Messages of joy

Today I was encouraged and challenged (again) by Darren at Problogger with his blog post and vlog, What Is Your Blogging Vice? One of the things he said was that we tend to get distracted from blogging, and we need to focus on the core thing of being a blogger (i.e., actually blogging!).

After watching his vlog, I asked myself, what was my core reason for being a blogger? The same purpose as in my writing and speaking:  because of God’s calling on my life  found in the entire chapter of Isaiah 61, my “life verse” that God gave me in 1989 as I was praying one night.  When Ray and I went to Israel several years ago, I had Isaiah 61 inscribed in Hebrew on a silver ring that I bought there, along with my name Beth. (Ring pictured below)

Here is The Message Bible version of that scripture, verses 1-4:

“The Spirit of God, The Master is on me, because God anointed me, He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, announce freedom to all captives, pardon to all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace – a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies – and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes. Messages of joy instead of news of doom.”

Messages of joy instead of news of doom. That is what I want to give you, dear reader. There is enough bad news today.  I want you to come away from this blog encouraged and refreshed with the knowledge of how much God loves you! That He has a great plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). He has an eternal purpose and an incredible destiny for your life that He wants you to fulfill, through faith in His Son Jesus.  He will reveal that plan for you if you seek His face.

There is only ONE you – you’re the only one in the whole world with your unique fingerprints, who can accomplish what God created you from the beginning to do! He loves you so much, and He is for you, and not against you. (Romans 8:31) He is your Faithful Friend, who will never leave you! (John 15:15; Hebrews 13:5)

I pray that today your heart is encouraged with this message of joy.

Miche bags: what are you being drawn to?

This week we had Ladies’ Night Out, a once-a-year Thanksgiving event where the ladies go to the town square for some fun, early Christmas shopping. The stores stay open later than usual, and entice us with goodies like chocolate, sprinkled cookies, and hot cider. I went with my friend Diane to a few stores, including the new one in town, which has the popular Miche designer purses. Pictured here is the Orange Sheila.

The bags come in a small or large, silk, basic brown or black purse, with your choice of a short or long handle - and have interchangeable, cute covers called “chelles.”  This way you don’t have to dump out the contents of your bag to change purses – you can just change the covers to complement your outfit! The chelles take up very little room in your closet, too.   These chelles are attached to the bag by powerful earth magnets. 

I have a challenge for you today. What or who are you being drawn like a magnet to – the desires of the flesh, the world – or Jesus?  Do you have a hunger for God’s presence and His word? Are you spending at least a few minutes each day with Him?  Ask God to give you more of a thirst for Him.

“But it is good for me to draw near to God;I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.” (Psalm 73:28, NKJV)

A Heart of Thanks – Through the Whole Year

At Thanksgiving we gather together with family and friends to celebrate, enjoying a delicious feast. But wouldn’t it be great if we had thankful hearts all year long to God for all He’s done and is doing? Join Beth today as she shares some practical tips for having a joyful heart of thanks – even when life is difficult.

A heart of thanks

We all can’t wait on Thanksgiving, gathered together with family and friends, and enjoying a delicious feast. But wouldn’t it be great if we had a heart of joyful thanks throughout the entire year for all God has done and is doing? 

Using the acronym THANKS, here are some practical tips for cultivating a heart of gratitude to God. You will just LOVE the cute graphics for this one, that I found at www.graphicgarden.com!

 Here is the link for your “Cultivating A Heart of Thanks” article. Enjoy!

Cultivating a Heart of Thanks

Prayer for pastor Felix, his family, and Africa

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “ ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

It also says in James 1:26-27, “²⁶ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Pastor O. J. Felix, He Knows My Name Africa Peace Envoy and a full-time minister in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, Africa, is one leader who needs our fervent prayers. Pastor Felix does not work a regular job, but travels from village to village, city to city, spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ for God. He is dependent solely upon the Lord and on donations to provide his living. Here is pastor Felix in one of the more dangerous areas in Africa, the Congo.

