tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59532990911655586922024-03-13T01:24:35.894+01:00Overcoming...in FranceFollowing the Lord's footsteps...one day at a time...in Francesusan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-61771739250218083622016-12-05T06:04:00.000+01:002016-12-05T06:04:26.247+01:00Journeying...Home<h3>
"And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city." Luke 2:3</h3>
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Day Five, of the journey to Bethlehem...</div>
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As a missionary wife, one of the questions that I have learned to dread is, "Where are you from?"</div>
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(By the way, it's a sneaky question for my kids as well. If we have an occasion to meet in the US on furlough, please don't ask them this. Blank stares invariably follow.)</div>
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As someone with an obvious accent in my French, it's an inevitable question. Many times people are just curious. They know that I'm not "from around these parts," and they are trying to "figure me out." Other times, this question is met with veiled hostility. People want to know where I'm from, so they can launch into a diatribe of all the ills of my "home" country. </div>
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(You don't have to lecture me, by the way. I know my country is messed up. France is pretty messy at times, too.)</div>
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I knew when I left my country in March 2000 to come and live and work and minister in France, I would have to accept the role of a foreigner. Most of the time, that's okay. At least, now it's okay. When I first arrived, I was a hot mess. Doing what God calls me to do requires me to change locations, and accept that my "differentness" is inevitable. </div>
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As I was re-reading the passage in Luke 2 this morning, I was thinking about Joseph and Mary and the reason behind their journeying. </div>
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"And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city." Luke 2:3</h3>
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This verse made me scratch my head a little. After all, Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. I don't know if Joseph had ever lived in Bethlehem. He certainly wasn't when the time came for the Roman census. Yet, because of his family birthright and tribal heritage, he was undertaking a long journey to return...to his "own city," because that is where his family line came from. It was his identity: "because he was of the house and lineage of David." (Luke 2:4)</div>
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Even though Joseph lived in a different place, he had a connection to the city of Bethlehem because of his relationship, however distant in the past, to king David who had lived there many centuries before. He could claim Bethlehem as "his," not through any merit of his own, but because of being born into the king's family.</div>
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Joseph was a prince. A prince many times removed, perhaps, but a prince nonetheless.</div>
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This verse was a great encouragement for me today. No matter how far I am from my "earthly home," I can realize that the area where I was born, was not really my home, either. I'm journeying in this life towards my "home," because of my spiritual birthright. I can claim heaven as my home, not from any merit or worth on my part, but because God adopted me into His family. I am His child, His "princess," if you will, and like Abraham, I am looking "...for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:10).</div>
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No matter where we are today, whether we live close to home or on the other side of the globe, may God encourage us today as we remember that we are His children, and that we are merely journeying through this life, on the way home. May this truth comfort us as we enter the holiday season. It's never easy to be separated by distance from the ones we love, but at times it is very necessary. </div>
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One day we will be in our heavenly home, and will look back on our present lives, so thankful that we made the journey. Until then, let us make the place where we are living today resemble as much as possible to our final destination.</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-37429927828850122982016-12-03T05:40:00.001+01:002016-12-03T05:40:35.070+01:00The Journey of the King<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
"And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33</h3>
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Day three of the journey to Bethlehem...<br />
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God uses the most unlikely of circumstances, to accomplish His will...</div>
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For thousands of years, the Jewish people had been awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises to them as a people. Israel as a nation had been all but wiped from the map...almost...on several different occasions. The Romans that now occupied their land were just another people group in a long list of nations that conquered and would conquer the land where the Saviour was to be born.</div>
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Now the Romans were in charge, and like the many nations that rose before them, they never dreamed that their empire would be so short lived, and yet so important in the eternal plan that God was unfolding for humanity's salvation.</div>
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As Joseph and Mary approached Tiberias, the city that was built around the time of Christ as a celebration of the Roman occupation in Israel, and gazed upon the foundations* of the impressive palace that was constructed there, I cannot help but wonder if Mary rehearsed the words of the angel in her heart:</div>
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"And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33</h3>
