Houston Deployment - Oct 2017

It's been a week since I have been home from Houston and I am still trying to process all that God did on this deployment. 
First of all, meeting and working with a new team of Chaplains and Chaplain Coordinators each time is such a blessing.  To learn and glean from the experience of others is priceless.
    
I know it is not about numbers, it is about people, but there is such a need for God's love and hope in these situations that just my partner and I probably prayed with over 100 people (a conservation number), and we had 4 people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!  We were able to bring hope to people that have lost everything and were at the end of themselves.
    
Before the beginning of the year I felt that God was leading me not to commit to any mission trips this year, but to keep myself open for deployment with the Rapid Response Team.  This was hard for me because I love missions, and this year my church was not only sending teams back to South Africa and possibly Thailand, but they were adding a trip to Lebanon.  Still, I stayed obedient and it wasn't until the end of August when the weather reports were telling of major hurricanes on the horizon, that I started to see why.


What is not hard is finding that through my first deployment last year to Baton Rouge, I found my hearts real passion!  Broken and hurting people are everywhere, and hearing the testimonies at church this morning by the team that just returned from South Africa reminded me of that.  It doesn't matter if you are half-way around the world in Durban...

...down south in Houston, Tx....

...or right here at home....

People need the Lord, and we just need to make ourselves available to be used by Him!  The really beautiful part, and I know the Africa team can attest to this, is that language isn't even a barrier.  Three of the salvations and prayers we had were Spanish-speaking home owners (two of which spoke no English at all, and one with broken English), but we were able, with some SP volunteers who spoke it to communicate.

Also, what I found amazing, is that even though I was prepared for some of the people we encountered to be angry with God for the disaster, none were!  They were not bitter or angry.  For the most part they were just thankful that their lives were spared and told us repeatedly that is was "only stuff".  Still, it was 'their stuff' and they knew that most of it couldn't be replaced.  We could only attribute this attitude to God's grace.

So, the biggest takeaway I see here is not to forget those that are suffering loss, trauma or even abuse need our continued prayers, and whenever the door is open to "go into all the world", then GO!

Until next time.......God speed!

Reminiscing about the days of old!

I've been hearing a lot lately about how much more stressful 
and busy life is today.

Life was so much easier back in my day!

Granted, it was slightly busier on the holidays.  Take Easter for instance:

Back in my day it meant waking up early enough to pray and then get myself ready before having to wake the 4 kids and get them ready for church (after the chocolate was wiped from their faces of course!); Get them to and from church (by myself), then rush home to make a couple side dishes so we can go visiting.  (It was always 3 different houses every holiday back then!)  I would pack up the kids, diaper bags, the food and gifts (so glad I only had 3 in diapers at once for just a few months!).  Then we would visit and corral the kids for hours in between serving and cleaning up the meals; Drive the exhausted and sleeping children home after a long day (did I mention that we lived an hour away from all those relatives for about 4 of those years?); and then we’d carry them to their beds.  Afterwards I would put all the food we brought home from Gramma’s away in the fridge, feed the dog and sit down to reflect on what a good day it was!

Good thing the rest of the days in the year were easy! 
Oh, except for every Sunday and Wednesday, dressing and bringing them to church; and Monday - Friday for school.  Lunches, homework – can’t forget the homework!  And, oh, laundry –YOWSERS!  Where did those heaps of clothes come from?!  Then it was off to dance, T-ball, Cub Scouts, soccer, cheer leading and football.  Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, lots of cooking! There was no eating out – it was too expensive; and dishes (by hand for many years).  
I also have to include the waitressing so I could afford to send them to Christian school. 

Next, were the teenage years. Wow! Was that fun!  

Still, God got me through it all, because I stayed close to Him throughout.  But if I could change anything, it would be less T.V., less putting pressure on myself and more prayer and time with God!

Now, I sit back and watch the next generation raising their own families, and I pray for them.  Yes, they work hard and they love their kids.  The holidays are hard though. And, it’s harder to get together with family now.  There is just too much going on! 

If only life was as easy for them now as it was for me 
back in the day! 
(I know, there is a little sarcasm mixed in there - but mostly reality!)

Could it be that there are even more things vying for our attention nowadays?  Video games, iPads, social media, movies, sports and entertainment all seem to play a part.  For many, it doesn't seem church is getting in their way (Oops!); So what is it?  Blended families?  (Yes, that is something the last generation didn't have as much of, but has to be considered!)  
Or is it priorities?  Less time seeking God? I think maybe all of it.  
Do we not have time, or do we not MAKE time?  Is there a difference?
What is the answer?  What is sucking up your time that has no eternal value?

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Seriously though, maybe you can't do it all!  Maybe you're not supposed to!  Families really are under a lot more pressure today, but who is putting that pressure on them?  The world? Themselves? Who told them that they have to be involved in all that they are doing? Life is so busy today, you can't even sit around at the dinner table and talk!

What I read in God's word is an offer of peace, contentment and a lighter burden.  

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
(John 14:27)
"The theif cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10)
"My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  (Matt. 11:30)

Take a little advice from someone who has been there and stop 
putting so much pressure on yourself.  And by far, my best days were when I put God first! 
What would you change or cut out if you could?  Would you add anything?
Just a thought!