Thursday, August 11, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Annagail
We would love to introduce you to the wonderful, local, husband/wife musicians of Annagail. Jared and Jennifer Adams recently moved back to the area from Tennessee and frequently travel for their tours. If you've been to concerts you have probably noticed that the group usually has a non-profit that they highlight/support during their tour. Annagail heard about Mission 1:27 from a local family who encouraged them to consider us. They met with us to hear what we are about and our heart for adoption and orphan care. They deeply share our heart for the orphan, and chose Mission 1:27 with the approval of their producer in Tennessee! There is so much more to share about how God has crafted this connection but I will save that for another time. We don't know exactly where God is going with all of this but it seems He has a plan far bigger than us.....
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Please prayerfully consider helping this family:)
Funds needed immediately! The Reeves family had a major change this week in their adoption...they were chosen by an Arizona man to take his boys....now! So they need $25K very quickly....or at least a large chunk of it. Do you have $$ you are willing to use to help this family care for 3 more of God's precious children? Please prayerfully consider whether you can help in some way. Donations can be sent to: MISSION 1:27, 300 S. State Street, Suite 10, Zeeland, MI, 49464. I will keep you posted as to further needs they have but right now I know they are in a whirlwind trying to get things together so this can happen after father's day. You can also check their blog link for information. Thank you for considering this with us.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Celebrating the Reeves family
As you may have noticed I haven't been able to blog many thoughts as of late. During especially difficult times (our 'winters' when God does His pruning), I find great solace in music. Hence, the music videos that have popped up periodically on the blog. I'm excited to direct you to our newest link, http://breakingourchains.blogspot.com/. We are trying to support this local family through their adoption process. Your prayers and financial support are greatly needed and appreciated as the Reeves family await news on their adoption of two boys from Ghana. Please check out their blog to learn more about this precious family.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
The offer is Life
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Wow. That's different from saying, "I have come to forgive you. Period." Forgiveness is awesome, but Jesus says here he came to give us life. "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48). "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:38) The more I looked, the more this whole theme of life jumped off the pages. I mean, it's everywhere.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)
You have made known to me the path of life. (Ps. 16:11)
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
Come to me to have life. (John 5:40)
Tell the people the full message of this new life. (Acts 5:20)
I began to get the feeling of a man robbed. I'm well aware that it's life I need, and it's life I'm looking for. But the offer has gotten "interpreted" by well-meaning people to say, "Oh, well. Yes, of course.....God intends life for you. But that is eternal life, meaning, because of the death of Jesus Christ you can go to heaven when you die." And that's true.....in a way. But it's like saying getting married means, "Because I've given you this ring, you will be taken care of in your retirement." And in the meantime? Isn't there a whole lot more to the relationship in the meantime? (It's in the meantime that we're living out our days, by the way.) Are we just lost at sea? What did Jesus mean when he promised us life? I go back to the source, and what I find is just astounding. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Ps. 27:13)
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, " no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." (Luke 18:29-30)
Jesus doesn't locate his offer to us only in some distant future after we've slogged our way through our days here on earth. He talks about a life available in this age.
So does Paul: "Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1Tim 4:8). Our present life and the next.
"Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Rom. 6:4)
The glory of God is man fully alive? Now? Hope unbidden rose at the thought that God's intentions toward me might be better than I'd thought. His happiness and my happiness are tied together? My coming fully alive is what he's committed to? That's the offer of Christianity? Wow! I mean, it would make no small difference if we knew-and I mean really knew-that down-deep-in-your-toes kind of knowing that no one and nothing can talk you out of-if we knew that our lives and God's glory were bound together. Things would start looking up. The offer is life. Make no mistake about that. So then.....where is that life? Why is it so rare?
