of the reserves, and redeem wisely, his time there in Oklahoma!
This month (August) we signed a contract with a local realtor, Randy Sandborn (please pray for Randy as he tries to sell the house!!). We have had some pictures in the paper, but since it's still not completely finished, it's difficult to show everything.
You know, this house has taken about a year, now. Let me tell you why:
The long, hard, cold, windy, wet, snowy winter. The fact that Allan has been doing all the work himself.....NO sub-contractors at all! Well there was one, the drywaller (Allan hates doing drywall). Allan has done the plans, the layout, the permits, the foundation, the walls, the roof and roofing, the garage, the entire framing, trim, electrical system, plumbing system, air conditioner/heating system, painting, cabinets, tile, wood flooring, deck, fireplace and mantle,the entire house with very minimal help. He was up on the roof (not only building the roof, but roofing it, too,) in some pretty scary weather!
He is the hardest most dedicated worker I have ever known. Anyone who knows Allan, knows this about him. God has certainly blessed him with not only a wide variety of skills, but also with a love of hard work, intelligence, and common sense. Many times through the cold to freezing winter days, I have questioned this common sense....but I am so thankful to God for my husband and his desire to accomplish whatever he feels that God has set before him to do.
Our 40th anniversary will soon be here (Sept.1, 1967!!!), and over the years of our marriage, I have had many people tell me what a hard worker Allan is, and I tell them: "You don't know but half of it, I know better than anyone how hard he has worked and how determined and dedicated he is! I thank God for him everyday!"
You know this didn't start out to be a newsletter dedicated to my husband and how special he is, but maybe this is what God has led me to say. My family has always been the heart of my world. God has blessed us with two beautiful and precious children, a wonderful son in law, who is like a son to us, and three beautiful and precious little grandsons.
He has blessed us with family all over the world. He has given us, not a hundred fold, but a thousand fold in loved ones!
Now for the plans that are upcoming, Lord willing! Michael plans to return to Michigan for one night to pick up the rest of his luggage and will depart from Detroit on October 4th. PLEASE pray for him! Pray without ceasing!
He will be in his new home away on October 6th. Pray for his safety, protection, witness, lost souls to be led to him for hearing the Word through the Holy Spirit. Pray for his health. Pray for discernment.
The day after Michael leaves from Detroit, we will leave from Lansing. We'll fly to Chicago then on to Germany, then to Krakow. PLEASE pray for Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane as we leave them back home to carry on here. Pray for peace that passes all understanding...the peace that only Jesus Christ can give to us! Pray for their health, their safety, pray that they will be able to come see us! Pray for us for safe travel, for lost souls who seek to know the truth will learn that there is only ONE way and that is through Jesus...that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Pray for Asia and for Europe! Pray for us as we carry out the Lord's Plan in Krakow!!!
Pray for us as we try to sell our 'stuff' once again! Pray for our witness; that we WILL always be salt and light! Pray that we will walk worthy of the calling! Rejoice always in the Lord! Pray without ceasing!
And HE saith unto them, "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matt.4:19
In His Great Love,
sue
The Fishermens Line
I will do my best to update the past weeks and inform you of the anticipated events of the coming weeks as well.
Let me go back to May. On the 8th of May we had the great pleasure of our son, Michael, coming to spend the summer with us. Michael is now in orientation in Virginia preparing for the field in October. (II Timothy 2:2 and II Timothy 2:15)
During Michael's time here we had many wonderful times together. We enjoyed a summer concert in the park. The concert was in Midland, Michigan. The weather was near perfect. The Christian musicians were wonderful and inspirational, the worship was fantastic. Ryan and Ian attended the concert with us (and Allan, of course!).
We worked on the house, went to a couple of movies, had cook-outs, dinner at Lora's a few times, sleep-overs with the grandsons, celebrated Michael and Allan's birthdays, took short trips ,shopped at local orchards...and oh, yes, Michael and I picked strawberries at a local strawberry farm! What fun that was! Michael made smoothies for us (several times) and we still have strawberries left in the freezer!
We have had many evenings of just sitting around talking about our upcoming journey (Michael to Asia and us to Poland). Michael took the boys (Ryan, Ian, and Zane) to Bertha Brock Park to run and swim with Cane (Michael's dog). They played basketball,played miniature golf, saw a baseball game, and Michael and Ryan went to a concert in Grand Rapids.
Shortly after Michael arrived we had to leave for a trip to Oregon to see Allan's sister. We had tickets to fly to Portland, Or. We spent ten very much needed restful days there....well, Allan certainly needed them!!
