The Death and Funeral of Rachel Held Evans

Last month I was shocked to read of Rachel Held Evans's death as her body succumbed to a terrible reaction to the flu plus a UTI plus medication. I remember reading in mid-April that she'd been hospitalized for treatment, and later her husband's updates about the medically-induced coma due to brain seizures. I remember he posted that they were going to try bringing her out of the coma, and had hopes that she'd be OK eventually.

Instead God took her home during the early hours of May 4th. Andrew and I were getting ready to go somewhere together that Saturday around noon, and I glanced at my phone while waiting for him. I was stunned at the headlines I read about her death at age 37!

I don't remember exactly why and when I came to know of Rachel Held Evans, but I have read and own two of her books.  (The others I put on my Amazon Wishlist after her death.)

In May 2013, I recorded:
 
Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions by Rachel Held Evans -- If you think a twenty seven year old should never write a memoir, you'd probably not enjoy this, but I read Rachel's other book last year and loved it. This book tells her spiritual journey of how she went from being a fundamentalist-type evangelical (one who knew all the answers) to someone who questioned her faith, and came to different conclusions.  I really enjoyed this book especially when she talked about pond-scum theology. I could relate to many of her thoughts.

(this book has been re-titled since I bought it) 

I remember Rachel's disclaimer about her 27-year-old self writing a memoir, but now that she's gone just ten years later ... well, I'm not sure how to feel about that. Clearly, I read the book and liked it. I want to read it again now.

A few months earlier, I recorded this about Rachel's definition of biblical womanhood after reading her first book (mentioned in this post).


All that so say, her funeral was just held yesterday. I'd hope to watch it, but we took a day trip to the mountains so I looked for the link and saw I could watch it today. Yay.

Here is the video, and the order of service and liturgy.  The PDF also gives the speakers' and singers' names. I didn't watch every minute of her funeral (it's pretty long), but I listened to Rachel's sister's eulogy if not her song to Rachel, and I enjoyed The Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber's sermon which started around the 50 minute mark. The Communion hymns were delightful to this Baptist girl's heart! And I loved the Benediction (which you can read at the above link, or listen to on the video.)

This was the beginning part of the PDF. It was a beautiful service!




Rachel Grace Held Evans 
 REQUIEM EUCHARIST 
Saturday, June 1st, 2019
 The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too shall be raised.The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

This joy, however, does not make human grief un-Christian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow with those who mourn. 

The communion table is open to everyone without a single exception. You are invited to come forward and receive the bread and (non-alcoholic) juice, which, for many, is the body and blood of Christ. If you choose not to commune, you may remain seated or come forward with your arms crossed to receive a blessing. Ask your communion server for the gluten-free option, if needed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In conclusion


I remember reading this was the ending of Rachel's final post on her blog. From March 6, 2019

It strikes me today that the liturgy of Ash Wednesday teaches something that nearly everyone can agree on. Whether you are part of a church or not, whether you believe today or your doubt, whether you are a Christian or an atheist or an agnostic or a so-called “none” (whose faith experiences far transcend the limits of that label) you know this truth deep in your bones: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.” 

Death is a part of life. 

My prayer for you this season is that you make time to celebrate that reality, and to grieve that reality, and that you will know you are not alone. 

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.  

 -- Rachel Held Evans.

  
Pray for Rachel's husband, Dan, their two young children (she left behind a 3 year old son, and a little girl not quite one), her parents and sister, and many family and friends who knew her personally, and will miss her incredibly.

The Appalachians -- Land, Trees, People, Whiskey, Singing

The Appalachians is a collection of short essays by twenty five or so individuals with ties to Appalachia.  There are contributions from musicians such as Johnny Cash as well as former long-time Senator Robert Byrd who died not very long ago and many more who lived there or had grandparents or parents who lived in this region of the country.  I have especially enjoyed the little tidbits describing the types of people making up this region, how their isolation in the past contributed to their almost tribal or clanish mentality while also making them independent and individualistic in nature.

