MANNA

I just returned from a prayer walk this morning and sat down to read in Mark Batterson’s book “The Circle Maker”, it is the book that started the 40-day pray challenge. In the first few paragraphs God spoke to me in a way I needed. I have been praying for many things during and since that challenge was completed.  One of the biggest prayer I have been praying for is His leading in my life. I am tired of hoping I am doing His will, I want Him to do His work through me.

Before I left on this adventure to Croatia I started praying that God would show me what He wanted for my life in the future, after I retire from my current job, which is two years away. As I was reading today I believe God let me know what He wants me to do…. Trust Him and His timing.  The book was talking about how the manna God provided was a daily reminder to be dependant on God. They were to only get what they could eat that day, no more. We as humans want to be supplied with all we need right now. We want to know what the future is before we get there. God wants us to wait for Him, to trust Him, to be dependant on Him like a child should be able to depend on a father.

Before I left I was praying that God would let me know if Croatia was a place that I should serve Him in the future, as a “resident”. Since I have been here I have learned a lot about the country, I have a lot to learn, I am not sure where God is leading because I believe He is giving me manna… just enough for now and no more. I may or may not come back to Croatia in my lifetime only God knows that for sure. I know I have made a lot of friends and will make more that I plan to keep in contact with. And if God leads me back here I will be willing and ready to come. Right now I have to live one manna day at a time!

The Quote:

“We want God to provide more so we need Him less.” ~Mark Batterson

The Drawing:

Bog Ljubi

God Loves!

I am sorry I have not written in a week. I said it may be difficult. Between my other blog, teaching, and preparing some other things needed here I have little time for all it all.

The Title is in Croatian and it says God Loves!. Our Bible story last night was from John 3. Nicodemus came to visit Jesus at night. I am sure he was afraid of what the other Pharisees would say if they saw him talking to Jesus.  He (and all the others) knew Jesus had to be the one from the old days that was spoken of so often. He wanted to know what he had to do to go to heaven.

Jesus told him the truth, that unless he was born again he could not go to heaven. He let him know there was nothing he could do physically, that he had to be born of the Spirit. I am sure this confused him, as it does many people today.

There is nothing you can do in this world to make you good enough to enter heaven. We are all sinners, and as John 3:16, God loves us so much that He sent His ONLY Son to die for us. The only way to enter heaven is to Believe this TRUTH. Nothing else will get you or I there. When we believe this truth God sends His Spirit to live in us, and then we are ready for heaven, we are born again.

The Quote:

"Bog je toliko volio svijet da je dao svojega jedinorođenog Sina da nijedan koji u njega vjeruje ne pogine, nego da ima vječni život." ~ Evanðelje po Ivanu 3:16 Croatian Bible (CRO)

The Drawing:

TRIP

I will be on my way tomorrow. I do not know if I will get an entry to this blog done tomorrow or not. I hope so, but please forgive me in advance if I don't.

If you want to keep up with the travels during my mission trip my blog is http://missionofteaching.blogspot.com/. I hope to post to it at least once a week during my four weeks there, more if I can. You never know what will happen at any point in time so I will not make a promise I can not keep.

I know that God has this trip in His control, He is the one that started it anyway, because if He had not prompted certain people to ask me to go, I would not be doing this. He has provided all along the way and I know He will continue too. Please pray for the whole team as we work for our Lord, and teach English to the people God brings to our classes.

Thank-you Lord for the things you have done, the things you are doing and the things you will do as this work unfolds. Thank-you for the people whose hearts you have already started to work in that we will be teaching and ministering to. Thank-you for your provision.

The Quote:

"I think it's my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may." ~Leonard Nimoy

The Drawing:

PACKING

Wow, I have 2 days left here in the US, I will be gone for a month. It is hard to pack for a place you have never been. It is hard to make sure you stay under the 50 lb limit and make sure you have all you need. I hope I don't miss something. There are so many things to take care of.

I have a lot to do to make sure I am ready to travel for God also. My "bags" need to be carefully packed for the spiritual part of the trip. Here is were I am really afraid I will leave something out. I have to have the whole armor of God. In need the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, boots that are prepared with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. Most of all I need the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I also need prayers of others to support this trip and ministry so that God's will is done. I am more afraid of Failing God than anything. He is the one that is to receive the honor and the glory for all that is done on this trip. I wish to be a faithful servant of His.

Lord, Help me to remember to pack all the things I need to make this trip and my life a living sacrifice to you, that will honor and please you.