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All of the "might" of Rome could not overcome the plan that God had set in motion from the very beginning of Creation. From the foundations of the world, God had already been orchestrating all of human history, to the day when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient walls of Tiberias, from carta-jerusalem.com</td></tr>
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<b>The Romans ruled over a limited territory, but God rules over all Creation. </b> It's so easy to lose sight of this, when the world around us seems so real, and governments literally rule over every aspect of our lives, to remember who is really in control. The taxation required by Caesar Augustus was that "all the world should be taxed." (Luke 2:1) For the Romans, their territory WAS the whole world, because it "belonged" to them. The Roman rule however was limited in size, in strength and in time. Only God rules over all Creation, all of the time.</div>
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May we be reminded that the rulers that are over us exercise their power in a limited frame. One day every ruler, just like each one of us, will stand before God and give an account of the time and resources entrusted by God. May we also be reminded to pray for those in leadership roles, whether or not we always agree with their policies. Every man and woman in a position of authority has an eternal soul.</div>
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<b>The Romans ruled over an enslaved people, but God's rule would set all men free. </b>The baby growing inside Mary's womb would not just be a Jewish king. Yes, Jesus fulfilled all the promises for the just king that was promised to the house and lineage of David, but Jesus also by His death and ressurrection procured eternal life and liberty for all mankind. His rule would know no boundaries--all nations would be made free, if they believed on Him.<br />
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May God help me this Christmas season to enlarge my vision to see the nations around me that so desperately need Christ. May I invest my time this year in sharing the marvellous message of the freedom that Christ bought at so great a price to Himself.</div>
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<b>The Romans ruled for a time, but God's rule is for all times. </b>At this time in human history, the Roman Empire was at its apex. It was just a matter of "time" before the Roman rule would decline and eventually fade in its influence. Such is the nature of human politics: the decline of one empire, gives birth to another. (This is a cautionary tale to those of us who live in "influential" nations: our time is numbered, as well.) <br />
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Mary received the promise: "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob <b>forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.</b>" (Luke 1:33) Mary knew even before she held her baby, that His coming would literally influence the entire world. His reign would last forever, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. May this thought be in the forefront of my mind as well, this Christmas season. Kings will come and kings will go, but Jesus's reign will never end. May this be the motivation I need in this busy season to tell others about Christ. This world will end, but Jesus's kingdom will not.<br />
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As Joseph and Mary passed by the palace of the temporal rulers and kings, I cannot help but wonder if Mary put her hand across her belly a little tighter, and stepped a little faster. Such a hostile world for a baby King to be born into, and yet, His reign was coming.<br />
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May God help me to be mindful of His reign, as I live and work today.<br />
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*The city of Tiberias is listed as being constructed around 20 AD, so there were at least the beginnings of the city when Joseph and Mary passed by, even if the city and fortress were not entirely completed. This was the palace of Herod Antipas, who ruled after Herod the Great as ruler over the Jews.</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-87823761561930526872016-12-02T06:09:00.000+01:002016-12-02T06:09:30.346+01:00Why Me? Why Now?<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed...And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." Luke 2:1-5</h3>
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Day two of the Journey to Bethlehem...</div>
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It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For Joseph and Mary, that journey began...with the step of obedience.</div>
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I think that many of us, if we had been in Mary's shoes, would have cried, "Foul!" She had already surrendered her body, her reputation, her life's choices, to bear the child that would become the Saviour of humanity! She could have said, "I've already given enough! I've already sacrificed enough for the Lord! I'm staying put until this baby is born."</div>
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How many times have similar thoughts echoed in my brain: "I'm already a missionary! I've already left my home, and everything that was familiar and dear to me, to go to a strange place and be treated as a foreigner. I've already made sacrifices! I've already changed so much to be faithful to your calling. I don't want to..." insert latest challenge here.</div>
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The Bible is silent on Joseph's and Mary's reaction to this decree to leave home and family and make the long trek to Bethlehem. Maybe there was a visit from an angel to calm their troubled minds. Maybe they had some knowledge about God's Son being born in Bethlehem.</div>
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Or maybe...they were just obedient. The Roman leaders of the day told them they must journey, and so they did. They reasoned that God had a plan, and that He would take care of them, if they trusted Him to make the journey.</div>
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A few thoughts about Joseph and Mary's obedience to God's calling:</div>
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<b>Joseph's and Mary's obedience fulfilled prophecy. </b> By leaving Nazareth and going to Bethlehem, Micah 5:2 was fulfilled. God's promise came forth, at just the right time and at just the right place. </div>
