Day 204 Slow Leaks

 

7/23/2026

"We live by demands when we should

live by priorities."  

Daily Walk

 

My time spent in Isaiah becomes richer and sweeter each day, even though the messages are strong and difficult to hear. I cannot imagine all that the prophet Isaiah endured as he answered the call of God to go to the people of Israel and deliver these harsh messages, then watch as they refused to listen and hardened their hearts. The commentator states with confidence that "Before God can use a person greatly, He must bruise him deeply." I believe that the Apostle Paul could certainly attest to that bit of truth. He endured so much hardship that in 2 Corinthians 1:8 he said, "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." While it is said that Isaiah went through the process of declaring the wrath of God against Israel and the nations fearlessly, he did not do so tearlessly, as he was concerned for the welfare of others, particularly his own people. He had foreseen the destruction of the Temple and the carrying away of the ark of the Lord that held God's presence, or was a symbol, as God's presence can never be contained. He wanted to see Israel turn back to God, and I hope that I can have the same passion today as I pray for my country to turn back to God and for Israel to realize that they missed the Messiah's first arrival. Don't miss Him again! 

What the commentator was describing was the "melting season." Again, although I have read and re-read the Bible in its entirety annually for many years, each day I am made aware of a fresh insight. This expression was one of those "misses." I was recently reading through one of my older journals where I noticed a comment where a pastor had prayed for God to "melt me." At the time I had no idea why someone would pray like that. I recall the words of the old hymn Spirit of the Living God Fall Afresh on Me, with the familiar chorus: "Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; break me, melt me, mold me, fill (use) me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me." I remember singing those lyrics over and over, and I still do from time to time. Still, I'm not fully understanding the pastor's prayer. The only reason I had asked for prayer was for my husband's needs at the time, not haughtily, but very quietly, meekly, like a good little wife. Perhaps he saw deeper into my soul. So, I never questioned it, like many things I continue to wonder about. Later in 2 Corinthians in Chapter 12 Paul mentions that God gave him a thorn in the flesh (v7) lest he become exalted - too persnickety - concerning the dreams and revelations he was having at the time. It's important that we have the right motives and examine our hearts daily. So, as I go through my "melting seasons" I continue to pray and sing, "Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me!"

Israel was being warned of the suffering she would endure, the siege and calamity, because of the idolatry she had been drawn into by compromising God's word and carelessly indulging in the sins of those who formerly inhabited the land. Many times Israel had fallen into the same traps of the enemy and had to be disciplined harshly, and each time they had repented and mercifully been forgiven by God, promising never to stray again, to be obedient, only to fail once again. God's patience was growing thin! The commentator aptly put it that "No nation plans to collapse," rather it is a "slow leak." This can also be witnessed in our lives of "little foxes" that ruin the fruitfulness of our witness to the world. One little habit or mistake that removes our ability to be salt and light. Sadly, this is becoming more and more prevalent in our churches today as they compromise, allowing the culture to infiltrate the church, rather than the opposite effect. We are told to go out into the world and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples of all nations, not to follow the example of the world where lawlessness and doing things that seem right to a person is the way to show our love and acceptance to a lost and hurting world. We are taught in scripture to live a holy, separate life, set apart so we can represent Jesus to those looking for the only Truth, Way, Life!

Life gets very busy, and many of us are called to wear multiple hats, but the wise commentator once again sheds light on the subject saying, "It has been well said, 'Our days are identical suitcases - all the same size - but some people can pack more into them than others.'" Also, "In the midst of your busy schedule, never lose sight of the fact that God is busy, too - on your behalf!"   

When I was much younger I used to sing special music in church, and I loved the song by Steve Green, People Need the Lord, and it adequately voices the call of God, the life we are told to live vicariously for God, always sensitive to the needs of others:

"Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes; empty people filled with care, headed who knows where. On they go through private pain, living fear to fear. Laughter hides their silent cries only Jesus hears. 

People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams He's the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord. When will we realize people need the Lord.

We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right, what could be too great a cost for sharing life with one who's lost. Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear. They must hear the words of life only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams He's the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord. When will we realize, people need the Lord."   