I live near the "R" in Raleigh, North Carolina

Of course many pages are devoted to the land.  The beauty of the mountains and valleys as well as the importance of land to each family since it's where much of their existence derived.  The book includes little stories, poems or added information along the margins and I had to chuckle when a western North Carolina judge wrote of an overlook near Asheville where lovers drove out each night to walk and "do their courting."  Since "old folks are tolerated" there he mentioned going up and witnessing a beautiful sunset, yet "old as I am, I admired the round limbs and tapering waists and merry faces of the girls more than the grandeur of the mountains in the distance. Such is the frailty of poor mankind -- a slave to woman, no matter how silly, if she has a pretty face and ankle."  (pg. 9)   Ankle? This saying was from David Schenck in 1877 so I wonder what he'd say if he were alive today when he can get a glimpse of much more than just a "pretty face and ankle"!

The book spoke of the last real wilderness in America, the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County, North Carolina. Apparently it's so remote that it wasn't forested for trees initially and when foresting companies finally put their sights on it, the government had protection plans in place for saving it.  The author said one could go there and see very old and huge trees.  Now I want to go see it for myself!

The authors speak of the Hatfields and McCoys  -- the legendary feud that was popularized and deemed entertainment in other parts of the United States.  On those pages a quote by John Alexander Williams explained how things were:  "The Civil War accustomed people in Appalachia to use violence to settle grievances, and that lasted until the era of state police and automobiles.  There were two or three generations of extraordinary violence, extraordinary by national and regional standards. It took place on the edge of places, the edge of counties, the edge of states, where in the pre-automobile era, the arm of the law didn't quite reach." (pg. 71)

Moonshine still

Whiskey was often a form of money in the mountains.  Some preachers accepted home-brewed spirits in place of cash tithe!  When the struggling young nation needed tax revenue, President George Washington decided whiskey should be taxed.  The mountaineers who had fought against the English were not happy thus the Whiskey Rebellion happened where the mountain folks refused to pay the tax and "tarred and feathered, shot at, and chased out" tax collectors! "Why should we pay tax for drinking our own grain instead of eating it," they argued.  (pg. 32) One college professor notes that "in the late nineteenth century, 75 percent of all the Internal Revenue officers in the United States were stationed in the southern mountains, trying to enforce the liquor tax."  (pg. 85)  I suppose we all know modern NASCAR is rooted in running moonshine during Prohibition, right?  I didn't realize this, but during the frontier days, the people drank almost four times as much alcohol per capita than we do today! Of course alcohol was actually better to drink than some of the water available so maybe that's partly why.

This book also talks of country music and how it has its beginning in Appalachia especially among the Carter family.  You may recall Johnny Cash married into this family.  Storytelling and making up songs were ways of remembering the Old World and passing down traditions and happenings from there. Granted over time these stories took on a New World flavor.  For many years the Appalachians were mostly from the British Isles. Scots-Irish or Ulster Scots were Scottish people sent to live in northern Ireland as part of an experiment by the Queen of England.  These people later came to the United States and made their way down from Pennsylvania to settle Appalachia.  Additionally many Germans settled the region while later - especially when the coal mines opened - people from many more nationalities came to find work.

Music was very important to the people of Appalachia

Some say the term "hillbilly" comes from the "popularity of the names Bill, Will, Billy, and Willy among Ulster mountain men descended from Williamite soldiers of the Irish war of 1690."  (pg. 32)

What did you find most surprising?  Thoughts, comments, additions, corrections?

A Piece of Heaven on Earth...Hallelujah!

Just found this song while looking for something else. I kind of think heaven will be something like this! Black, white, brown...whatever color you are, all worshiping God together! Beware though...if you don't think followers of Jesus can be joyful in church, you might be offended! I was absolutely grinnin' like a cat that swallowed a canary by the time this video was finished! (My favorite is the last half - around 2:30 - with the 4:30 mark entering the most joyful part...if you must know. :-))