The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you know he spoke them at the same time? I mean, he says them in one breath. And he has his reasons. By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn't just roll in on a tray. There is a theif. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. In other words, yes, the offer is life, but you're going to have to fight for it because there's an Enemy in your life with a different agenda. There is something set against us. We are at war. The world in which we live is a combat zone, a violent clash of kingdoms, a bitter struggle unto the death. You were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great battle, involving all the forces of heaven and hell and played out here on earth. Many people think the theme of war ends with the Old Testament. Not at all. Jesus says, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34)
The birth of Christ was an act of war, an invasion. The Enemy knew it and tried to kill him as a babe (Matt2:13). No pale-faced altar boy, the whole life of Christ is marked by battle and confrontation. He kicks out demons with a stern command. He rebukes a fever, and it leaves Peter's mother-in-law. He rebukes a storm, and it subsides. He confronts the Pharisees time and again to set God's people free from legalism, In a loud voice he wakes Lazarus from the dead. And when he returns, I might point out, Jesus will come mounted on a steed of war, with robe dipped in blood, armed for battle (Rev. 19:11-15)
War is not just one among many themes in the Bible. It is the backdrop for the whole Story, the context of everything else. God is at war. He is trampling out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored. And what is he fighting for? Our freedom and restoration. The glory of God is man fully alive. In the meantime, Paul says, arm yourselves, and the first piece of equipment he urges us to don is the belt of truth (Eph. 6:10-18) We arm ourselves by getting a good, solid grip on our situation, by getting some clarity on the battle over our lives. God's intentions toward us are life. Those intentions are opposed. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.
Before he promised us life, Jesus warned that a thief would try to steal, kill, and destroy it. You won't understand your life, your won't see clearly what has happened to you or how to live forward from here, unless you see it as a battle. A war against your heart. And you are going to need your whole heart for what's coming next. We don't see things as clearly as we ought to. As we need to. We don't understand what's happening around us or to us or to those we love, and we are practically clueless when it comes to the weight of our own lives and the glory that's being........held back. We don't see clearly because we don't see with the eyes of our heart. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Eph. 1:18)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4: 16-18)
The first line grabs me by the throat. "Therefore we do not lose heart." Somebody knows how not to lose heart? I'm all ears. For we are losing heart. All of us. Daily. It is the single most unifying quality shared by the human race on the planet at this time. We are losing--or we have already lost heart. That glorious, resilient image of God in us is fading, fading, fading away. And this man claims to know a way out. Now, to appreciate the weight of his words, you need some idea of what his life has been like. He is neither wealthy nor famous; his life has not been sheltered, as the saying goes. But he has seen visions, had encounters, you might say, with something beyond the walls of this world. Ever since then, things have gotten difficult. In his own words he has: been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received.....forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen........I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Cor. 11:23-27) Not to mention that little incident against wild beasts in Ephesus. You get the picture. His life has been hard. It has been war. His vita reads like something out of Amnesty International. Somebody has been trying to shut him up or shut him down. He knows something; he has a secret to tell. So, how Paul--how? How do we not lose heart?
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. (Cor. 4:18)
What? Now that's helpful. "Look at what you cannot see." What can this mean? Remembering that a little humility can take me a long way, I give it another go. This wise old seer is saying that there is a way of looking at life, and that those who discover it are able to live from the heart no matter what. How do we do this? By seeing with the eyes of the heart. "I pray.......that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Eph. 1:18). (Waking the Dead, John Eldredge, p10-23, 2003)
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)
You have made known to me the path of life. (Ps. 16:11)
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
Come to me to have life. (John 5:40)
Tell the people the full message of this new life. (Acts 5:20)
I began to get the feeling of a man robbed. I'm well aware that it's life I need, and it's life I'm looking for. But the offer has gotten "interpreted" by well-meaning people to say, "Oh, well. Yes, of course.....God intends life for you. But that is eternal life, meaning, because of the death of Jesus Christ you can go to heaven when you die." And that's true.....in a way. But it's like saying getting married means, "Because I've given you this ring, you will be taken care of in your retirement." And in the meantime? Isn't there a whole lot more to the relationship in the meantime? (It's in the meantime that we're living out our days, by the way.) Are we just lost at sea? What did Jesus mean when he promised us life? I go back to the source, and what I find is just astounding. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Ps. 27:13)
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, " no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." (Luke 18:29-30)
Jesus doesn't locate his offer to us only in some distant future after we've slogged our way through our days here on earth. He talks about a life available in this age.
So does Paul: "Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1Tim 4:8). Our present life and the next.
"Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Rom. 6:4)
The glory of God is man fully alive? Now? Hope unbidden rose at the thought that God's intentions toward me might be better than I'd thought. His happiness and my happiness are tied together? My coming fully alive is what he's committed to? That's the offer of Christianity? Wow! I mean, it would make no small difference if we knew-and I mean really knew-that down-deep-in-your-toes kind of knowing that no one and nothing can talk you out of-if we knew that our lives and God's glory were bound together. Things would start looking up. The offer is life. Make no mistake about that. So then.....where is that life? Why is it so rare?