The Quote:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. ~Ephesians 6:10-18

The Drawing:

PRACTICE

"Practice makes Perfect..." I always wondered about this and yes I have said it many time to many people. I believe that if I practice something I will get better at it, maybe. There are somethings that no matter how much I practice I am never going to be good at it let alone perfect. Like running, I do not run well, I never really have. Really, I don't like to run. So no matter how much I practice (I have done a lot of running in my life) I will not get better and will never be perfect. Then there is this idea; What is perfect? Is being perfect at something different for two people. My running may be perfect for me, and yet it would not be for a person like "Flo-Jo" Joyner.

Here is my idea about practice. I need to do it if I want to try and get better at something. "If you don't succeed try try again" It is important to try. So I practice (not running...I don't like to run) my art, I practice being a good friend, I practice being a good mother, and I practice being a Christian. Do I get better at these things as I practice, I hope so. These are areas I want to grow in, and there are many more I just kind of wrapped them up in those mentioned. Am I going to get perfect at some point in time as I practice.Again that is determined by the way we look at the word. I don't believe I will ever be "perfect" in the since of never making a mistake. I can be the best I can be or "perfect" for me. I will always make mistakes in my art, in being a friend, mother, and Christian, the thing I need to try to do it not make the same mistakes twice, and learn to correct the mistakes in a way that pleases God and anyone else involved.Does this makes sense to you? It does to me...

Lord thank-you for the opportunity to try to be "perfect" and thank-you for letting me know it is ok if I am not always "perfect". Help me to always strive to be though.

The Quote:

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~Dalai Lama

The Drawing: I was watching some drawing (doodling) videos today and practicing so that is what you are getting here the front and the back with mess-ups and all!

 

NOT DONE

To today is the last day of the 40 day prayer challenge I have been doing. The devotion I read was very cool and spoke of not having the words to say in prayer. There was a story about a Grandpa walking by his grand child's room and hearing them pray the alphabet. When they were finished He asked them why they had prayed that to God. They said "I didn't know what to say so I figured I'd let God put the letters together however He saw fit." I think that is an awesome example of prayer.

Sometimes we don't know what to pray, that is when we need to be still and let God lead us in what to pray. Read the Bible and when you feel a scripture or a word jump out at you then maybe that is what you should pray about. Pray the promises, circle the scripture in prayer. Take your time in the word. "Don't be in such a hurry to get through the Bible that you don't get the Bible through you," Mark Batterson. Whatever you do, don't stop praying.

Now that the challenge is over I can stop praying right? NO WAY, I AM NOT DONE! God has worked in some amazing ways during this time and I know He will continue to work. I have an awesome responsibility to Him in the next month and that time needs to be drenched in prayer!!! If you are reading this Please Pray for God to work wonders in Croatia!

Thank-you Lord for prayer. You, your son and your spirit are not through praying for me. I am not done praying to you. Help me to continue to realize the awesome Power of Prayer! Thanks for ALL you have done, are doing, and will do for us all.

The Quote:

"Prayer is the difference between the best we can do and the best God can do." ~Mark Batterson

The Drawing: 

HOLY GROUND

The devotion I read today was about being on Holy Ground. It spoke of Moses and how God spoke to him from a burning bush in the middle of the desert. God could have spoke in a less remote area, the thing is God can speak any where, since He is omnipresent. He is everywhere so everywhere is Holy Ground. That doesn't mean we have to keep our shoes off, although I know people who would think that was a grand idea! I think it means we should have and attitude that says we are willing to drop to our knees, worship, praise, and honor God at any moment. To take our sandals off before our God and pray to Him like He deserves. To often we are caught up in our routine and mundane lives that we forget who makes our lives possible, it is then he has to put a burning bush in our paths and make us take off our sandals in His presence and remember who He is.

Lord help me always be willing to worship and honor you, help me remember that you are always present and that makes every where I go Holy Ground.

The Quote:

"Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Exodus 3:5

The Drawing:

CHANGE

I know I have missed a few days this Month, as it gets closer to the time I am leaving it seems I have less time for this blog. I am praying, reading my bible, and preparing my lessons for the classes in Croatia. Sorry for not staying on top of this. I also may have used this word before, It can be used again, there are so many ways to look at change.

Change is difference. If you want things to be different, change. You can change anyone but yourself. You want someone else to change you have to model it, and not expect any change.

There are times that our lives need a little remodeling, some change. If things are stagnant where you are, go some place else. If you do things the same way every day, change it up. Change allows us to see things differently.

