IF YOU ONLY HAD AN HOUR ...

On Wednesday of this week, I had the privilege to be an assistant during a third grade class period. 

On Thursday, one of these third graders visited with me for about half an hour before school. When he heard that I had to wait until I was 37 years old for my first visit to Disney World, he was shocked. He said, "If I had known you before then, I would have taken you to Disney World." We chatted for a bit longer and as I walked with him to flag ceremony he said, "You know what, you are my new bestest friend."

Here's the thing. It was on this same morning, I talked to God and questioned whether I was making any kind of a difference. I asked Him to show me if it was good enough for Him. I have been here a month and felt as though I hadn't enough tick marks on the schedule for God. I needed this visit and to hear this young student's words. God answered and my heart melted even more for the children here in La Vega.

This morning as I walked down the hallways of La Vega Christian School, several of those third graders saw me, stopped and came up to greet me with hugs and these precious words, "Hello Ms. Sommer, how are you?" in perfect English. We had less than an hour together on Wednesday. I am looking forward to next Wednesday with these students.

You never know what kind of impact a few minutes will have on someone. I know how my heart was impacted. It is my continued hope that I will be a good ambassador of Christ to those around me, to the students and faculty of the schools where I volunteer, that a few minutes will make a positive difference.

BACK TO SCHOOL

So good to be back in fabulous La Vega, Dominican Republic.  The school year had started before I arrived.  Students are settled into their daily routine and teachers are looking forward to seeing the accomplishments of the students.  

This semester has a few changes for me.  I will be volunteering two days a week at the La Vega Christian School campus.  I have the privilege of assisting with the English art program and assisting in the English Learning Center.  Additionally, I will be traveling two days a week to teach Conversational English in two schools for Haitian children.  My hope is that I will continue to be able to visit and check in with the other 8 schools for Haitian children.

This week I experienced something of a first for me.  School classes cancelled due to hurricane and tropical storm conditions.  We had so much rain, that for a time, I lived as royalty because of a water filled moat outside the home hindering foot traffic from entering or exiting. Many people have been affected by the damage left from the path of the hurricane and tropical storm conditions.

John will soon be here for a short visit.  He is eager to be here and reconnect with the students and our new friends. 

When God fights your battles.

The enemy is good at being bad. Knowing our weaknesses, he camps out with bated breath just waiting for his chance to launch his missiles. And he does it with extreme accuracy.   He knows what hurts us the most.  

In a book called Boundaries, Townsend and Cloud tell a story about a man who continually goes down a street and falls into a hole. The story paraphrased goes like this:

A man would go down the street, see a hole, and fall in. The next day the man walked down the street and saw the hole and fell in again. The third day the man partially changed his route but eventually still fell in the hole. The fourth day he altered his route a little but then looked back and fell in the stubborn hole. Finally when the man became tired of his failure, he decided to walk on the other side of the street. Enough was enough. He stopped thinking he could do it. Many of us still think we can. When we keep trying to get different results by doing the same thing, others recognize it as insanity; we think we are persevering.

It's helpful in our battles to remember God's track record. He has proven himself in each of our lives. I need to remember what he did in my life because that's the life I'm living. When I am tempted to feel unwanted and unloved, I must choose to focus on how God cares enough to know my name.  He not only cares enough, He has given me a name that only He calls me by.  He has given you a special name, one that only He call you by.  That is how much you are loved and wanted by God.  God goes before you and fights the battles.  He claims you are His child.  When we feel anxious, discouraged, hopeless or overwhelmed He is going before us and fighting for us.  When bad things happens, He is preparing a powerful life change.  

God is in control, but that does not mean we followers of Christ get to avoid the battles - in fact, the Bible states the opposite.  "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4).  In order for a believer to live a life of endurance, character, and hope, we must put on our armor and trust the Deliverer.  We can not put our confidence in ourselves, or others.  Our confidence must be in God, who will fight our battles.  Be still, He goes before you and He always wins.

CLOSED

Do you feel like you are in a closed-door season? 

For every season, God has a purpose for us. During mine, closed doors made missions efforts possible. Closed doors allowed me to travel to Africa, Venezuela, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. My bucket list included getting one stamp in a passport. I had to recently ask for additional pages in a renewed passport.

