Ministering to Strangers (part two)

This post relates to this

I was pretty mad at myself for not remembering the girl's name.  I kept asking the Holy Spirit to bring it to me, as it is much nicer to know someones name than to have to ask them again for it.  I desired to meet her again and to minister to her heart as God led.  I apologized to the Lord for not getting it the first time.

I was sitting in church the following Wednesday night, as I am worshiping the Holy Spirit says to me,
"Ask the woman behind you where she works.  Ask her if she works at Crestfield Nursing Home."  

'WEIRD,' is what I think, as this is where my box girl works.  I haven't a clue where the woman behind me works, but I know her name.  After service she has gone up front for prayer, but her teenage daughter is still sitting in their seats.  I feel the Lord pressing me to ask her.  I go between excited and nervous as I decide what it is I am going to do here.

I turn around and ask her, "Does your mother work at Crestfield?"

She smiles and says, "Yes."

I am in awe.  I begin to tell this teen the story of my box girl and what the Holy Spirit did last week with her and I.  The teen tries to think if she knows the girl I am talking about.  She starts rattling off possible names, it turns out that her mother is the supervisor who trains all nurses aids on this shift, sometimes Jennifer goes along too.   I thank her and tell her that I will talk to her mother when she returns, as none of the names ring a bell with my heart.

Can you imagine this woman's surprise as I tell her that the Lord told me where she worked and it was all about finding out this girl's name (which happens to be Robin).  She began sharing about her and what a sweet young woman she is.  How things are pretty hard for her and her husband, due to finances.  She thinks her husband lost his job last year and hasn't found a new one yet.  She mentions he is Goth.  I am not really sure what this means, other than I know they dress in black and like a particular style of music.

I am excited about seeing Robin again.  Excited because God continues to amaze me at how He handles details, especially when we come to Him seeking.  I am eager to see how He ministers to her heart and am praying that if she doesn't know Him, that she and her husband will shortly be introduced to Jesus.  

Would you pray?  I don't want to minister out of my thoughts, but out of His wisdom.  I don't want to offend her, but to draw her into His arms.  I want her to know, more than anything that she is deeply loved.  The Father has told me He has spoken the word, "Chosen" over her. I see it hanging, as a necklace, around her neck.

He knows all the details of their hearts and He cares a great deal about them.  I will keep you posted.  If you are willing to pray for Robin, would you let me know?  I plan on giving her a ride home tomorrow...or maybe today if I can work out the details.

Ministering to Strangers (part one)

I think sometimes we need to be challenged in our faith.  Sometimes we need to venture into new pastures and experience God in a new fabulous ways.  Bet you never thought about strangers or ministering to them this way?  I know I never spent any time on it.  A few Wednesdays ago one of the pastors from my church challenged us to reach out to strangers. 

Honestly I listened, but no bells or whistles rang with this point of his sermon, as he tried to encourage us in our faith.  It was point 4 and really I was not sure how it really tied into the other 3 previous points, but stuck it in storage for future pondering. (honestly when you sit next to a 3 year old- sometimes it is hard to make all the sermon points clear in one's mind).

Then Thursday came (the week before Thanksgiving).  I went to my morning Bible study and during sharing time found myself crying.   I think I am not the only one who doesn't like crying or the feeling it leaves you in for the rest of the day.  I've never cried and felt better, just exhausted and trashed.  So on this day I moved on, deciding to change plans of running errands later in the day, when my kids are at an activity.  I dropped them off and go to head for home, with two kids in tow...

Then

IT 

Happened....

Here I am totally undone still, no make-up thanks to the big weep and feeling anything but social.  The Holy Spirit says to me,( as I pull out of the parking lot drop off  4 kids, still have the 3 year old and the 17 year old.),

'To turn the car around and pick up the young woman, 

who is walking down the road carrying a large red box.' 

I know it isn't my voice, but the Lord's.  Part of me says,

"C'mon really?  Don't you remember that I am going home to hide out until tomorrow?"