Allan fished on the Columbia River and wonder of wonders...he caught an eleven foot sturgeon!! He fought it for over two hours! He was so exhausted by the time the fish finally gave up! I prayed for him to pull it in, mostly for all the hard work he's been doing on this house...I felt so strongly that he just needed a little reward like that (you can't keep a sturgeon that big, but for Allan, it's all about the sport, anyway). Anyway, God allowed this wonderful gift for him and I'm so happy about it. The best part of it all, is the witness that Allan gave before his sister and her husband, Ed: "it wasn't me, it was God that allowed it! He gave me the strength to keep fighting with the fish and pull it in."
We had a great time in Oregon. We passed field after field of the most beautiful, vividly bright colored Iris's. They were deep reds, oranges, purples, lavenders, yellows and whites. As far as you could see, the colors blazed in the sunlight. The mountains were so beautiful! On the Columbia River, you are near an area where you can see Washington's Mt. Rainier and to me, that's always an awesome sight.
We went to one of my favorite places in Oregon; Newport Beach on the coast. It was much busier than when I had seen it a few years ago. This time it was bustling with summer activity...last time I saw it, there was very little activity, it was very cold and foggy, misty, and winter was in the air.
As we returned to Portland, Michigan and our family, I was happy to be home again.....back to my grand babies, Lora, Michael, and Jim...and back to work on the house and at the hospital (well, maybe not so glad to be back at the hospital). Although I still love nursing, I'm not that crazy about this hospital.
Lora and I had a very special time going to "The Melting Pot" for a ladies dinner night out. It was wonderfully delicious. We had such a good relaxing time just talking and talking more! I always enjoy spending time with her. She needed the quiet time away. Uncle 'Mikey' watched Ryan, Ian, and Zane for her. He stayed the night and even cooked breakfast for everyone the next morning! What a great uncle...they miss him already!
Jim is now in Oklahoma for training for the reserves. Please pray for him during this time away from his family. We miss him, terribly. The boys and Lora want him home, so we hope this happens soon! Pray for his knee. He's been having some pain since doing all the running required for physical training. Pray for strength and to be pain free! Pray for his witness among the other military men. He was able (very blessed!) to lead someone to Christ during his time there...it makes me think of Paul in Rome (under so- called house arrest, which I prefer to think of as God's protective custody, as he preached the WORD boldly in chains!), so while Jim is training; may he speak the WORD of GOD boldly to his friends and co-laborers of the reserves, and redeem wisely, his time there in Oklahoma!
This month (August) we signed a contract with a local realtor, Randy Sandborn (please pray for Randy as he tries to sell the house!!). We have had some pictures in the paper, but since it's still not completely finished, it's difficult to show everything.
You know, this house has taken about a year, now. Let me tell you why:
The long, hard, cold, windy, wet, snowy winter. The fact that Allan has been doing all the work himself.....NO sub-contractors at all! Well there was one, the drywaller (Allan hates doing drywall). Allan has done the plans, the layout, the permits, the foundation, the walls, the roof and roofing, the garage, the entire framing, trim, electrical system, plumbing system, air conditioner/heating system, painting, cabinets, tile, wood flooring, deck, fireplace and mantle,the entire house with very minimal help. He was up on the roof (not only building the roof, but roofing it, too,) in some pretty scary weather!
He is the hardest most dedicated worker I have ever known. Anyone who knows Allan, knows this about him. God has certainly blessed him with not only a wide variety of skills, but also with a love of hard work, intelligence, and common sense. Many times through the cold to freezing winter days, I have questioned this common sense....but I am so thankful to God for my husband and his desire to accomplish whatever he feels that God has set before him to do.
Our 40th anniversary will soon be here (Sept.1, 1967!!!), and over the years of our marriage, I have had many people tell me what a hard worker Allan is, and I tell them: "You don't know but half of it, I know better than anyone how hard he has worked and how determined and dedicated he is! I thank God for him everyday!"
You know this didn't start out to be a newsletter dedicated to my husband and how special he is, but maybe this is what God has led me to say. My family has always been the heart of my world. God has blessed us with two beautiful and precious children, a wonderful son in law, who is like a son to us, and three beautiful and precious little grandsons.
He has blessed us with family all over the world. He has given us, not a hundred fold, but a thousand fold in loved ones!
Now for the plans that are upcoming, Lord willing! Michael plans to return to Michigan for one night to pick up the rest of his luggage and will depart from Detroit on October 4th. PLEASE pray for him! Pray without ceasing!
He will be in his new home away on October 6th. Pray for his safety, protection, witness, lost souls to be led to him for hearing the Word through the Holy Spirit. Pray for his health. Pray for discernment.