The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you know he spoke them at the same time? I mean, he says them in one breath. And he has his reasons. By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn't just roll in on a tray. There is a theif. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. In other words, yes, the offer is life, but you're going to have to fight for it because there's an Enemy in your life with a different agenda. There is something set against us. We are at war. The world in which we live is a combat zone, a violent clash of kingdoms, a bitter struggle unto the death. You were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great battle, involving all the forces of heaven and hell and played out here on earth. Many people think the theme of war ends with the Old Testament. Not at all. Jesus says, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34)
The birth of Christ was an act of war, an invasion. The Enemy knew it and tried to kill him as a babe (Matt2:13). No pale-faced altar boy, the whole life of Christ is marked by battle and confrontation. He kicks out demons with a stern command. He rebukes a fever, and it leaves Peter's mother-in-law. He rebukes a storm, and it subsides. He confronts the Pharisees time and again to set God's people free from legalism, In a loud voice he wakes Lazarus from the dead. And when he returns, I might point out, Jesus will come mounted on a steed of war, with robe dipped in blood, armed for battle (Rev. 19:11-15)
War is not just one among many themes in the Bible. It is the backdrop for the whole Story, the context of everything else. God is at war. He is trampling out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored. And what is he fighting for? Our freedom and restoration. The glory of God is man fully alive. In the meantime, Paul says, arm yourselves, and the first piece of equipment he urges us to don is the belt of truth (Eph. 6:10-18) We arm ourselves by getting a good, solid grip on our situation, by getting some clarity on the battle over our lives. God's intentions toward us are life. Those intentions are opposed. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.
Before he promised us life, Jesus warned that a thief would try to steal, kill, and destroy it. You won't understand your life, your won't see clearly what has happened to you or how to live forward from here, unless you see it as a battle. A war against your heart. And you are going to need your whole heart for what's coming next. We don't see things as clearly as we ought to. As we need to. We don't understand what's happening around us or to us or to those we love, and we are practically clueless when it comes to the weight of our own lives and the glory that's being........held back. We don't see clearly because we don't see with the eyes of our heart. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Eph. 1:18)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4: 16-18)
The first line grabs me by the throat. "Therefore we do not lose heart." Somebody knows how not to lose heart? I'm all ears. For we are losing heart. All of us. Daily. It is the single most unifying quality shared by the human race on the planet at this time. We are losing--or we have already lost heart. That glorious, resilient image of God in us is fading, fading, fading away. And this man claims to know a way out. Now, to appreciate the weight of his words, you need some idea of what his life has been like. He is neither wealthy nor famous; his life has not been sheltered, as the saying goes. But he has seen visions, had encounters, you might say, with something beyond the walls of this world. Ever since then, things have gotten difficult. In his own words he has: been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received.....forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen........I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Cor. 11:23-27) Not to mention that little incident against wild beasts in Ephesus. You get the picture. His life has been hard. It has been war. His vita reads like something out of Amnesty International. Somebody has been trying to shut him up or shut him down. He knows something; he has a secret to tell. So, how Paul--how? How do we not lose heart?
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. (Cor. 4:18)
What? Now that's helpful. "Look at what you cannot see." What can this mean? Remembering that a little humility can take me a long way, I give it another go. This wise old seer is saying that there is a way of looking at life, and that those who discover it are able to live from the heart no matter what. How do we do this? By seeing with the eyes of the heart. "I pray.......that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Eph. 1:18). (Waking the Dead, John Eldredge, p10-23, 2003)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Sacred Romance
Starting very early, life has taught all of us to ignore and distrust the deepest yearnings of our heart. Life, for the most part, teaches us to suppress our longing and live only in the external world where efficiency and performance are everything. We have learned from parents and peers, at school, at work, and even from our spiritual mentors that something else is wanted from us other than our heart, which is to say, that which is most deeply us. Very seldom are we ever invited to live out of our heart. If we are wanted, we are often wanted for what we can offer functionally. If rich, we are honored for our wealth; if beautiful, for our looks, if intelligent, for our brains. So we learn to offer only those parts of us that are approved, living out a carefully crafted performance to gain acceptance from those who represent life to us.
The true story of every person in this world is not the story you see, the external story. The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart. Jesus himself knew that if people lived only in the outer story, eventually they would lose track of their inner life, the life of their heart he so much desired to redeem. Indeed, it was to the most religious people of his time that Jesus spoke his strongest warnings about a loss of heart. This longing is the most powerful part of any human personality. It fuels our search for meaning, for wholeness, for a sense of being truly alive. However we may describe this deep desire, it is the most important thing about us, our heart of hearts, the passion of our life. And the voice that calls to us in this place is none other than the voice of God. (Curtis & Eldredge, The Sacred Romance, p6-7, 1997)
The true story of every person in this world is not the story you see, the external story. The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart. Jesus himself knew that if people lived only in the outer story, eventually they would lose track of their inner life, the life of their heart he so much desired to redeem. Indeed, it was to the most religious people of his time that Jesus spoke his strongest warnings about a loss of heart. This longing is the most powerful part of any human personality. It fuels our search for meaning, for wholeness, for a sense of being truly alive. However we may describe this deep desire, it is the most important thing about us, our heart of hearts, the passion of our life. And the voice that calls to us in this place is none other than the voice of God. (Curtis & Eldredge, The Sacred Romance, p6-7, 1997)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
God's words to me from the Dr.'s office
God did it yet again. Friday, at the Dr.'s office, after giving me a shot in the hip, the nurse said I was to sit and wait for the medicine to do its thing-for like 40 minutes! Okay......I tell her I'm going to the waiting room to find something to read and I'll be right back. In the waiting room.......nothing of interest.....Parent magazine, Child magazine, Infertility magazine......noticed a Family Fun that I already had at home but thought I might have to settle and then.... seriously..... I asked God to give me what He had for me to read.......instantly, reached to the top shelf, behind 3 other magazines and grabbed the one hidden from sight. Charisma. Never heard of it. But, it had a heart on the front with "Love, God -why God is crazy..for you" Perfect! Thank you God. Here is just an excerpt from the article, "I Burn for You".
The Spirit is one of the greatest evidences of God's unrelenting pursuit of our hearts. No one can be as intimately involved in your life as the Holy Spirit is. He is living in that internal reservoir within you, and His goal is to pour love into your heart as Jesus described in John 14-17. Every heart is a furnace and the purpose of this life is to become consumed with God in the same way He burns with love for us. Whenever there is something that hinders this love from consuming us entirely, in His great mercy, He convicts us until we volunteer to remove those things that get in the way. His Spirit of conviction is sure evidence that God is in unrelenting pursuit of our "all". Life comes down to this: God wants us, pursues us, will not relent until He has all of us and will remove everything that gets in the way of love until we are one with that flame. This is what causes our lives to make sense in the midst of our trials and momentary, light afflictions. They are working in us this eternal weight of glory-the fire of God, which is His love. Words are not sufficient to describe God, and it takes a lifetime of discovery to even scratch the surface; but one thing is certain: He is more eager to be known than we are to know, and He is aggressively pursuing us more than we pursue Him. He is in pursuit of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and nothing will stop Him from possessing those who say yes to His Holy fire. For all of eternity we will be lost in that vast, shoreless ocean of love, and though we are only at the beginning, there is no greater exhilaration than the experience of this love. Words are not sufficient, but I pray that the "living flame of love" Himself would encounter us today with His unrelenting pursuit of our hearts. (Charisma, February 2011, p38)
The Spirit is one of the greatest evidences of God's unrelenting pursuit of our hearts. No one can be as intimately involved in your life as the Holy Spirit is. He is living in that internal reservoir within you, and His goal is to pour love into your heart as Jesus described in John 14-17. Every heart is a furnace and the purpose of this life is to become consumed with God in the same way He burns with love for us. Whenever there is something that hinders this love from consuming us entirely, in His great mercy, He convicts us until we volunteer to remove those things that get in the way. His Spirit of conviction is sure evidence that God is in unrelenting pursuit of our "all". Life comes down to this: God wants us, pursues us, will not relent until He has all of us and will remove everything that gets in the way of love until we are one with that flame. This is what causes our lives to make sense in the midst of our trials and momentary, light afflictions. They are working in us this eternal weight of glory-the fire of God, which is His love. Words are not sufficient to describe God, and it takes a lifetime of discovery to even scratch the surface; but one thing is certain: He is more eager to be known than we are to know, and He is aggressively pursuing us more than we pursue Him. He is in pursuit of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and nothing will stop Him from possessing those who say yes to His Holy fire. For all of eternity we will be lost in that vast, shoreless ocean of love, and though we are only at the beginning, there is no greater exhilaration than the experience of this love. Words are not sufficient, but I pray that the "living flame of love" Himself would encounter us today with His unrelenting pursuit of our hearts. (Charisma, February 2011, p38)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Little Luisa
