Saturday's Scribbles: Looking Back With Gratitude

Today the Bible college we attended, The Lutheran Bible Institute which became Golden Valley Lutheran College our second year, is celebrating 100 years after it was established,  at the old campus in Golden Valley MN. where Joel and I met. The school itself, closed in 1985.   We had wanted to attend today's festivities and the gathering at the home of two graduates last night. Unfortunately, I am not fully recovered from the mastectomy so we are left here at home with our memories.  And we have so many!

When I was 18 I was not sure what my future would hold, but my sister who helped raise me and her friend Marian suggested that I go to The Lutheran Bible Institute.  LBI was a two year program of studying the Bible.  Most of the professors were pastors or missionaries. The campus was beautiful with a small pond centered in the middle surrounded by the main building, a boys dorm and two girls dorms.   I started school there in the fall of 1966.

Joel had gotten his AA degree in wildlife management and even though he planned to work outside in wildlife, his mom suggested he go to LBI and it sounded interesting to Joel so off he went in 1966.  It was there that we met, were "prayed together" and married a couple of weeks after graduating in 1968.  The college was affectionately known as "The Lutheran Bridal Institute" since so many couples met their spouses on this campus.

LBI is where we studied the Bible in depth.  What we learned added greatly to the foundation of our faith and led Joel to continue thinking seriously about going to the seminary.  Actually, both our goals were to go on the mission field in Africa, but over the years God had other plans.

Our second year at LBI the school became known as Golden Valley Lutheran College.  They brought in more regular classes.  We took classes like advanced typing and accounting, Psychology, etc.  I graduated with an AA degree in Parish Work and Joel in Bible.

We were part of the LBI/GVLC choir and traveled mostly to churches to perform, spending our nights in the homes of those who volunteered to have us.   In the summer of 1967 Joel was able to go with the choir to Europe and  perform in churches there including St. Peter's Cathedral,   In the Spring of 1968 we both went on a choir tour down through the south all the way to Florida and the Bahamas.  It was a fascinating and eye opening experience to be in the deep south in the late 60's......

LBI/GVLCas was a small  but significant Lutheran college that shaped the faith of many young adults, including us.  We are so grateful it was the place that brought us together,  deepened our faith, and sent us out to proclaim Jesus.  We may not have been able to go to the reunion this weekend, but we are filled with memories that are making us smile and give thanks!

Pursue, Seek, and Find

I confess that in the past I have never quite understood fasting.  It has not been in our tool box, probably because of our Lutheran culture.  I have felt uncomfortable fasting to "move God" and get the answers I want.  That was my take on it, anyway.  But God has been speaking to me lately about "seeking" Him.  When I felt Holy Spirit nudge me to fast before the prayer session with the couple I mentioned before, I asked what the purpose of this fasting was and I felt Holy reply, "To seek God".  It was not long after that response that everywhere I turned I was hearing the words..........seek Him.....seeking God......seek  seek.  It came up in a sermon by Rick Warren.  It came up twice in our devotionals.  It popped up on a Facebook post.  It came up today as a memory posting from 2 years ago.  Seek His face.

So we went into fasting with the premise we would be seeking God.  When we wanted to reach for food, we stopped and sought Him in prayer.  For mealtimes we read scriptures, discussed what we had read and prayed.  We took communion.  In all those activities we had the opportunity to seek and find.  We know His desire for us to pursue Him is not just during fasting.  

We can find God in most things I expect.  We can seek and find Him in nature.......in it's beauty, colors, animals, insects, birds, flowers, smells.  We can also seek and find Him throughout our days, our lives with those we love and care about.  His Presence in the midst.  Are we aware?   I am surprised at how often something pops up on Facebook that speaks clearly to me and I ponder how often I "miss" His love notes because distractions get in the way.

On the opposite side of that we need to question ourselves.....do we seek and find God with what we say.......what we do..........what we watch on TV........what we read........Some stuff, not. We pursue Him in worship!   How about life's challenges?  In the midst of a big life storm I often seek Him....but will I focus on Him in all our circumstances?  Sometimes it has to be intentional with how loud the storm is, but He is there.  Oh, yes, He is there..........here.....His calming presence in the midst.  

Bethel Worship

I am not sure where God is going with the continual messages we are receiving on "seeking Him",  but He definitely has our attention, especially as we prepare for next week.  We continue to pursue Him, remembering His goodness as we seek His face.

It Is A Mystery

I have shared the story of how Joel and I were "prayed together" by my older sister who helped raise me and our family friend Marian who worked at our church.  They came up for parents weekend in the fall of my first year at The Lutheran Bible Institute in Golden Valley, MN and while touring the dorms they met Joel.  They told me a couple of hours later that they had "met the man you are going to marry".  I was 18 and coming out of a relationship that had hurt my heart, and I wanted nothing to do with guys.  But they said, "He wants to be a missionary, just like you and we can just see the two of you in a hut in Africa!"  When they pointed Joel out to me, I was surprised, exclaiming, "He is loud, obnoxious and he wears boots!"  They replied, "We will pray about it."  Three months later we went on our first date and we married 18 months after that.

Joel was introduced to the mission field through his second cousin, Rev. David Simonson who was a missionary in Tanzania with his wife Eunice.  He really wanted to combine a life of adventure with his desire to share the gospel and Africa was at the top of his list. When I was 13 I can remember studying the bulletin board at our church and reading about the missionaries we supported....the Grants, with their five boys, who served in Brazil.  (Many years later God connected us to one of the boys, David, who with his wife Deb became our friends!)  I would think about what it would be like to be missionaries in a foreign country.

So, when Joel and I joined as one, the mission field was a dream we had for our future.  As Joel served in the military eight years, then went to seminary and was ordained, we raised our family.  We still talked of the mission field even as Montana beckoned us and our family grew.  In the eighties we looked into the mission field, but we were told by the powers that be that our multi-racial family would be a hardship at that time on the mission field.  We also did some serious talking about our kids having to go to boarding schools if we were in Africa.  Having attended LBI, we knew some missionary kids quite well, and several had gone through tough times leaving their parents and living in boarding schools.  We did not want that for our kids and did not believe that is what God wanted either.  So we stayed stateside, believing that God had closed the door, but that some day we would head out to do mission work......once our family was grown and gone from the nest.

Then sickness became a way of life for me and that dream faded.  It still had it's hooks into us deeply, and over the years we would periodically revisit the grief we felt for never having fulfilled that dream that we believed was from God.