My Sunday & Notes on Quran - Sura 41

Good Monday morning! It's not quite 7, but I thought I'd write a bit before I did a few other things. Yesterday we had a great church service about Truth -- What is it? Is it absolute or relative? Why is it important? What does it mean for us to believe it is absolute or not? Stuff like that. Quite a good message and timely also. I really enjoyed the reminder. After the service we drove to some friends' house because they were hosting a graduation party for their son, Alex, who just graduated from high school. George and Marianne had quite a spread - lots of good food for everyone to share. I greatly enjoyed the guests as there were friends from church like Mike and Cindy and also a few I'd never met, but I had fun talking with and teasing. One especially - Mike - who is from upstate New York and has no shy bone in his body. He was joking a lot and especially about North/South stuff (accents, mannerisms, ways of living) that just had me cracking up. He is a big dude and when we left I told him, "It was good pickin' on you today" and we all laughed. Well, we both had been teasing each other quite a bit. I love good-natured bantering with outgoing, fun people! Also George's family was there so I got to meet his parents, sister, Miriam, and her husband, Sam (Sameh), along with their five year old son, Jeremiah. George's parents were so quiet. Granted they don't speak a lot of English so maybe they just liked to sit back and wonder about these crazy Americans. I met Nermin and her husband Sarwat (something like that) -- maybe Tharwat -- and their 8-month-old baby girl, Marlissa. Nermin and Sarwat are from Alexandria, Egypt as are George, his sister, her husband and of course George's parents. Whereas George's family has been in the United States for over twenty years, Sarwat has been here only four and Nermin for three. They were telling us about their country, food, swimming in the sea and so forth. I had to really concentrate to understand them at some points, but I greatly loved meeting and talking with them. In fact we exchanged phone numbers because they said,"You are really friendly and helpful. You will have to come visit us in Charlotte one weekend." (They live about 2.5 hours away.) So anyway that was a fun afternoon for me -- talking accents, teasing Yankees and mingling with people of other cultures are some of my favorite things!

Still been reading away at my translation of the Quran. Keep in mind as you read these notes that often I write them a few days before I post them because I am reading and jotting notes faster than I'm publishing them. I wrote these notes five days ago although I did add a little something from yesterday to the verse about singing.


Sura 41 - Fussilat

17. As for the (tribe of) Thamud, We tried to guide them, but they preferred blindness to guidance; then they were seized by the torment of a humiliating punishment as requital for their misdeeds;

OK, so here it seems God tried to guide this rebellious tribe of Thamud, but the people made a free-will choice of preferring blindness. So which is it? Are we predestined or given free will? Or is it predestined to hell for some and free-will choice for others?

22. You did not hide your (doings) so that your ears or eyes or persons should not testify against you. In fact you thought that God did not know the things you used to do.

My thoughts here likely have nothing to do with this verse except for the fact that verse 22 brought this memory to mind. I've read about people who live in conservative cultures and while in their hometowns they act in the proper and expected ways. Then they leave their hometowns for whatever reason and act quite differently. This tells me we often fear society and family more than God. Maybe people aren't convinced it's God's laws they must follow, but merely society's norms. Because I doubt these people who truly fear God would just abandon all things godly when they are out of their homes. I think of women who travel outside of Saudi Arabia and don't wear the abaya and head scarves that they would wear at home. I've heard of people who have seen the transformation on airplanes. As soon as the women are headed home, they - at some point during the flight - go into the bathroom and change into more society-approved attire. So my thoughts are that either people don't believe that GOD requires as much as society does and/or they don't fear God like they fear their own families. And why is this? Is God more merciful and understanding than their moms and dads? Just something I like to think about. And it's not only Muslims. I know it's probably universal to some extent. I find it interesting that we think of God as more tolerant and forgiving than our own families and society.

34. Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with what is good. Then you will find your erstwhile enemy like a close, affectionate friend.

Great verse! It reminds me a lot of Jesus' message of loving your enemy. The best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him a friend, right? So this verse reminded me of Jesus. Return good for evil and watch how powerful this is. Even if no one else is suddenly changed, I believe YOU will be changed. You will realize how powerful this action is because it's not normal. It's a choice to do something out of the ordinary and choices can be powerful!

36. If the Devil incite you to evil, seek refuge in God. He is all-hearing and all-knowing.

This reminds me of a Bible verse about drawing near to God, resisting the devil and he (the devil) will flee from you. I think it's in James.

38. But if they become haughty (then remember) that those who are close to your Lord sing His praises night and day and do not grow weary of (doing so).

See??? The ones close to the Lord sing His praises! So singing godly songs - at least - is not haram! Sing, sing, sing! Can y'all tell I like singing since I make note of every quranic verse that mentions it? :) Our singing yesterday at church was really uplifting and wonderful. I couldn't help but think of this verse during our song service! :-)

39. It is among His signs that the earth you see all barren and desolate begins to stir and sprout when We send down rain upon it. Surely He who gives it life will also give life to the dead. Indeed He has power over everything.

This verse is great and reminds me that even nature is a sign of the resurrection. In the winter, things die, yet in spring new life erupts from the earth. I always love that time of year when I see life come out of the barren, brownness of winter. I love the colors of spring! The vibrancy of life. Yay resurrection!


51. When We show Our favours to man he moves away and turns aside; but when in trouble he prays a great deal.

This is so true. Why do we do this? When life is good, we often don't seek God as much as when life is troubling.

I enjoyed many verses in this sura!

The Stand

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul, Lord, to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

We sang this song in church today and I really liked these words. I hope one day I can pray them and mean them. Surrendering is tough.

"In the depths of His love..."

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

• Refrain:
  He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
  That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
  He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
  And covers me there with His hand,
  And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God!
For such a Redeemer as mine.

When clothed with His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

Two lines of this song were posted by a Facebook friend this morning, and it prompted memories from past years when we would sing this Frances J. Crosby song at church. It's one of the old hymns that aren't sung as much in contemporary services. The words paint a wonderful picture. One that blessed me this morning as I thought of being hidden in the depths of His love and what a wonderful Savior Jesus truly is! Also what a reminder of Him being our strength every day and the reaction we have when we remember all the blessings He has given us:

"Oh, glory to God!
For such a Redeemer as mine."

God of This City ... by faith

My pastor often talks to us about faith. It's great that he does because I often need reminders since I am prone to doubts and fears. One thing I recall him saying is that faith is calling that which is not as though it were. In other words, believing that God can do great things despite how circumstances seem at the moment. So with that in mind, I want to share this song. When I came home from Syria and went through my sad, restless time of missing the people and life over there and wondering what was next, I heard this song. Like really heard it. As in I seriously thought, "God, is this what you are saying about Damascus? THAT city which is so much on my heart right now?" Perhaps I'd heard it before, but when I came home it was like the lyrics registered with me. And somehow they just seemed to apply to what I wanted for Damascus...and still do. It's what I am trusting God for by faith.

God of This City

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're hope for the hopeless
You're light in the darkness
You're peace to the restless
You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all Kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Chorus 2:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Mom, Taking My Chances & Great Song!

First of all, "Happy Birthday" to my mom though she probably has never read my blog. Ha, ha! She doesn't get on the computer much. Still, I wanted to wish her a great day!

Secondly, I think I am going to risk getting a dog "bug" rather than finish my antibiotics. I think I'm allergic to one or both of them. I'll try to eat healthy and let my immune system take care of any potential germs Apollo may have given me. The antibiotics were for prevention and, truthfully, I had on pants so did Apollo's mouth actually contact my skin? Maybe, but who cares? I'm tired of itching and looking flushed because of these meds. I'll be daring and take my chances.

I really like this song .... the words are great! And the "you're amazing" part ... well, wow! He IS!

In the Hands of God

We have raised our hopes and our cities high
We have followed fragile dreams
But only One could take the measure of our goals
And we've stumbled over the trials of life
And we've wrestled the unseen
But only One can calm the storm inside our souls

In the hands of God we will fall
Rest for the restless, and the weary
Hope for the sinner
In the hands of God we stand tall
Hands that are mighty to deliver
Giving us freedom

When our strength gave way to the weight of guilt
'Til we strained for every breath
Only One could lift our shame and make us well
And when all is finished and we face
The fearsome power of death
Only One has overcome the gates of hell

You're amazing
You're amazing, You are
And we praise You, Lord
For what Your hands have done

Follow His Dreams

Nehemiah 2: 11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

Nehemiah 6: 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Today at church my preacher talked about dreaming. More specifically those dreams that God gives us when we delight in Him. You know...those big ol' dreams that seem impossible because - without God's help and enabling us - most often they are too big for us to accomplish.

I read a quote recently from John Maxwell, "If you tell someone your vision and they don't laugh, it's not big enough."

And this one from J. Hudson Taylor, "Unless there is an element of risk in your exploits for God, there is no need for faith."

So all this seems to confirm what God has been putting in my heart for some time: GO TO DAMASCUS! Ah, that seems so scary, doesn't it? Strange food, different language, culture, religion! You are talking to someone who has made it thirty-plus years without going west of Tennessee and you expect her first overseas trip to be to the Middle East? To a country President Bush included in the "Axis of Evil"? Whoa!