The VanderZwaag family has officially arrived in Colombia! Yay! Tomorrow, Valentine's Day, they will get little Luisa. I can only imagine the excitement in their hearts right now!! Praise God for their faith journey! Mission 1:27's deepest heart desire is to reach out to the lost and introduce them to the family of God. We have been so blessed to be a part of Gods plan for Luisa and the VZ's. Praying for a smooth transition:)
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Harvest is ripe for the picking
I was so blessed once again during my time at Lakeshore Pregnancy Center this week. A very sweet girl came in for a pregnancy test. She'd lived in Holland all of her life. Didn't go to church and didn't know about salvation through Christ. She was open and interested in hearing of the hope He offers. She prayed with me and asked Christ into her heart. The harvest is ripe even right here in Holland/Zeeland! We often assume everyone here "should know", but there are so many amongst us who are lost and searching for the Living Water!! Just wanted to encourage you to reach out wherever you are, both here and abroad. Praise God and pray with me for "CS" to grow in her new faith.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Family of God
I returned home late last night from a wonderful, warm week in Guatemala. It was beautiful and I cherish the time spent with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I wept on the shoulder of two great sisters who saw my pain, my brokenness, and listened to my heart. You see.... these people who I serve with are my true family. I've gained a connected, loving family through the various times(5, I think) I have traveled on this particular trip. This is something I've longed for all my life. Many of you know the pain of dysfunctional relationships and can relate. God powerfully used this trip as another step in healing my brokenness and I am so thankful to Him. Unfortunately, Satan is working overtime to stop the restoration. This is where my precious brothers and sisters in Christ are so vital. I covet your prayers for strength and healing and direction. I know I am not strong enough to walk this road of heart healing myself. The Holy Spirit in me IS more powerful than anything satan throws my way. HE is my hope!
I will begin sharing my story soon........but right now I've got playtime with my precious 5 year old:)
I will begin sharing my story soon........but right now I've got playtime with my precious 5 year old:)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
God is working in the Atlanta airport!
I passed through Atlanta airport last weekend en route to Rome...............uh, Rome, Georgia:) Anyway, I wasn't sure why I was going to this particular place, but I knew I was following God's plan for me. Living truly becomes very adventurous when you try to be open to His leading! So....I arrived in ATL with two hours to spare waiting for 3 gals from California who would be arriving at 1:20. Didn't know these girls, they were heading to the same retreat as me, so we were sharing a rental car. Anyway, I find out which gate they would be arriving at and begin looking for a comfortable place to perch myself near there, until they arrive. The airport was busy. My bag was heavy. The regular seats I saw just didn't look inviting. And then...........there it was................the SPA! Seriously, I glanced over, and spotted the spa with lots of soft, reclining chairs. Thank you, God, I thought. This is where I should sit until they arrive.........anyway, my toes were overdue for some care........a sweet gal greeted me at the entrance, immediately ushering me back to one of the soft recliners. I dropped my heavy bag, set my book on the side table and sat. Perfect. I will sit here in comfort for an hour, quietly reading my book. BUT GOD...........told me to talk to this gal. I did, but she spoke little English and didn't seem interested in chatting anyway.......neither did I........so, I figured I was now free to read my book in peace. God, again prompted me to draw her out. Really, God? I thought. I didn't feel like it and she couldn't understand alot and I couldn't understand her. Just leave her alone, to quietly do her job is what I thought. ........"draw her out" I kept hearing........so, I learned she has been here for 8 years having grown up in Vietnam. We talked the whole time! Such a nice girl. She thinks she's "stupid" because she can't read and doesn't speak English as well as others who have been here less time. Our time was almost up, so I asked her if she knew Jesus. She looked at me like she didn't understand. I repeated, "Jesus...do you go to church?" Oh..... now she got where I was going....."no, Buddha", she said. I nodded that I understood. She left to get my bill. When she returned I said, "I know in Vietnam most people are Buddhist. But, just because you are from there doesn't mean you're Buddhist." She looked at me as if to say...really?
Our time was up and it was time for her to move on to another client. I sat there wondering what God wanted me to do in this situation. Was I done? I wanted to give her a bible.........but she couldn't read....how else could I reach her. I searched the airport bookstores for audio bibles but to no avail. The time came for me to find my California car partners at their gate so I thought that must be it. It crossed my mind that maybe I could find a Christian bookstore enroute back from the retreat.. ...... Nope. I let it go.
