Road of Life

Briana saying good-bye to Dad

 

Recently, I took a trip to the states to take my daughter to college.  It was a very emotional trip for me. A mix of excitement and anticipation with the thoughts of seeing family I haven't seen in over a year.  Sadness and fear knowing I would be leaving my daughter in the hands of complete strangers.  This was the first time in our life's that we have been apart more than a couple of weeks. 

Briana and I flying to the states

God was so merciful to both Briana and I.  God gave us both so much peace.  On that last day, when I held my baby girl in my arms and said good-bye, God reminded me of Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. I wasn't leaving her with strangers, I was leaving her the hands of God.  The same God....who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span... Is. 40:12a  Now, when I start to worry, I remember God's word and know that He is in control of her life. My husband and I gave her to God many years ago.  It was time for me to let go and let God. 



Briana and my mom

One thing I find so amazing is how God can use whatever He wants to get our attention.  On our way back to NC from OK, we had to drive through Memphis, TN.  They were doing some construction on I-40 so they reduced the speed limit to 40mph.  So I did what any Christian SHOULD do and followed the speed limit.  But there was no one but me driving the speed limit.  No one was following the law.  It's like I tell my kids.  Rules and bounders are in place for a reason, it's not just for the fun of it.  And, out of all these people, no one chose to obey the law.  How many of those that passed me said they were saved.  How many claim Jesus as their Savior, but could not, would not obey the speed limit because of their own personal agenda?  What about their testimony?  They abide by the law when it is convenient?  So it's ok to break the speed limit, but don't steal from the stores, or commit adultery....  And this doesn't just apply to the laws of the land, but living for God in our everyday life's.  Do we choose our own needs over what God would have us to do.  Too busy to read our Bible every day, or even to pray.  Too busy to stop, and take time out of our day to be a blessing to someone else.  To write someone a note through a text or email.  What God showed me was that we are so self consumed.  It's always about what we need to do and get accomplished, NOT what God wants to accomplish through us that day!  I thought about that the whole 650 miles back to NC.  Everyday, make it a priority to be a blessing to others and to seek to accomplish God's plans, not just our own. 

July - August Prayer Letter

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Culture Shock Part 3

Culture shock....I thought that after a year I would be more adapted to this culture.  God gives me grace everyday, but it is still hard to fit in.  I was talking with my daughter and asked her why I still stand out.  She said its the way I dress.  This is my style, but my style is American style not Euro style.  Where does American end and Ukrainian begin?  Am I supposed to be meshing more, standing out less, looking less like a foreigner and more like a Ukrainian.  My mindset and my own deep rooted American culture clashes with that of those that I am around everyday.  And it does make it difficult to functions sometimes.

Apartment Building not to far from our house.

This culture is against everything that I am, as a saved person, as an American person, as a moral person, and as my individual personality would allow.  Here, it is normal when people are late, no matter what the profession or position.  Everyone bribes everyone, from the top to the bottom.  I have seen more than my fair share of that.  NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE wants to follow traffic laws.  They go where they want to go when they want to go.  A red light means absolutely nothing.  And grown men going to the bathroom where ever they please....

My first wreck in Ukraine.  The tram run a red light and hit the light green car, then that car hit me.

But, in our little church, their are the most precious people.  Despite our cultural differences, they love my Saviour.  We share the same desires and have the same Holy Spirit living within.  Yes, they maybe late for church.  But they don't have the nice air conditioned/heated vehicle to take them where they need to go.  They have to walk, ride public transportation, and sometimes many different forms of transportation to get to church. There are seats on the buses, trams, and metros, but seats are not guaranteed.   Some of them are from the village, and takes them at least an hour and a half to get to church.  So it is love, a desire to fellowship with those (as the Apostle Peter put it) of like precious faith, and a longing to hear God's Word that brings them.  After such a long trip in the unbearably hot or cold weather, would you come to church with a huge smile on your face?  They do :)  They encourage me like not other could. 

So, though I still struggle, God is so good.  He encourages me through the people of God, and through my personal Bible study.  Though I really miss my family and church family, what grace God has given; for homesickness is not something I struggle with as much as I used to. 