I've written often about the importance of followers of Christ keeping our focus on Jesus, being careful to spend time in His presence, growing in the knowledge of God's will, transformed into His image - more of Him and less of us. Something that deeply touched my life was a testimony I heard Nick Vujicic share about how he grieves daily about his limitations in not being able to play with or hold his son. Nick is an amazing Australian evangelist and motivational speaker who was born without arms and legs, a rare condition known as Tetra-Amelia Syndrome. He is married to a beautiful woman of God, Kanae Miyahara, and they have four beautiful children. God is using him greatly to bring hope to others who feel "less than," because he knows the way our mighty God can do amazing things! With our God nothing is impossible!

Nick shared these three questions he asks his wife, and she asks him - the same questions that he asks God each day. I share them for our consideration:

 "What am I doing you want me to stop doing; what am I not doing that you want me to start doing; what am I doing well that you want me to keep on doing?"

Questions we should all be asking to keep us on the right path - not succumbing to culture's cries for acceptance that lead to compromise, but focusing on what Jesus said about true love and compassion that cares enough to tell someone the truth in love.

Day 203 Erev Tish'a B'Av

 

7/22/2026

 "I called on Your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit.

You heard my plea: 'Do not close Your ears to

my cry for relief.'"

Lamentations 3:55-56 

 

Tonight is the eve of the commemoration of Tish'a B'Av, the 9th day of the month of Av on the Jewish calendar, the day on which the temples were destroyed in Jerusalem. The first temple built by Solomon was destroy by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E. It is a day of mourning and grief remembering when the temple that housed the ark of the covenant, the Presence of God, was destroyed. It was also a day in history marking other horrible events in Jewish history over the years.

Before the destruction of the temple, this days is a reminder of the twelve spies sent by Moses into the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, to scout out the country when ten of the twelve spies came back and gave a negative report causing the people to fall into disbelief. This resulted in the death of these ten spies and the death of the generation who revolted against God who punished them making them wander through the wilderness for 40 years.  

After the destruction of both temples as noted above, the Romans ended the Bar Kochba revolt and destroyed the city of Betar killing over 500,000 Jews. In 135 CE following the Bar Kochba revolt the Temple site and the surrounding area of the Temple was plowed under. Recently, archeologists discovered burned structures which may have been part of the Temple.

According to a report Tisha B'Av included mourning for several other horrible events happening at this time which include the Spanish inquisition, the Holocaust, the expulsion of Jews from European countries, as well as other cruel and unjust happenings in Jewish history. The book of Lamentations is read during this time of grieving.

The people of Israel have weathered so many storms since God chose Abraham to be the father of the nation of Israel and the nations. Since they became a nation in 1948 the warfare has never ceased, going back to the beginning of the blood libel between Isaac and Ishmael. For 1020 days since 10/7/2023 when Hamas attacked and viciously murdered innocent civilians including men, women, children, and babies, intercessors have stood with Israel as watchmen on the wall praying for the peace of Jerusalem and an end to this time of war and horror. The people have endured so much suffering through the loss of loved ones and waiting for the return of family members who were held captive, the last one released after 843 days, deceased Master Sargent Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police special forces officer who fought bravely and was killed on 10/7/2023 and his body taken captive into Gaza and held. But the grief and the suffering continue for all concerned.

Many of the soldiers have been on active duty since that first day, with little time off to be with their families. They love their country, and this is their duty to protect their country from harm. Many who have been injured during this time are still receiving treatment and many suffer mental trauma, as do those who were held hostage. Finally after all this time the stories are being told, so that healing can begin.

The people of Israel are resilient people, many who believe in God and hold fast to the teachings and promises in Torah. They are a very close-knit people who continue to go on, living their lives, even when they are running into bomb shelters several times a day, for several hours a day or longer. They rejoice when their is a time to rejoice, and their grieve for one another. It has been my privilege and my joy to serve these special people in prayer.

So today and tomorrow we once more grieve, fast, and pray with them as they remember and as they hope for the future that is certain to come. We also pray for the salvation of the people who have not yet received Jesus Christ as Messiah, but who wait for His coming. What a glorious day it will be when they discover that He already came, and He is coming again soon. Then there will be no more pain, no more tears and suffering. O what a wonderful day that will be! 

"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices

of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart -

These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your

good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of 

Jerusalem."

 

Psalm 51:16-18 

Day 202 My Crazy Life!

