Lt. Col. Paul Kari was tortured in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison for eight years. He went back to Hanoi with Ben and me and we visited the prison. I watched this great man deal with agonizing memories and still forgive his torturers.
Here's a lesson I learned. If you will make your hurting places become forgiving places God will turn them into healing places.
I saw it work for Paul.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
GUIDE ME WITH HIS EYE?
This verse used to puzzle me:
Psalm 32:8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
How does His eye guide me? It does as long as I stay in His presence.
For example: Let's walk together through Maputo, Mozambique. I'm familiar with the city. The streets can be risky there. Let's make it harder; we'll blindfold you and I'll never touch you nor will I give you a verbal map of the turns we must make. We'll just talk.
If you stay close enough to me to hear my voice I can guide you with my open eyes.
If you sense a distance growing between us you will know you missed a turn. Run back to the sound of my voice.
It is simply profound to me that God does guide us by His eye as we stay in His presence.
Psalm 32:8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
How does His eye guide me? It does as long as I stay in His presence.
For example: Let's walk together through Maputo, Mozambique. I'm familiar with the city. The streets can be risky there. Let's make it harder; we'll blindfold you and I'll never touch you nor will I give you a verbal map of the turns we must make. We'll just talk.
If you stay close enough to me to hear my voice I can guide you with my open eyes.
If you sense a distance growing between us you will know you missed a turn. Run back to the sound of my voice.
It is simply profound to me that God does guide us by His eye as we stay in His presence.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
ANOTHER REASON NOT TO WORRY
Isaiah 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord; shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb? saith God.
That's King James for, "What I have conceived in you will be born and there will be more births to come."
Children's Cup International Relief was God's idea--in fact it was His order to us. My head may struggle with the issues of the economy, but in my heart is a deep assurance God has not "shut the womb."
That's King James for, "What I have conceived in you will be born and there will be more births to come."
Children's Cup International Relief was God's idea--in fact it was His order to us. My head may struggle with the issues of the economy, but in my heart is a deep assurance God has not "shut the womb."
Friday, May 15, 2009
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AWAKE AT THIS HOUR
It's still in the house again. Jean--my companion for more than 50 years--is sleeping.
I've heard the phrase "wee hours of the morning." Will you let me play with the words and call them the "We hours"? As in God and me.
This stillness has become a destination--a place of peace and direction.
Right now I realize that I'm not the only one awake at this hour. And for some of you it is not a place of quiet and peace. Maaybe it's a difficult decision, a broken relationship, a great personal failure, or a doctor's words that are raging in your mind.
Would you trust God enough to make the quietness of your home an altar--a healing place?
"Father, as we bow in our quiet place altars we may be miles apart yet we are together at your altar, your healing place. Let your presence cleanse away the turmoil. Let your holy presence be the answer to the problems that seem unsolvable. Give clear signals about the next steps forward out of the messes and into your joy.
"In Jesus' name,
"Amen."
An old song is filling my heart:
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
And the billows cease to roll.
I've heard the phrase "wee hours of the morning." Will you let me play with the words and call them the "We hours"? As in God and me.
This stillness has become a destination--a place of peace and direction.
Right now I realize that I'm not the only one awake at this hour. And for some of you it is not a place of quiet and peace. Maaybe it's a difficult decision, a broken relationship, a great personal failure, or a doctor's words that are raging in your mind.
Would you trust God enough to make the quietness of your home an altar--a healing place?
"Father, as we bow in our quiet place altars we may be miles apart yet we are together at your altar, your healing place. Let your presence cleanse away the turmoil. Let your holy presence be the answer to the problems that seem unsolvable. Give clear signals about the next steps forward out of the messes and into your joy.
"In Jesus' name,
"Amen."
An old song is filling my heart:
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
And the billows cease to roll.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
"FROM WHENCE?"
I've been doing that very human thing called worrying.
The economy crisis has forced us to cut some programs for our AIDS orphans in Africa. Children's Cup has known the joy of daily feeding thousands of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children.
Telling any child we must stop helping them causes a soul-deep pain--for them and us.
Just now God told me in Mark 8:4 the exact words I needed to hear.
"From whence can a man satisfy these men (children) with bread here in the wilderrness?" The disciples asked Jesus this question when He asked them to feed the 7,000 people in the wilderness.
Jesus' answer was to bless a child's few loaves and fishes and feed the thousands--with food left over.
I believe right now in the stillness of this night that God is telling me He will multiply what we have to feed our hurting little ones in Africa--with food left over to feed even more.
Watch and see.
The economy crisis has forced us to cut some programs for our AIDS orphans in Africa. Children's Cup has known the joy of daily feeding thousands of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children.
Telling any child we must stop helping them causes a soul-deep pain--for them and us.
Just now God told me in Mark 8:4 the exact words I needed to hear.
"From whence can a man satisfy these men (children) with bread here in the wilderrness?" The disciples asked Jesus this question when He asked them to feed the 7,000 people in the wilderness.
Jesus' answer was to bless a child's few loaves and fishes and feed the thousands--with food left over.
I believe right now in the stillness of this night that God is telling me He will multiply what we have to feed our hurting little ones in Africa--with food left over to feed even more.
Watch and see.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
ABOUT OUR GRANDKIDS
Five-year-old Rhett patted his heart and said, "Jesus got all the dirt out of my heart."
Five-year-old Trinity asked me, "Pop, if I have ever in my life done anything to hurt you would you forgive me?" Total melt-down for me.
Eight-year-old Levi just told his mom with tears in his eyes, "Mom, I'm telling you and God right now that I will live for Jesus every day of my life--even if it means I must die." Levi is growing up in Africa knowing the dangers faced on the mission field.
Eleven-year-old Kayla said, "I know for sure God has called me to be a missionary to India" another hard place.
Eighteen-year-old Tori leaves in a few days for a short term missions assigment to Swaziland and Mozambique.
Each of our grandkids love Jesus and have unique talents to use for Him as they grow older.
Is it OK if Jean and I are excited about our grandkids? Maybe it's even OK to be proud of them. Hope so because we are.
Eight-year-old Levi just told his mom with tears in his eyes, "Mom, I'm telling you and God right now that I will live for Jesus every day of my life--even if it means I must die." Levi is growing up in Africa knowing the dangers faced on the mission field.
Eleven-year-old Kayla said, "I know for sure God has called me to be a missionary to India" another hard place.
Eighteen-year-old Tori leaves in a few days for a short term missions assigment to Swaziland and Mozambique.
Each of our grandkids love Jesus and have unique talents to use for Him as they grow older.
Is it OK if Jean and I are excited about our grandkids? Maybe it's even OK to be proud of them. Hope so because we are.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
THE “GOSHEN BLESSING”
The globe seems awash in plagues—political, financial, disease.
Remember the plagues of Egypt?
The children of Israel living in Goshen?
God kept the plagues away from them.
I’m praying over my family, coworkers, friends and everyone that calls Jesus “Lord” that we all come under a “Goshen Blessing.”
Join the prayer.
Remember the plagues of Egypt?
The children of Israel living in Goshen?
God kept the plagues away from them.
I’m praying over my family, coworkers, friends and everyone that calls Jesus “Lord” that we all come under a “Goshen Blessing.”
Join the prayer.
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