Rainbows and Otter Pelt

I find myself in a season of waiting. I am in the process of determining next stages of care for my mother. I am unsure of what that will look like or where it will be. But I am trusting God to show up and show me. As I am waiting, and trying not to worry about the what if’s, I am reminded of the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. And Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. Boy did Jesus do that with Mary and Martha!

In John 11, we read where Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick and requesting him to come. They knew that if Jesus came, he could heal Lazarus. In John 11:21 and 32, Martha and Mary both stated, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Their expectation was Jesus could heal their brother. That is what they asked for. But Jesus had so much more in mind. Something beyond anything they could imagine. He proved he was the resurrection and life! He raised Lazarus from the dead, after he had been dead for 4 days. The Jewish people believed the spirit hovered near the tomb, waiting to re enter the body but at 4 days it would leave because the body would be unrecognizable. Lazarus walking out of the tomb, – Immeasurably more than could be imagined!

And not only did Jesus bring Lazarus back to life, he set the stage for his own death and resurrection. Word spread throughout Judea about Lazarus and the religious leaders began plotting Jesus’s death. Because of Jesus’s physical death and resurrection, he defeated death for all who believe in him.

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26.

Immeasurably more than what was asked and what could have been imagined. Mary and Martha just asked Jesus to come heal their brother of physical illness. He brought spiritual life.

Do you have the assurance of spiritual life? Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved,”

James 1:22 says “be doers of the word, and not hearers only”. Our team of 5 did just that while in Armenia. We spent 8 days working alongside our Armenian brothers and sisters in Christ. We had a successful week and a half, giving out over 200 pairs of eye glasses, installing Sheetrock, tile flooring, and ceiling in dining room; and constructing enclosure of cinder block wall for a second floor kitchen. But ultimately we succeeded in building positive relationships with the Armenians we worked alongside. At first, they just seemed tolerant of us being there but by the end of our time we were laughing together, sharing, and exchanging contact information to stay in touch – in spite of the language barrier. We achieved this through our actions. We demonstrated we were there for them, not us, by continually working alongside them, performing tasks like they wanted instead of how we would do it, and spending time with them getting to know them. We participated in Bible study with the believers in Masis and prayer meeting in Yreven.

Dudley committed to work alongside Gago, observing how he worked, anticipating his needs and assisting him with multiple jobs. Through these actions, he developed a positive relationship with him. Gago shared with us apples and grapes from his garden. We shared American peanut butter. By the end of the week, Gago allowed Mike to drive his Lada and he gifted us with homemade Mulberry syrup, which is good for boosting your immune system when you have a cold.

When we first arrived, Mahed seemed to barely tolerate us, like we were underfoot. We diligently followed his directions each day, trying to help him the best we could. He saw that we were there to assist, not take over. And he witnessed us investing time with his family. Each day, we sat among our Armenian friends during coffee/tea breaks and lunch, communicating through translators, Google translate and motions; showing an interest in them and their culture. His son, also named Mahed, wanted to help me with eye glass clinics. Each day he would help me set up, locate proper strengths and display selections of glasses and cases. Marina, Mahed’s wife, and Ana would also help. And I would spend time talking with them each day. Ana shared pictures of her garden, home, friends, and some of her favorite things in Nagorna-Karabakh. By the end of our time together, Mahed was interacting with us. He would sit with us at lunch and breaks, even showing us pictures of his work. He is a talented carpenter that built cabinets and furniture in Nagorna-Karabakh.

Melik was our driver, hired to get us where we needed to be. On Saturday when we were tourists, we invited him to share our lunch. Afterwards, he walked through market with us, even offering to carry my bag. The next week, he was right alongside us working. He attended Bible study and prayer meeting with us. He even helped us with an eye glass clinic when we did not have a translator!

Edik is a contractor in Armenia. He was not with us everyday but the few days he was with us, he would take the time to show us how to do something, like installing Sheetrock on a cinder block wall.

We built and transformed these relationships through our actions. We demonstrated being “doers of the word”, loving on people like Jesus did.

James 1:23-25 says:

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬, ‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/jas.1.23-25.NIV

Early November, I returned to Armenia with a team of five. This time, my older brother Phil was part of our team. Our small team continued working on the construction project we started in August, creating an enclosed space for people traveling from the south of Armenia to Masis for Bible study.

