We had the pleasure of having dinner with Bill’s brother and wife, as well as their son, his wife, and their three year old daughter, Ruthie.
After the food was passed, we stopped to pray. Ruthie said she wanted to pray. So she folded her hands, closed her eyes, and this is what she prayed: “Thank you Jesus for this food. Amen.”
After eating the food on her plate, someone asked Ruthie if she wanted some more. She said, “yes” and was given some more to eat. However, before she picked up her fork she folded her hands, closed her eyes and prayed “Thank you Jesus for this more food.”
I thought wow, am I that thankful to my Lord and Savior, constantly giving thanks?
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I think I have some thanking to do!
Thank you Jesus!
By April
The Time and Weather is for Hua Hin, Thailand where we currently live
Friday, August 21, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Watch Your Light
I was blessed to be able to spend an evening at Montreat, NC with our church youth group and leaders. After singing and hearing a message, we were each given a candle as we went outside. All 1,100 plus people (mostly youth), crossed the street and surrounded Lake Susan. The candles were lit by passing the flame from one to another until all of the candles were lit.
My heart was touched to see so many youth holding their candles singing worship songs into the night. The light from the candles reflected in the lake, creating even more light.
As we stood singing, a soft breeze blew periodically blowing some of the candles out. When that happened people would share their flames and relight their candles. Every time the wind would pickup, I would cup my hand around my flame so that it would not blow out…and it never did.
The Lord spoke to my heart, saying “See how easy it is for your light to go out?” He impressed upon me that we need to protect our light, so that it does not go out.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
I started to consider what things could cause my light go out. Well, the first thing I thought of was sin. If we fall into sin and turn from the Lord, our light dims or goes out. If we get self involved, always looking at things as to how they affect us; instead of caring for others...our light can dim. We can seriously endanger our Christian witness if we let our light flicker or dim. Hmmm, I better watch my light and beware of the things that threaten to snuff it out.
What can I do to protect my light? I can read God’s Word daily. I can ask the Holy Spirit to convict my heart of sin in my life, and then repent. I can keep our eyes on Jesus.
So, I am praying that I keep my light burning brightly for all to see!
By: April
My heart was touched to see so many youth holding their candles singing worship songs into the night. The light from the candles reflected in the lake, creating even more light.
As we stood singing, a soft breeze blew periodically blowing some of the candles out. When that happened people would share their flames and relight their candles. Every time the wind would pickup, I would cup my hand around my flame so that it would not blow out…and it never did.
The Lord spoke to my heart, saying “See how easy it is for your light to go out?” He impressed upon me that we need to protect our light, so that it does not go out.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
I started to consider what things could cause my light go out. Well, the first thing I thought of was sin. If we fall into sin and turn from the Lord, our light dims or goes out. If we get self involved, always looking at things as to how they affect us; instead of caring for others...our light can dim. We can seriously endanger our Christian witness if we let our light flicker or dim. Hmmm, I better watch my light and beware of the things that threaten to snuff it out.
What can I do to protect my light? I can read God’s Word daily. I can ask the Holy Spirit to convict my heart of sin in my life, and then repent. I can keep our eyes on Jesus.
So, I am praying that I keep my light burning brightly for all to see!
By: April
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Privilege...
I saw an amazing video clip in team building class at CIT (the Center for Intercultural Training), that just grabbed my heart. The tears ran down my face, as I saw a father participate in a triathlon all the while pushing, carrying or pulling his adult physically handicapped son along with him.
Years earlier the son had told his father via a special computer that he uses to pick out letters by moving his head, that he wanted to participate in a 5 mile benefit run for a paralyzed lacrosse player. The father ran the race, all the while pushing his son in a special wheel chair. After the benefit run, the son told his father that during the race he did not feel handicapped.
The father and son have been competing in marathon races and triathlons ever since.
Wow! What love!
I started to think about my Heavenly Father, and how He pushes, carries and pulls me along in doing His work. I thought about how He allows me to join Him in His work on earth. Let’s face it, does the Lord need me to help Him accomplish His work on earth? The answer of course is no. However, He lets me come along, allows me to join in His work. Why? Because He loves me. He wants me to feel free in a way that I can only know through Him.
Just as parents allow their children to help around the house, God allows us to help with His work. Would it be quicker and easier for the parents to do the work themselves? Of course. But they let them help, so that they can learn and grow.
When I think about Mr. Hoyt and his complete dedication to his son, and his desire to help his son feel free, I think, what amazing love. But how much more does Christ love us? His love is limitless!