So, did ya laugh when you heard this "dream"? If so maybe it's truly from God. Definitely I need His help in taking this huge step! And I guess there is that "element of risk" involved, eh?

Going back to Nehemiah. You see in the first passage how he said his God put something on his heart to do? Psalm 37 tells us to delight in the Lord and He will give us the desire of our hearts. You reckon when we delight in Him, He gives us His desires which ultimately ARE THE BEST and most fulfilling. I hear Americans who seem to be searching for more in life. Shoot, I am that way sometimes. Not satisfied. Surely there is more to life than the daily grind. More entertainment, more activities and more stuff doesn't seem to fill the void for long. I like those verses from Nehemiah. My pastor told us to keep dreaming for when you stop dreaming, you die. Sure you exist physically, but inwardly ... not much there.

Isn't that second passage great? Nehemiah did what God put in his heart to do and later it was accomplished TO THE GLORY OF GOD! God got the praise He deserved because even the enemy nations realized how Nehemiah's God accomplished this great work through His obedient servants.

Instead of doing something and asking God to bless it, I want those dreams from God. And HIS enabling so that when HIS work is accomplished, people can say, "To God be the glory! Great things HE has done!"


By the way, we sang "It Is Well With My Soul" in church this morning. It had come to mind this week, and I just love it. Found it so cool that Richie chose it as one of our songs to sing. Here are my favorite lines, I think.

From verse 2:

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.


And then all of this verse:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Whoo hoo! Thank you, Jesus!

Give me, give me, give me, Lord!

Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Did you read those words above the picture? They are from Brandon Heath's song Give Me Your Eyes. Incredible message, huh? All these people are going somewhere when they die ... have I ever really cared where they would go? *gulp*

I could say that about all places in this world. I just used this picture of Gaza because it definitely portrays "confusion and chaos" and is in the news daily right now.

The words to this song are really touching and they have become my prayer - especially the chorus. Just look at these words and think of how powerful it would be to truly have the heart and eyes of God. Eyes to see these things and a heart willing to reach out in love and service.

This is my prayer. Lord, let me see others through your eyes. Let me have your compassion, your love and tenderness for them.

Here are the words to the chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Your arms for the broken hearted ... Your heart for the forgotten ones ....

YOUR LOVE FOR HUMANITY!

John 16:23b,24

"I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. . . . Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

Speaking Through Songs

God has been speaking to my heart a lot through songs lately. Yesterday at church we sang 4 of my current favorites and each of them had at least one line that stood out to me.

New Hallelujah

I've been hearing this one on the radio for a few weeks, but didn't know all the lines. Seeing them on the big screen and singing them with my church was touching. Especially when I considered the challenge issued here. "A new song breaking out from the children of freedom." Moi? A child of freedom with a new song? COOL!!!!!!!!!!


Can you hear, there's a new song
Breaking out from the children of freedom
Every race and every nation
Sing it out sing a new Hallelujah


I absolutely love verse 2 because it goes along with the abiding thought on my mind concerning missions that I wrote about recently. Read these wonderful words. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we applied them? Singing love to the nations instead of arrogance and war, bringing hope of the grace that has freed us? WOW! Line 3 is great -- what a worthwhile goal!

Let us sing love to the nations
Bringing hope of the grace that has freed us
Make Him known and make Him famous
Sing it out sing to the new Hallelujah

Chorus
Arise
let the church Arise
Let love reach to the other side --- you mean all the way to Gaza?
Alive come alive
Let the song Arise


You Are Good

This song was just good because it reminded me of how God is so good and merciful. Plus I like the part about "people from every nation and tongue." Makes me think of my Arab friends and rejoicing with them and other nations in heaven one day.

Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever,
Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever
People from every nation and tongue
From generation to generation
We worship you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
We worship you
For who you are...

We worship you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
We worship you
For who you are
[repeat]

You are good


You are good - all the time
All the time - you are good

Jesus Messiah

I only included part of the lyrics here. Aren't these great?

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

How Great Is Our God

I just enjoyed being reminded how great my God is. This song helps me remember that.

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise -- amen!
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God


Thus concludes my song post.