Today I read on Facebook about Operation Bootstrap Africa ( David and Eunice's ministry) presenting a plaque to be placed at the Maasai school for girls that they founded.  It was being placed in David's memory.  He died at the age of 80, after serving as a missionary with Eunice for over 50 years.  He was and is still so beloved by the Maasai that they honored them with land and their home and his burial place overlook Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Their three sons run a Safari sightseeing business in the area.  Their two girls are stateside and Eunice lives in their home in Africa.

So, was our dream inspired by God?  It would not be the first time we strongly felt God lead us somewhere only to have the door closed later.   Whether we closed the door (with not wanting our kids in boarding schools) or whether God closed the door, it closed.  There is mystery wrapped up in it all.  Our mission field has really been mostly just "preaching to the choir".  Those who already know and believe.  It has taken place on American soil in such places like Montana, Minnesota and Iowa.  Certainly not as adventurous as we imagined!  And yet, I know that Joel has touched the lives of so many as they have let me know over the years.

Back to dreams and desires.  I remember a few years ago I told Joel I thought he should go to Africa to see David, visit his ministry and see the places that have always drawn us.  He told me, "I can't go.  I am afraid if I go.......I won't want to come back."  Yes, the dream runs deep within.  We have done what we could to further missions in Africa from our home in the USA knowing that missionaries need our support.

We believe that God works all things together for good to those who love him.   He has blessed our lives in so many ways over the years.  He has blessed Joel's ministry and the years of serving.  I believe He used Joel and hopefully me, to help others know Christ, and have a close relationship with our Lord.  I expect that one day, when we get to Heaven we will have questions about this unfulfilled dream that has held a piece of our hearts for so many years.   For now it is a mystery and we work hard to put it to rest and live our lives here.......in the good ol' USA..... trusting that God is guiding our journey as He always has.

Places In Our Hearts

Tonto National Park Mts

Phoenix Arizona

As I read a blog post my friend Linny wrote today, a flood of memories and emotions came into me.  She and her daughter Ruby were out for their early morning walk when they nearly crashed into two coyotes who were running full speed across the path in front of them. One had teeth bared and was growling as it attacked the second one.  Linny gave praise to God, realizing if they had been just a few seconds faster that morning they could have been directly in their path.  God protected them from harm.

As she described the mountains that surround Phoenix and the hills that are scattered in the midst of most suburbs I immediately thought about Gold Canyon AZ, just east of Mesa.  Joel and I both fell in love with the rugged desert landscape and Superstition Mountain which grabbed my attention whenever we left the home of my sister and her hubby.  One day we were walking on a sidewalk alongside a very busy road and as I looked up I saw a coyote walk right in front of us.  He quickly crossed the road and headed down into a wash as I pointed my finger and tried to get the attention of Joel and my sister Jan. We saw the prints of a bobcat or mountain lion in the fenced backyard of my sister and brother-in-law's house and Joel kept an eye out for them as he biked the area. Desert flowers are beautiful and so were the desert quail that were everywhere.

Gold Canyon, AZ

We fell so in love with Gold Canyon we decided to move there.  We spent months preparing and put our house on the market in August of 2015.  A week later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my health problems have been ongoing since.  Needless to say we took our house off the market and grieved the loss of our dream and of my health.  We still call Iowa home as the battles continue.

We have always loved the west.  We have traveled to Arizona twice and our trip to Redding CA took us through the west once again.  We could never soak it in enough!  We lived in Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, and two locations in Montana.  We never planned to leave Montana but God led us back to Minnesota and eventually Iowa.  It took a very long time to let go of Montana and then Gold Canyon.  Yet.......we would have been so far from our family.  Even here in Iowa we see them only a couple times during the year.  We know that God's worked all things together for good.............and we are trying to find a sense of contentment and peace with the shift that has come upon our lives.   Making where we live and this season with my health a place where we find comfort and beauty and peace.

It begins with gratitude.  Gratitude for living in an area surrounded by great neighbors.  Gratitude for the medical needs being met in our small Micropolitis.    Grateful for the people we know here, the years of Joel preaching/working in over 24 churches in the surrounding area has opened up opportunities we would not have otherwise.  Gratitude for each day together as we near our 51st year of marriage.  Gratitude for the time we lived in the West, traveled the West.  The West holds a special place in our hearts.  Gratitude for being here in our city as the grass grows, the trees bud, and the birds nest.  Where we live we have ducks nesting in the neighborhood, a robin persistently trying to build a nest on our porch.  Rabbits and racoons are visible and the deer are already eating our lilies!  A different kind of wildlife, but still enjoyable.  (And no worry about scorpions or snakes).

Each of us have places in our hearts that provide peace, comfort, and beauty.  Maybe it is a place from your childhood, or a lake cabin.  Maybe it is a location you had to say good-bye to.  Maybe it is across the sea........OR Maybe it is right where you live today.  Each place we call home has it's own beauty and gratitude helps us see that.  So grateful.

Unique And Quirky

I have been reading a Jan Karon book in her Father Tim series titled, "Shepherd'z Abiding". Jan Karon's Mitford series are such a delight to read.  Good, clean, faith based fiction books that give pause and bring joy.  You can even buy a book of "Father Tim quotes", there are so many treasures to hold on to.  Over 20 years ago Jan Karon spoke at Luther Seminary in St. Paul MN and Joel and I drove up to listen to her speak and to have the few books we had by her back then, autographed.  It was a great experience.

It has been quite awhile since I picked up one of her books, but I have been thoroughly enjoying it.  Father Tim and his wife Cynthia are now retired in the small town of Mitford North Carolina where he served as an Episcopalian priest to his unique and sometimes quirky congregation.

I cannot help but look back at the many churches Joel served over the years, each one unique with a few quirky members at times.  And are we not all unique and quirky in our own ways?  Each congregation with its own personality and purpose.  Oh what great memories we have for every place we called home, for every congregation that welcomed us.

And such adventures as we traveled in northern Montana where hawks, eagles, and antelope outnumbered the people.  And in Eastern Montana where Joel was able to baptize a 75 year old man and celebrate the eternal life that awaited him.  We still chuckle over one council meeting where it was put in the notes that the new pastor was wearing "inappropriate footwear" (square toed boots).  Joel was in need of new boots, so at the next council meeting he took off his new pointed toe boot put it on the table, asking the secretary to note that the new pastor now had appropriate footwear!  We ran into some very quirky people, and it was not always fun.......but the joy we experienced in the churches we served far outnumbered any negative experiences.

I love how Father Tim sees the good in all people.  How he quietly stands firm in what he believes without judging others.  For are we not all broken people, unique people, and even at times quirky?  God created each one of us as a masterpiece of His own making.  Our uniqueness is planned and used for God's purposes.  We can embrace who we are and trust God to guide us on our journey.