This now means I have finally made it to the Adjustment phase: Again, after some time, (usually around 6-12 months) one becomes more familiar and comfortable with the culture, people, food, and language of the new country. One will likely feel less homesick and will have a better handle on the situations that they previously found frustrating. The culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and responses to the culture are reduced.

Ukraine feels more and more like home.  I'm still learning the language, and can not communicate as much as I would like.  But how do you describe the grace of God in a situation like this.  It is so true what people say, that sometimes you have to experience something's in order to receive the most from that situation.  Sometimes, something's are just indescribable!

Unspotted by the World

My husband preaching "Pure Religion or Purely Religious"

 

I am in complete wonder and awe at how my God loves me.  How He steers me when I start to vear to the right or to the left.  Have you ever found yourself veering and not even know that you were doing it?  Or maybe you did but you did not think that it was enough to move you completely into another lane? 

This make's me think of a road, and your moving along this road which has ferocious curves and roller coaster hills and sometimes steep mountains.  It may be smooth, straight, and long like the roads in New Mexico.  It may be dirt, gravel, or paved (or completely covered in potholes like here in Ukraine), but you still manage to stay on this road no matter how bad it gets.  Sometimes you were speeding through and sometimes slowly cruising.  But the danger comes when you start veering.  You may only veer alittle, but depending on the road, alittle veer can send you over a steep cliff, or you can just catch the curb and it send you tumbling off the road.  I've always been very nervous about riding too close to the edge of a road. I'm always worried that I'll run off of the road and end up wreaking.  That's a constant fear when I'm driving, especially on  our Ashe County NC mountain roads. 

Not until recently, though, did it even cross my mind that I had not been doing that spiritually. I had not been aware of my position on this road of life.  I'm still on the road, I haven't wrecked, but I have not been as conscience and aware of where I was or how close I may be to the curb....that was an eye opener for me!!!

All this came about from a message my husband had preached out of James 1:21-27.  He was preaching on Pure Religion or Purely Religious.  The thing that got me was vs. 27 at the end where it says...to keep himself unspotted from the world.  That hit me like a ton of bricks.  It stirred in my heart like a tornado.  You would think, since I am an KJB only independent Baptist that that would be a no brainer.  But is it really.  Do we sometimes let ourselves see things we shouldn't be seeing or do we hear things we shouldn't be hearing.  Or do we put ourselves in a place where the world is much closer than it should be.  And I am not taking about blatant sin.  But, watching a movie with one bad word, or when they mention something that makes you uncomfortable.  Do you keep watching, or do you let that part of the "world" rub off on you, or spot you? So many times, here in Ukraine, morality is not in their vocabulary, so you see a lot of things you don't want to see.  But it's the attitude of heart and mind that helps you not to be spotted....to think on these things (Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil. 4:8)

Sometimes I find it absolutely amazing at how God can just open your eyes so wide open about certain things at certain times.  Why now?  Why not earlier?  Not that I didn't understand that verse of scripture before, but that it spoke volumes to me on that Sunday.  It was like when I got saved. It was how the way I thought and saw things was so different.  How my thoughts processed differently.  This is what I like to call the Great White Way :)  How God gives light in certain areas, and if our reaction is one of repentance and submission, it purifies us, it cleanses us. 

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.   Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.   Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.   Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  James 4:6-10

I see that sometimes I get so caught up in life I forget to "walk circumspectly". I forget to stay conscientious about those things which I often take for granted. Sometimes I forget about all those potholes in the road dug out by those who would like to see the end of me.  Hitting enough of those potholes without the proper daily maintenance in all probability can also cause a wreak.  I don't want to become shipwrecked....  Daily maintenance of Bible reading and prayer is the way to keep everything tight and running.  Not forgetting the occasional part replacement that will need to take place (biblically called pruning)....

My Friend Update

This is an update on my friend June....



L to R:  Me, June (back), Amanda (front), Tammy

She has, as of today, Lord willing, finished with her chemo treatments.  There are several tests she needs to take to make sure all the cancer is gone.  Please continue to pray for her.  She needs strength and grace in every way possible.  She is going through this trial, and also raising her 4 grandchildren. Thank you!!

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March - April 2015 Prayer Letter

Prayer Letter Time :)

 

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Jan. - Feb. 2015 Prayer Letter

Sorry it's so late....but here it is....our newest prayer letter....

 

 

 

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