The Lord says, "Do it, offer her a ride."

To which I turn the car around, tell my daughter to clean off the front seat and that we are going to be picking up the woman with the box (who is walking in the drizzly rain).  I tell them God has told me she needs a ride from us. They know that when God speaks to me, that I try to obey, even if it's hard.  Here is another perfect example.

My 17 year old doesn't say much, but takes the stuff from the front seat. 

(a laundry basket full of raccoon food - for those who are curious).  

I pull along side of the girl and ask her if she wants a ride.  She looks scared. 

(I would be, wouldn't you?)

I point out that I am a mother of 8- thus the huge ship that I drive.  AND that two of said 8 are in the car with me. I remind her that it is raining and chilly outside.  I try 3 times to convince her.  The third time is the charm and she says yes.

As she is climbing in to said HUGE car, tank, she says her name.  However, being the driver I am only half paying attention because there are now several cars behind me and I am concerned about an accident occurring.  On top of that she can't get her seat belt on.  (she thinks it is because she is too big...but she is a skinny tall girl in her early 20's).

I pull over and help her with her seat belt.  I ask her where she  lives.  I was thinking this was the road she lived on, as I had seen her walking home from work every week.  (she is wearing a nurses uniform and I know that the nursing home is already a mile back from where we are).  

She names off a road and tells me she was going to a bus stop that brings her home.  So instead I learn where her road is...we chat along the route.  Turns out she lives a few roads behind my husbands workplace.  

She doesn't take me the quickest way, but the bus route that she knows. It lets us talk a bit more than we would have been able to otherwise.

She shares she has only lived here for 1 1/2 years.  She shares she is from Missouri.  She also shares that she too was adopted (I shared about how God had prompted me to pick her up- how I never have picked
ANYONE

up before and how I have 8 children, 7 of whom God has brought to us through adoption).  

God doesn't prompt me to do anything else today, just to be kind and offer her a safe ride.  Though I think He has a ride in store for her that she is yet unaware of!

 We arrived at her house and she thanks me for the ride. 

I tell her I really enjoyed getting to know her and that it was my pleasure

(which it was, as it was the highlight of my day!!)

When she got out I asked my daughter to remind me of her name-

she couldn't remember. (we need to work on this!!)

Anyway, not sure what God is working on, but as I know this wasn't my idea

I am excited to see what my Father has planned,

as I know in my heart that we are not done yet.

*I never even thought about what my Pastor had said,

until I got home and then it dawned on me that I had gotten to minister to a stranger!

Pretty exciting...

wait until you hear the next part!!

Prayer Request Sunday

I'd love to join hearts with you and pray this week?  

So what is on your heart?

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

Psalm 107 : 8

Psalm 107: 15

Psalm 107: 21

Psalm 107: 31

(Yup, nothing like repeating something good over and over...

Psalm 107 does this and so should we!)

I often think of wild horses as I think of things such as Black Friday or the day after Christmas in regards to shopping frenzy (is there a name for this one?)

Although I find great beauty in wild horses, I don't want to be among them as they venture out for savings on such days.  Their behavior is unpredictable, certainly not to be trusted or relied upon. I know money is tight for many, but I am just not up for the madness.

As my company left yesterday and I plunked down in the living room in front of the roaring fire.  My Knight handed me some of the sales circulars to glance at, as I rested after the big day.  I am amazed at those who would venture out in hopes of being one of the ones who lays hand on one of the three available in the store, at its greatly reduced sales price.  Three to five available, really?  

1 John 2:16

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Hope you enjoy your preparations for Christmas.  Let us remember that it isn't about things or gadgets, but about reflecting on Jesus coming to give Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus came not to herd us as Wild Horses, but to offer us life if we are willing to confess our sins and follow him.  He offers us freedom and deliverance if we would just come to Him.  In order to get there, I think we must rid ourselves of this wild horse mentality that we've picked up from this world.  (remember we are to be in the world, but not of it.)