BUT, God already had it completely orchestrated! I returned home and got back to my routine. Wednesday morning, I got an email from a pastor friend who I am going to Guatemala with tomorrow for a week. It just said that he was in Atlanta airport waiting for his flight(and something else but I don't remember). Instantly, God got my mind back on Tam at the airport spa. I quickly went to amazon and found a bible in vietnamese and an audio in English.
Thursday morning I am at the pregnancy center.........we always start out the day with prayer together and Carolyn reads scripture. Prayer requests? There were a couple.........I thought of Tam.......last minute, I shared a bit of my experience with her at the airport.......Carolyn just 'happened' to have one copy of a vietnamese bible there at the center.......AND......she was leaving the next day for Aruba.............yup.........through Atlanta! Are you kidding me God?? Amazing! Then.......... as I sat with my first client watching a video.........I noticed a DVD sitting amongst a few others...... Do you know God personally? was the title! I picked it up, walked into Carolyn's office and asked her if we had more. Sure enough, one brand new copy, donated for us to use for outreach.
So, Carolyn is now in Aruba, having first stopped at the spa in the airport to deliver Tam's gift(no doubt, from God!). I'll be replacing the vietnamese bible at the center when my amazon shipment arrives! Our God is so BIG!
Our time was up and it was time for her to move on to another client. I sat there wondering what God wanted me to do in this situation. Was I done? I wanted to give her a bible.........but she couldn't read....how else could I reach her. I searched the airport bookstores for audio bibles but to no avail. The time came for me to find my California car partners at their gate so I thought that must be it. It crossed my mind that maybe I could find a Christian bookstore enroute back from the retreat.. ...... Nope. I let it go.
BUT, God already had it completely orchestrated! I returned home and got back to my routine. Wednesday morning, I got an email from a pastor friend who I am going to Guatemala with tomorrow for a week. It just said that he was in Atlanta airport waiting for his flight(and something else but I don't remember). Instantly, God got my mind back on Tam at the airport spa. I quickly went to amazon and found a bible in vietnamese and an audio in English.
Thursday morning I am at the pregnancy center.........we always start out the day with prayer together and Carolyn reads scripture. Prayer requests? There were a couple.........I thought of Tam.......last minute, I shared a bit of my experience with her at the airport.......Carolyn just 'happened' to have one copy of a vietnamese bible there at the center.......AND......she was leaving the next day for Aruba.............yup.........through Atlanta! Are you kidding me God?? Amazing! Then.......... as I sat with my first client watching a video.........I noticed a DVD sitting amongst a few others...... Do you know God personally? was the title! I picked it up, walked into Carolyn's office and asked her if we had more. Sure enough, one brand new copy, donated for us to use for outreach.
So, Carolyn is now in Aruba, having first stopped at the spa in the airport to deliver Tam's gift(no doubt, from God!). I'll be replacing the vietnamese bible at the center when my amazon shipment arrives! Our God is so BIG!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Heart Surgery: We All Need It!
Celebrating the successful closing of little Zachary's hole in his heart! My great friend and Mission 1:27 co-founder Alison Maat, is home with 5 year old Zach and he is doing well. When he awoke after surgery the first thing he wanted to know was where his truck was(one of the gifts he received for being brave)! Oh, to be five again:) Praise God for this precious little life. I mentioned to my husband as we were walking out of the hospital that, had the Maat family not trusted God in adopting Zachary, he would likely still be living in a desolate orphanage in Russia. He has added so much to their family dynamic and they have provided the loving family that he so desperately needed. Adoption is a wonderful picture of God's plan for us. Each of us is lost in this world until we are adopted into the family of God. We love you Zachary!
....and, then, there is spiritual heart surgery.......
God has been gradually repairing the brokenness of my own heart. This weekend I attended a woman's retreat based on the book, Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. God has been calling me to live from my whole heart. I've been living from only a portion of my heart for many, many years. The other portion I've kept "safely" locked behind the walls I have built to protect myself from being hurt. In so doing, I have isolated myself from relationships. A few weeks ago I shared with Alison that I felt God was calling me to share my story. It is a final step in my healing process and will hopefully help others see the chains that bind them and help set them free. Alison and I feel particularly called to share the message of healing hearts through small group studies and retreats. If you know me, you know I am not a public speaker. If I continue believing the lies satan tells me about myself I never will step out and allow God to use my story in powerful ways for His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is able to accomplish anything through a softened heart......Praise Him........He is above all things!