 

7/21/2026

"The busyness of the day cut my time short leading

to the pain, the pill, the sleep, and here I am now - awake

at 3:21 am at the night watch."

Babbling of a Dazed & Confused Ole Lady  

In an attempt to beat the rain yesterday afternoon, I cranked up the lawn mower, only to be frustrated with the inability to cut wet grass. I thought the sun had been out long enough to dry out the section of grass I was attempting to mow, but I was mistaken. In the process I got stung or bitten by an insect and ended up with an allergic reaction requiring me to take an antihistamine. This turned out to be a mistake, as I have developed a hypersensitivity to the drug, whereby I fall asleep very quickly. Since it was raining I couldn't even get the yard finished, so I moved my attention to inside the home with the hope of getting some needed work done. I was still working on my blog, so I attempted to sit down and type. The pain in my hip and leg had begun to flare up, plus the antihistamine had kicked in. My bed was covered with books and papers, where I had been sorting and filing, so I decided I'd lie down on the rug. I think it was around 3 pm or so when I laid down, and I awakened to the sound of my son calling me for supper. I was so disoriented by that time, the pain worse, that it took him three attempts to awaken me.

After struggling into up and into the kitchen, sitting down at the table I still felt so drugged that can't remember what we ate. I do recall saying some form of gibberish twice that made absolutely no sense, as if I was talking in my sleep. I'm sure by then Daniel was wondering what was wrong with me, although he did know I had taken the antihistamine. I decided that I had better lie back down, so I went into the living room and plopped on the couch. I woke up five hours later, still disoriented, Daniel already in bed. My bed was still covered, so I laid back down on the couch, waking again at 1:30 am. By then my senses were a bit improved, and I knew where I was. I decided to try to finish my blog, and complete a few other computer tasks, but by 3:22 am I decided I'd best give it a rest and go back to bed. I did manage to write a few notes about being in the night watch as watchman on the wall, not accomplishing much, and something about a Congresswoman listening to me discuss an issue. I guess I was still not myself! Remind me to make a note -  "NEVER take antihistamines again under any circumstances!" 

I remember waking up again around 5:30 am, remembering I had not used my eye drops. So, I reached over, and somehow pushed something, making me fall out of the bed, hitting my head on the corner of the  sewing machine table beside the bed before I landed on the floor on my bad hip. Daniel was getting up about that time as I was sitting in the floor holding my head. So, I got another ice pack for my hip and leg and decided to lie back down. Probably not a wise decision after clunking myself in the same side of the head where I had the last brain trauma. Finally, about 6:45 am, I got up and stayed up, still feeling so tired, sore and in pain. I decided to drink my coffee and read before the global call. Hopefully, I won't fall out of my rocking chair and do another slam dunk of the head. There aren't many places I haven't hit. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned in all of this, but alas for today I'm hoping for clear skies to finish mowing my yard. If it doesn't work out, well then, I guess I'll play another game or when all else fails...I'll dance!                                              

Day 201 Waiting to Hear

 

7/20/2026

 "The man who has no inner life

is a slave to his surroundings."

 

Once again God has veered me from the routine or imagined plans I had for my day. My daily walk through the Bible has slowed, because of the richness of the text. Isaiah is not a chapter one can easily skip through, as it calls for a deeper study. I think the buzz word is "deeper dive into scripture." I prefer to call it sitting at the feet of my Savior, listening to what He has to say to me for this day! Trust me, if you linger, He will meet you. He is always waiting for His children to sit awhile with Him. The scene of Him waiting reminds me of the image of a widow sitting silently by the window, a Bible and a telephone on the table beside her as she longingly looks out the window - hoping! Glancing, from time to time, sadly at the telephone, waiting for it to ring.  

The people of Judah are offered heaven's response to their sin and suffering in chapters 9 - 12 of Isaiah as the words announce the promise of Messiah, destruction of their enemies and foes, the promise of an eternal reign of Jesse's offspring, and ending with a hymn of praise! Sadly, those who have yet accepted Jesus as the Promised One, avoid reading and teaching these scriptures in synagogue. How can this be? And yet, we who say we know our Savior, who read them religiously each week in churches across this globe, do not accept them in our hearts. Do not fully recognize the truth so wonderfully announced in the words on gilded pages of God's word to His children. 