Wild Horses are not what He desires.  Beautiful true, but the heart attitude is what He looks for~ you know the humbling of ourselves, dieing to self and loving others.

May we find harmony with Him as we prepare for Christmas' arrival.  May His presence fill our homes, our hearts and our preparations.  

Psalm 33:17

The wild horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Does this Ever Happen to You?

 

Ever have this happen...you keep being bombarded by the same word spoken over and over to you?

Over the past few weeks the word *harmony* keeps coming up before my eyes and ears.  I am curious because I've never really heard anyone ever use it in a sentence, besides maybe when you take your marriage vows.  I have seen it in every book I am reading, several people used it in conversations with me, even a prayer minister used the words, as he prayed for my husband and I on Sunday.

And, other than the situation with my 17 year old daughter who is currently being difficult (okay downright rebellious), my heart and relationships are in harmony.  Peace reigns in my soul, so what's with the word?

Wondering what the Holy Spirit is whispering to me?

Harmony

I don't know if it something for me personally

or something He is speaking to His Church at large.

  Any of you hearing the same thing?

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;

be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Christian Parenting....Fruit (part 2)

this is a follow-up to this post

you kind of need to read it to understand the rest of this...

Don't mind the hand picked 3 year old outfit, which consists of her pj top and rain boots-

this story is the testimony of a prayer warrior.

Two confessions to make before I begin...

1.  I am a prayer junkie.  I love to pray and I love to receive prayer.  I look for opportunities to pray for those around me and I am a firm believer that if you are being poured out that you need to be refilled (spiritually and Spirit speaking).  Thankfully at my church we have a prayer ministry team that offers to pray after each service, several times a week I look forward to this refilling and touch from God.

2.  I hear from God and I try to follow through (without fear) when He directs me to speak or pray with someone, though it may be a stranger or unusual place to do so.

here begins the story:

We are at my church and the altar area has been opened up for prayer. Before I can begin to clear a way to the front, my 3 year old Ethiopian daughter, Princess Mercy, taps me and says, "Can I ask you a question Mama?"

I slow down and listen.

She says, "Can little girls go up for prayer too?"  

I hesitate and begin to think of reasons why I shouldn't say yes to this.  Instead I find myself saying yes. (My children have been up for prayer, but usually it is our bringing them up.  None of my children have ever asked to go up at age three.)

So there we stand, leaning on each other and waiting for a prayer minister to come.  Before long one does and she asks how she can pray.  I tell her that my wee one wants prayer.  She bends down and her catcher leans in behind our little girl. 

The prayer minister asks what she would like to pray about.

My wee one looks straight into her eyes and says, " I have a friend named Miss Wendy, she has cancer.  Can we pray that God will heal her and encourage her.  She is very sick."

As I hear the words come out of this tiny little body, I am blessed beyond words.  I had not asked, but trusted that what was on her heart was worthy of prayer.  Thinking it was going to be a rather childish request and would not carry much weight in Kingdom business.  Oh, how wrong I was.

So with a gentle amazed heart we all joined together to pray for our Rhubarb friend, Wendy.  And God heard.  

So parents continue to teach them the way they should go...live it out, Authentic Christianity and be ready for the fruit in your disciples lives.  My heart as a parent is to raise servants of the Living God.  To raise world changers.  Some days we seem so far from this,

but occasionally God in His great mercy gives us a glimpse of fruit!

Restoration

Parenting is definitely a full hands on project; kind of like restoration.  When you restore something you give it back its original beauty and characteristics.  Restoration of any sort takes time, patience and a lot of elbow grease.

definition:  restore: (from the Hebrew)  shuwb

a turning back

a returning 

of human relations

of spiritual relations

to answer back
to refresh
to repair
a renewing
strength!

Today as I was picking myself up, after another morning of bringing my heart before God (and before my women friends at the Bible study I attend weekly).  I had shared about my current struggle in parenting our 17 year old daughter, who is manifesting a rebellious spirit towards her parents and God.   I started off speaking softly, but then somehow lost control and was weeping, rather loudly.  Guess I needed to release some of the stuff that is building up on my spirit and soul.