I am about to leave on a trip that will be a BIG Change for me. First I have never been out of the United States except to Mexico and Canada. I have never flown in an airplane as big as the one I will be in or for as many hours. These changes in themselves will be big ones and I will have to adjust to handle them. That is a good thing, it makes me be adaptable and less resistant to things that happen. It will be a big change to be "thrown" into another culture, even if it is somewhat similar to ours it will still be different and require change. I can not go into that country seeking to change them and the way they do things, I am the foreigner there, I adjust my life to theirs. I am sure I will returned a changed person, it may not be noticeable to others, I am sure God will see it and I will.

Change can be good. Lord, help me to handle the changes in my life in a way that is pleasing to you. Change me to be who you want me to be.

The Quote:

"Change of Pace + Change of Place = Change of Perspective" ~Mark Batterson

The Drawing:

PROMISES

God makes so many promises in His word, and all we have to do is claim them! There are more than 3000 promises in the Bible and I believe that if we meditate on them, bind them on our hearts, souls, and minds God will give them to us. If we use them in our prayers God will give them to us. He said his word would not return void.

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

So if you want something to happen and it is a promise of God, pray it, claim it. That does not mean that if you pray for a car and claim the promise "whatsoever you ask in my name it will be given to you" that you will get a car! God's Will has to be done. He also may give you a car but not the exact one you want. God will honor His promises, just remember He knows the master plan, so He answers them in a way that gets us to His destination for us. Pray the promises is an important part of spiritual life and growth.

Lord, thank you for your promises and help me learn to pray them, claim them, hide them in my heart, and bind them in my whole being.

The Quote: (A Promise)

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"

The Drawing:

SHADE

I have been walking some outside this week, not very far really just 1.5 miles. I did do it twice one day. I want to do this very day at least twice if my hips will let me. It was interesting this evening as I was walking how when I was facing the sun and it was just getting about to much to bare on my face that a tree was there to shade my path. I believe that God knew that one day I would need the shade from those trees so He had them right where they needed to be.

He provides for us in small ways everyday, the problem most of the time we are to busy with "life" to notice, and since we don't notice we don't thank Him. I thanked Him for the trees on my path today, and I thank Him for the for all the little things like shade, sweet smelling flowers, the laughter of children, and some many other little things I miss.

Lord thank-you for all the little things you do for me everyday!

The Quote:

"The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand." Psalms 121:5

The Drawing: No, the path I walked was not covered this much, it seemed like it though because I realixed the blessings God was sending my way.

REJOICE

The sermon at church today was about rejoicing. God has told us to rejoice, He knows we can not always be happy, we can however rejoice in all things. So the scripture reading today was from Philippians 3:1, and my pastor said that Paul speaks of rejoicing or being joyful about 16 times in Philippians. So for the rest of the entry today I will list some of those verses....

"always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,"  ~Philippians 1:4

"What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice." Philippians 1:18

" And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again." ~ Philippians 1:25-26

"fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." ~Philippians 2:2

"holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me." ~Philippians 2-16-18

"Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful." ~Philippians 2:28

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe." ~Philippians 3:1

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe." ~Philippians 3:3

"Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." ~Philippians 4:1

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" ~Philippians 4:4

"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity." ~Philippians 4:10

The Quote:

 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" ~Philippians 4:4

The Drawing: 

 

ROUTINE

As I am traveling down this path of prayer I have learned some awesome things. God has helped me to know He is here in glorious ways and He will supply my every need if I allow Him too. Today is no different.

We get into routines in our lives. They are sometimes good and sometimes not so good. We have morning routines, work routines, exercise routines and many more. Some of us even have routines that are spiritual in nature, such as a praying routine, a bible study routine, a going to church routine, and a praise routine. The bad part is that routines often lead to ruts! We have let our daily lives become such a routine that we do these things without even thinking. Our lives become common place. We need to mix it up.

God said in His word to "sing a new song" and according to the author Mark Batterson, He doesn't say it just once He says it 6 times in Psalms. I have said many times it must be important if God repeats it! So God wants us to sing a new song, he doesn't want to hear the same things over and over. He wants us to pray a new prayer. Don't always do things the same way, find new ways to pray, new things to pray for, different ways to pray for the same things. Sing new praises, new ways to be thankful, new ways to serve. Mix it up! Be bold, embrace change, be reckless and unashamed.

Thank-you Lord for allowing me to see the need to change routines, to help me draw closer to you!

The Quote:

"If you want God to do something new, you cannot keep doing the same old thing." ~Mark Batterson

The Drawing: