Why Do I Live

Some one asked me the other day, why do I live? The question wasn't something philosophical but an honest, soul searching, gut wrenching question. One that begged an answer that gave true validity to that person's life. Surprising to me was the fact that, throughout the years, I have been asked that same question by several others. Why do I live? Why do you live? For me the answer is simple. I live because I am dead, you see I died to myself years ago (yes, it is true that old self often wants to resurrect itself, nevertheless I am determined that it is dead). Like the Apostle Paul I can say, "The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Why do I live? I live for Him. I don't have to understand how valuable I am, I just have to know that I am valuable. I don't have to have a reason to live, just a determination to live, knowing that my life has worth and it is important because someone greater than I choose to give me worth. The Bible tells me that there is no greater love that that which is shown when a man gives his life for a friend. Jesus Christ gave his life for you and I. The price He paid indicates our value. Oh yes there are places to go and things to do, but they don't determine the value of one's life. You have value because you are loved. My reason for living isn't wrapped up in what I can do or what I have done but rather in who I am and who loves me. So if you also wonder why you live, meditate on Jesus' love for you instead of meditating on your failures and lack of abilities. Think about God's goodness instead of the vanity of life. The reason I live? It is to return the love to the one who loves me most. That sure takes the pressure off from my day!

Boiled Peanuts

I mentioned boiled peanuts the other day on Facebook. I was surprised at the responses that I got. On and on the comments came. I couldn't help but think how special such an insignificant thing like boiled peanuts could be. For one moment in time several people were united in one cause... the love of Boiled peanuts. Who would have guessed that so many people would be interested in the lowly peanut? It made me think about all the people in the world who think they are insignificant, lower than a peanut. So many people have no purpose, no goals, no happiness. They feel so low at times that eating dirt would be a luxury. If you are one of those don't forget, someone cared enough to die for you. You are not alone and definitely not insignificant. The book of Matthew tells a story about a great merchant who sought after a treasure. When he found the treasure he sold all he had just to buy that treasure. Jesus is the great merchant and he found you, His wonderful treasure. He sold all, even his own life, to purchase you. Hmmm...this is so much better than boiled peanuts.

Ministry update

Fred and I are traveling right now. This is the way we spend most of our summers. As many of you know we work in Africa and also the Philippines. Every summer we take some time to visit friends and churches that support us and this is currently what we are doing. Fred is also working diligently on editing the video Bible school classes that we produce. This is a lot of tedious work and it takes hundreds of hours to complete one class. Please pray with us that this work goes smoothly. I have also been finishing my third book. I am hoping that I will have this book published by the end of this month. The title is "The Only Way Out Is In". I am very excited about this project. It has been a lot of work and so many friends have helped me. I couldn't have done it without them.
Many people ask me what we do in our mission work. Fred and I both teach at Bible schools and churches in Africa and the Philippines. It has been our great joy to regularly teach in established Bible schools, run by local African/Philippine ministries. We have the privilege of working with great pastors and leaders. We have established and help supervise/maintain over 40 Video Bible schools across West Africa. We also hold pastor's seminars, women's conferences and work closely with an orphanage in Benin.
Our daughter Marie-Louise is planing to go to Honduras in August this year and this will be her first mission trip with out us. Please pray for her. She will be traveling with Mike and Becky Ingole. She is very excited about going and we believe this will be a great trip for her. Fred is leaving for Africa late August/early September. He is holding several pastor's conferences and teaching Bible school. Please pray for him and his plans. I will leave for Palawan with a team in late October, after Fred comes back from Africa. I am currently booking my fall schedule. (I am available in the USA while Fred is gone) I have a few dates left open. Please pray that everything works smoothly as we juggle all of our programs. We plan to all be back together in the USA for the holidays.
Thanks for your prayers...

Loved

I made a new friend yesterday. I love making and keeping friends. It seems to me that in this day of hustle and bustle we forget some of the most important things and one of those things is to look into the eyes of someone while they talk and listen to their heart. As I was listening to my new friend, I saw her deep yearning for God and also the struggle she experiences because of often being missunderstood. I saw someone with deep compassion for others and also a fear of failure. I watched her as she spoke and God began to show me how vital this one person is in the Kingdom of God. How often I have overlooked someone because I was too busy or just didn't pay attention. I made a new friend yesterday because I stopped long enough to look deep inside and see the real person.
God, help me to truly see people, to look deep and feel and understand like you would have me do. That's what being a friend truly is...after all, that's how you treat me.

Popcorn

We made popcorn today. Funny how even popcorn has changed in the last several years. I remember when I was young and we would take a big kettle, pour some salt, oil and popcorn kernels into it, put a lid on it and the shake shake shake it over a good hot stove until all of the corn had popped. Eventually the hot air popcorn maker emerged and out of the spout of the new electrical appliance came flying popcorn, fat and guilt free. Then the microwave changed everything about popcorn. All that is necessary for a perfectly seasoned bag of popcorn is 3 minutes in a microwave oven and viola, an instant snack! Everyone in the family can have their choice plain, sweet, or salty, high fat or low. You name it there is no end to the choices. However one things stays the same, not all the kernels pop. Some pop into light, tasty, delicious puffs, however some just burn, some do nothing, and some turn into little tooth breaking stones. It doesn't seem to matter if it's a hot stove, hot air, or microwaves, not every kernel responds to the process.
God, help me to respond to your process. I don't want to do nothing and I don't want to become burned out and hard, but I want to bloom and expand until I am everything you want me to be. Thank you Lord for the process, teach me to respond to you!

Overcoming

In Revelation 3:21 we read, "To him who overcomes..." I don't know about you but when I read that, I think of all kinds of things to overcome. No one is exempt; we all need to overcome, stress, finances, family issues, you name it we even need to overcome food! Our need to overcome daily is endless. If I only think about the things to conquer I could become discouraged but the very fact that I am promised a reward if I do overcome gives me hope that it can be done. Praise the Lord! I am an overcomer. You are an overcomer. We don't have to settle for defeat. You or I might lose a few battles but that doesn't make us losers. An overcomer even overcomes defeat!

Fear

It's an interesting day and age we live in. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are friends who are sick and some who have died, the loss of finances and jobs, and even airplanes that disappear. And yet we know that we do not have a spirit of fear. If we truly believe that we serve a God who cares then we have nothing to fear. I stand in agreement with Franklin D. Roosevelt when he said, "The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself.” He said those words in the midst of the great Depression and while facing the prospect of another great world war. Yet he knew that fear itself is our greatest enemy. The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. In these days of trouble we need power, love, and a sound mind. May we all see the fulfillment of this wonderful promise.