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I wonder how many times my lack of obedience to God's calling has prevented God's work from being accomplished in just the right time, in the right place, in the right way. Maybe I repented, and went later, but by that time, an opportunity was lost, and I missed the chance to participate fully in God's plan for my life.</div>
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May I be willing to surrender my desires to be an obedient servant today.</div>
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<b>Joseph and Mary's obedience required sacrifice.</b> The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem would never have been an easy one. Ninety miles was a long trip. It demanded preparation, and even sacrifice, physically and financially, to embark on such a journey. Plans had to be made. Supplies had to be gathered. Schedules had to be cleared. And there was this little thing about Mary being nine months pregnant that had to be taken in account.</div>
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I wonder...would I have been willing to make the same sacrifices? Am I willing to give up my comforts, my plans, my desires for today...to be obedient to God?</div>
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<b>Joseph and Mary's obedience...brought salvation to us all.</b> The Saviour was to be born in Bethlehem. Nathanael's words, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" reflected the views of the times: the hopes of the Jews were not in the north, but in the area around David's city, and the light that was foretold to come and shine there. </div>
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I think it unwise to speculate on Bible events: "What if Mary had stayed put and said no? Would God have done a miracle to get Jesus to Bethlehem to be born?" God in His perfect knowledge and wisdom knew that Joseph and Mary would go to Bethlehem, even before Mary accepted her calling as the earthly mother of Jesus. For this reason, her acceptance--"Behold the handmaid of the Lord"--was indeed a big one. Little did she know, at the time, all that God would require of her, to be obedient to His will.</div>
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Because of their obedience, however, God's Son was born in the right time, in the right place, in the right way. And because of their obedience, salvation from sin came to all humanity. Their obedience was not a "little thing." Their obedience brought hope to the entire world.</div>
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I am so glad that I did not know, when I first said, "Yes," to the Lord, all the steps that my journey with Him would require. I'm thankful that with each step I take, God is faithful, and gives me the grace and strength to make each one with Him. Only at the end of this life, when I have finished my course, will I be able to look back and see God's leading every step of the way. </div>
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May God help me to be obedient in this day, in whatever He calls me to do. I have no idea how the decisions I make today will influence the lives of those around me, some of them for all eternity. </div>
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What is God calling you to do today? Will you step out in faith, to be obedient to His call? </div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-60061510454642334542016-12-01T10:08:00.000+01:002016-12-02T05:22:08.703+01:00Behold, the handmaid of the Lord...<h3>
"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word...." Luke 1:38</h3>
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Day one, of a long journey...</div>
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This month, as part of a fitness group that I host with other missionary ladies, we have accepted a challenge. In preparing for a Bible study for Christmas, I learned that Joseph and Mary had to travel between 80-90 miles on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. As part of our fitness challenge for this month, we have agreed to walk, jog, run or bike our fitness journey in remembrance of the trek that Joseph and Mary travelled. In preparation for this Christmas season, I wanted to think more about this trip that they undertook, but more importantly, why this trip was so important.</div>
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As a missionary wife, I do a lot of travelling. There are many aspects of travelling that I enjoy. I love discovering new places, meeting new people, sharing stories with other missionary families, and creating bonds with strangers that last for a lifetime. When people asked me as a missionary on deputation or on furlough how I handled all the travelling, I would shrug my shoulders. It was just part of the life that I have been given. As a missionary, we travel.</div>
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There are other days, however, when it's "mission conference season," and I've been on the road for a month at a time, and I haven't slept in a real bed for three weeks, and I'm living on top on my family in a stranger's house, with no privacy except for those isolated minutes locked in the bathroom...that travelling is "less fun." At these moments, I have to dig deep, and ask myself the question:</div>
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"Why am I doing this again?"</div>
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There was a time in my life, at the age of 13, when I said "yes," to a life-long journey with Jesus. My life was empty and I was heading down a road that took me further and further away from God and His plan for my life. I received God's incredible gift of love, and gave my life to Him to be used as He saw fit. From the moment that I said, "yes" to the Lord, I began the journey of turning over my life to Him. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime decision (although it begins that way), but it is a daily surrender, a daily commitment to take the hands off of the steering wheel of my life, and let God have control.</div>
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It's not easy. There are days, many days, when I don't want to let Him take control.</div>