Faith Not Fear

My God is so good! I was struggling a bit earlier today with my faithful vs. fearful goal for the year but the Lord was so encouraging. He knows how this child of His struggles!! :-/ Just now I was checking my friend Angela's blog and this post was like God speaking directly to me through her voice. It was incredible! It was tailor-made for me! Exactly how I have felt lately and just WOW! :-) Thank you, God, for guiding me to Angela's blog! I only found it about a week ago, if that, but already I feel as if she is going to be a dear friend in my life. Indeed she is already such an encouragement! I love her already!

Other ways God encouraged me today ... as soon as I got in the car the song was about walking by faith not fear (ahhhhh! How did He know? ;-)) and then the KLOVE verse of the day was Philippians 4:6 & 7.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Two of my favorite verses in times like these!

Then the next song spoke to my heart as well. It was like God was speaking to me through the radio. :-) Here are the two songs I heard. (I made bold the parts that were especially meaningful.) I really listened to the lyrics and they were very comforting. God knows my needs, He remembers I am dust and He graciously reaches down to me where I'm at ... to speak to my heart. He didn't promise a life without pain, but He promised to be with us. He is there every step. I'm not forsaken. I am trusting in Him now.

I'm gonna walk by faith, not by sight 'Cause I can't see straight in the broad daylight I'm gonna walk by faith, not by fear 'Cause I believe in the One who brought me here I'm standing on the edge of whatever Whatever He has planned for me My next step will be measured With confidence in the unseen Like dancing on the edge of forever I have nothing left to lose Flying free as a feather A vagabond in beautiful shoes I'm moving through this great unknown With faith beneath my feet I take the road invisible But I know Jesus goes with me Oh, I believe, I believe Because You gave Yourself to me And I have nothing left to fear 'Cause I see it's You who brought me here Though the road ahead is not quite clear Still I know the way

--"Walk by Faith," by Out of the Grey

HERE I AM

Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze,
You reach for the deepest part of me,
And call out for the things of eternity.

But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say,

CHORUS:
Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began.

These broken parts you redeem,
Become the song, that I can sing
(chorus)

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness,
And the fear that I'll fail you in the end,
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but you can.

Thank you, Lord, for your encouragement & faithfulness to me.

Reflecting on Challenging Questions

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

JESUS IS THE WAY

From Casting Crowns "If We Are the Body"

I remember as a child I always had as soft spot for missionaries, likely because many in my family had served the Lord on foreign fields and I grew up hearing about their lives in China or Africa or Cayman Brac. At one time I thought one day I, too, would go overseas and share the gospel, but when I got married, it seemed pretty obvious that serving as a foreign missionary wasn't going to happen. Afterall Andrew had his business here, and it just didn't seem the Lord was leading us in the missions direction. I wasn't too disappointed. I'm not a huge fan of radical change ... my friends and family even laugh at my expense sometimes because I wear old clothes or use things 'til they wear out. I have replacements and new clothes nearby, but I wait until the old is all used. And that's a great joke to them ... even to Andrew. And I don't mind as it IS one of my endearing quirks. *ahem* So I don't like radical or even little changes all that much -- at least, not until I realize how good those changes were or are. So staying in America near my family and friends and enjoying "the good life" here was A-OK with me!

But as 2008 wraps up, I have to say missions is back on my mind. I don't know what God has in store for us, but He has been challenging my heart greatly the last several months and changing me in many ways.

I heard this song recently and really listened to the words instead of the somewhat potentially-distracting beat. Wow, did they speak to me! Especially when I consider what is going on in the world presently, and how God has tenderized my heart for the Arab/Muslim world the last 15 months. Before October 2007, I really didn't think much of Arabs or Muslims (kind of apathetic) unless it was a passing thought of "why, oh, why do they hate us so." Even then, that didn't consume my thoughts much.

It's amazing how God changes your heart and puts great love and tenderness and compassion in it towards people who are vastly different from you. I hope I keep these words in mind and reach out to all people, not picking and choosing based on merits that I think are acceptable. Who am I to judge that? I pray I can love all people.

So reread the words to the song and ask yourself those questions. Really makes you think, doesn't it? Are we doing all we can or are we a part of that Body that has become weak from non-use?

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."




Edit: Wanted to add: THEY CAME TODAY! In the mail!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Falls Park
Greenville, SC -- November 2008

Psalm 100

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

He turned my tears into joy ... just like He said He would!