Armenia is at a crossroads geographically and spiritually. Europe is to the west with their Christianity and Catholic beliefs, Russia is to the north with Russian and Eastern Orthodox beliefs, Asia is to the east with a history of ancestry worship, and the Middle East is to the south with Islam being the predominate religion. We had the opportunity to spend more time with refugees from Nagorna-Karabakh, attend a Bible study with them, pass out eye glasses, and attend a prayer meeting with fellow believers.

We also made new friends on this trip. Meet Gago.

Gago is an Armenian master tradesman who worked with us on the construction project. He is also a new believer. Our ministry partner has been utilizing his skills on several church projects and through this association, he has come to know Jesus. This is a testimony that you never know what impact our interactions with others will have on their lives. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

On our third day at the work site, I met Nellie. She has been living at the church since she had to flee her home in Nagorna-Karabakh in 2023. Nellie asked me why evil is allowed in the world. She shared with me some of the heart ache she has experienced from having to flee her home to her daughter being killed by her son-in-law. I shared that while we live in a world where bad things happen, God did not intend it this way. He created a perfect world. But God’s creation was corrupted when sin entered in to it, and we were separated from Him. But thanks to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and his resurrection, we once again have access to God. Nellie knows Jesus. She has since her mid thirties. Nellie had lost touch with the hope that only comes from knowing Jesus and needed encouragement, somebody to listen. Somebody to show they cared. As the week went on, I would see Nellie around the church, smile and wave at her. She would acknowledge she had seen me by making eye contact, but never a return smile. The last day, I spotted her looking in on the room we had been working on. When she looked my way I smiled, she gave me a smile grin and a thumbs up on approval of our work.

I have sometimes wondered if my short term mission trips have an impact in peoples lives. Nellie, for instance. She has lost so much. What can I do in a few days? Five weeks before returning to Armenia, my home town was devastated by Hurricane Helene. While our home was not damaged, we were without electricity, water, and for a short period of time cell service. As soon as communication was restored, friends I have made through missions were in contact asking if we needed anything. Many made the trip to western North Carolina to personally bring us supplies. My new friend Alena even contacted me from Armenia to check on us! Through this experience, God showed me that I do have an impact. Through the actions of my friends, I felt loved by God. He used them to show that He knew our circumstances, and provided for our needs. From water and food, to a large bag of baking soda! God uses us to show others that He sees them, He knows their needs, and He loves them. He uses us to point them to Jesus.

Armenia is an ancient country and culture. It is speculated by Christian scholars that the Garden of Eden could have been located in Armenia. Genesis 8:4 states after the flood, Noah’s ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. Mount Ararat has historically been located in Armenia but currently rests 5 kilometers inside the Turkish border.

Armenia’s history is rich and troubling. In 301 AD, Armenia was the First Nation to declare themselves a Christian nation. The Armenian alphabet was developed around 405 AD so the Bible could be translated for the Armenian people. One of my new friends said the whole world should be speaking Armenian because it is an ancient language! Throughout the centuries, Armenia was conquered be many different kingdoms who tried to influence their religion but the Armenians never denied Christianity. In 1915, a great genocide was committed against the Armenian people, killing 80% of their population. Less than 500,000 survived.

Knowing this history, fast forward to today. On our second day of work, I met Alena.

Her great-grandmother had fled east to survive the genocide. After WW1, during Soviet occupation, a portion of eastern Armenia was taken and given to Azerbaiyana (according to the history lesson given to me by my new Armenian friends). After the fall of the Soviet Union, this region – which was largely Armenian, voted to be independent and became the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaiyana was not happy about this and wanted the region back. In September 2023, backed by Turkey, they forcefully took control of the area and within a week the Armenian population fled. Eleven months later, many of these refugees are still struggling. Our team worked to show these people that they are not forgotten. God knows their situation. He “sees” them. And He loves them. We provided hygiene kits, held 2 eye glass clinics, 3 days of women’s Bible study, and 5 days of Vacation Bible school for the kids. We also constructed a cinder block wall to expand the kitchen area at the church housing several refugee families.