In previous chapters of Isaiah God was warning sinful, disobedient Judah of the fate that laid ahead of them for their willful reluctance to turn from their wicked, abominable sins and come back to Him. Isaiah warned of the Assyrian armies God would use to exact His wrath upon them, His promise to destroy them, have them taken to exile in a foreign land where they would live in bondage once again. Yet, within the passage God always promises a remnant, a handful of faithful ones He will spare to rebuild His kingdom, as He is faithful to the covenant given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - His chosen people Israel. And in the passages of today He promises the fulfillment of prophecy in the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world who will save His people from their sins and the stronghold of the enemy. And yet...!

The cry of my heart is that the people of Israel will wake up and recognize that their Messiah has already come, and He is coming again. As they attend synagogue daily that they will awaken to the whole counsel of God's word. And for the Christians and the Messianic Jews who already know the truth of Jesus, that they will respond with courage and love and boldness and lead the people caught in bondage to the light of God's Son. And for the Christians here in America and across this world to rise up and do the same. Boldly calling on the Name of the LORD so that all will receive Christ and be saved to the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Jesus is waiting!  

Day 200 Nearer to Thee

 

7/19/2026

 "Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense;

and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice."

Psalm 141:2

 

Sunday morning, the birds are singing ever so sweetly this morning as the sun rises and the rays pierce the skies. Their melody brings songs to my heart. Often I listen to music as I sit here quietly enjoying the view from my window. Tim Janis is a YouTube artist who plays soft instrumental music while sharing nature's abundance from different areas of the world. But my favorite scenes come from the snow-kissed mountains of the Southwest where I spent almost half of my life. As the music plays Tim records the sounds of nature. As the birds sing along with his songs, the birds outside my window join in the chorus with their own sweet melodies, offering an early morning concert in praise to God. His masterpieces are always the best!

Music affects me greatly whether it be simply instrumental, supported by beautiful landscapes and God's creatures great and small, or whether it be the elaborate orchestras, medieval minstrels, or joyous praise! As I listen words form on my lips and worship fills my heart. I am in the presence of my Father. Symphonies of heaven! So, as I am praying or reading my Bible, the words become so much more alive to me. It's as if they dance on the pages rejoicing in the melodies, each line becoming praise. Sitting silently often brings new revelation or an answer to prayer.  

As I sit quietly before the Lord this morning my silent prayer continues with Psalm 141:3-4, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing." My prayer is always to be set apart to do my Master's will, drawing ever closely to Him. 

As if by clockwork the melody of a favorite hymn sweetly plays, and my mind goes back to a time in history when I last heard these chords playing in the background amidst panic and pain, the voices mixed with screams of terror and cries for mercy, children clinging to their parents, stewards not knowing how to help. I am of course referring to the sinking of the Titanic, and the music playing "Nearer My God to Thee." I recently watched the remake of this great classic first seen as a child, embellished quite a bit in modern days, but still my memory was fresh and the ending certain. God has a way of transporting our souls when He wishes to teach us compassion.

God can use movie soundtracks to evoke memories of the past whether the music is tragic or magical. It has always had that affect upon me, perhaps because I lean towards the artistic and creative. It's part of who I am, but it helps me relate to situations and to people and the difference attitudes - the places in their hearts. Survival instincts somewhat, I imagine.

The Psalm mentioned above requests a guard on my lips and watch care of my heart keeping me from evil thoughts or deeds. The enemy is so deceitful and clever in his ways. He has the innate character of distorting beauty and making evil look inviting. Music can also be used in that manner, so we guard our hearts again the devil's counterfeits. The Lord deserves the highest praise - always the first thing - the only thing! We must always keep our hearts and minds stayed on Christ Jesus. The words of the song the violinists were artfully playing offered hope for the 2, 224 passengers that day, hope of an eternal destiny.

"Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given; angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!"

The words unsung as the music softly played as many were welcomed home into the arms of their waiting Savior! 

Day 199 The Tale of Chicken Little

 

7/18/2026 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,

the fruit of the womb is a reward."