Closed doors helped me grow by experiencing different cultures, different outlooks, different living situations, and developing a very honest relationship with Jesus. God showed me that His plan was better than mine, and I smile (even laugh out loud sometimes) when He does things just to show His is God and can do anything far beyond what I can think, dream or imagine.

Does your 'closed door' season of life allow time to pursue a dream? join a Bible study? serve at a school? mentor a young person? pursue a dream? take a class to help you develop professionally? Enjoy this season of change. Not all change is bad. You may need extra pages in your 'memory book' all because of what happens when God closes a door that isn't 'good' for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

The ENCOURAGEMENT DARE

Why are we called to encourage? In Hebrews 3:13, we are told to “encourage one another daily.” Then, in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, it says, “encourage one another and build one another up.” We also learn in Proverbs 12:25 that, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

So, with this in mind, we have to wonder why - why is it so important to God that we encourage one another? Are we doing all we can to share God’s love with our brothers and sisters? And, not to mention, who does God want us to encourage?

Let’s explore:

Why is it so important to God that we encourage one another?

We all know this world can be tough. It’s easy to lose sight of what’s truly important in a world where we are dealing with daily strife, uphill battles and the looming pressure to make everything okay. Many experience discouragement and this leads to giving in - throwing in the towel and saying “nevermind, I give up.” This is where encouraging others is essential. This is where God uses His people to speak truth to our hearts to remind us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33) and that He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). We must encourage one another so that we can bring glory to God not just in our lives, but in the lives of those around us as well. Must we never forget 1 John 3:16 where we learn the true meaning of love - “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Are we doing all we can to share God’s love with our brothers and sisters?

Just think about it for a second - we’re good people, right? We open doors for strangers, smile at dirty, oil-changing men at the service station and we even cleaned up a little after the potluck last Sunday. But, what we must ask ourselves is are we giving it all we got, or are we just doing the bare minimum by being polite and personable while keeping our hands clean at the same time. We invite you to spend some quiet time with God. Ask Him to shine His light on new ways for you to share His love. Ask Him to give you the strength to pursue the doors He is opening in your life and to give you the tools and passion needed to reach out in His name and truly make an impact for the Kingdom.

Who has God called us to encourage?

While many of us feel a strong need to encourage the people we love, it’s somewhat a little harder to reach out to those whom we don’t really care for. Let’s be honest - how many times have you encouraged someone who has been downright rude to you, or someone that you believe is on the wrong path in life? I mean, really, how easy is it to overlook the elderly person who is taking too long at the supermarket or the hateful neighbor who just loves to complain about your dogs or the homeless man who you pass every day on your way to work? However, in Matthew 7: 1-29 it says, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” We must be willing to look outside of our box, forgive as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32), and reach out beyond our comfort zone to reach those who may need a little extra attention. - Dayspring

Be On Guard!

Skylar (our miniature yorkie) and I just returned from taking out the trash to the trash bin. Just an innocent little walk. Even on innocent short little walks you must be on the alert. He and I just returned a few days ago from being on the farm for a week. We were outside often and there were times in which he wasn't ready to go back inside and help me by keeping watch while I unpacked boxes and totes. I know to be on the alert on the farm or when in the Dominican Republic, for slithering critters. When I am in town or in the city, I am not as alert.

Skylar being a city dog hasn't ever had an encounter with a snake until .... today ... in town. I was ready for this on the farm, but I relaxed today because we were in town in our own little yard. Mistake.

Yep, here was this mature women, who sometimes moves a little slow due to arthritis, reacting with movements like I was twenty again. RUNNING over to rescue Skylar from the slithering varmint who dared to even think about moving towards my companion. I scooped up rocks and sticks as weapons, forgot I was only wearing flip flops and went on the attack. Skylar moved when I yelled and stayed behind me as I went on the defense. Sure wish I had been wearing my boots or at least my Rocket Dogs.

Does this ever to us in daily life? We are on the lookout when we know we should but in our own little corner, our own home, our workplace, or (heaven forbid) in our own church seat, we let down our guard and the slithering enemy dares to move near. Quiet and sneaky, eyeing his prey, ready to attack when we least expect it.