The construction site is where I met Alena. She is hurting, along with others. They do not understand why God would allow them to have to flee their homes. For their families to be separated (Alena’s husband and son are in Russia working while she and her younger daughter are living in the shelter provided by the church. Her 25th wedding anniversary was one day while we were there.). It can seem shallow to point them to Jesus but He really is our only hope. On our last day at the work site, we prayed over the ladies and I tried to give them some encouragement. I shared the unknown is scary. I have been there under different circumstances, and I can testify that God is faithful and He will provide.

The first day I met Alena and she told me about the Armenian language, I mentioned we had visited the “Alphabet Park” – a sculpture park of the letters of the Armenian alphabet. She stated they have never seen this park. Later in the week, we had the opportunity to take several of the refugee families to this park. Oh the expression on their faces when we invited them. It was priceless! Everyone on our team enjoyed experiencing their joy on the afternoon outing. Our new friends shared some of their history as they pointed out statues, and even shared plant knowledge with me!

We had the privilege of spending two Sundays with our Armenian brothers and sister in Christ. All week, our fellow Christians would address us as “brother” and “sister”. It created a sense of unity, even though we spoke different languages. As we worshipped the first Sunday, even though you don’t understand the words (some Melodies of old hymns were recognizable), you could feel the spirit of worship. You could tell the people were there because they wanted to be there worshipping God. It seems like a foretelling of the scene in Revelations, “a great multitude from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb”

Recently, I returned from my fourth trip to Ukraine. When the war started in February 2022, I desired to go help. But the door of opportunity was closed to me, so I waited. I knew the Lord knew what my heart desired and I waited on His timing. In August of 2022, the doors opened and I had the opportunity to travel with North Carolina Baptist on Mission with a medical team to the transcarpathian region of Western Ukraine. Most people in this area are of Hungarian descent, where Hungarian is spoken along with Ukrainian. These people have opened their community to take in Internally Displaced Ukrainians from the eastern part of country, where they have fled from the war. Each trip I have taken has been to this region and we have partnered with Hungarian Baptist Aide providing medical care to these internally displaced people. While we did not see any of the infrastructure destruction of war, we did witness what war does to the people, emotionally, mentally and physically. And occasionally we heard air raid sirens, although no one seemed to pay any mind to them and would continue with whatever they were doing without even pausing.

I have been reflecting on the differences of each trip and the progression I have witnessed of the medical care needed, housing, and needs of IDP’s being provided for.

My first trip to Ukraine was in August 2022. We traveled to temporary shelters in schools, churches, even people’s houses where people were being housed. One day we actually worked out of the back of a truck and a van for pharmacy. Most of the cases were providing maintenance medications for people. Many people with high blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep disorders, which was not surprising considering what they were dealing with. Several people’s medical care had been interrupted by the war and we did what we could to provide some relief. One young lady had rheumatoid arthritis and our doctor could only provide temporary relief with joint injection. On this trip, we had a chaplain as part of our team and he was able to share the hope of Christ with many people. One of our clinic locations was in the baptist church where meals were prepared and served to the IDP’s. On the first day, in the afternoon after the meals were served and the kitchen was cleaned, one of the ladies came into the clinic where we had the pharmacy set up and began singing hymns. Of course she sang in Ukrainian but you could recognize the song by the music. The second day we were in this location, she once again came out in the afternoon and sang for us. She also invited us to come visit her in her home after the war was over. Her home in Odessa. I realized she was one of the IDP’s and she has such joy about her. When she sang, you could see in her face and hear in her voice her love and joy for the Lord. She was displaced but still serving the Lord by helping to prepare and serve meals to her fellow displaced citizens. A verse I wrote in my journal while on this mission: “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