Psalm 127:3

 

I strolled into the living room, my bowl of popcorn, in my hands, ready to see what movie was playing. My son leaves on the television many times, and since the last movie he was watching was the third installment of Star Trek - the Search for Spock - I figured the fourth movie would already be playing. But I was wrong. The movie playing was a futuristic space movie, so I thought...I'll give it a try.

The movie was already half way in the middle, and although it was difficult to follow, I seemed to follow the plot rather well for a person coming in at the middle of a chaotic space movie. Moonfall is an adequate name for the movie based on the synopsis which reads: "The world stands on the brink of annihilation when a mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit and sends it hurtling toward a collision course with Earth. With only weeks before impact, NASA executive Jacinda "Jo" Fowler teams up with a man from her past and a conspiracy theorist for an impossible mission into space to save humanity." I must say that I couldn't think of a better way to snack on popcorn and consider my blog for today about restoring the family altar. 

The movie is depicting a world gone mad causing a cataclysmic disaster in space ruled by AI generated hosts - one yielding innovative influences while the other is trying to destroy all human life. In their cosmic battle of good versus evil, the moon is knocked out of place causing devastating effects on earth and influencing the weather dramatically. In short the battle in the skies is wreaking havoc on earth, threatening life on earth. Meanwhile, the earthly focus in on saving the world so children, on earth, will have a safe place to live. Ironically, the focus in this movie and our focus on this present age is always the same - the next generation. A military superior intent on blowing up the moon, or what the character in the movie  perceives to be our moon, in order to stop this alien force from destroying earth, hysterically shouts to his commander in charge, "The fate of the world is in the hands of your wife and a has been astronaut?!" He failed to include the conspiracy theorist in his analysis, but the sensationalism of the moment was achieved nonetheless. 

Ironically, when disaster movies are planned, the characters are trying to save humanity so their children can live in a better world. Right now the future of our children, specifically those identified as Gen X, are the focus of evangelism, as many consider them "lost" in their thinking. But this is not the case for many, as they are waking up, realizing that their hope is found on Christ alone. The males particularly are crowding churches, buying Bibles, searching for authenticity, no longer listening to the hype they've been fed previously. Many come from homes where there is no father, raised by their mother who is balancing home, family, and working one or two jobs to keep food on the table. Since COVID most people still consider Zoom their meeting place on Sunday, so normal local services and community outreach is primarily accomplished on a laptop once a week. But these kids are streaming into churches who are holding live services. While some churches are praying for revival, revival has already begun in some churches in isolated locations, and this is a result of the Gen Z desiring a change in their lives and best of all -  truth. 

As we gathered to pray this morning, our focus was on the family altar, as this is God's desire that it be reestablished in the home. The first covenant relationship God made was with the family when He created Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply. Of course we know how that turned out, so God chose Abraham to become the father of the nations, and so our journey began. And yet, the family unit has been destroyed by divorce, single parent homes with little or no godly influence. The churches are failing miserably in not identifying the problem, and by not reaching out to their communities, regardless of whether they attend their church or not. 

We just celebrated our country's 250th anniversary, a nation established on godly principles by our forefathers who knew that a nation could not survive unless it was guided by moral principles. In many churches these moral truths based on God's word are not being taught. Yes, the basics are being told, but there is not conversation going on about what is happening in our lives today. Churches spout the words "separation of church and State" when they do not understand what our forefathers meant when they formed the rules for our nation. I have repeated it so many times that I am not going to do it now. The first thing we need to know is exactly what has been written in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence and many other documents we call laws that rule our land before we can debate on whether it says this or that. As Christians, we also need to get intimately related to the words written on the pages of Scripture - our Bible - which is the Book that should govern our lives, as it is God's inspired word, written by Holy Spirit through the pens of our Jewish neighbors. And mostly we need to pray, fast, and repent for our reluctance to throw God aside and lean to the understanding of men. The opinions of men, including women who are creating much harm and chaos in our nation today, and yet, they remain in office. It is very disconcerting to me, and I do not understand it, how an elected official who publicly announces their disdain for their country is allowed to remain in office. 

This movie reminds me of the children's fable about Chicken Little who got hit in the head by an acorn, and it thought that the sky was falling. The sky is falling, the weather is changing, and there is war in the heavens fighting a spiritual battle for the souls of our nation and world. It's time we wake up and decide who we will follow, as we have two choices - God or mammon. Good or Evil.  

Day 198 Still Willing

 

7/17/2026

"Then I heard the Lord asking, 'Whom shall I send as a messenger to my people? 

Who will go?' And I said, 'Lord, I'll go! Send me.'" 

Isaiah 6:8 

 

Today's another early day, as I have two appointments on top of my daily commitments, so I'll manage to get everything done, and I'll be prepared for my 7 pm Harvest group. Why do meetings and appointments always fall on Thursdays?! 

My son's early morning appointment went well, so I was able to attend my daily prayer call, and get over to my class luncheon at our local country restaurant. I had my mouth set for a stuffed baked potato, loaded with steak and cheese and pico de gallo - delicioso! It doesn't take much to make me content. We had more friends than expected, so we had to add another table. We've gotten together several times over the almost five years I've been back home, and I still do not recognize some of my old classmates. Perhaps if we got together more often it might be easier. Adding wives and husbands make it a bit harder, but it's nice meeting new people and seeing the old friends. I believe that our graduating class of 1968 was 124  graduates, but it's been such a long time ago, and sadly many have preceded us in death. This is one reason we make it a point to meet often. It makes me wonder how many other classes meet frequently. I hope we're not the only ones, because time passes so quickly, and relationships are important.

I generally don't talk a lot at the get togethers. I prefer to eat slowly while listening intently to conversations around me. Because we were a county school, most students came from farming communities, and I was surprised to learn that many returned to their family homes to help their parents work the land or otherwise. I'm living in my childhood home again, and I am trying my best to restore it to how my parents had it, how I remember it, plus add a touch of myself to the mix. Still, with every stroke of the brush or hammer of a nail, I remember scenes - memories, photos in my mind. The crepe myrtles are blooming so beautifully right now, and although I have no childhood memories of these trees, I do remember the maple tree in the back yard - now much, much taller and fuller, and I envision the azalea bushes and rose bushes that graced the front and sides of our home. My mama loved flowers, and she could make anything grow. My daddy was that way with vegetables and grass. This ole homestead used to be a place of beauty, but age and lack of attention does take its toll. Still, I pray for the strength to make it beautiful once more, and a place where friends feels welcome and stop by unannounced just as the old days and older ways when we always made time for family and friends. I remember mama saying "Come on over, and we'll add another potato to the pot!" and she meant it. My family was always so hospitable.

I regret that as a teenager more people didn't realize my hopes and dreams for my life. We had guidance counselors, but I don't recall ever stepping foot into their offices or being invited in to discuss my future plans upon graduation. Most of my female classmates were teachers or secretaries. But I was different much to the chagrin of my parents. I wanted to save the world, or at least help. I read every book I could find about the lives of missionaries, especially medical missions. As we were sitting at the table waiting for our food, talking about different subjects, one friend asked me about my life, and I began to share with her quite candidly. I always give God the credit, because there is no way my life could have blossomed from such crazy, misguided early beginnings. I went one way, and somehow in the process, over the years, God pulled me back around and set my feet on a wild adventure doing what I always wanted to do - helping others. Not that I hadn't been helping others, as that has always been my nature, but I wanted to do more, and God allowed me to do so.

Another friend answered questions about writing my story, and I shared a bit about my calling as a younger person. I'm not certain how my conversation was received, but when I'm allowed to share about my life, the joy and excitement of God's mercy and grace explode from me. Perhaps it's overwhelming, because it is to me, but I can't seem to contain it. The one thing we have in common though, is that we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory, but through the power of Almighty God and praying parents we have been transformed. In many ways I hear the same response I made so many, many years ago, "Here I am, Lord, send me!" Just like Isaiah responded. Just as so many missionaries have done and continue to do, giving their lives to answer God's call to reach the nations with the Good News of Jesus Christ. What a privilege, what a joy! Maybe my friends didn't go into missions, but a teacher is a very high call, and it takes a special person these days to reach the youth. Hopefully, my generation of teachers were able to train the ones in schools now, because the educational system is under attack. We need a new generation of teachers who will stand up and say to the Lord, "Here I am, Lord, send me!" 

His hand is always extended, waiting, and He stands at the door and knocks. Oh, please, Lord, may we help to reach the lost for Your kingdom, for Your glory. We are still willing.