Pastor Felix is now mobilizing local churches to donate Christmas gifts to orphanages in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya.  When he preaches, people give gifts such as monies, clothes, toys (such as dolls), Bibles, and other items.  He is also planning a youth medical camp in December. Medical clinics are one of the great needs there.

In Africa, poverty is rampant, and basic needs such as food, clean water, and shelter are high. Among Uganda’s 31 million population, poverty remains extremely high in the rural areas. 

Hundreds of millions of people in Africa lack basic amenities, from rural roads to basic health, education, banking, and commercial services. Unlike the majority of Americans, many poor people in Africa just can’t drive down the street to the local ATM and withdraw $50 for “a little cash.” In fact, some people do not own cars and must walk, take buses or taxis, or ride bikes.

The majority of the continent has about 920 million people living in the rural areas of Africa. Rural women spend long hours collecting wood for cooking and heating in the absence of electricity and gas.  They walk an average of 3.74 miles to rivers and springs because they don’t have piped water and wells. 

Think if you had to walk miles to a river every day just to get water to wash dishes, bathe, and drink! Here is a picture of a woman washing dishes outside her humble home in a Ugandan village.

Studies by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa have found that:

*Barely near a third of rural Africans live near a road;

*Fewer than 1 in 5 people in poor African countries have electricity;

*Only 56% drink clean water;

*Over 60% of the population lacks basic sanitation facilities.

There are incredible needs in Africa to rebuild, but the economy is so small.  Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”  (Matthew 9:37)

The AIDS/HIV epidemic has left millions of orphans. In Uganda, the AIDS/HIV prevalence has been reduced to about 6.4 percent, but new infections are on the rise with 130,000 new infections reported in 2006.

War also has taken its toll on the entire continent. The Second Congo War in August 1998 began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire) and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power (hostilities continue today).  

The largest war in modern African history, it directly involved eight African nations, as well as about 25 armed groups.  Pictured here is one of the rebel Congo soldiers. 

By 2008 the war and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation, making the Second Congo War the deadliest conflict worldwide since World War II. Millions more were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries.   

Dangers in Central Africa with rebels setting up fake road stops as “checkpoints”, bribing travelers, and even robbing and murdering them does occur (much less often than people fear, but it happens).  Dakar, Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg are probably most well-known for violent crime, car-jacking and murder.  However, greater dangers than the rebels in Africa are the mosquito (malaria) and diseases such as yellow fever.

Many of the people in Africa have lost hope because of the ravages of war, AIDS and HIV, and poverty.  Yet we know in Christ, there is always hope. God is using pastor Felix to give this hope to those in Africa.  Here is a picture of one of the poor people whom pastor Felix ministers to in the rural villages.  

Africa is not dangerous everywhere, pastor Felix says. But it is definitely a culture shock to Americans, and it is very backwards from the western world. 

So many in Africa suffer. Finances are tight, especially for someone like pastor Felix without a regular income.  He and his wife, Alpha Murora, have five precious children to take care of and support.  They are Linda Mahora (age 13), Linah (age 11), Bradley James (age 8), Ron (age 5), and Tabitha Mahoro (age 2).

Here is a picture of pastor Felix’s beautiful wife Alpha. She has had her own clothing boutique, and takes care of their children. 

Here are pictures of Linda and Linah.  It is not a tradition for young girls to shave their hair, but pastor Felix said that many primary school age schools require them to shave their hair as part of their rules.

 ”Teachers believe with short hair, it will give less time for a girl to look at herself in the mirror and forget to study, to opt to get married and be attracted to men.”  Some girls, however, have naturally short hair. 

In Africa, names are significant and have very interesting meanings. Linda’s and Tabitha’s middle name “Mahoro” means peace.  Alpha’s middle name “Murora” in the Rwanda language means “Look at her beauty and just pay the bride price.”  In pastor Felix’s mother tongue that originated from his tribe in Congo, “Murora” means “the seer or prophet.”  