The day after Michael leaves from Detroit, we will leave from Lansing. We'll fly to Chicago then on to Germany, then to Krakow. PLEASE pray for Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane as we leave them back home to carry on here. Pray for peace that passes all understanding...the peace that only Jesus Christ can give to us! Pray for their health, their safety, pray that they will be able to come see us! Pray for us for safe travel, for lost souls who seek to know the truth will learn that there is only ONE way and that is through Jesus...that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Pray for Asia and for Europe! Pray for us as we carry out the Lord's Plan in Krakow!!!
Pray for us as we try to sell our 'stuff' once again! Pray for our witness; that we WILL always be salt and light! Pray that we will walk worthy of the calling! Rejoice always in the Lord! Pray without ceasing!
And HE saith unto them, "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matt.4:19
In His Great Love,
sue
The Fishermens Line
Thursday, May 03, 2007
How Times Have Changed!
Can you believe this is the Weaver family? How many years ago do you think this was taken?
The sunset was at our condo in Melbourne Beach in 2003. Isn't it just beautiful!! Our God is such an artist and what landscapes He has created in His divine love for us. Can you imagine what heaven must be like! I can only imagine that it is un-imaginable! When I see the beauty of His creation on earth and in the skies and seas...I long for heaven more than words can ever tell.
I just finished reading the book "90 Minutes in Heaven". It was a truly wonderful book that made me cry like a baby most of the time. How much suffering the author, Don, must have gone through, and such after experiencing heaven for 90 minutes! It reminded me of Paul, and Jesus telling him "what things he must suffer for my name's sake", and also of Paul telling of the man he knew who had been to heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, he did not know), and how he saw things un-speakable and was given the thorn in his side to keep him humble after being so honored as to get a glimpse of heaven.
As I read the book, I wondered (yet I think I know the answer!!), would Don trade the experience in heaven, to come back to earth and life here, pain free? I think he would choose to keep the heavenly experience!!! I am certain that God allowed him this experience for a purpose far greater than we can imagine. His witness will be far-reaching into the future. I have no doubts what-so-ever of the authenticity of his literally being in heaven for that 90 minutes, then returning to this life on earth....after all he was prayed through by a Southern Baptist!(God had spoken to him through his heart to pray for the man in the accident). I have heard of many miracles since going into the mission field, I firmly believe in them, because I have it on good authority that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that HE can do anything. That He is sovereign. That He is omniscient. That He is omnipresent. That He is omnipotent. He is Lord. He is the creator. He is coming back someday to take us to that place of indescribable beauty, where eye hath not seen, nor entered into the heart of man the place God has prepared for us....and we shall worship The King of Kings and sing praises to Him forever. What hope we have IN Him! Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!
In His Love for His Glory!
The Fishermens Line
Is. 30:21, Eph. 4:30
Pray for us as we continue to prepare to leave in October. Pray for our children and grandchildren...for peace, for the time we will be together again, and for God's perfect will in all of our lives, to seek Him in all of our decisions, and to please Him in all that we do, to glorify Him by the life we live for Him. Pray for the house to sell as quickly as it is finished (and pray for it to get finished soon!). Pray for Michael as he prepares to leave in October, also.
Pray for wisdom, discernment, and a faith that will never fail when tested. Pray for souls for His Kingdom!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Grace to You, A Gift from God, Your Father!
Greetings!
May you walk by faith and not by sight!
Romans 6:23 says; "for the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD"
We can not buy this gift We can not pay enough penance. We can not suffer enough for it. We can not give enough, and we can not do enough to earn this gift. It is unmerited, undeserved, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain this free gift......but to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior of all mankind (whosoever will believe on Him), to know that he died for our sins, he paid the penalty, once for all, the perfect and final sacrifice! To know that He was raised from the dead, and became the victor over sin and the grave for us; to know the Holy One is understanding!
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that NOT of yourselves, it is the GIFT of GOD, not of works lest any man should boast" You may walk a million miles barefoot, you may climb a million mountains, you may fast until you are a wisp of flesh, but it will do you no good! You may pay alms or gifts to the poor until you have not a penny, and these are good, but they will not bring salvation, forgiveness, or righteousness.
We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None is righteous. We have disobeyed the God of the universe, the creator of all things. The only way to have a relationship with Him is through Jesus. Jesus paid our sin debt once and for all. In John 14:6 we read that Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME" There is no saint, no prophet, no ritual that will get you through to the Father....only through Christ Jesus will the Father receive you or your petitions! Only through Him will you ever be saved and receive eternal life!
There is ONE mediator between man and God: I Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the one Christ Jesus."
There is one Father, therefore Jesus said in Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your Father upon this earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
Jesus, Himself says that HE stands at the door and knocks, there is no other who can do this! Revelation 3:20 tells us; "behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with Me."