Anyhow I was folding some stuff from my dryer and the Holy Spirit whispered that He is restoring my soul.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul.

He guides me on paths of righteousness

for His Namesake.

Hmm, guess it was a wee bit of revelation that I am in the midst of some detail work done by the very fingers of God.  He is bringing me to a place of refreshing and restoring some of what has been hurting.  I never really pondered that I am a constant restoration project and that God is so faithful to bring me to the place of full restoration (or as much as He can do this side of heaven).

I hope this too encourages you. 
We are in this together you know.

It's All About that Someone Nominated me...

Okay, this may sound goofy...

or maybe that its my birthday

and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by what God did for me today...

 BUT

I popped over to the 7th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards for 2011 

 and was brought to tears...

WHY?

Because somebody nominated me for 

Favorite Homeschool Mom Blog

really?

I have been so overwhelmed as of late with motherhood, homeschooling

and such that this just rocked my world. 

(mainly feeling like a miserable failure)...

HOWEVER...

Some kind soul (maybe the same person) also nominated me for 

Best Encourager

I'm not asking anyone to vote for me, but as this blog has always about me opening my heart to you,

just thought I'd share what an effect this has had on my soul. 

Thank you from the bottom of this birthday girl's heart.

AND if you have a few moments and want to discover some great new blogs, click on the links under each category and enjoy a magic carpet ride straight to each blog.  I am always amazed at the talent that God has given to so many, the great writing and photography gifts, the beauty of the blogs themselves and the time (I KNOW FIRST HAND) that it takes to make such a blog exist in the first place!  

Yes, blogs can suck the life out of you...make you feel inferior OR you can enjoy a temporary escape into seeing what is going on in someone else's life. Sometimes God even surprises you and brings you a fast new friend (not a fake friend, but the honest to goodness real kind that we all crave!!)  God sure is up to so very much these days (giggle-giggle!)

Prayer Request Sunday

Hunkering down and ready to pray...

after several weeks of the unusual here (see yesterdays post)

I am ready to settle back into a more normal mode

-so prayer it is!

Would you like prayer? 

How are things in your life?  

from my heart:

 stepping out and trusting God, we are shortly entering into a new land with our church body.  normally i feel like i am pretty good about trusting God, but today my pastor asked us what kept us from ALWAYs trusting God.  Like those times that we don't come immediately to Him, but try to work it out by our own strength. i realized that oft times i do this because i think i can manage control of the situation.  i know, tsk-tsk kimmie.

in this new church community, that we will be building inside our body of believers,  we will be walking on new ground.   ground that hopefully leads us into deeper more meaningful relationships with each other.  honestly, we have been suffering from lack of love and severe surface-y relationships.  hopefully with all the changes, we will get to the heart of God's command; to really LOVE each OTHER.

 

that was me...now it's your turn!

Where AM I?

Sorry to have disappeared for so long, but

Things got rather crazy at our place:

got a new dog!  

Her name is Ruby...her owner died, she ended up in the pound.  

The owner's best friend retrieved her

(but he already has 3 big dogs)...so he thought to bless us...

we had a visit for 10 days from our oldest daughter's courtin' fellow

(who is in the Air Force stationed now in Washington State)

we had a major snowstorm that left us without power for 8 days

we left for holiday whilest the lights were still out in the homestead

we ventured to Maryland for a week

-a free vacation due to a previous vacation where we had been vandilized 

and then given a week anywhere for a *real* vacation

we missed our oldest terribly, she had exams and couldn't join us.

thankfully I just got texting ability and

we were able to write love notes back and forth to each other daily

we are currently unpacking and cleaning up the trees

we lost during the freak natural disaster that struck our state

this is the second time this year that we left for a holiday

while we were totally powerless (not liking this new trend at all!)

Hope to have time to share more...

how are things in your end of the world?