Sunrise in my neighborhood
December 2007

I wanted to offer this post to God since my joy is overflowing! I thank Him for answering prayer this week. He gave me those verses mentioned in my Tears post, and was gracious and kind to turn my tears into rejoicing! I never expected this, but He is faithful and good. Even when we doubt, He is loving to provide encouragement which He did through His Word.

Thank You, Father, for this great gift!

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5


When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:19

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:3,5-6


The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17


For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17



May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13



But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

His praise shall continually be on my lips

Wow, the last day of June is here already! Later this week we will celebrate America's independence. I still remember last year when we went to a fish fry at my great-aunt's house for the 4th. Hard to believe that has been a full year ago! Today marks 35 years since my parents got married ... wow! My life is flying!

I meant to write a bit about my grandparents the other day when I posted a few pictures of them. Mama has been in Greenville with them the last couple of weeks. Since she has some time off in the summer, she has done this the last few years so she can help them with various tasks. She told me the other night that Pop has been saying how he keeps thinking at night that he will go to bed and wake up in heaven. And he seems really disappointed the next morning to wake up and still be alive on earth! Thankfully Pop is a cheery person despite the fact he is ready for Home. It's so ordinary to be visiting his house and for him to go lie down for a nap only for us to hear singing instead of snores coming from the bedroom! :-) He lies there belting out all sorts of praise songs to Jesus. It brings a smile to my face imagining Pop graduating from practicing here to singing with the choirs of Heaven! What a glorious thought! No wonder he is ready to go. Often these days, I feel similarly.

Praising God is so important and I don't do it enough! Having an attitude of thanksgiving keeps us from being discouraged and complaining and being mean to one another. You can't exactly live down in the dumps, express your discontent with life, politics and the price of food and oil and curse your neighbor while you have genuine thanksgiving to God in your heart and on your lips. The Psalms are full of praise to our Almighty God. David says His praise will continually be on his lips. I admit that I struggle with murmuring when things seem hopeless and situations are frustrating. I have been this way for too long and too much lately. It has done nothing but hold me down, make me feel serious and not enjoy this wonderful life God has given me. It has made me feel self-pity and downtrodden and wonder if this life is even worth living. I've had one of those "what's the use?" attitudes. I hate when I get this way.

Sooooo .... I am going to start praising the Lord. I have to remind myself to rejoice in my God and not get down about my circumstances. Who is bigger? God or my problems? Pop is a great example. He keeps praise constantly on his lips by singing praises to the Lord. I can learn from him and be joyful.

I am a child of the King of Kings...why am I worried and frustrated? We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. And God so loved the world that He gave. Even while we were yucky, rotten sinners in rebellion against God, He looked at us with compassion and love and did for us what we never could do for ourselves. We were people in bondage to our own filth and sinful ways. Really, even now I cannot grasp how awful sin is to God, but I was covered in my own filthy, sinful ways when God reached down, cleaned me off with the blood of His dear Son and set my feet on a Rock. He didn't leave me trapped in a pit of filth, but He established where I am going. And He promised to be with me and never forsake me. In a country where so many people are forsaken by those who vowed to love and cherish them and where friendships are often shallow, it is wonderful to know that God is faithful and keeps His promises. He doesn't remove the storms from life, but He walks with us through them. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Thank you, God, for the hope that I have in You. Please help me keep my eyes on You instead of focusing on the discouraging news in this world. YOU are bigger than those things. "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."

My God reigns! Hallelujah!

The Heavenly Man

The Heavenly Man is "the remarkable true story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun" with Paul Hattaway. What a challenging book of how God is working in the lives of Christians in China to take the message of salvation to this land that wanted to stamp out religion. "By 1958 the government had closed all visible churches. Mao's wife, Jiang Qing, told foreign visitors, 'Christianity in China has been confined to the history section of the museum. It is dead and buried.' In the 1970s a visiting Christian delegation from the United States reported, 'There is not a single Christian left in China.'" How wrong they were!

God breathed life into China and the Church there has grown into "a force tens of millions strong today [and] is a sign not only of God's existence but also of His matchless power."