My second and third trip were in the spring of 2023 when I returned on two separate medical teams. We once again went to locations where the internally displaced people were housed. Two locations were a school, one was in an industrial area, another in an office building, and two were in a conference center site. At the conference center sites, the children had a nice area to play outside, the people were able to use the kitchen facilities and prepare meals for the group, and it seemed an overall peaceful location. One particular clinic day stands out in my mind. The first lady to come to clinic was upset because her village was being bombed at that moment and her parents still lived there. The second lady was upset because she had lost here son a few weeks ago in the war. Another lady had lost her grandsons in the war. It seemed almost every patient was distraught and affected by the war. Several expressed sadness over the lose of their way of life. They had homes, businesses, families. And now it was gone. Many knew Russians were living in their homes or their home was no longer there because it had been bombed. Several people with chronic illnesses or medical problems that existed when the war began were having difficulty finding medical care because they were considered temporary residents. One day, we had over 60 patients and distributed over 240 medications. The day started out slow but after lunch our patients tripled. One of the translators said word spread that we were the “real deal”, not just handing out vitamins. There was a young man around 14 who came to clinic and his hands were soaked with sweat. The nurse who triaged him said it was like he had dunked his hands in a bucket of water. The doctor prescribed a beta blocker for the young man. He said it was a nervous condition that was causing the condition. One family we met with 4 young boys was from Mariupol. They had stayed throughout the fighting and had just recently left because the crime and lawlessness had gotten so bad. I can not begin to imagine all they had witnessed and how it will effect the children. As I prepared for this trip, the Lord gave me two verses to encourage me. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.” 1 Peter 4:11

This last team, we also had a construction team with our medical team. Baptist Aide has purchased a building a block from the city square in Berehove and is renovating it to be a ministry center. The construction team removed brick walls, old tile from floors, and removed debris piles from rooms. For 2 days, we held medical clinics on the second floor. One day, I had the privilege of talking with a lady who physically was fine but emotionally distressed. She had recently lost someone close to her in the war. I along with one of the nurse practitioners talked with her and I prayed for her. The translator said she was much calmer when she left than when she first arrived. On the second day of clinic, a lady came in who looked familiar. I asked Tony, one of the pastors and Baptist Aide workers about her. She was the lady who sang for us on my first trip to the area! When she came to the pharmacy, through the translator I told her I remembered her. He said she remembered me too! Two other days we traveled about an hour to another town where a storefront area had been rented where we set up clinic and the people came to our location. Many of the people were seeking refills on medications they were already on or seeking second opinions for diagnosis they had received from a local healthcare provider. This trip, I had the privilege of working with several people I have gotten to know on the previous trips and also met some new people. The story of one of our translators I had not met before was shared with me of how she walked for two weeks with her mother and grandmother from the eastern part of Ukraine to find shelter in the west. She told us that people are allowed to stay in shelters for three months. At the end of that time they either have to find another shelter to accept them or find a place to rent. Her shelter had one bathroom for over 20 people and many times you stood in line for 45 minutes or more just to use the toilet.

It was good to work with and spend time with friends made on previous trips, get to know others better, and make some new friends. Before traveling, I was a bit anxious because the world is a different place than it was six months ago. Not so much worried about going to Ukraine but the traveling part. But the Lord reassured me through His word.

The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you; because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

I do not know what my future holds for mission work. I am learning to not try to plan ahead but wait and see where the Lord sends me. I will readily return to Ukraine if the opportunity arises again. The Lord has given me a heart for the Ukrainian people. There is definitely a difference between watching war updates on the news and sitting across from someone hearing their story first hand and seeing on their faces the impact the war has had on their lives.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Recently I read a devotion centered on the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness when they cried out to God for daily provision of food. The point of the devotion was could they rely on God to be faithful daily, faithful for the small as well as the big. Could they depend on God to provide food? This same God who parted the Red Sea. But what occurred to me was the Israelites were probably not expecting manna from heaven. They were probably envisioning food similar to what they ate in Egypt, leeks and onions. Did God answer the cry and provide? Yes, but probably did not meet their expectation.

I recently experienced this. A few weeks ago, I prayed for safe travel to join my mission team to Moldova. Along the way, we experienced a flat tire while traveling through heavy traffic in pouring rain. I remember thinking why, I had asked for safe travel. And the Lord said, I did give you safe travel. When realized something was wrong, we were right at an exit where there was somewhere we could safely inspect the car and change the tire. There was also a place close by to hopefully repair tire. It was unrepairable but God also provided safe travel to my husband as he drove back home on the donut spare tire. My expectation of safe travel to Moldova also included uneventful travel as well. It was also not uneventful. We experienced several travel delays and I ended up traveling separate from the rest of the team. Was it safe travel? Yes, we all arrived safely.