....and, then, there is spiritual heart surgery.......
God has been gradually repairing the brokenness of my own heart. This weekend I attended a woman's retreat based on the book, Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. God has been calling me to live from my whole heart. I've been living from only a portion of my heart for many, many years. The other portion I've kept "safely" locked behind the walls I have built to protect myself from being hurt. In so doing, I have isolated myself from relationships. A few weeks ago I shared with Alison that I felt God was calling me to share my story. It is a final step in my healing process and will hopefully help others see the chains that bind them and help set them free. Alison and I feel particularly called to share the message of healing hearts through small group studies and retreats. If you know me, you know I am not a public speaker. If I continue believing the lies satan tells me about myself I never will step out and allow God to use my story in powerful ways for His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is able to accomplish anything through a softened heart......Praise Him........He is above all things!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The wheels on the BUS
The VZ family was one that got our hearts searching for what we were to do to assist in the orphan crisis. Mission 1:27 was organized as a result of much prayer desiring Gods Will in this matter. We recently had the priviledge of giving, a much needed, 8 passenger vehicle to this special family. The next step for them may be a BUS if God continues to bless their family with the ability to care for His special children! We are so thankful that God made it clear through His Holy Spirits leading, that THIS vehicle was meant for THIS family. Thank you to those donors who have made Mission 1:27 able to bless this family through their adoption journey. Check out the VanderZwaag story: http://www.vanderzwaagfamily.blogspot.com/
If you feel God's prompting to help this family or another please contact us at: toniajbk@hotmail.com or send donations to: Mission 1:27, 300 S. State Street, Suite 10, Zeeland, MI 49464.
If you feel God's prompting to help this family or another please contact us at: toniajbk@hotmail.com or send donations to: Mission 1:27, 300 S. State Street, Suite 10, Zeeland, MI 49464.
Blessed to be a Blessing
Mission 1:27 is so thankful to God for His infinite wisdom and overwhelming blessings. Mission 1:27 has been so blessed this year with a donor who has used his resources in a continuous effort to support Gods work. In order to help families financially we need fundraisers. To get our fund started this fall, a businessman offered his scrap metal. We have since filled several large Padnos containers on a couple of different occasions and been able to help the two families featured in our links. Praise God for scrap metal! Who knew? God even uses scrap metal in His plan to help the orphan. This just shows how we ALL have been blessed to be a blessing. We just have to have our hearts daily connected to the One from whom all BLESSINGS flow. I want to sincerely thank this donor and hope his faithful sharing of Gods blessings will encourage you in your walk on this NARROW path.
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011 Starts With a Boom!
Mission 1:27 has started off the new year with a few exciting things. I have seen the Holy Spirit at work and have felt so covered in prayer by my faithful warrior friends. Thank you and God bless each one:).
A great 2000 Smokercraft fishing boat has been donated for us to sell and help out families who are adopting or hoping to. God already knows who will be the buyer, but we could use your help on this. If you know anyone who may be interested in this boat(pic will be posted soon) please encourage them to contact me at: 616-747-6267 or toniajbk@hotmail.com
Remember, ALL the $ given to us for this boat will help bring one of God's precious little ones home to their forever family! So, if you are thinking of purchasing a boat, now is a great time as you will be getting a boat and giving to a cause that is close to the heart of God. Please pray, and contact me with any questions or comments.
2000 SMOKERCRAFT details:
A great 2000 Smokercraft fishing boat has been donated for us to sell and help out families who are adopting or hoping to. God already knows who will be the buyer, but we could use your help on this. If you know anyone who may be interested in this boat(pic will be posted soon) please encourage them to contact me at: 616-747-6267 or toniajbk@hotmail.com
Remember, ALL the $ given to us for this boat will help bring one of God's precious little ones home to their forever family! So, if you are thinking of purchasing a boat, now is a great time as you will be getting a boat and giving to a cause that is close to the heart of God. Please pray, and contact me with any questions or comments.
2000 SMOKERCRAFT details:
- 50 horse/2 stroke
- autopilot electric 12-volt Minn Kota trolling
- dual live well/front-back/automatic/aerrated
- 4C
- never any problems with motor, doesn't leak any water
- trailer has torsion suspension
- $6800 OBO
Owner simply chose to go to a larger boat.
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