Do you have a congregation you sit among on Sunday mornings?  Do you observe the unique or quirky in the pews.........are you one of them?  Having served 7 churches and filled in or worked at 24 more over the years, we cannot help but smile at all the memories we have of those congregations that welcomed us.  Unique and sometimes even quirky as the members were......and us amongst them!

If you are looking for a good read.........a series that touches the soul, pick up a Jan Karon book.  You won't be disappointed, and it may give you a new perspective of your own home church!

Trimming Trees and Attitudes

I was watching Joel trim trees today as he climbed up a ladder and used his tree trimmer to cut through small branches.  When he could not reach a few higher ones he went upstairs, took the screen off the window and went to work. 

This project was unearthed after last night when we listened to branches rub across the roof as high winds moved everything around that was not tied down.  Today turned out to be a good day to trim away the culprits before they did any damage to the roof or to our sleep pattern.  We kind like the 8 hours of sleep we manage most nights. 

It was mostly an easy fix, but it took effort, especially balancing out the window to get to the higher branches. At least Joel agrees to stay off our steep roof and leave those limbs to the professionals.  We also had someone come aerate our yard recently before Joel put seed down for next year.   It is all part of the fall work.  Soon we will wash windows one last time, mow one last time, and grill one last time before......Before.  Before winter comes knocking on our door.  Winter is not very welcome here by the two of us, but we will tolerate it.  Meanwhile we enjoy the beauty of fall.

Just like the trees, sometimes there are things we need to trim away in our lives.  Maybe it is a mindset.  Maybe it is an attitude.  A grudge.   Unforgiveness. God revealed to me last night that I need an attitude change.  That what is going on for us right now is not about me or us, but for others.  It is not always easy to trim away or remove what Holy reveals to us.   Trimming and cutting away takes some effort, but it is worthwhile o let go and let God. There is "work" to be done to prepare us for a better life, to help us be the best we can be according to God's plan for us and for others.  Today was a good day to trim trees and attitudes. 

Divine Weaving

Joel at Our Savior's Lutheran, Salt Lake City

2017

I have been looking back and writing down our experiences in the past fifty years of sharing life together.  It has brought up many memories, bringing to mind recently the two years spent in Salt Lake City Utah.  We arrived in 1970, moving into a two bedroom apartment near the University of Utah where Joel was attending classes through the Air Force to receive his degree in Meteorology.  Joel had requested the University of Wisconsin which would be nearer to our family, but was lacking jut one credit of their requirements.  We believe that God had other plans..............

Mountain View from church

When we traveled to northern California a year ago, we were able to spend a night in SLC, revisiting the campus and also revisiting Our Savior's Lutheran Church where we had been welcomed with open arms.  Lutherans were a rarity in this land inhabited by mostly Mormans.   It was fascinating to go back after nearly 50 years, remembering how God orchestrated our journey west to this beautiful little church home. 

Over the years the church, wherever located, has been our foundation.  It was no different in Utah.  In fact, Our Savior's Lutheran became a place of refuge, growth, and opportunity while for the two years we were stationed there.  While there the church had an Interim as their pastor had moved on to another congregation back in our home state of Minnesota.  The Interim was the campus Lutheran chaplain, so he was trying to do double duty.  Joel was asked to step in and preach 3 Sundays a month and he willingly did so.  This opportunity really set us on the path to Joel becoming an ordained pastor 10 years later. Only God!

Joel graduated from the University two years later and we were assigned to Duluth Air Base where he would forecast weather for the pilots.   Our friends Marge and Dick welcomed us to stay with them for our final week in Utah because we had to pack up and move out of our townhouse.  Soon after we left Utah, they moved with their family to Minnesota so our friendship continued on.  We were sent to the Philippines in 1974 and when we came back from our overseas assignment and left the Air Force to enter seminary in St. Paul MN,  Marge and Dick once again invited us to stay in their home while they were away on vacation.  They are two of the nicest, kindest, most generous people we have ever met.  You just gotta love how God weaves His plans into the lives of His children, including friendships.    

Our Savior's Lutheran

Some of the places we have lived have been exciting and filled with new experiences.  Salt Lake City may not have had us riding in a bunka boat across the ocean, or branding cattle on a warm day in Montana, but they opened the I doors of our hearts and minds to a calling and to friends that we cherish to this day.  I hope our stories is a reminder of how God has brought His plans to pass in your own lives.  There is nothing like "divine weaving" in our lives.  It brings it's own kind of adventure in faithful living.  So grateful.  

A New Thing In Old Wrappings

A scripture given to us at Bethel Church

Joel has accepted a call to be a part time interim at two churches south of Mason City.  He began this past Saturday, preaching yesterday at St. Peter and St. Paul Lutheran churches in two small towns about twenty minutes apart. We left the house before eight and arrived home half past twelve.  It felt familiar, the routine of Joel up front and me in a pew.  As I said before, it was not on our radar.........or our bucket list, but it was on God's.  The journey to this decision was orchestrated by God.  It is a story to be shared.  

A few weeks ago a friend told me God had spoken a word to her for me.  "Tell Renee; to get ready.  I am going to be speaking to her."  I began praying, telling God I was ready and if I was not, then make me ready.  It was only a few days later that God showed up in my dreams.......

But first let me back up a bit.  A few weeks ago Joel told me that a pastor we knew had retired early to help out her brother, so at the time I wondered aloud if they had gotten an Interim yet.  He felt the people would be hiring a lay person who was helping out at the church already.  Then we ran into someone from that church In Rockwell IA where Joel was once an Interim.  After visiting with her  I remember thinking "They are going to want Joel for their Interim" since he had worked there before and they enjoyed him so much.   This did not really bring up any feelings for me since Joel was not interested in doing any Interim work.  He liked the "fill-in" Sunday work, leaving most of the week free for other pursuits.  But God......

A few weeks later Joel and I had just finished listening to the prophetic session we had experienced while at Bethel Church and were discussing the words spoken to us about doing a "new thing" , a new ministry, when the phone rang.  When Joel answered it an Asst. to the Bishop of our synod was on the other end asking if Joel was interested in being an Interim for the Lutheran churches in Rockwell and Thornton.  Joel looked at me and I said, "Say yes", then wished I could take back those words.  This would not be a new thing but more of the "old" ministry and that is exactly what I expressed to Joel as we discussed the possibility.  
During this time period is when our friend, who knew nothing about our current situation,  told me to "get ready".  Now...............the dream............

About 4 in the morning I woke up from a dream I had.  In the dream I was looking at what I thought was our SUV.  I heard God say, "I am giving you a new car."  I immediately began arguing with God...."We don't need a new car.  We like our car".  Joel was there and chimed in....."We like our car, we don't need a new car."  God said a second time, firmly..."I am giving you a new car!"  Then I woke up.