Here is a picture of pastor Felix’s beautiful wife Alpha with their precious baby Tabitha. Pastor Felix says that people from the US/UK visit Africa, and sweep away women in Africa with promises of “the good life” of nice material things and money.  He says that many women in Africa believe that getting a rich man is the only means to a good survival.  Various grassroots and national organizations are implementing programs in Africa to further women’s education, to give job  training skills and leadership training, to improve women’s and children’s health, and to combat discrimination in the workplace – but the work is not easy.

Many babies in Africa are abandoned, especially in recession-hit south Africa.  Girls who become pregnant don’t have an education, a job, and live on the streets. They become desperate and abandon their babies at a hospital, at charities, or in the streets. Prostitutes  and those infected with HIV also abandon their children. Sex trafficking is prevalent in African countries, with many children on the streets targeted.

God’s light is more powerful than this darkness.  Pastor Felix, as well as a separate organization called Abba House Children’s Home, are working tirelessly to combat such cultural problems with the good news of Jesus Christ. It is only Jesus who can set men, women, and children free.  Abba House offers practical help to assist orphans in Uganda. 

It is our unselfish prayers that will help the most with the people of Africa.  ”Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV)

In Uganda there is a large hill called the Prayer Mountain, where you can see most of Kampala City.  This is definitely one of the places I intend to visit when Ray, I, and our daughters go on our short-term mission trip there, hopefully next year. .

Pastor Felix says that many people come from all over the world to set up tents here to stay for days or weeks. It is said that whatever you ask for on the prayer mountain, you will receive. Here is a picture of Prayer Mountain.

The land of Africa is one of deep contrasts, with hills, mountains, deserts, plains, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls -as well as a culture blended with both ancient tribal ways and rapid modernization. 

And of course, many people want to visit Africa to see the wildlife. No other continent is home to such diverse wildlife, which roams free and is in very close proximity.  A safari is definitely on my to-do list when we get there!

Pastor Felix says the best teacher of Africa is when you come in person, as every writer has different versions of how Africa looks.  I can’t wait to go, and know it is going to be just amazing! 

I thought what Pastor Felix said about his homeland is the best way to describe it:

“I long for the day you touch African soil…it’s the land of black people who are very receptive and welcoming…that is the culture that cuts across African soil…handshakes, songs, and dances are what keeps most societies alive.”

Please keep pastor Felix, his wife Alpha, and their precious children in your prayers. He needs provision for all of their basic needs each month such as housing, electricity, school and college fees for their children. He also needs to raise funds for his personal ministry spreading the gospel, for the Christmas outreach to orphans and the youth medical camp in December, as well as raising funds for SEMSAR Africa.

If you feel led by God to help pastor Felix in any way financially, donations can be mailed safely to him at:

Pr. Omondi Felix,
P.O Box 27830, Code: 00100,
Nairobi Kenya,
East Africa.

Pastor Felix’s email address is pfelix@semsar.org or felixjalango@yahoo.com.

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Vlog: Thankfulness for God’s daily goodness

Tonight was our city’s annual Thanksgiving Ladies’ Night Out, when the stores on the town square stay open several hours later than usual and offer discounts to ladies doing some early Christmas shopping. They also shamelessly offer goodies like sprinkled cookies to help you blow this week’s resolution to lose weight. 

I had a fun “girls’ time” talk with my friend Diane; she was also a great support to me as I dropped off my Walking With God books to sell at a friend’s salon in town and casually networked.

While there, I was greatly blessed to meet two very successful (and nice!) Christian writers /speakers, who are from the local area. It was good to chat with “kindred spirits.”  God amazes me how He orchestrates events in our lives, to encourage us on the path He has directed us to take. I am so thankful for God’s goodness that He showers me with on a daily basis!