This book was incredible! It read like the Book of Acts ...something Western Christians often cannot grasp with our minds that God still works this way. After spending time in the West, Brother Yun remarked that there seems to be something missing from our churches. "In the West many Christians have an abundance of material possessions, yet they live in a backslidden state. They have silver and gold, but they don't rise up and walk in Jesus' name. In China we have no possessions to hold us down, so there's nothing preventing us from moving out for the Lord." Because of persecution, Brother Yun says, "It's almost impossible for the church in China to go to sleep in its present situation. There's always something to keep us on the run, and it's very difficult to sleep while you're running. If persecution stops, I fear we'll become complacent and fall asleep."

To wake up sleeping Western churches, Brother Yun says to return to the Word of God because the "truth will make you free." Also missing is obedience to the Word. "You can never really know the Scriptures until you're ready to be changed by them." He claims that "all genuine revivals of the Lord result in believers responding with action and soul winning. When God truly moves in your heart you cannot remain silent."

He recounts offerings in China where if the leader announced someone was planning to travel to a mission field the next day, the people would empty their pockets of everything for this missionary's travel expenses. This money wasn't simply all they had in their pockets, but often it was all that they possessed period.

Other interesting things besides Yun's 74-day fast without food or water, his miraculous escape from a maximum security prison, and the way God used him to lead others to Christ while imprisoned in China 3 times and Myanmar once:


* Yun said he never was much for singing, but once he accepted Jesus as Lord, he became a singer. (Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." Is this why most Christians love to sing praises to the Lord?) Many times in the book, Yun shared songs he sang while in prison or with fellow believers in the house churches. This story was particularly enjoyable to me:

When I first shared at Gao Village, the Lord gave me Scripture songs to sing before the people. They wrote down the words so they could remember them.
One of the songs was taken from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus tells us if someone strikes us on the right cheek, we should turn our other cheek to him as well. Another song taught how we are to rejoice greatly when we are persecuted for the sake of the gospel. Yet another song explained how we should never be like Judas and deny our Master.
After so many people came to Jesus at once, it caught the attention of the authorities. All the Christians in Gao Village were arrested and taken to the police station. The officers demanded to know, "Who brought the name of Jesus to you? How did you all come to believe in this superstition?"
The believers were filled with overwhelming joy. The only thing they would say was, "We won't be like Judas! We won't betray our Lord Jesus!"
The officers started to beat them and they rejoiced even more. They said, "Please, sir, hit us on the other side of the face as well!" The Christians were laughing and rejoicing.
The officers grew tired of beating them and finally said, "You Christians are all crazy!" After a final warning, they sent them all home. (page 41)

* Although the local Chinese believers take care of the families of those in prison for Christ, they are often extremely poor and cannot adequately provide. After seeing how his own family suffered while he was in prison, Yun "made a commitment to the Lord that [he] would not allow the families of any other imprisoned Christians in China to suffer similar deprivation." He has done all he can to raise support for families of those in prison for the gospel's sake. (Voice of the Martyrs has a "Family of the Martyrs" fund that helps with these types of expenses as well. I really appreciate the ministry of VOM .... see www.persecution.com.)


* "When we arrive at the end of our own strength it is not defeat, but the start of tapping into God's boundless resources. It is when we are weak that we are strong in God." (page 194)

* "In China, Christians are persecuted with beatings and imprisonments. In the West, Christians are persecuted by the words of other Christians." (page 308)

* Yun: "We are absolutely nothing. We have nothing to be proud about. We have no abilities and nothing to offer God. The fact that He chooses to use us is only due to His grace. It has nothing to do with us. If God should choose to raise up others for His purpose and never use us again we would have nothing to complain about." (p. 345)

* Deling, wife: "When I was younger I saw God as a mighty healer who did something for me, but after all these years of valleys and painful trials, Jesus has become an ever-present friend who is with me all the time. He has gone from being a historical God to being a living God to me today. I've fallen short many times during these trials and testings, but he has always been faithful. Whenever I've asked him to help me He always has. Jesus is everything and we are nothing." (p. 346)


To see Brother Yun's current involvement, check out www.backtojerusalem.com. The Chinese Christians are obeying God and are making plans for 100,000 of them to witness to the more than 2 billion people who live west and south of China in what is often referred to as the 10/40 window. They said Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist governments cannot do anything worse to them than what their own government did. If they are killed, they will be with Christ which is far better. They are learning Arabic and English now so they can go forth bringing precious souls into the family of God.