The next morning I told Joel about the dream and felt we were to meditate on it.  As soon as I closed my eyes Jesus was there taking my hand and saying, "Come with me."  I asked Him where we were going and He said, "For a ride."  Then he got into the driver's seat of what I believed was our SUV.  I got in the seat behind Jesus and Joel got in up front on the passenger's side.  I said, "Is this a new car?  Jesus said, "Yes."  I said, "It looks like our old car, but it is a new car?"  Jesus said yes and then threw his head back and laughed and laughed.  He then turned to me and said, "Let me drive."   I immediately found myself outside the car with Jesus.  I said, "Ummmm, thank you?"  And Jesus said, "Yes!  That is what I wanted to hear!"

This visual encounter and dream made things pretty clear to Joel and me.  So, out of obedience Joel interviewed with the churches and accepted a call to work part time as they transition and search for a new pastor.  This Interim position looked to me like something "old", not a new ministry.......but God was telling us something different.

A week ago we drove to Rochester MN, about 1 hour and 40 minutes from us, to attend Destiny Church, which is somewhat based on Bethel church in CA.   After church you could meet with someone who may have a prophetic word for you.  Three women met with Joel and me and once again God came through about us doing a new thing.......wrapped up in an "old package".  

It often amazes me how much God wants to speak to us and uses others to do so. I love hearing stories about how God has made His voice heard for His purposes.   For us there was no way to avoid what God was saying through our friend, the dream, the visual encounter and the prophetic words at Destiny church.  His message was clear.  We are grateful for how clearly God spoke to us about this position, grateful for the opportunity to serve others, grateful for God's guidance. We don't fully understand it, but God does.  Sometimes a "new thing" comes in old wrappings and we look forward to how God will unwrap this opportunity before us.  

The Yellow Brick Road

I was quietly sitting with my eyes closed, having asked God to speak to me through what I call a visual encounter.  Letting God use my mind/imagination to show me things He wants me to see.  This day I saw round brown stepping stones scattered around in front of me.  I watched myself step from one to another, back and forth, in no real order.  When I looked up I saw a large beam of yellow light coming towards me in a straight line.  Suddenly a huge  being came down out of the sky landing on the ground a few yards in front of me.  The earth shook when he landed.  I questioned if this was God, but he turned around and I saw several wings on his back.  This giant angel started walking towards the source of the light and with each step the ground shook.  I then heard the words........"Follow the yellow brick road." 

The yellow brick road.  I love it when God uses the familiar to get His point across.   Sometimes Joel and I feel like we are just hopping from one stone to another with little direction.  And then God sends us a clear message of what His plan is and we find ourselves saying..."Are you sure, Lord?"  Are you sure this is what you want us to do?  Maybe we will just go back to what  was comfortable, wandering from stepping stone to stepping stone, a bit like the Israelites in the wilderness.  Is this the right path....maybe this is.......And then God says, "Follow the yellow brick road".  Follow that beam of light beckoning to us from God Himself.

Have you heard the story about a man who fell off a cliff, but was able to hang on to a branch sticking out of the side to keep himself from crashing.  He asked God for help and heard.........."Let go of the branch".  He asked again and got the same answer.  The man then said, "Is there anyone else out there?"  God's response required some big time trust and made no sense.  Maybe someone else had a better idea?

Sometimes God requests us to do something that does not make a lot of sense at the time.  He asks us to trust Him whether we understand the purpose or not.  In His word we read................."For I have plans for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  (Jeremiah 29:11).  That is what we hang on to.

I remember when we were sure God wanted Joel to get an "early out" of the Air Force, move to St. Paul and go to seminary.  We visited friends at Luther Sem and were so sure it was God's plan we spent time looking for a house to buy and found one by a grade school and close to the Seminary.  We almost put in an offer but decided to wait until Joel got the papers releasing him from the Air Force.  We went home and Joel went it to fill out the paperwork for an early out.  The clerk, said, "You can't get an early out, you have orders!"  Joel was surprised to say the least, but asked...."Where am I going?"  The clerk said, "The Philippine Islands."  Joel was overdue for a remote one year tour without his family, so he asked if he was going accompanied or unaccompanied.  The clerk said, "Accompanied".  We then began the process of moving overseas to experience what turned out to be two of the most amazing and life changing years of our lives.  We thought we had the path all figured out and were sure we knew what God had planned, but the "yellow brick road" led us to expand our family, meet friends for life, grow our faith, and experience living in a third world country.

The yellow brick road looks different for each of us, and at different times in our lives.   God sees beyond ourselves to His plan for His children and He asks us to follow Him.  Sometimes it is risky, sometimes it is confusing, sometimes it is glorious, but always it is best because His plan for us and for His world is good, not evil.   Do you find yourself on a yellow brick road?  If so, remember that God is leading the way.  He asks us to follow him and trust him on our journey as we listen and watch for His directions.  Just follow the yellow brick road....................

It Is Finished And Off

Today Joel sent his manuscript off to a publisher.  After years of work, months of revising, meetings with an editor/columnist who guided him in the process, and a lot of prayer, his book on his healing has been sent to a publisher.  It can take up to a few months for them to read and decide if they want to publish or not.  If they say no, he starts the process over again or self publishes.  We have no clue what is ahead, but out of obedience to God he moved forward to write, never thinking of himself as an author.  A preacher, yes, a teacher, yes, but a writer?  Not so much.  Yet God......

Joel's book is about his miraculous healing and what he has learned over the past 6 years regarding healing.  It is a story we want our family to remember for generations to come.  We both have taken quite a journey into the world of "God wants you well."  Joel's journey was amazing, as you who read my blog know.  He was healed in the middle of the night from 9 different conditions or diseases.  Doctor confirmed.  Thank you Jesus.

My journey to healing has not been an overnight miracle.  The Lyme and 3 co-infections died, the MCS is gone, the CFS does not control me any longer and an endocrinologist at Mayo told me I did not need thyroid medication after having been on it 27 years.  Yeah.  I had a long time large cyst disappear from my leg, and I have had energy return,, demonic spirits lifted off,. (Yeah, that is real.)  And I have survived three kinds of cancer thanks to the medical world. I keep fighting for complete and full healing because I believe that is what God wants for His kids.

I do have to say that this latest thing with my eye and the strobe lights has caused me to have major anxiety at times as I cope with the fireworks my eyes are producing in response to the retina issues.  There are times I have paused with weariness and wanted to give up.  And then I go back to what I know to be true.  What I have read in the pages of Joel's manuscript, what God's Word tells me.  And I cannot stop fighting.  Sometimes I rest, sometimes I weep, sometimes I rejoice in the circumstances,and I remember that God is faithful and He is good.  I remember that I am still here.  I remind myself that Jesus wants me to have abundant life and is with me.