How often do people miss God working on a mission trip because He does not meet their expectation? Were they anticipating doing particular thing, asked to do something else and were unwilling to be flexible? God is always working. But sometimes we miss out on it because He doesn’t show up like we expected.

The trip to Moldova had many surprises. I was anticipating supporting and ministering to Ukrainian refugees. I ended up staking trees on the grounds of the ministry center, which I was thrilled to do because I finally got to use my horticulture skills on mission. While not working directly with the refugees, my efforts will help create an inviting destination for many people in the future.

Our team was also invited to assist with a Samaritan’s Purse shoebox distribution. This was an exciting, unexpected opportunity. Just think, if we had not been flexible, we would have missed out on this rare opportunity.

And we had the opportunity to attend Will Graham’s Celebration, and witness God moving in the people of Moldova, and them responding to his call.

It was an amazing mission trip. Was it what I expected? No. But I did see the Lord working, and was a part of it because I was willing to be flexible.

Sometimes our journey following the path the Lord is leading us on does not turn out as expected. But that does not mean He isn’t in it.

On July 9, I left Asheville, NC for a mission trip to Moldova. The first leg of the journey was driving to Raleigh to meet up with the other four team members, which I had never met. It was rainy with storms. 55 miles out from Raleigh, we experienced a flat tire. My husband was a trooper, changing the tire in the rain and finding somewhere to hopefully repair it. Unfortunately, it was not repairable and he had to drive back to Asheville on the donut spare. Thankfully, he made it safely. Meanwhile, when I messaged team members what was happening, one of them offered to pick me up. Upon arriving at airport, we discover the flight has been delayed due to weather and staffing issues. We finally make it on a flight to our first destination, Boston, but too late to make connecting flight to Istanbul, Turkey. The following day was spent trying to get on the flight leaving July 10. There were plenty of seats available for Istanbul leg of trip but only four for Chișinău, Moldova. So the rest of the team left July 10 and I spent the night in Boston flying out tonight. Traveling by myself. I’m a bit nervous but know the Lord is with me. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

As I am waiting to continue my journey, I have been seeking the Lord and spending time with Him. I started by seeking His reassurances that I am going where He is leading and seeking peace. However, He showed me some lessons I needed to learn and be reminded of. Through a small devotional, God is like a Geyser, He spoke to me. The book begins by the story of waiting for Steamboat Geyser to erupt. It is the most spectacular geyser in Yellowstone National Park, but unpredictable and historically could go very long periods of time between eruptions. Like 20 years or more. Recently, it has begun to erupt more frequently. The book tells the story of a young man who sacrificed his days off as well as physical comforts to wait for an eruption. And he was rewarded by a spectacular performance! The author asked, “How many of us Christ-followers can say we’ve waited on God, honestly waited on God. Not waiting while you live your daily life, but a radical abandonment of everyday life in the hopes of seeing God, waiting in faith for a miracle.” Wow! That got my attention. I recognize that this time of being set on the sidelines to wait is what I needed. I needed God to call my attention to my sin of pride and self. My walk of missions is not about me. This lesson was for me, not the team. And I needed to repent before moving on, and turn my focus toward Jesus. As I am waiting for the next step in my journey (I am writing this while waiting in the Boston airport for my flight to Istanbul to join the team.), I reflect that I am waiting on God and waiting on something spectacular.

The second lesson He showed me is reminding me He is always faithful, but it may not happen like we expect or desire it to. To quote the devotion book, “ God’s people were hungry, thirsty, lost, and confused. They had been brought out of Egypt, a place of slavery, death, and imprisonment, but now they worried whether the God who delivered them out of Egypt would be faithful in keeping them alive in the dessert. The Israelites knew God could do amazing things, turning water into blood, parting the Red Sea, but unlike those miracles, feeding them wouldn’t be a one time miracle. It would be a consistent and faithful miracle. Was their God not just powerful but also faithful? Would He choose to show up time and time again?”. Well, He did and He did provide. As I was reading about the provision of manna, I thought, “ I bet He didn’t provide like they envisioned. Like they may have desired.” My mission trip so far has not turned out as I envisioned or desired but the Lord is definitely here and He is providing.