Jesus has this free gift of salvation, eternal life, and we just need to answer His call and receive the gift! We are accountable for our salvation. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Phillipians 2:10-12)Wouldn't you rather bow to Him now, than at judgement day..unsaved!?
Work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling! Why would you allow someone else to tell you about your own salvation...something that is so critical, so eternal? Why would you not want to know the truth for yourself? II Timothy 2:15 tells you to study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the WORD of TRUTH! (Remember; JESUS is the WORD and JESUS is the TRUTH!) The Word is living and dynamic. Study it for yourself! Hunger and thirst for it!
I do not bow or pray before icons or idols! God says that we are to have no other Gods, and that we are not to make an image or an idol to pray before (or to). in Exodus 20:4-5 we read, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness....thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them..." We, as humans can also set up idols in our hearts and minds, we must not allow this to happen, either. Christ will help us guard our hearts and minds. (Phillipians 4:6-7)
Isaiah tells us that God has said that anyone who makes a graven image (or icon) shall be ashamed and it is vanity. Read Isaiah chapter 44!
Isaiah also tells us that He was wounded for our transgressions and He was bruised for our iniquity.( Isaiah ch. 53) Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. He did this for me! What more could be added to what He did? He said on the cross, "it is finished!" He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice. His work on the cross completed the atonement, satisfied the wrath of a Holy and Righteous God, He bought us with His life, He paid the debt...we can pay no more!
When we confess our sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and when we repent (meaning a complete surrender and turning from sin), and when we ask Him to be Lord of our life, when we walk in newness of life with Christ as our strength and the Holy Spirit as our guide and counselor, when we are baptised into Him and are raised in Him, we are a new creature.
Let us live as new creatures. Let us "be ye Holy, for I am Holy".
I Corinthians 3:17-18 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is Holy, which temple you are"
It is my prayer that anyone reading this may hunger for "the Bread of Heaven" and may thirst for "The Living Water" The book of John says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was GOD, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14).
Jesus IS the Word, He IS the BREAD of LIFE. He IS the Living Water. If we consume His WORD, if we desire to know HIM, He will reveal Himself to us (Jeremiah 33:3; "call unto Me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not")
Life is so short and our time on earth is but a wisp, a fleeting moment, and we are gone....we can not put off so great a thing as our salvation! We live and breathe and have our being in Him!
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:16-17
The Fishermens Line
May you walk by faith and not by sight!
Romans 6:23 says; "for the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD"
We can not buy this gift We can not pay enough penance. We can not suffer enough for it. We can not give enough, and we can not do enough to earn this gift. It is unmerited, undeserved, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain this free gift......but to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior of all mankind (whosoever will believe on Him), to know that he died for our sins, he paid the penalty, once for all, the perfect and final sacrifice! To know that He was raised from the dead, and became the victor over sin and the grave for us; to know the Holy One is understanding!
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that NOT of yourselves, it is the GIFT of GOD, not of works lest any man should boast" You may walk a million miles barefoot, you may climb a million mountains, you may fast until you are a wisp of flesh, but it will do you no good! You may pay alms or gifts to the poor until you have not a penny, and these are good, but they will not bring salvation, forgiveness, or righteousness.
We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None is righteous. We have disobeyed the God of the universe, the creator of all things. The only way to have a relationship with Him is through Jesus. Jesus paid our sin debt once and for all. In John 14:6 we read that Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME" There is no saint, no prophet, no ritual that will get you through to the Father....only through Christ Jesus will the Father receive you or your petitions! Only through Him will you ever be saved and receive eternal life!
There is ONE mediator between man and God: I Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the one Christ Jesus."
There is one Father, therefore Jesus said in Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your Father upon this earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
Jesus, Himself says that HE stands at the door and knocks, there is no other who can do this! Revelation 3:20 tells us; "behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with Me."
Jesus has this free gift of salvation, eternal life, and we just need to answer His call and receive the gift! We are accountable for our salvation. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Phillipians 2:10-12)Wouldn't you rather bow to Him now, than at judgement day..unsaved!?
Work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling! Why would you allow someone else to tell you about your own salvation...something that is so critical, so eternal? Why would you not want to know the truth for yourself? II Timothy 2:15 tells you to study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the WORD of TRUTH! (Remember; JESUS is the WORD and JESUS is the TRUTH!) The Word is living and dynamic. Study it for yourself! Hunger and thirst for it!
I do not bow or pray before icons or idols! God says that we are to have no other Gods, and that we are not to make an image or an idol to pray before (or to). in Exodus 20:4-5 we read, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness....thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them..." We, as humans can also set up idols in our hearts and minds, we must not allow this to happen, either. Christ will help us guard our hearts and minds. (Phillipians 4:6-7)
Isaiah tells us that God has said that anyone who makes a graven image (or icon) shall be ashamed and it is vanity. Read Isaiah chapter 44!