Joel's story needs to be heard.  So does mine, which is why I have a chapter in the book too.    I know from experience that there are many who receive a miracle or partial healing and more who press in for the long haul to receive their healing. There is mystery and grace in it, and no answer to the whys of it all, but that does not change what God's Word says about healing.

We sent Joel's manuscript off on the Internet with a wing and a prayer today.  God often calls us to do the impossible.  I have heard it said if you can do what you are called to do on your own, you are not thinking big enough.  Joel could not have written this book without God's leading.  It is a new beginning for him and for that we are so grateful.    A new adventure with God in this season of His life.  We rejoice today ~ It is finished and off!

Plan B

Joel meets with a few colleagues on a Thursday morning once a month.  He has been a part of this group of pastors from North Iowa since we moved here 22 years ago.  They come together to share, discuss, and enjoy each other's company over morning coffee and lunch.

This month they were going to meet at the big park here in town.  Joel offered to bring the coffee and rolls, and hold the shelter until everyone arrived.  And then the rain came.  Again.  It rained all night and continued in the morning.  A Plan B was needed. so we welcomed the group to our home.

We are celebrating our 50th anniversary next weekend.  The plan is to have it at our home, with family and a few friends joining our celebration.  A tent canopy in the back yard with table and chairs is on the agenda along with some good food and fellowship.  There is just one thing we cannot control............the weather.  And the weather does not look good.  The forecast is consistently telling us it will be 91 degrees with chance of rain and a lot of humidity.  A Plan B is needed, so we put one into place.

Joel, who loves nature, was a bit bummed by the Plan B for his group, and we are a bit bummed by the necessity for a Plan B for our wedding anniversary, but remembering that it is not the location that is so important, it is the time together with those we love and care about.

On a much more serious note, our youngest daughter went in for same day surgery and ended up in the CCU with seizures that started after surgery.  She was kept intubated and sedated through the day and night.  Then today she was doing really well when the seizures started again.  An MRI and EEG ruled out any brain disorder or tumor.  She was diagnosed with pseudo-seizures, and thankfully does not have epilepsy.  She will be taking anti-seizure meds and making some changes in her life.   This was definitely a really big Plan B.

How often in life do we need a plan B?   I think we can all name a few.   Life seems to be what happens while we are making other plans.  What we hold on to is the knowledge that God walks with us through every Plan B.  The big ones and the little ones.  We hold our plans loosely and pray for God to guide our way, trusting He is with us.  Our Plan B's are no surprise to him.  He is there to work out all things for good.  His plans are for good and not for evil.  That is what we remember. 

Who Knows Where The Time Goes

It was 50 years ago, in 1968 that our lives changed dramatically.  We were married June 30th of that year after we graduated from Golden Valley Lutheran College, significant in so many ways, but not the only event that occurred for us.  It was a time of change for our country, for the world.  It is the year that Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were both murdered.  It was a tumultuous time.

And here were are 50 years later.  The legacy of King and Kennedy live on and still shape us so many years later.  Who knows where the time goes........

And here we are, 50 years later and soon to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  We are no longer the 20 and 22 year old kids who stood before family and friends saying "I do".  We are seasoned people in the autumn season of our lives.  Who knows where the time goes............

We can all look at events in our lives and question the passing of time. Whether births, deaths, graduations, marriages, we hold them dear and ponder.  Our son Kevin would have been 39 on June 1st.  He died when a virus attacked his heart causing congestive heart failure.  It has been 13 1/2 years since that early morning phone call waking us.  His then toddler son will soon be 16 now.  Who knows where the time goes...............

It feels like our grands were just born and yet we are watching them walk into college and high school doors, with the youngest two leaving single digit birthdays behind.  Who knows where the time goes............

Joel and I are now in our 7th decade of life.  We both are healthier than we were in our early 60's but we cannot look in the mirror without pondering where we are now.  Who knows where the time goes...........

It is no secret that we cannot hold time back.  No matter how many wrinkle creams, fad diets, exercise regimes, or surgeries people invest in to look and feel young.....we cannot hold time back.  We can only hold gently each sunrise and sunset, using the hours in-between to live a life worth living, embracing what is important, letting go of that which is not.

What do we hold precious?  What dreams do we still have tucked in the corner of our hearts?  What do we fill the hours between sunrise and sunset with?  Can we embrace the mundane and the precious, enjoying what makes up our lives.....because.......truly........who know where the time goes!

What About All Our Stuff?

Why are we so attached to stuff?  Yesterday we went through one of Joel's storage tubs that holds 38 years of ministry memories.  Ugh.  So difficult to let go of things, but so necessary.  Just going through one tub had both Joel and I out of sorts.  There were things in the tub we have not laid eyes on in several years........would probably not miss them if the tub was lost.........but unwrapping each plaque or knick-knack and thumbing through books and notebooks left us out of sorts.  Why are we so attached to stuff?

Some dear friends are in the final stages of stepping into a new season in their lives.  They sold their home, and have now sold nearly all their belongings.  What will go with them is only what fits in the 5th wheel.  I expect that it was not easy to part with some of their possessions, but their desire to travel full time in their 5th wheel outweighs their need to hold on to their stuff.

When we lived in The Philippines, we were unable to take much with us.  We put a lot of things in storage and managed to live 2 years without it quite easily.  In fact, when we came back to the US, and the boxes arrived from storage, it was like Christmas as we opened each box to see what was inside!  For those two years we did not miss what we did not have.

Not everyone is emotionally attached to their stuff, but I expect all of us have a few things we would not want to live without.  Our oldest son is very attached to stuff and has a story to tell with every item he holds.  Our oldest daughter gathers and holds many things dear the same way.  When we started to pare down our 9 tubs of Christmas directions, they were first in line to take things to their own homes.  Our second oldest daughter is quite the opposite.  She really is not attached to things.  People, of course, but not things.  Regardless, some "things" seem to bring forth strong emotions in our lives.

So, what if God asked us to let go of all our stuff to follow him?  The Bible gives us an example of surrendering all to do His will.  The disciples were fishermen and Jesus asked them to drop their nets and follow Him.  A big deal, really, to leave behind their livelihood for something new.  To leave behind all the familiar to follow Jesus in a new adventure.  Sometimes he calls us to do so. Our stuff cannot be more important than Him.  Our comfortable lives cannot get in the way of God's plan for us.  It is not that He does not want us to have an abundant life filled with good things, but it is important that we do not become so attached to our things that we cannot walk forward.

I think about Joel's cousin David Simonson and his wife Eunice.  When David graduated from the seminary they left everything familiar behind to go to Africa as missionaries in Tanzania.  For fifty years they served the Masai tribe.  He was so respected they gave them land to live on and David is now buried there.  Eunice and 4 of her 5 kids still call Africa home.  David's work for God and his desire to bring others to Christ changed that part of the world. 

Not all of us are called to surrender all that is familiar and literally move across the world, but I believe we are all asked to surrender in our own ways, and serve God in the best plan He has for us.  Joel and I have see God at work so often over the years where Joel was called to congregations.  And most recently we have been asked by God to step out of the familiar of our Norwegian Lutheran heritage and denomination and expand our beliefs.  We have been asked by God to redefine ourselves as people who have a Norwegian Lutheran foundation but live with incurable Pentecostal and charismatic  tendencies.  We did not ask for this.  We asked for healing and what we learned about healing led to more of Holy Spirit and more of Holy Spirit changed our lives.  We have had to let go of some of the "stuff" we held close as God opened doors for us to walk a different path.  It has not always been easy but just like our friends, the desire for something more outweighs the need to hang on to our "stuff".

Out of love, God is always reshaping us. Whether we are getting rid of the stuff that fills our storage tubs, shifting our beliefs, or letting go of the stuff of the past, we know God is with us.  And when looking forward we don't miss what we no longer have, especially once we step into something new. 

Follow The Yellow Brick Road....

Yesterday we traveled northeast to see an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Mn.  My doctor here wanted me to see someone who understood Vit D toxicity better.  I expect if anyone knows how to deal in rare problems, it would be a place like Mayo.

I received a phone call from Mayo on Sunday morning ~ Mother's Day ~ to set up an appointment for me and they wanted me in right away so, after I protested that they were calling on a Sunday morning???  We scheduled for this week.  An hour before my appointment we arrived at the large building with enough people to fill a small town, and promptly ran into our daughter's sister-in-law who was working there that day!  Small world.  As we headed to the 3rd floor, and Desk 3D as instructed, they could not find me in the system.  Oh boy.  Nope.  Nada.  I was not listed as a patient and it turns out I was not even sent to the right location.  After a couple of phone calls they found out the doctor I was scheduled to see had just gone over to St. Mary's Hospital a couple of miles away so she would meet with me there.... We had already spent 20 minutes trying to find a parking space in a nearby ramp, so we went to get on a shuttle. After getting to St. Mary's we walked.....and walked.....and walked.....arriving at the right desk where we were escorted in to a hospital type doctor's office where we waited to see the endocrinologist.

Not the relaxing start I had envisioned.  The doctor was good and very informative.  It seems that they don't usually see patients with this level of Vit D unless they have been hospitalized for symptoms first.  My calcium levels are still in the normal range which is rare for the amount of Vit D in my body and blood.  She thinks the large quantity of water I drink every day along with salt water a few times a week have washed the calcium out of my blood and kept it from damaging my liver, kidneys or heart.  I am now on a low calcium diet , drinking water and salt water, and waiting for the D to go down.  According to her  it will take months.  But God.......

I am excited to share how God has been moving in the midst of this journey.

We like to talk with Holy Spirit and before we even knew about the Vit D we were asking Holy just what was needed for my body since the "flu" just was not going away.  Strange as it sounds, I was told to drink salt water.  Now in the past I have had low sodium which would cause a funky feeling and my Lyme doctor at the time had me drink salt water.  I don't eat processed food nor salt my food much so don't often get enough sodium.  We listened to God's guidance and I have been drinking salt water once a day or every other day and unbeknownst to us, it was getting rid of the calcium in my blood!  Only God.    When I look back on how the doctor decided to ck for LOW Vit D and did a full blood panel coming up with the toxicity and one "slightly off" liver test?  An answer to our prayer that if there was something going on, the doctor would find it. And helping rid my body of calcium building up in my blood?  I did not even know I had that, but God did and told me to drink salt water.

The symptoms of fatigue and weakness have continued to hang around, but this past Tuesday Joel felt the need to pray for a "spirit of weakness" to get off my body..........and I began to improve.  Tuesday night people in our group lay hands on me and a woman prayed over me, declaring somethings was going to change tomorrow. and I would know it.....and it did and I did.  For the first time in 3 months I felt close to normal.  Only God.

I just love how God intervenes in the lives of His children.  We cry for help and He answers.  I am still on the yellow brick road to recovery, but God has led the way, breaking off anything in the spirit realm, guiding the doctors, and answering our prayers.  He truly desires to help us.  We just need to keep following the yellow brick road.  It will lead us Home.

Defining Normal

Joel and I are reading aloud the book, "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind" by Pastor Bill Johnson.  It has given us a new perspective on the definition of "normal Christianity".  Always love the way God opens our eyes to more of Him.

I remember when we told a friend about our adventure in healing and speaking in tongues.  My friend's hubby replied...'Well, that is just a little to the right of crazy, isn't it."  It was just not normal in his mind.  We had a good chuckle over that and have used the term ourselves....cuz we have observed things that made us feel that same way.   What is normal to one is not necessarily normal to another!

Have you heard of the book, "Hillbilly Eulogy"  by J.D. Vance? I had to be put on a waiting list to get the book from our local library.  As I read into the book, I found it  not to my liking so I did not finish it.  I did think about Vance growing up in a hillbilly culture, though, and how our environment defines what is normal and familiar for us, at least until we observe something different.

Normal:  it used to describe a setting on our clothes dryers .........until computers and sensors made our washer and dryers into amazing machines.  Remember when it was normal to have a phone attached to the wall, when you had to get up to turn the TV channel?  Back in the day,  no one could comprehend soaring through the air.  I am sure that many thought the Wright brothers were just a little to the right of crazy!  And maybe they were.  Stepping out of the box moves us forward!

Lets look at our bodies.  When I was so very ill, walking across the room or up the stairs was exhausting for me.  My body adjusted and pretty much was comfortable with being so sick.  Then I was healed of Lyme and I started to walk....5 minutes...  10 minutes was a major milestone for me. The body had to be coaxed back to life.  Exercising then became normal to the point where if I don't walk daily I feel sluggish and out of sorts.   My body's perspective of normal has shifted.  It is still a work in progress, but walking is normal now.  Thank God.

So all this to contemplate that what Jesus commands in the Bible..........GO preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, speak in new tongues................I am thinking that these commands from Jesus are to be followed and defined as normal Christianity.  The supernatural power of God for us is normal.  It is food for thought.  Bringing the kingdom to earth....."They kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".  Yeah.  On earth.  Wouldn't it be amazing if we saw the works of Jesus come through us..........remember He lives IN us..........remember He said we would do greater things than He did with Holy Spirit in us.....Normal Christianity.  Wow.  Just sayin'

A Lifetime of Saturdays

I have been re-reading a book by Susie Davis entitled, "Unafraid:  Trusting God In An Unsafe World" It is her own story of moving out of a life controlled for decades by fear and into a life of trusting God in all circumstances.  In one section of the book she shares an amazing analogy surrounding Easter weekend as Christians speak of it, and how we do life today.

On Good Friday we remember how Jesus suffered and died on the cross while His disciples and His family watched in horror.  On Saturday we remember how they mourned His loss and feared for their own lives........Saturday was a day of "what ifs" and discouragements....fears.  Silence from the tomb.  And then Sunday came~ Jesus rose from the dead and left the tomb!  Victory reigns!  We know this well and base our faith on the Resurrection.

Susie then talked about how she sees Friday as representing the really bad things that come into in our lives.  Things that bring physical, emotional or spiritual trauma and pain.  On those "Fridays" we focus on surviving.  Then Saturday comes and we find ourselves asking "What the heck just happened?" Fear knots our stomach and we worry....we  look for ways to cope, ways to keep it from happening again.  But ALL the worries and fears hold us in the limbo of Saturday, not understanding that Saturday is not a place of wholeness or wellness.  We get stuck in it, and Sunday never comes. Somewhere deep inside we long for the joy of Sunday where God makes all things new, we long for Sunday where resurrection power brings us hope and healing.  Yeah....But how do we get there from a place of fear?   Maybe we just intentionally step into it one day at a time.  During Susie Davis's journey to freedom she realized that she had been living a lifetime of Saturdays.   Fear was controlling her day to day living.  John Hayford once asked, "How would you treat a friend who lies to you as often as your fears do?"  Yeah..........fears can keep us trapped in a lifetime of Saturdays.


Even though I had read this book before, I found myself caught up in the stillness of knowing you have just read something profound, something that is going to reshape your life.  You have this choice, you can look back or look around and be lead to stay in the Saturdays or you can take a leap of faith into Sunday!  And this Friday ~ Saturday~ Sunday cycle?  It will happen often.  It is just part of the broken world we live in, but Sunday is our goal, it is where we step out in trust.  After what Jesus did for us on Good Friday, how can we not help but trust Him!

I confess I have gotten stuck in Saturdays,  the trauma of a "Friday" event bringing to the surface the questions of Saturday...."What the heck just happened?" Joel and I have said it more than once in the past two years, and yet often our search for answers actually holds us captive.  It is when we look to Jesus and remember that Sunday holds victory, that peace reigns.  When we tried to reason, answer or figure out the whys of Friday events, "Sunday" living is far away.

During Susie Davis's journey to freedom from a life of fear, she realized that she had been living a lifetime of Saturdays, while deep inside she hungered for Sundays with Jesus.  There is a great video on YouTube that speaks of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  The man's words tell the story of Jesus crucifixion, the suffering He endured.  At the end of each sentence spoken of the darkness of that day, the preacher says...."but Sunday's a coming!"  I love that reminder that on the day the covenant split in half, we know that Sunday is coming!  The Resurrection!  The Victory!  It is for us, too.

If you find yourself in the midst of a "Friday" event or situation, there is hope.  The journey from Friday to Sunday is a process we go through.  The opportune words here are "go through".  We  remember how often fear "lies" to us, and we speak God's truth over our situation, reaching for Sunday's victories.  One day at a time.

Forty-nine and Celebrating!

Joel and I are celebrating our 49th anniversary tomorrow.  Forty-nine years together with God walking with us every step of the way.  After all, He ordained our marriage.....we were brought together through prayer, a story I have told often and can be read HERE.

Our 49th had me thinking back about our first anniversary, celebrated at a small place in Champaign, Illinois.  First dinner and then a movie ~ a big deal on an airman's salary.  I was also about 4 weeks pregnant and sooooooo excited that I was already wearing maternity clothes.  In those days everything was stretchy in the belly and flowing on top.  That night I wore navy pants and a red white and blue stripped top.  I certainly did not need them (giggle) but was eager to show off being a mama-to-be.  Of course I did not realize I would carry both of our birth children 10 months instead of 9 or I may have waited on the maternity wear!

There have been so many anniversaries since then.  All of them celebrated together, in sickness and in health. Too many in sickness, but, still, we have treasured every single one together.  Often I tell Joel how thankful I am for him loving me.....he always responds....."it is the easiest thing I do."  I feel the same way about him.   Keeping God in the middle makes it so, I expect.

When I was having surgery last week, my doctor asked me about Joel.  He had met him when he went in for a body scan and the nurse had told him before entering the room..."There is one feisty retired pastor in there!"  I don't think he knew what to expect.  So, during my surgery he asked me questions......about our faith...how we met......I was able to share our faith journey in response to his questions.  Then he said, "Well, he must be pretty good, since people look past how he dresses....as a cowboy."  I could have been offended, but considering this 33 year old doctor was from L. A. and had lived in Manhattan, I saw him as naive, so I just let that go.  Poor kid, he has never experienced the country I expect.  I did share that we were celebrating our 49th anniversary and that Joel is an amazing man of God, who is kind and good-hearted, loves to laugh, help others, and preach the Gospel.

Those boots, vests,  and hats he wears are how he likes to dress.....for himself not others.  He is not trying to be a "cowboy" he just likes boots, hats, and vests.  This man of God who sits across the table from me, who holds my hand when we walk, who cares for me when I am sick, who fills my heart with joy ~~ This "cowboy" preacher as others and now myself have labeled him ?   I am so blessed to call him mine.  I often say that I know how much God loves me because He brought Joel into my life.

We have been blessed to spend so many years walking through life together.  We met at The Lutheran Bible Institute often nicknamed, The Lutheran Bridal Institute!  Always and forever thankful for the prayers that united us. We were married two weeks after graduation and have raised 7 plus kids, hugged on a dozen grands, and welcomed in-loves into our family.  What an adventure in faithful living!   Happy Anniversary Joel!  I will love you from here to eternity................

In The Hallway

While scrolling Facebook yesterday morning a quote on Start Your Day With Jesus caught my attention.  "Don't stress over closed doors behind you.  God has NEW doors opening for you if you just keep moving forward."  It caught my attention because I had just read something else about closed doors from Dr. Brian Simmons who writes "I Hear Him Whisper".  He is also the author of the Passion Translation of the Bible.  The title of yesterday's "I Hear Him Whisper" was "The Right Door Will Open".   Then during morning devotions, up popped the closed doors theme once again.  Three times within an hour.