When our journey is not what we expected or envisioned, remember God is faithful and He will provide. Wait for Him. He may show up in a spectacular way! I am anticipating Him doing something spectacular in Moldova.

Have you ever considered short term mission trips as fasting for the Lord? Consider this:

The concept of a fast is to remove something from your everyday routine to focus on God. When you are serving on mission, you usually give up something whether it is a hot shower or flushing toilet or a simple as a favorite food or comfortable routine.

Isaiah 58:6-7 tells us the type of fast the Lord finds acceptable.

““Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.58.6-7.NIV

Is this not the type of work usually done on a mission trip?

I know for me, each trip I am called out of my comfort zone. The Lord asks me to stretch and I am relying on Him. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul reminds us the the Lord’s power is made perfect through our weakness. He goes on to say “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.4.11.NIV

Isaiah 58 goes on the tell us what God promises when we do an acceptable fast:

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:8-9, 11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.58.8-11.NIV

Through my hands on horticulture job, the Lord continually teaches me object lessons. Just the other day he showed me one. Since moving to western North Carolina, I have a goal of planting spring blooming bulbs the third week in November, the week before Thanksgiving. A story was shared with me about a year when a crew where I worked at the time had waited to pant and the ground froze before completing the task. It became a horrible muddy mess as they tried multiple ways to thaw the soil. I vowed to not have that happen to me. Hence, planting the third week of a November. Many years the soil temperatures were still a little warm for the recommended planting of spring bulbs but we would plant anyway. This year, as usual, my plan was to plant the third week of November. We had unseasonably warm weather and I knew the soil temperatures were more than likely mid sixties or higher. I was scheduled off the week of Thanksgiving so I felt like the third week would once again be ideal. The beginning of the week brought in unseasonably cold weather. Sunday, our high for the day of 45 degrees was early in the morning with temperatures dropping throughout the day into the 20’s by that night. Everyday that week the forecast was high temperatures in the low 40’s with lows in the 20’s. And rain on Tuesday. I was looking at the very real possibility of not making my goal or getting bulbs panted before the upper layer of soil froze. At the very least planting in miserable conditions – cold, windy days and cold, wet soil. As I contemplated this, the Lord brought to mind Proverbs 16:19:

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.16.9.NIV

I am reminded of how often we try to plan our lives – from as frequently as daily tasks to future plans like how and where to live, retire etc. We neglect the reality that we have no control. The Message translation of Proverbs 16:1 states:

“Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.16.1.MSG

James even writes in chapter 4 about the arrogance of planning your life.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.””
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.4.13-15.ESV

I don’t believe this means to not have goals or make plans but to hold them loosely.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.16.3.ESV

Seek the Lord first and foremost. Allow Him to direct the steps of your life. Otherwise He may just throw you a bribe ball. Like below normal temperatures on the week you plan to plant spring blooming bulbs to avoid freezing soils.

It’s Christmas time. A time of giving gifts. Recently I was reminded of the greatest gift given, and it is why we celebrate Christmas.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; … And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

While listening to someone read Psalms 103:4-5, my attention caught on verse 5 where it states that God satisfies our desires with good things. Which made me recall James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father”. Also, I recalled Matt. 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”. This is what made me think of Jesus as being the best gift of all.

One of the definitions for satisfy is “to fulfill the requirement of”. You see, when sin entered our lives through our disobedience to God, we earned death. Romans 6:23 states “for the wages of sin is death.” It goes on to say “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jehovah God, who satisfies (fulfills our requirement to him) us with good things, sent us His son Christ Jesus as a free gift for eternal life. Christ Jesus = the greatest gift of all.

Ephesians 2 tells us “we are all dead in our trespasses and sins “(verse 1). It goes on to define trespasses and sins as “gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts” (verse 3). Verses 4-5, “ But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” Christ Jesus = the greatest gift of all.

Just because you have a gift under the tree with your name on it, is it really yours until you receive it- open it and claim it? It is the same with the gift of salvation. It’s yours. It has your name on it. Your free gift. Romans 10:9 – 10 states “ if you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Remember, Matt. 7:11 states our Father God gives good gifts to those who ask. So ask for the greatest gift of all, Christ Jesus! And receive the free gift of eternal life.