OUR HEROES

We are in the middle of our missions conference at our church. It is a yearly event that is born out of the heart of our pastor. It takes several people working together to present the needs of the nations to our church. Much prayer and preparation has gone into it.

Last night we had a presentation that involved short video clips of different missionaries sharing their work and some of the people in their ministries. What a blessing it was to see and hear the people we pray for and support.

Some of these people we have known for years. I couldn't help but notice the look of fatigue and the decline in some of them physically. I know a few of them are facing serious physical challenges at this time. These are some of our heroes!

I recently heard my nine year old granddaughter quote the first twenty six verses of Hebrews chapter eleven to her Papa. I was challenged once again to memorize another chapter in the Bible. Listening to a child do it has that affect on me! I have been reading it and listening to it aloud on my iPad. Watching that video presentation last night reminded me of the great men and women in that chapter of the Bible.

Ministering to people is challenging in every area. Even though you may enjoy the work God has given you to do, you never feel that it is done or that it is enough. God is the one we are serving. We want to finish the task He has assigned to us in our lifetime. One day we want to hear, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

FEELINGS

Have you noticed in recent years that people live their lives according to how they "feel?" Sunday morning, before church, I got into a conversation with a woman about the length of my husband's sermons. She was very adamant in saying that he is preaching about ten minutes longer because "he is feeling better." I told her he never preaches according to how he feels or he may not be there at all! She refused to accept that even though I live with the man 24/7 and know for a fact nothing he does has anything to do with his feelings! (It was really a light-hearted conversation and we both were laughing about the fact that we didn't agree at all.)

It is easy to get into the pattern of considering one's feelings when going about our daily life. The world caters to people that live by their feelings. Advertising, entertainment, restaurants, all things that involve pampering ourselves, direct us toward the mindset that we should do whatever we "feel" like doing....or not! Does the word "impulsive" come to mind?

The Bible gives us many examples as to how to live our lives outside of the realm of feelings. Let me give you some to start your mind rolling: Daniel, just a teen when taken into captivity, yet he determined not to live by his feelings but according to his convictions. Esther, a young woman given a request that could cost her not only her life but the lives of countless others. Compare these young ones with our teens today! The difference is the thought of living by feelings wasn't an option. As for Daniel, we also see him as an old man in the lions den that still had not wavered!

I have to admit that I have also struggled with feelings. I used to count that as a strong point of mine but now I know for a fact that it is not. The enemy has been relentless of late, insisting that perhaps the path I chose to follow so many years ago has not counted for much. The ministry has never been easy but recent years have gotten harder as the world has become so much more prominent in the lives of professing Christians. There are times when I ask myself "What difference does it make?" The reason for this onslaught of thoughts has been an unusual amount of counseling recently. People want to do what feels good and not what is right. After awhile it wears you down.

What do we do when we feel overwhelmed by the urge to live by our "feelings?" We do exactly what Daniel did and that is to purpose in our hearts that we will not give in to ourselves! We go back to the Bible and we encourage ourselves in the Lord. We remember what He has done for us and where we have come from. We reflect on His goodness and review past victories and think about the joy that awaits us when we meet Him on that day and anxiously await to hear Him say "WELL DONE!" That was my goal so many years ago and it is my goal today.

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength" (Isaiah 40:29).

THE SMILE OF HEAVEN

My husband came home from church last Sunday and made the comment that "Faye had the smile of heaven on her face!" This past Sunday he said to me "She is such a sweet soul!" I heartily agreed on both comments. Who is she? She is a very petite 5 foot tall woman in her late seventies. She is also a type I diabetic and has been unable to stabilize it this past year even though she is very diligent about her diet. She also loves her pastor and her church. She is a constant encouragement though she is unable to attend very often now. She is a wonderful cook and ever-ready to take a meal to others who are sick.

I recently spent a morning with her to learn how to make one of her specialty dishes. She was all smiles when I arrived. She updated me on her family, showing me pictures and sharing prayers that had been answered on their behalf this past year. She once again told me how she met her husband and travelled the world with his military career and their five children in tow. Wherever she lived, she was involved in ministry.

What does Faye have to smile about? She is unable to be involved in church now. She doesn't get out for fellowship with others and most of her family lives away. She simply walks with God. She has nurtured her relationship with Him since a young woman and found that He is trustworthy. She also told me they had been considering an assisted living facility but decided against it when told they would lose control of their finances. She said they would not even be able to give their tithe to the Lord. She was willing to give up her home and her independence but not the tithe that belonged to the Lord.

What a great woman of faith! Most people retreat at this point in life. We surrender to the flesh and hide in our homes! May the Lord help us to be strong women of faith, like Faye.

CHRISTMAS CARD PRAYERS

It has been my habit for many years to keep a basket of Christmas cards and various other cards that I have received close to my "Quiet Time" chair. After I have my time in the Word each morning I pull out a handful of cards and pray for specific needs in the lives of individual family members, church members, friends and missionaries. This past Monday I prayed for a family in our church only to receive a phone call a short time later from the mother asking if she could meet with us for some counsel. This was not a coincidence. I know that my prayer for her family that morning was used by God to prompt her to call.

God cares about our every need. Sometimes we wonder if we are wasting our time praying for others because we do not see the results. What an encouragement it was to me for God to remind me that the results are up to Him. I am to be an intercessor for others regardless of whether I see results or not.

The card system keeps prayer time from becoming overwhelming. I am always blessed when I look on the back of the cards and see prayers that God answered. I also feel a little more connected to people when I see them and know that I have recently prayed for them.

It doesn't take much time to pray for a lot of people when I use the cards. Whatever system you use, know that prayer makes a difference. Not only does it change others and their situations, it changes the one doing the praying. Pray regularly and specifically. When I stand before the Lord I don't want to be ashamed of my prayer life on this earth.

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (JAMES 5:16)

A GENTLE REMINDER

I just wrote a letter to my thirteen-year-old granddaughter about steadfastness. As I was writing, I felt impressed to blog about it here also. Women of all ages need steadfastness in their lives. With all of the ups and downs life gives us we need that underlying strength of mind above all else. Steadfast means to "lean", to "rest", to "support". It is the idea of leaning on the Lord to support us at all times.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (ISA. 26:3). Who doesn't want or need perfect peace? It is available to us when we choose to lean on the Lord for support. We have to actively do our part in trusting Him. It is a choice we make every day of our lives.

This is just a gentle reminder to you. You already know this but sometimes it helps to be reminded. I have often wondered why people frantically call the pastor before they think of turning to the Lord? When life falls apart at the seams, we must immediately call on Him first. He is "OUR ROCK", "OUR FORTRESS", and "OUR HIGH TOWER".

The longer we serve the Lord, the more difficult the trials become. Life gets more challenging with age. In the midst of all of it, we see a loving Father that is always constant. What a great rest is available to us when we choose to be stedfast, unmovable and always abounding!