The enemy is wanting to divide us so we will be separated and lack the combined strength to ward off an attack. Seeking to catch the weak or innocent among us while the mature ones are focused on a distracting moment. In 1 Timothy chapter 1, we are warned to be on guard at all times. Jesus went out on a limb asking us to be His hands and feet in ministry to others. We need to alert, being fearless in our struggle, keeping a firm grip on our faith and on ourselves. After all, this is a fight we’re in. It will be messy if we lose focus and forget to be properly dressed for battle. Keep the faith and be strong, don't be like "some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith." (1 Timothy 1 :19-20 The Message)

THERE WILL BE DOUBTERS AND NAYSAYERS

Have you planted your mustard seed?

Many of you know that Velvet has been ready to move since 2012. John has been ready since February 2016.

Waiting. This is difficult for Velvet. Velvet has come to embrace and love the promise of Psalms 46:10.

Since May 2012, Velvet has painted, downsized, repaired and waited. And waited some more.

There were many days where we would take one step forward and wait weeks, sometimes months, before God would say we could take the next step forward. People wore on Velvet when they asked the question "when?" It was kind how they showed care and concern. Velvet would steel herself and say, "Soon." Velvet came to tighten her grip of faith, focusing on the promise of Exodus 14:14.

Some people began talking, doubting it would happen. Velvet also found herself having questions and moments of wondering "God, did I hear wrong?" Some well-meaners and local spiritual mentors shared how they knew Velvet had heard God wrong. "You are to stay where we were 'planted'." A pastor's wife even encouraged Velvet to give up and be content in just having a passion for missions and raising awareness about missionaries on the field.

We are told there will be doubters and naysayers. There will even be errors that cause delays and increase waiting periods. An email arrived last week notifying Velvet there had been an oversight error regarding requirements for ordination. No other continuing education was needed for ordination. It could be her choice of elective study, not required study. Credit was being given for 49.5 hours of college courses from the days of her youth. Really? No, that can't be right. So Velvet asked again for clarification. Yes, it was correct. However ... there would still be a two year wait. There's that word again ... WAIT.

Last Friday a phone call, delivering news there are still questions being asked by spiritual overseers. Velvet could have sat down and wallowed in doubt, instead, she went into a bedroom and MOVED some very heavy furniture into the garage where it could be closer to going on the moving truck. Velvet continues to move in faith, trusting God's word. Trusting that God can move mountains. Trusting God can convince spiritual leaders this is His plan and purpose. Velvet knows it isn't her fight to fight, it is God's battle. Velvet can be content in the wait, because she is moving forward in obedience while she waits. "God, see that mountain over there? Some help please? Thank you."

Today, Velvet is in the 'waiting' room again. She has been told to wait for a phone call. A phone call with the results of the determination for clearance to once again travel to the Dominican Republic as a volunteer.

Last evening before church service, Velvet was once again asked 'when?' Kelly, a new follower of Christ asked, "Why would you need to wait when you are a volunteer and God has told you to go? Can't you just come and go as you please?" Great question! Here was Velvet's response, "It is about obedience. God has said go, we have said yes. We would like the blessing and favor of our denomination. So we are waiting on God to fight for us and show spiritual leaders this is His plan and purpose." It isn't always about us knowing that He is God, it is about the 'doubters and naysayers' knowing that He is God. Waiting could be so that others will have no doubt that God has shown His favor and blessing on you.

A year ago Velvet wrote a scripture on a postcard asking a mountain to moved - delays abounded, waiting became the norm, yet Velvet continued packing in faith. Friday, August 5, 2016, is moving day. It is official. What will Velvet be doing today? Moving more items to the garage to put on that moving truck. It helps to be busy moving forward in faith when you are waiting. Friday is our moving day and when it is time to go, Velvet wants to be ready. When the door closes on the moving truck and the journey begins, Velvet will take a photo and caption it FINALLY!!!

Some days all you may have is faith the size of a mustard seed ... plant it ... water it ... cultivate it ... feed it ... and wait. Watch your faith grow. Growing to heights of knowing God can do what man says is impossible.

...For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, ... you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20