Isaiah also tells us that He was wounded for our transgressions and He was bruised for our iniquity.( Isaiah ch. 53) Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. He did this for me! What more could be added to what He did? He said on the cross, "it is finished!" He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice. His work on the cross completed the atonement, satisfied the wrath of a Holy and Righteous God, He bought us with His life, He paid the debt...we can pay no more!
When we confess our sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and when we repent (meaning a complete surrender and turning from sin), and when we ask Him to be Lord of our life, when we walk in newness of life with Christ as our strength and the Holy Spirit as our guide and counselor, when we are baptised into Him and are raised in Him, we are a new creature.
Let us live as new creatures. Let us "be ye Holy, for I am Holy".
I Corinthians 3:17-18 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is Holy, which temple you are"
It is my prayer that anyone reading this may hunger for "the Bread of Heaven" and may thirst for "The Living Water" The book of John says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was GOD, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14).
Jesus IS the Word, He IS the BREAD of LIFE. He IS the Living Water. If we consume His WORD, if we desire to know HIM, He will reveal Himself to us (Jeremiah 33:3; "call unto Me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not")
Life is so short and our time on earth is but a wisp, a fleeting moment, and we are gone....we can not put off so great a thing as our salvation! We live and breathe and have our being in Him!
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:16-17
The Fishermens Line
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Knowledge and Wisdom
A few weeks ago I felt the strong urge to lie face down, prostrate, before the Lord, to pray.
I had been feeling that there was something God wanted to show me. All my life, I have been an avid reader, and one who digs deeply into every thing in which I have an interest. I cross-reference and cross-reference until I'm nearly cross-eyed and confused as to where my study began and what am I doing now....how did I ever get into this new subject!?
As I lay there praying that day, I felt as if God wanted me to go to Proverbs...read it all carefully and then go to James and read it with equal care. I thought to myself: "Proverbs and James?" What do they have to do with each other? (aside from the fact that ALL the Word of God is connected!)
As I read Proverbs (which I had previously studied at least a dozen times or more), I began to underline many verses, then I began to see a pattern in what I was underlining. I thought, "ok, here are a lot of little encouraging tid-bits I can share with Lora and Jim about raisng children"
Little did I know that God was leading me into some 'tid-bits' for myself!
I read more and underlined furiously (my KJV is completely covered in markings in Proverbs, now!!). I read all of Proverbs and moved on to James. As I began to underline things in James, I saw the same pattern as I was being led to understand in Proverbs. Then I read in my Bible (which has an 'outstanding facts' section) that James is considered, by many, to be "The Proverbs of the New Testament" !!! Something I didn't know when I was 'called' to read them together!
The common thread that God had revealed to me is that "discretion shall preserve thee; understanding shall keep thee"
Now, I have always worked in the health profession; confidentiality and discretion are one of the trademarks of a good nurse! I have always honored those qualities and abided by them to the fullest. But that is not what I needed to know.
God was telling me that I needed to watch what I say to my daughter and son-in-law, in regards to raising their children (my very precious grandsons). I learned that just because you have knowledge, just because you love very deeply, just because you feel strongly, maybe even just because you may be right, love does not give one the right to say whatever you feel you want someone else to know. It does not give one the right to be another's conscience or act as another's Holy Spirit or convictor. Now, of course, we know these things, but to put them into practise is what God wanted me to do!
I learned that the law of love is greater than the law of liberty. Although I may have the knowledge and the liberty to say what ever I think may be helpful or worthy, or even instructional, and although I may love one so deeply that I feel I simply must tell them what I know, I do not have the right under the law of liberty because the law of love is greater. This law does not permit me to say whatever I want (although with the best of intentions!).
In my case, God was telling me that I should use discretion in my knowledge and use wisdom in watching what I say. He was, in effect telling me to trust HIM to be the teacher.
I also realized that in James, when he spoke of bridling one's tongue; it does not always mean saying something negative or bad; it can also mean that even with good intentions we can say too much, or the wrong things, or make another feel 'judged' or wrong. There is an old saying: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Now what brought me to all this awareness and revelation of my need to learn this instruction? Love, of course! Deep abiding love!
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. I want to know Him more!!! I want to listen to His every Word...for whoso findeth Him findeth life.
My 'outstanding facts' section tells me that the personification of wisdom is Christ.
WHEN wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. (Pr. 2: 10-11).
We know that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Pr. 9:10).
These three: wisdom, knowledge and discretion are a blessing
when working together!
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. I Th. 5:16-17
The Fishermens Line
I had been feeling that there was something God wanted to show me. All my life, I have been an avid reader, and one who digs deeply into every thing in which I have an interest. I cross-reference and cross-reference until I'm nearly cross-eyed and confused as to where my study began and what am I doing now....how did I ever get into this new subject!?
As I lay there praying that day, I felt as if God wanted me to go to Proverbs...read it all carefully and then go to James and read it with equal care. I thought to myself: "Proverbs and James?" What do they have to do with each other? (aside from the fact that ALL the Word of God is connected!)
As I read Proverbs (which I had previously studied at least a dozen times or more), I began to underline many verses, then I began to see a pattern in what I was underlining. I thought, "ok, here are a lot of little encouraging tid-bits I can share with Lora and Jim about raisng children"
Little did I know that God was leading me into some 'tid-bits' for myself!
I read more and underlined furiously (my KJV is completely covered in markings in Proverbs, now!!). I read all of Proverbs and moved on to James. As I began to underline things in James, I saw the same pattern as I was being led to understand in Proverbs. Then I read in my Bible (which has an 'outstanding facts' section) that James is considered, by many, to be "The Proverbs of the New Testament" !!! Something I didn't know when I was 'called' to read them together!
The common thread that God had revealed to me is that "discretion shall preserve thee; understanding shall keep thee"
Now, I have always worked in the health profession; confidentiality and discretion are one of the trademarks of a good nurse! I have always honored those qualities and abided by them to the fullest. But that is not what I needed to know.
God was telling me that I needed to watch what I say to my daughter and son-in-law, in regards to raising their children (my very precious grandsons). I learned that just because you have knowledge, just because you love very deeply, just because you feel strongly, maybe even just because you may be right, love does not give one the right to say whatever you feel you want someone else to know. It does not give one the right to be another's conscience or act as another's Holy Spirit or convictor. Now, of course, we know these things, but to put them into practise is what God wanted me to do!
I learned that the law of love is greater than the law of liberty. Although I may have the knowledge and the liberty to say what ever I think may be helpful or worthy, or even instructional, and although I may love one so deeply that I feel I simply must tell them what I know, I do not have the right under the law of liberty because the law of love is greater. This law does not permit me to say whatever I want (although with the best of intentions!).
In my case, God was telling me that I should use discretion in my knowledge and use wisdom in watching what I say. He was, in effect telling me to trust HIM to be the teacher.
I also realized that in James, when he spoke of bridling one's tongue; it does not always mean saying something negative or bad; it can also mean that even with good intentions we can say too much, or the wrong things, or make another feel 'judged' or wrong. There is an old saying: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Now what brought me to all this awareness and revelation of my need to learn this instruction? Love, of course! Deep abiding love!
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. I want to know Him more!!! I want to listen to His every Word...for whoso findeth Him findeth life.
My 'outstanding facts' section tells me that the personification of wisdom is Christ.
WHEN wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. (Pr. 2: 10-11).
We know that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Pr. 9:10).
These three: wisdom, knowledge and discretion are a blessing
when working together!
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. I Th. 5:16-17
The Fishermens Line
Thursday, November 16, 2006
My GRACE is Sufficient!
As I sit here beginning to write my Blog, I am in the active process of listening to 99.7 Family Life Radio. How amazing that the two programs I have been listening to this morning are about the very subject I have decided to write about today!
The first was Chuck Swindoll in raising children and the difficulties we encounter and the huge responsibilities. The second (which is still in progress is the story of a Korean Street Child, as she tells her story of being put out in the street as an infant, still believing that her mother loves her, but did what she had to do. The child, now a grown Christian woman, in ministry, tells of being thrown into a building with another little girl, younger than she. She tells of the hatred she felt at being used as a human bait for rats. She tells of being abused by men over and over. She told of a man who finally showed some real affection and she spat on him, at nine years old, she was dead to emotion except for hatred. She was adopted by a Christian couple and began to know God and the love of Christ and began to heal....what a blessing to have a mother and father who can Train up a child in the way he should go!
That leads me into my subject for today. Proverbs 22:6 is an all time favorite verse for most Christian parents. I have that scripture dedicated in a brick at the Melbourne Beach Library for my three grandsons; Ryan, Ian, and Zane.
As I think deeply and intently about the verse, I see so many ways it can be understood. ( I LOVE the living, dynamic, changing, revealing, yet firm ways God makes His every Word come alive!)
Train: the definition of train means to impart knowledge, to instruct by precept and example, to give experience. As we train a tender plant as in a Bonsai tree, so shall it be bent. As we nurture and gently shape and mold it, as we turn it toward the sun (SON), it will turn in that direction. We can not force it, we must be gentle and consistent...if we force it, it will break. This is proven Biblically by the following scripture:
Colossians 3:21 " fathers, (and mothers) provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged" Some translations say: "Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Know that your child is wonderfully made by God and trust God that He will be His protector and guide. Know that His grace is sufficient for you and for your child if you leave that child in the Father's hands!
When we train up a child in the way he should go it means more than meets the eye! Train is to teach, to admonish, to gently guide, to discipline with loving admonishment (to express disapproval by gentle and ernest, solicitous manner, to advise and encourage...not DIS-courage).
As we train our child, we know that the fruit we will see may (most likely) not be immediate, nor even may it be in the next few years, but know that if you lovingly, gently, teach and admonish by example of your own life, that child will turn to the one who is loving, forgiving, and provides for him in his times of trouble. If he knows that God is his counselor, his sustenance, his rock of salvation, a very present help, his Lord and savior, he will turn to Him! It is God's promise. It is truth. It is written. God is faithful. The KEY is training by example, with love, gentleness, and loving admonishment.
When the Bible says; "spare the rod, and spoil the child...." I shudder to think of the ways in which this has been made perverse! We knew of a man back in Sheridan, who made a rod about three feet long and about 1/2 " thick to use on his children..they were ages from one year to about three!
In Biblical times, the rod was a gentle probe to guide or nudge in a certain direction. The rod and staff were to comfort not to beat or harm! We need to nudge our children in the right direction. If we see them having a desire we should listen with intention, ask them to pray with us about it and ask God to direct and counsel and then let God's grace be sufficient. In doing this, we teach them to seek God for all decisions and to trust in God's will not our own.
David was a man "after Gods own heart" yet David killed a man, caused another to die at the front lines of battle, committed adultery, killed a giant, killed a lion, and danced naked in the streets. The heart of David was toward the Lord, always. His intent was to please God, yet he failed many times to be a perfect example....the consequences of his behavior was to have those same sins repeated by his own sons, and to lose the son of Bathsheba. He paid the price of sin. God is no respector of persons, if we sin, we pay in this life, as well as being judged or rewarded on judgement day.
We teach our children that there are consequences in this life for our sins and for the choices that we make. When we include God in our decisions, I am a firm believer that He will work things together for good for those that love Him and keep His commandments!
We shall become as little children...."whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But whoso shall offend (cause one of these to stumble!) one of these who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
The raising of a precious child is a very serious business. It is the greatest responsibility one can ever carry. It absolutely must be done with fervent prayer and with a bridled tongue. It must be carried out with the I Corinthians Love scriptures:
Love suffereth LONG! Love is KIND! Love envieth not! Love vaunteth not ITSELF! Love is not puffed up! Love doth not behave itself UNSEEMLY!
Love seeketh not her own! Love is not easily PROVOKED! Love thinketh no EVIL! Love rejoices not in unrighteousness. Love rejoices in TRUTH!
Love bears all things! Love Believes all things! Love HOPES all things! Love ENDURES all things! Love NEVER FAILS!
To the children: Children OBEY your parents in the LORD, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother. This is a commandment with promise, that it may go well with you! (Eph.6:1-2).
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.....let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, clamor, and evil speaking or railing (shouting, arguing) be put away from you! Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, EVEN as GOD forgives you! (Eph. 29-32).
Fathers, provoke NOT your children to wrath! but bring them up in the LOVING nurture of the Lord. (Eph. 6:1)
As Thanksgiving is upon us, I am so thankful to my God and my Savior for my children! I thank my God for my grandchildren and my son-in-law and for my husband. God is so good to us. I have no words to thank Him for His awesome grace, mercy, love, patience, forgiveness, and His constant and wonderful presence. I am so glad, in light of my lack of ability to thank Him enough, that His GRACE is truly sufficient for me!
To my family: I thank you for being a part of my life, for the blessing you have been to me these past years, I thank my God for all of you. I thank my God for my brothers and sisters around the world, for the body of the Living Church of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! With every blessing, I give HIM praise!
Thanksgiving be Unto our Father!
The Fishermens Line
Pray Without Ceasing!
The first was Chuck Swindoll in raising children and the difficulties we encounter and the huge responsibilities. The second (which is still in progress is the story of a Korean Street Child, as she tells her story of being put out in the street as an infant, still believing that her mother loves her, but did what she had to do. The child, now a grown Christian woman, in ministry, tells of being thrown into a building with another little girl, younger than she. She tells of the hatred she felt at being used as a human bait for rats. She tells of being abused by men over and over. She told of a man who finally showed some real affection and she spat on him, at nine years old, she was dead to emotion except for hatred. She was adopted by a Christian couple and began to know God and the love of Christ and began to heal....what a blessing to have a mother and father who can Train up a child in the way he should go!
That leads me into my subject for today. Proverbs 22:6 is an all time favorite verse for most Christian parents. I have that scripture dedicated in a brick at the Melbourne Beach Library for my three grandsons; Ryan, Ian, and Zane.
As I think deeply and intently about the verse, I see so many ways it can be understood. ( I LOVE the living, dynamic, changing, revealing, yet firm ways God makes His every Word come alive!)
Train: the definition of train means to impart knowledge, to instruct by precept and example, to give experience. As we train a tender plant as in a Bonsai tree, so shall it be bent. As we nurture and gently shape and mold it, as we turn it toward the sun (SON), it will turn in that direction. We can not force it, we must be gentle and consistent...if we force it, it will break. This is proven Biblically by the following scripture:
Colossians 3:21 " fathers, (and mothers) provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged" Some translations say: "Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Know that your child is wonderfully made by God and trust God that He will be His protector and guide. Know that His grace is sufficient for you and for your child if you leave that child in the Father's hands!
When we train up a child in the way he should go it means more than meets the eye! Train is to teach, to admonish, to gently guide, to discipline with loving admonishment (to express disapproval by gentle and ernest, solicitous manner, to advise and encourage...not DIS-courage).
As we train our child, we know that the fruit we will see may (most likely) not be immediate, nor even may it be in the next few years, but know that if you lovingly, gently, teach and admonish by example of your own life, that child will turn to the one who is loving, forgiving, and provides for him in his times of trouble. If he knows that God is his counselor, his sustenance, his rock of salvation, a very present help, his Lord and savior, he will turn to Him! It is God's promise. It is truth. It is written. God is faithful. The KEY is training by example, with love, gentleness, and loving admonishment.
When the Bible says; "spare the rod, and spoil the child...." I shudder to think of the ways in which this has been made perverse! We knew of a man back in Sheridan, who made a rod about three feet long and about 1/2 " thick to use on his children..they were ages from one year to about three!
In Biblical times, the rod was a gentle probe to guide or nudge in a certain direction. The rod and staff were to comfort not to beat or harm! We need to nudge our children in the right direction. If we see them having a desire we should listen with intention, ask them to pray with us about it and ask God to direct and counsel and then let God's grace be sufficient. In doing this, we teach them to seek God for all decisions and to trust in God's will not our own.
David was a man "after Gods own heart" yet David killed a man, caused another to die at the front lines of battle, committed adultery, killed a giant, killed a lion, and danced naked in the streets. The heart of David was toward the Lord, always. His intent was to please God, yet he failed many times to be a perfect example....the consequences of his behavior was to have those same sins repeated by his own sons, and to lose the son of Bathsheba. He paid the price of sin. God is no respector of persons, if we sin, we pay in this life, as well as being judged or rewarded on judgement day.
We teach our children that there are consequences in this life for our sins and for the choices that we make. When we include God in our decisions, I am a firm believer that He will work things together for good for those that love Him and keep His commandments!
We shall become as little children...."whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But whoso shall offend (cause one of these to stumble!) one of these who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
The raising of a precious child is a very serious business. It is the greatest responsibility one can ever carry. It absolutely must be done with fervent prayer and with a bridled tongue. It must be carried out with the I Corinthians Love scriptures:
Love suffereth LONG! Love is KIND! Love envieth not! Love vaunteth not ITSELF! Love is not puffed up! Love doth not behave itself UNSEEMLY!
Love seeketh not her own! Love is not easily PROVOKED! Love thinketh no EVIL! Love rejoices not in unrighteousness. Love rejoices in TRUTH!
Love bears all things! Love Believes all things! Love HOPES all things! Love ENDURES all things! Love NEVER FAILS!
To the children: Children OBEY your parents in the LORD, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother. This is a commandment with promise, that it may go well with you! (Eph.6:1-2).
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.....let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, clamor, and evil speaking or railing (shouting, arguing) be put away from you! Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, EVEN as GOD forgives you! (Eph. 29-32).
Fathers, provoke NOT your children to wrath! but bring them up in the LOVING nurture of the Lord. (Eph. 6:1)
As Thanksgiving is upon us, I am so thankful to my God and my Savior for my children! I thank my God for my grandchildren and my son-in-law and for my husband. God is so good to us. I have no words to thank Him for His awesome grace, mercy, love, patience, forgiveness, and His constant and wonderful presence. I am so glad, in light of my lack of ability to thank Him enough, that His GRACE is truly sufficient for me!
To my family: I thank you for being a part of my life, for the blessing you have been to me these past years, I thank my God for all of you. I thank my God for my brothers and sisters around the world, for the body of the Living Church of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! With every blessing, I give HIM praise!
Thanksgiving be Unto our Father!
The Fishermens Line
Pray Without Ceasing!
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