Fires and Faith

Tonight is believed to be the longest and coldest night in Bolivia. It is the holiday of San Juan. All over Bolivia people will build fires, sing and eat by the fire, and be warm. Tomorrow morning, we'll awake to a fog so dense we won't be able to see out our windows, and the smoke will burn our eyes for days. Even though it is prohibited now to build these fires, still the tradition continues. Not even the threat of being fined stops the tradition.

In a small town tucked away in the lowlands, this holiday began centuries ago. The town was founded by a Jesuit priest. It was here that the town celebrated their Patron Saint San Juan (John the Baptist) and named a church in his honor. Every year thousands flock to this town to walk over hot coals. They believe only their faith will enable them to firewalk, because without faith they will burn from this earthly fire.

Thankfully, by faith, I'm saved from the eternal fire through His Son. God's promise in Isaiah 43 says He protects me from all the fires of life and from the fires of the afterlife.

How many still trust in traditions rather than the Savior tonight? This holiday we can see believers going to our churches where they will celebrate being saved from eternal fire. However, many outside still sit by their fires and walk on hot coals. We have Good News for them––they can be saved from the eternal hot coals by faith in Christ.

Don't Drop Our Hands

Moses was tired. They sat him on a rock. They held up his hands. When his hands were lowered they were losing the battle, but with the help of Aaron and Hun to hold up his hands, the battle was being won.

We are winning the battle. The enemy is being defeated. Through sickness, political problems, paperwork expenses and hospital bills, we see God working. He is providing and holding us up through the prayers of His people. In the last two months, we have come under attack in many ways. But, even the strongest hands eventually fail. Chuck's illness has required two hospital trips, and our paperwork problems are still not finished. Our hands are tired, but our God is holding us up with the help of His people. Moses, a man of God, was glad for help. We are too!

Last Saturday Chuck's pain was so intense it was unbearable. The doctor had just prescribed more pain medication that wasn't working. It's difficult to watch a spouse suffer. What to do next? We called for the elders of our city church to come and pray. They prayed and anointed him with oil, as it says in James 5:14. That night the pain intensified––it was necessary to admit him again to the clinic. Had God not answered? Yes, He answered. It was His answer to get help. Within a few days, a specialist was brought in, and the beginning of healing was evident. God's people are holding up his hands and mine. God is answering prayers––enabling us to be steady till the going down of the sun.

We can sing through the battle, because we are seated on the Rock, and our hands are being held high.

Psalm 98:1 "Oh, sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things; his right hand, and his holy arm, have gotten him the victory."

Returning Refreshment

Fantasy or reality? You wake up to find yourself in this fantasy scene––enjoying the sounds and sights of nature. Relaxed and refreshed. Is it a dream? 

You see the waterfall. The flow of the water trickles across the rocks and bubbles into the lake––a soothing sound. The condor flaps its wings in the gentle wind as the setting sun warms your face before it is gone for the night. You pick a yellow daffodil, and your nostrils inhale the delightful fragrance. Then you reach out and touch the sweet lamb. His soft white wool caresses your hands, and he gently tickles your fingers with his kisses. You bend down and catch a glimpse of your reflection in the crystal blue water.  A sip of the sweet water quenches your thirst. You are refreshed!

A friend can do just that for you––refresh you. A note from a friend says I love you, and I'm thinking of you. Someones says, "I'm praying for you." A child hands you a flower and your heart melts. A sincere thank you for an unselfish act you performed gives you the warm fuzzies. 

 Proverbs 11:25b "he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." It's reality!

Faithful Feathers

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart.

(Psalms 91:3-5 NIV)

I was standing at the kitchen window washing dishes. I'd just arrived home from the clinic and hadn't slept but a fews hours the night before. I could have used a nap, but instead I started  to make a pizza.

Chuck was improving in the clinic and finally had an appetite. I decided to surprise him with a pizza when I returned to visit that evening. While working at the window, I lifted my eyes to the mountain behind our house. Two birds sat perched on the rocks almost at the top of the mountain. They were huge. They had to be condors I thought, and ran to get the binoculars. There on the rocks sat two condors sunning themselves. What an unusual and majestic sighting! Even more unusual to see two condors together.