Today I listened to two separate teachings at Bethel.  One on the Holy Spirit and one on the story of Esther.  During each of those teachings "open doors" came up again.  God definitely has our attention.

Sometimes doors open wide, and we are able to see how God has made the way for us.  I remember when our oldest daughter Beth and her husband were living and working in the Twin Cities.  Bethany had been working at a church in a suburb there, when an opportunity for her to apply for a job at a church in Chicago came up.  I saw this opportunity and felt a strong urge from God to tell her about it.  A couple interviews and a job opening for her husband later, and they were on their way to Chicago.....many miles and hours away from us.  There were times I wished I had never seen that want ad in our ELCA's national magazine, but that would have been wrong. This was part of God's plan for their lives, and the 10 years they spent there were life changing.  Only God.

When doors close it can be difficult to see this as God.  A closed door can be discouraging in the moment.  When Joel was stationed in Duluth MN we visited friends at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Joel knew he wanted to be a pastor, and he knew that there was a good chance he could get an early out of the Air Force.  We were so sure that this is what God wanted for us, that we even looked at buying a house only a few blocks from the seminary.  When we returned from our visit, Joel went in to the base to apply for early out.  Much to his surprise, he was told that he could not apply since he had "orders" pending.  What orders??  He soon discovered he was being sent to The Philippines.........and thankfully, we could all go with him.  That door closed hard, and we went to the P.I. for two years. Those two years were life changing in so many wonderful ways, and brought into our lives two of our children.  What blessings they are.  Only God.  And seminary?  It was still part of the plan.........but when God opened the door.

Sometimes we stand before a door, and we long for it to be open.  We look around for any sign that we are before the right door, holding the right key, any sign that God is hearing us....and we are met with silence or only hear one word.  Wait.  Waiting for the right door to open at the right time can be excruciating.  We find ourselves in the wilderness, which is just a place we don't want to be.  In this place we need to take our eyes off of our efforts and our desires and put them on Jesus. So, we praise Him in the hallway.

We praise Him in the hallway because we know all His promises in the Bible are yes and amen.  We praise Him because He has a plan for us....for good and not evil.  We praise Him because of what Jesus did for us, what He still does for us.  We praise Him in the hallway until the next door opens at exactly the right time.  Even in the hallway we are not alone.   We learn to rest in the hallway, and while we rest we praise Him!

A Scrabble Education

Joel and I started playing Scrabble this winter to pass the time away as we shelter inside, and it gives our brains a work out too.  We were pretty much going back and forth on who would win until.......  until the time came where I lost 5 games in a row.  It was then I noticed I was not having a great attitude.  My, "I'm happy for you Joel, great game!" was a bit forced.  After game five I was expecting to lose every time I sat before the board. I would not stop playing cuz I'm stubborn, but I was moping and began to speak negatively.  It is not easy to write this......reality bites

I won a game and then lost another.  Last night as I lay in bed after having a pity party for one.....I realized that the game of scrabble was revealing something raw about how I was seeing my life.  How I was seeing myself.  It was not pretty.  I had just spoken in a community group about how we speak life or death with our words,  Two choices there as stated in Proverbs 18:21....

Life    or   Death. 

So what am I speaking?  Part of what I had been saying aloud is that I was not smart enough for this game.  Joel is smarter....thus wins more......and it morphed into what really was getting to me deep deep inside. This past year of health challenges has me believing Joel is healthier....cuz I don't have what it takes to see my full healing.  I have been dealing with some major symptoms and felt I was losing the battle.  IF I believe in full healing for everyone, where was mine?  God wants us well, so I must be blocking the way.  Again, not easy to confess.

Through playing Scrabble I became aware of how I am speaking over myself and thinking about myself.  God has been using a board game to show me what is going on at a deeper level.  Something He wants to unearth and bring out into the light for His healing touch.  He is so loving isn't He!  He never leaves us where we are.  Leave it to God to give me a Scrabble education!

Saturday's Scribbles: The Land Of Giants

I was listening to a pastor tell his story.......He had started a church in Florida.  Over the years it had grown greatly and a 45,000 foot addition was added on.  The church was doing well, the pastor's wife had a wonderful job, and they had built their dream home on five acres of land.  They planned to live the rest of their lives out in this house, at this church.  All was good.  And then.......As the pastor was out walking one morning, he heard God tell him it was time to leave this church.  Needless to say, it stunned him, but he knew he could not ignore this command if it was from God.

So pastor Tom went home and told his wife what had happened.  She was in the bathroom brushing her hair and as he told her what he thought was a word from God, she turned to him, pointed her hair brush at him, and said..."You better be sure this is from God!"  After seeking counsel, he was affirmed in his spirit, and believed that God wanted him to leave this church, this beautiful promised land where all was well.

He left the church, with no call, and walked through a season of waiting until he was offered a position with Global Awakening.  It completely changed his life.  His comment was, "IF God tells you to walk away from what looks like the best thing, it is because He has a greater plan for your future and is leading you into something even better."

Sometimes what God asks of us looks risky and impractical.  Often impossible!  He calls us to places that do not present us with a house of our dreams and /or a big church to serve.  Sometimes He beckons us into a land where there are giants.  Maybe is it a land flowing with milk and honey, but giants show up and distract us from seeing God's plan. Can this really be what you have planned Lord?  It is darn scary here!

Pastor Tom spoke of the story of the spies coming back from the land God promised and how all but two felt it was a good land, BUT there were giants there.  Too scary.  Too risky.  They did not want to go, even though God had told them this was their land.  Only Joshua and Caleb came back and said, yes, giants are there.....BUT it is a good place! And.  God.  Promised.  Let's go!  It was a matter of trust.

Several years ago one family member moved from a place where they had good jobs, a nice home, a great church and so many great friends.  The first year or so was really tough......challenges came up in the new business, and friends were hard to come by.  Could this be God's plan?  His best for His children?  Speed ahead to today and it is a completely different story.  Flourishing.  That is what comes to mind as I think about this family.  Flourishing in all areas of their lives.  

I'm thinking we can all relate in some way to these stories.  The risks we may be called to take come in all shapes and sizes.  Could be a move to a new land.....could be trusting and seeing beyond what something appears to be.  A risk could be as small as saying hi to a stranger at church, or as big as a change in career or location.  That ol' enemy is going to do all he can to keep you from God's plan for your lives so when God speaks and shakes up our world, remember the story of Joshua and Caleb.....and be bold.  Take a step forward. Every risk requires trusting God and His plan.  Even in the lands of giants.