And what about the attitude of the son? To see the joy on his face, his arms spread wide, as he joins his father in the races. You can see the enthusiasm and joy he has just for the privilege of being able to join his father in the races. Hmmm, is my heart filled with joy and enthusiasm as I face each day hand in hand with the Lord? I am praying that I have that enthusiasm and joy overflowing and that people will see it, just because I have the privilege of serving the Lord.
We think we know what good is, and what will satisfy us. But God has such amazing plans for us. When I follow His plan for my life, my life is so incredible. It is so much more than I ever could have imagined.
As Bill and I prepare to go to Thailand as missionaries in August, we are so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through us.
Thank you Lord, for giving us the privilege of serving and working with You!
*Please click the link to view the video.
Years earlier the son had told his father via a special computer that he uses to pick out letters by moving his head, that he wanted to participate in a 5 mile benefit run for a paralyzed lacrosse player. The father ran the race, all the while pushing his son in a special wheel chair. After the benefit run, the son told his father that during the race he did not feel handicapped.
The father and son have been competing in marathon races and triathlons ever since.
Wow! What love!
I started to think about my Heavenly Father, and how He pushes, carries and pulls me along in doing His work. I thought about how He allows me to join Him in His work on earth. Let’s face it, does the Lord need me to help Him accomplish His work on earth? The answer of course is no. However, He lets me come along, allows me to join in His work. Why? Because He loves me. He wants me to feel free in a way that I can only know through Him.
Just as parents allow their children to help around the house, God allows us to help with His work. Would it be quicker and easier for the parents to do the work themselves? Of course. But they let them help, so that they can learn and grow.
When I think about Mr. Hoyt and his complete dedication to his son, and his desire to help his son feel free, I think, what amazing love. But how much more does Christ love us? His love is limitless!
And what about the attitude of the son? To see the joy on his face, his arms spread wide, as he joins his father in the races. You can see the enthusiasm and joy he has just for the privilege of being able to join his father in the races. Hmmm, is my heart filled with joy and enthusiasm as I face each day hand in hand with the Lord? I am praying that I have that enthusiasm and joy overflowing and that people will see it, just because I have the privilege of serving the Lord.
We think we know what good is, and what will satisfy us. But God has such amazing plans for us. When I follow His plan for my life, my life is so incredible. It is so much more than I ever could have imagined.
As Bill and I prepare to go to Thailand as missionaries in August, we are so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through us.
Thank you Lord, for giving us the privilege of serving and working with You!
*Please click the link to view the video.
Friday, July 17, 2009
My WinShape Experience
Bill and I are here in Union Mills, North Carolina at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) preparing to go to Thailand as missionaries in August. As part of the Team Training, CIT brought in a group from Georgia called WinShape Wilderness. They are affiliated with Chick-fil-A.
These are my reflections on the team building experience. I hope you enjoy reading about my experience. April
My WinShape Experience...
As I signed the waiver for WinShape
I felt uneasy as I read climbing and repelling tower.
Yikes! What was I in for today!?
I decided right there and then,
to choose to be open and childlike
and to fully participate.
I challenged myself to be open
to what the Lord wanted to teach me
through the WinShape Experience,
and I knew I could not do that from the sidelines.
So, the Trust element was started in me
before I hit the classroom.
I found it interesting that at least
four of the people in my general vicinity,
had the same one sentence definition
of Team that I had.
The Blind Walk, was an exercise in trust.
I felt completely at ease
putting my trust in Bill,
even as I heard cars flying down the road.
The Zoom Activity started with
much talking and little order,
but someone quickly turned
our chaos into order.
In this activity and others,
it blessed my heart to see
person after person step up and
lead, encourage and challenge.
We always seemed to work together
for the common goal.
No one seemed to be looking for
accolades or the spotlight.
The Zoom Activity helped me to analogize
that God can see the big picture,
and that He has called us to work with others on a team.
We need to trust Him and strive to make the team work,
even though things may not make sense to us
with our limited vision.
Stepping away and coming back together as a group
gave us a fresh perspective,
and I think that is a valuable lesson
I want to take to the field.
In Wild Woozy, I found out that
not only is it okay to lean on others,
but that it is necessary at times.
Just as we care for people and want to come along side
and help them through things,
we need to let others do the same for us.
I also found that I had a lot more confidence
in the activity, knowing that I had supporters
and encouragers all around me.
I am going to remember that in the field.
In the Shepherd’s Staff Activity,
it was imperative that we
worked together and communicated,
for the safety of everyone involved.