 As I stood there in amazement of the beautiful birds, they spread their wings. They must have had a wing span of at least ten feet. It turned into an awesome site. They stood with their wings spread for at least 3 minutes. It was a spectacular show that was straight from God. He was saying to me,"I have you covered with my feathers." And He even sent two condors, one for each of us; as if to say, "I have you both covered."

I looked up the mountain at just the right time. No, it was God's perfect timing to have those birds there for me just then. Yes, His timing is perfect.

Even though this is a difficult time for us, with sickness and political problems, we see God. He shows himself to us. He used His awesome condors to say to me, "Here I am, and I have you covered with my feathers and you have refuge under my wings." His faithfulness will get us through the hard times and be our shield and our rampart. We are covered with His feathers and under His wings. What a restful and safe place to be! He sent me huge birds to remind me of His Faithful Feathers and Protective Wings.

Birthday Blessings

'Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!' (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

I was upstairs at my computer this morning, deep in my thoughts when I heard something strange downstairs. Chuck sat at his computer preparing a lesson in Spanish. "What's that noise?" "I guess it's Juan," he answered.

Juan called from downstairs and we told him to come upstairs. No one came. I heard whispering and called again. Then the Rumi Rancho staff  jumped out from the stairway to surprise me––shouting Happy Birthday.

Juan, Amelia, Pablo and Nathaly and the kids, surprised me with a cake, gifts, and their presence on my birthday. I had calls and emails, I was blessed by all.

It's a wonderful thing to know you are loved. Best of all, I know God loves me and gave me the best gift of all..."but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Happy Horse

Rocky didn't know it, but he was about to lose his wonderful home in the mountains of Bolivia. We were looking for a pony for our ministry with kids. God brought us together, and God spared Rocky from whatever happens to a Bolivian horse who isn't wanted anymore.

I'm so thankful we found a horse who could have been lost forever. He's brought smiles to faces of many kids. There is something tranquilizing about the beauty of a horse––petting him, smelling his scent, and feeling his brisk mane. And oh, those snorts, so calming to the soul.

When I am so busy I think I can't do one more thing––I do one more thing. I take a walk, see Rocky, and my soul rejoices. God's beautiful creation reminds me of His love and power. His love, because He thought to create a beautiful animal to give us pleasure––He thought of us. His power because He speaks and creates life––His power to do anything.

Rocky doesn't have to worry about his next meal, if he has water, or if he has a warm coat to wear in the winter. We take care of him, he has a wonderful life free of worry and stress. By the way, he knows it.

When I'm so busy and I find a rope, I go looking for my horse––he's not lost, he's just waiting for me to come find him. He misses me when I am too busy for him.

God misses us when we are too busy to spend time with Him. He sends us a rope to remind us to look for Him. When God sends you a rope, go look for Him––He's waiting. He's never too busy for you.

When I find a rope, I go look for my lonely (not lost) horse
––and there I find God waiting!

Deuteronomy 4:29 "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, 

you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Big Kids and Old Kids

 And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; 

I will make him a helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18

Monday nights here in Rumi Rancho are nights of laughs, lessons and love with our "Big Kids". Our ministry is dedicated to kids, teaching practical skills and Bible to underprivileged kids in the rural area where we live. But at what age do we stop teaching those who need Christ and help for their daily lives? Our vision is to never stop teaching those who need the Savior––no matter what the age of the "kids". Our age limit is birth to death.

God burdened us for a group of young couples here in the area. These young marrieds grew up with us. Most of them were in our computer classes and our youth group here in the church. The girls, now young ladies, were in my baking classes. As time marched on they married, had babies, and grew away from church and us.

In recent years, we have seen divorce rates begin to go up in Bolivia. They are not at 50% as in other parts of the world, but the trend is beginning here too. We know the time is now to begin teaching and helping these couples, before they reach a point of no return in their marriage. They are still kids to us!

It is never too late to save a marriage. We know all things are possible with God. Some of these couples are already working on problems and recommitting their lives to the Lord. Others are close to accepting Christ as Savior.

They are our "Big Kids" now, and we are the "Old Kids" teaching them. But we are all God's Kids, daily needing His help to have a marriage that will glorify Him. It isn't easy, but it is possible! For those of us blessed to have a spouse, let's work at our marriage every day, so we can grow old together, and cuddle under a quilt with each other, not alone.

 "And now abideth faith, hope and love, these three;

 but the greatest of these is love." First Corinthians 13:13