Amy’s example on Lonliness & A.W. Tozer on Lonliness

So how can a mother of 3 with a wonderful husband feel lonely? Well, it happens. I think I have found that although there are a billion things that I could do to keep me occupied & 1 million questions my lovely 3 children can come up with to keep me entertained – there is just something that only God can fill. Not to mention the spiritual realm we live in. I mean, if we could just see the wars going on! But, sometimes that knowledge doesn't feel like the answer. Yes, I am sharing maybe more than you would!

I've said it before….this past year on the mission field has been by far the toughest year of my life. However, I am so thankful to the Lord for all He has done in my life through those trials. That being said, on to the next "work" the Lord is doing in my life…..

So I am sitting here thinking about Thanksgiving and holidays back in America, my Mom's birthday I wasn't there for, friends and even a real grocery store & I begin feeling a bit glum. That being said - tonight the kids and I stay home from church. I am not going to go and put on a "happy face". I am not a good liar, so I will just give myself to the Lord & let Him settle it! Trent encourages me to pray that a "wall" is down. I am not threatened by that. In fact I am encouraged – Wow! An answer! That would be lovely. That does sound a bit sarcastic, but I meant it.

Yes, I have taken the bait the enemy has put before me! I am welcoming the "pity party" – after all I am the guest of honor! But I still know this is wrong thinking and I just want the Lord to take it!!!! Can you not just see the war waging!! The devils on one side showing me all things great & luring me into despair – then Jesus reaching out His hand of truth! I have decided to reach for His hand! Lord help me!

Then I come across this writing by A.W. Tozer on Lonliness. It encouraged me so, that I want to let you read it.

The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone.

The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.

The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens.

He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.

It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else."

Ok! So did you get that last part? The part of how lonliness throws him back upon God? Well, it all made sense. I mean, I had heard the saying, "You'll never know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have." Well, I can't say I do not have anything else. I do have a lovely husband & children I adore. I am not sure where that quote originated from & I am sure I am in no way at a loss of people/things as the author. But! What I have been missing is the Christian fellowship. So, to have read this – it comforted me.

Not to mention that just this morning I was reading in Hebrews about how Jesus suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (help, relieve) them that are tempted. This passage brought me to tears as I meditated upon it! Hebrews 2:18 Jesus mercifully sympathizes with us because he too suffered and was tempted!!!

I share my heart openly. I am sure there are people out there more spiritual than me, and not as weak. But to those who have hardships I pray that the Lord will allow His light to shine through this cracked vessel to encourage you too!

Thankful for lizard poop ?!?!?!?!

"Trent!" I yell! "Get the camera!"

"O.k." Trent says. He then comes to the front porch not sure what I am wanting to take a picture of.

"Just take a picture of me cleaning the lizard poop." I say, happily.

"O.k." he is a little concerned about how long I have been in the heat....

I explain it is because of the revelation I had while cleaning the lizard poop!

It is this: I am outside and my porch is covered in lizard poop. I mean it has been atleast a week since my porch has been clean & I can stand it no longer!!! I have to clean it! So after about an hour of scrubbing with my hands, I realize that I have been interceding for people the whole time.

So! That is why I am thankful for lizard poop! I had no music on. The kids were staying clear of Mommy. Everyone knows when the tile is wet - you may not enter the area! It is too slippery. So, I had an awesome time of prayer with the Lord!

Do you have lizard poop? Maybe not, but maybe other very tedious tasks that can be an opportunity to pray!!!!

Jax - trusting child

I love all 3 of my children, but today Jackson was on my mind. Jackson is a very typical little boy! He loves bugs, frogs, gecko’s, any super hero, can hardly sit still & very curious. His curiosity reminds me of Curious George. Curious George never really did anything intentionally, but boy did some things happen. I am happy to report that since the 2005 flooding of our house by the “commode incident” there has not been another monsterous disaster!

Anyway, I am looking at “Jax” (as we all call him) and just totally taken with his carefree attitude.

“Mommy I’m hungry.” He says.

“Peanut butter and Jelly or Ham and Cheese?” I ask as if I do not already know the answer. Ham and cheese it is!

Jax is off swinging a rubber snake crazily through the house.

He just told me he was hungry and knew Mommy was going to handle it & then just went back to what he was doing.

This got me to thinking. It made me think about how God provides for me. How God is so faithful to provide our every need. Yet, sometimes I give him my needs or my “anxieties” and I do not go in believing that it is “handled” as my son did. So many times I give it to God, only to take it back and carry a specific burden.

If Jax would not believe that I would feed him, I would be hurt – insulted. That I wouldn’t provide for my child? I think not! But now I have to think about how my unintentional holding of the things I give to God, only to take back hurts my Heavenly Father. Lord forgive me!
Through my son the Holy Spirit ministered to me.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Thanksgiving because you trust in Whom you have asked – Amen!

De Tway

One of the believer in our church, De Tway, has a very special place in my heart. I have had a heart for her since the 1st day she came to Thailand from Burma. I see her daily & have been so encouraged as she has continued to grow in understanding of Jesus. There have been changes in her life in response the gospel.

However, I am sad to say that while we were in Malaysia a marriage was planned for her. We are getting mixed information from rape to consent, but the Burmese culture is that either way there must be a marriage following. So, she is set to marry in the morning.

My heart is heavy as this man is a Buddhist. He did come to church and ask us for prayer & we pray that is the beginning of a life surrendered to Christ. The heart breaking part is that the marriage taking place is in Buddhist tradition. These traditions are demonic & the sacrifices and offerings to other devils have begun. In addition there is a welcoming of the "spirits". Tomorrow morning a monk is coming to "bless" their marriage.

My heart is burdened that De Tray is being married in this demonic activity. Pray for her. I am not sure she really believes she has a choice. We have shared the Word of God with her & shared our love personally for her. She has made the choice to move forward. My heart prays that as she seems "smitten" with him, that she make Jesus number 1 in her heart.

In addition to this we had to decline the invitation to the wedding. She understood as we explained to her in the Word where we stood. We have taken a stand for Christ. Now we are not in fear of physical damage, but there is already "backlash" towards our stand. Our stand is not cultural, but with Christ. Pray for peace and reconciliation.

Amy

Birhday, Visa’s & Friends

Hello!!!

We are back & refocused & refreshed!

First for those of you who have been waiting to hear our VISA update……We applied for 1 year, and were given 3 months. This family of 5 has to be out of the country February 5^th. We are going to be in Dallas & possibly other areas while in the U.S. sharing our hearts & reapplying for 1 year VISA's where we are most likely to get them. Pray for opportunities to share and for finances to cover this trip.

The boys birthday celebration! It was more like a week long celebration. On the way to Malaysia we pulled over in Hat Yai to eat. The idea was we were driving straight through!!! Well, getting prepared for the border I reach in our bag to get our passports ready & THEY WERE NOT THERE! At the last minute we decided to downsize our luggage & I forgot to repack our passports! Trent being the servant & wonderful husband that he is put the kids and I in a hotel & drove back to Ban Nam Khem to get them. This was no small task. It is an 8 hour drive to Hat Yai & he had to come back!!!

While in Hat Yai we were able to contact a family we just adore. They have a 2 little boys Josiah age 5 & Jude almost 2 - our kids play so great together. So the fun started there! There was an indoor park and the kids got to ride rides & even eat at a McDonalds! Very different from the village life!

Once Trent returned we were on to Malaysia. There we applied for our visas & got to relax a bit. The visa procedure takes 2 days. So we waited for the results and celebrated Jackson & Braden's 7^th Birthday. The boys had so much fun! What a wonderful way to celebrate!