As Thanksgiving approaches this week, may we cultivate deeply thankful hearts toward God for His abundant blessings.  I share more about this in my vlog below.  Enjoy!

Thanks to God

Tonight our city’s ministerial alliance held its annual community Thanksgiving service at my church, where the area churches came together for an evening service. Denominational lines melted as we heard worship, praise, preaching, the reading of scripture, and prayer from God’s people of various churches.

Rev. Scott Piper of the St. Matthew Lutheran Church gave the Thanksgiving message in his sermon, Dwelling with God, about the many hardships the Pilgrims faced on the Mayflower ship and when they arrived - and yet they stayed faithful to God and trusted in Him. 

This week as Thanksgiving approaches, let’s remember to give thanks to God for all His goodness to us, and keep our faith and trust in Him as the Pilgrims did in the uncertain times ahead. Let’s remember to keep President Obama, our country’s leaders, our nation, and Israel in prayer as God instructs us to do in 1 Timothy 2:2. And let’s really enjoy spending time with our family and friends, who are truly gifts from God above.

What are you especially thankful for today?  Make a list!

He just IS that into you

Alex (Justin Long) and Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) – “He’s just not that into you” movie

Tonight I watched the all-star cast movie, He’s just not that into you, starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, and other current faves.

The movie was basically about how complicated marriage and singles’ relationships are. As in real life, some of these relationships ended happily; some did not.

Alex (Justin Long) is the truthful voice through the movie, telling the desperate-for-this-great-new-guy-to-call Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) the dating do’s and don’t's – and what a guy really means when he is saying he’s going to be going out of town at the end of the date. Girls don’t understand the confusing “signals” and words that guys give sometimes, and Alex is trying to help Gigi get the real meanings – and to no longer waste her time, waiting for that phone call. Meanwhile, Gigi realizes that it is Alex her friend who is into her.

After I watched the movie, I was so thankful to no longer be single; the benefit of marriage is that you don’t have to wait around for that phone call. He’s right there in the next room, along with his dirty socks on the floor.  :) 

I also thought about how it is God who just IS that into us. He loves us so much! God never gives us mixed signals. He proved His love and devotion for us, once and for all, when Jesus died on the cross over 2,000 years ago. He said it was final, it was all over.  We were what He wanted, and He’d do whatever it took to get us – and He did!

God never has call waiting or goes out of town on vacation. He’s always there, always wanting us. He can’t wait to hear the sound of our voice or to see our face (Song of Solomon 2:14). He just wants to be with us.

God just IS that into you.

Growing young with child-like faith

It takes a long time to grow young. – Pablo Picasso

Today is our youngest daughter Leah’s 15th birthday. It is so hard to believe! It seems like yesterday she was just a little baby in her pink gown – such a beautiful baby! (No, I’m NOT prejudiced!) She has brought great joy to my life. Happy birthday, Leah!  I love you so much!

As I reflect on the years that have passed by so quickly, I think of the sweet innocence and the faith that children have.  They simply believe.  It is adults who teach children to have skepticism and unbelief in God.

The older we become, the more often we lose that pure, child-like faith which moves mountains.  As the quote says at the beginning of this blog, it takes a long time to grow young. May we as adults recapture that childlike faith, and simply take God at His word. 

In Matthew 18:3 (Amplified Bible), Jesus said about children, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].”

Dark but lovely: God’s transforming grace

The Shulammite woman who worked in the field’s vineyard all day said, “I am dark but lovely.” (Song of Solomon 1:5-6)  She had a revelation that even though her skin was dark and rough from laboring in the scorching sun all day, that she was beautiful because of how much the Beloved loved her. It is the same with us as believers. Christ beautifies us with His love. God loves us and just wants to be with us. His grace transforms us from darkness to light, from glory to glory. Join Beth today as she shares encouragement from God’s word about the story of the Beloved and the Shulammite – the power of God’s transforming love.

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