Giving all you have

Giving all you have.

I was reading in the book of Luke tonight about the widow’s offering and what Jesus said to His disciples about her. He made it a point to teach them something about giving. He said “ This poor widow has put in more than all the others.”
It wasn’t about the money. It was about sacrifice. Jesus saw all the wealthy people put money in the offering. It’s as if He didn’t notice the size of their offering,, but the abundance they kept for themselves after they gave to God and it’s as if He didn’t notice the size of the widow’s offering either, but He noticed that she didn’t have anything left. It was all she had to live on as Jesus said. She would starve. So, it didn’t cost the wealthy anything and for the widow it cost her everything.
How much did it cost us to give our money, our time, our service, our talent? How much did it cost us to become a missionary or to become a pastor?
We see the offering.....God sees the sacrifice

1 Thess 5:16-18 & Mom

Today I'm thankful for God's word. It brings life better than any kinda medicine! I got a triple dose this morning at church. For weeks Pastor Oldemar has been preaching from the book of 1 Thessalonians and we are coming close to the end of the book at chapter 5 verse 16-18. These verses have alot of significance for me, especially today, the 21st of November. Today is the day 11 years ago that my mother went home to be with the Lord. It is also 11 years ago today that the Lord gave me these specific scriptures as a celebration of her life and now as a rememberance of her life. These verses are ones that I remember well, for I included them in the write up obituary for the newspaper. I still remember. This morning as I listened, by heart burned inside for I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart as I realized what day it was after I heard the scripture. Wow!

"Be Joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

So, I'm reminded and encouraged to keep loving more and more, to stand firmly in the faith, to work with my hands, to not grieve like those with no hope, & whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him....

I'm reminded that....deep JOY is not circumstantial...it comes from constant communion with my heavenly Father...giving thanks IN ALL circumstances....that's the proof of JOY..knowing He's got the world in His Hands....The JOY is in KNOWING... The Joy is in COMMUNION

I'm also believing my mom taught me these things..by who she was and who she is.
Thank you Lord for your word and thank you Lord for my loving mother. Your word is like opening a new wrapped gift everytime.

Time moving Be still

It's seems the dry season here in Costa Rica is upon us. The transition is happening. We are having less and less rain. It didn't rain today and yesterday it rained in the evening for about 10 minutes.
We welcomed the rain each day. It was a comfort to us because we knew to expect it. A good soaking gave water to every living thing. However, it also brought alot of damage and death.
It seems I've been in a transition for about a week now. And even though I knew to expect it, it didn't make it any easier. We've lived here In Costa Rica for 3 months and I believe the honeymoon is over and real life begins here.
I trust God to take care of our needs and the needs of the ministry, but now I'm feeling the desperation in it. In my devotional reading I reread the story of Hannah and it spoke so clearly to me. Her story is one of desperation. It is a story of transition, of breakthrough, and obedience. All these I have poured out my soul to the Lord. I have reached a place of peace. I praise God and give Him the glory. For only He can do the impossible
Dear Lord,
Help me Father, enable me to depend on you to do what I can not do. Help me to remember that you depend on me to do what I can do. Thank you Lord for your promise to fit things together in spite of our plans as you put order to our steps. All I need to see is what is in front of me. I trust you Lord, everything is totally under your control.
In the precious name of Jesus
Amen

Bicky's double Ducha de Bebé

This afternoon Steve and I were invited to our next door neighbor Bicky's double baby shower. Both her twin sons wives are both pregnant and both are expecting (boys)in December...on my birthday! See if you can figure out some of the games we played...

Scenic, Sunny, & Stormy...Solo Bueno!

Right this minute Pastor Dan and his wife Stephanie are sitting in the airport waiting on their flight to take off. It was our pleasure to serve them this week. It has been a week packed full of all kinds of adventure, times of relaxation & reflection, physical & spiritual renewal.
Yesterday, Steve and I brought them to La Paz Watergardens and took them to the Poas Volcano. Lots of towns along the way. I'm pretty sure La Paz was their favorite place. They certainly were good sports when we had to wait around 3 hours for the road to clear of a trailer accident on our way back from the San Luis Canopy tour. The morning started out with a group waterfall hike as the theme for the day was physical renewal. The massage I gave Stephanie that evening helped work out her tense muscles. I think Dan really liked the Tarzan swing and Stephanie liked the Superman Line. She said now she could imagine what it felt like to fly!
The day Steve and I took them to Herradura beach it began to rain about 30 minutes after we got there and just as we approached for lunch at Villa Calletas Resort, the rain really hit and stormed hard while the fog clouds really got thick. You couldn't see a thing! They experienced that full "Rainforest" affect. I took that as a sign that no matter what goes on around us, we can always rejoice within the storm. It was a day picked for marital renewal. Even though it rained and the spectacular view was not to be seen, the reality is, that the beauty was found in each other. They have a wonderful, beautiful and loving marriage!
They learned alot at The Britt Coffee Tour. It was funny to me that Dan had the same thoughts like me about the similarities of the process of our salvation as the process of a coffee bean. I wrote a blog about it a few weeks ago when Steve and I visited the coffee plantation here in Atenas.
I pray now for their safe arrival home. I can see their two boys wrapping their arms around Mommy and Daddy and welcoming them home. They got some trip gifts to pass out!
I pray the Lord gave them a gift here during their time here in Costa Rica that they will keep for the rest of their lives!