We openly shared concerns with each other,
when we saw the need for someone to
hold their line more tautly or loosely.
Nobody got their back up (at least openly),
at the request for correction.
As people encountered problems,
warnings were relayed about potholes
and tree branches.
When one person on our team found themselves in a hole,
they sounded the alarm,
and as a team
we immediately talked through a solution
and executed it, literally, step by step.
I thought, wow, wouldn’t this be a great
openness to be able to share in the field.
To be able to say...
‘Listen, I noticed you are headed for a pothole
and I care too much to let you just fall in.’
Instead of getting our back up
wouldn’t it be wonderful to have those words
be received with gratitude.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if my heart
accepted these words without self condemnation,
but with gratitude that someone
cared enough to say something?
I learned that we need to be pliable
when the pace is different than what we anticipated.
Or, when we end up in a position
that we did not expect to be in.
I also learned that I need to be willing
to both lead and to be led.
That there will be times for each.
I will be trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance in this.
Time and again throughout the day,
I saw true caring and love for each other.
I truly appreciated that today was not competitive in nature,
that we were all there to encourage each other.
I prayed my way through the day,
for safety, for fun and for learning
about ourselves and the Lord.
Throughout the day
many things were celebrated.
I end today with a joyful heart.
Blessed for the things I have learned.
Blessed for the way in which I learned them.
And blessed by seeing Christ in so many
people around me.
Praise God!
These are my reflections on the team building experience. I hope you enjoy reading about my experience. April
My WinShape Experience...
As I signed the waiver for WinShape
I felt uneasy as I read climbing and repelling tower.
Yikes! What was I in for today!?
I decided right there and then,
to choose to be open and childlike
and to fully participate.
I challenged myself to be open
to what the Lord wanted to teach me
through the WinShape Experience,
and I knew I could not do that from the sidelines.
So, the Trust element was started in me
before I hit the classroom.
I found it interesting that at least
four of the people in my general vicinity,
had the same one sentence definition
of Team that I had.
The Blind Walk, was an exercise in trust.
I felt completely at ease
putting my trust in Bill,
even as I heard cars flying down the road.
The Zoom Activity started with
much talking and little order,
but someone quickly turned
our chaos into order.
In this activity and others,
it blessed my heart to see
person after person step up and
lead, encourage and challenge.
We always seemed to work together
for the common goal.
No one seemed to be looking for
accolades or the spotlight.
The Zoom Activity helped me to analogize
that God can see the big picture,
and that He has called us to work with others on a team.
We need to trust Him and strive to make the team work,
even though things may not make sense to us
with our limited vision.
Stepping away and coming back together as a group
gave us a fresh perspective,
and I think that is a valuable lesson
I want to take to the field.
In Wild Woozy, I found out that
not only is it okay to lean on others,
but that it is necessary at times.
Just as we care for people and want to come along side
and help them through things,
we need to let others do the same for us.
I also found that I had a lot more confidence
in the activity, knowing that I had supporters
and encouragers all around me.
I am going to remember that in the field.
In the Shepherd’s Staff Activity,
it was imperative that we
worked together and communicated,
for the safety of everyone involved.
We openly shared concerns with each other,
when we saw the need for someone to
hold their line more tautly or loosely.
Nobody got their back up (at least openly),
at the request for correction.
As people encountered problems,
warnings were relayed about potholes
and tree branches.
When one person on our team found themselves in a hole,
they sounded the alarm,
and as a team
we immediately talked through a solution
and executed it, literally, step by step.
I thought, wow, wouldn’t this be a great
openness to be able to share in the field.
To be able to say...
‘Listen, I noticed you are headed for a pothole
and I care too much to let you just fall in.’
Instead of getting our back up
wouldn’t it be wonderful to have those words
be received with gratitude.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if my heart
accepted these words without self condemnation,
but with gratitude that someone
cared enough to say something?
I learned that we need to be pliable
when the pace is different than what we anticipated.
Or, when we end up in a position
that we did not expect to be in.
I also learned that I need to be willing
to both lead and to be led.
That there will be times for each.
I will be trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance in this.
Time and again throughout the day,
I saw true caring and love for each other.
I truly appreciated that today was not competitive in nature,
that we were all there to encourage each other.
I prayed my way through the day,
for safety, for fun and for learning
about ourselves and the Lord.
Throughout the day
many things were celebrated.
I end today with a joyful heart.
Blessed for the things I have learned.
Blessed for the way in which I learned them.
And blessed by seeing Christ in so many
people around me.
Praise God!
Friday, July 10, 2009
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