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This morning I was supposed to begin this month-long journey thinking about the road to Christ's birth. I got off to a rough start. I had gone to bed at 7 pm on Wednesday, too exhausted to even see my kids to bed. I woke up at 4 am to a splitting headache, so I went to get some Tylenol and crawled back under the covers. I overslept, which meant that everyone was rushed as they were getting ready for school, everyone except for my youngest who had a rough night and woke up sick. On top of all this were laundry, dishes and a million and one other unfinished tasks that greeted my morning.</div>
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After getting everyone settled for this morning, and getting the first tasks started, I sat down with my Bible in hand. I had so wanted this month's "journey to Bethlehem" to get off to a good start. I was having one of those, "Why am I doing this again?" mornings.</div>
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I began to read in Luke 1, the beginning of my Christmas readings for this month, and marvelled again at Mary, and her willing surrender to God. Hers was a very special journey, which began months before, when she said "Yes," to God. Her response to the angel spoke very quietly to my heart today...<br />
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"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word...." Luke 1:38</h3>
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It was the "why" of my journey for today. Why do I get up, and get going, and do the things that God has put on my plate for today? It is because I said, "yes," to God. There may be days when I don't "feel like it," when the daily tasks overwhelm me and I just want to return to bed, that God reminds me of all He has done for me, and the commitment I made to Him many years ago, as I surrendered my days to Him. </div>
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During this month, as I enter into the busy-ness of this Christmas season, and all that needs to be done, may the Lord remind me to "get out of the way," and remember anew the day when the Lord called me, and I answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord..." May I surrender my wants and plans today to be used as a willing instrument in God's hands. As I begin the journey to Bethlehem, may I take each step with the thought of walking faithfully in the way that God has called me today.</div>
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What has God called you to today? Can you answer with Mary, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord?..."</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-29483935544378628702016-11-02T08:42:00.000+01:002016-11-02T08:43:38.471+01:00November Bible Discovery Club: A Festival of Lights<h3>
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8</h3>
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Good morning, praying friends!<br />
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Halloween is a relatively recent phenomenon here in France. For many years the French people in general resisted the idea of Halloween as being an American, commercialized holiday, and since those two ideas are very much disliked in France, Halloween was not celebrated much at all.</div>
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Over the past few years, with the explosion of American television programs (and the Internet), Halloween is acknowledged more and more. The first years we were here, we never had trick or treaters. This year, we had over thirty that came to our house, with their demands, "Des bonbons ou des farces!" (Roughly translated, "Candy or a prank!")</div>
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While the origins of Halloween are usually associated with American materialism, the darker side of Halloween is usually ignored. This year, we decided to hold one of our November clubs on October 31st, to address the subject of Halloween from a Christian perspective. Instead of Halloween, we celebrated a "Festival of Light" (La Fête de la Lumière), reminding our children that God is the God of light, and not of darkness.</div>
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Our children have been very faithful to attend club! We praise the Lord for another opportunity to share God's message of light with them!</div>
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At the beginning of the club, we explained why as Christians we do not celebrate Halloween. We placed pairs of words on the white board (light/darkness, life/death, peace/fear, truth/magic, God/Satan) on the board. We asked the children which words they associated with Halloween. Then we asked them which words they associated with God. </div>
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(This simple game reminded me of Paul's words, "...And what communion hath light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14 These children were able to see the distinction between the things of God and the things of the world. May God help me to be careful in my life to stay as far away from the darkness as I can, and walk in the light.)</div>
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The story for today was about the demoniac at Gedara, and how Jesus saved him from that terrible darkness, so that he could walk in the light. Explaining demon possession to very impressionable (and ignorant) children is always delicate, but the Lord gave grace and the children listened well. </div>
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For a craft, we decorated glass jars with autumn-colored crepe paper, with a candle inside to remind them of Jesus our Light who lives within us.</div>
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Our children always enjoy snack time, and I am always amazed at how much they eat! Damaris made American cinnamon rolls and white chocolate popcorn. Yummy!</div>
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As always, game time is a favorite time for our young people. Since it was still warm and pretty out, we took our games outside and did an obstacle course...blindfolded, with a guide. We reminded them how much easier it is to go through life with the light...and with a guide.</div>
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Thanks so much for your prayers for our clubs! See you soon!</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-54211562131560390092016-08-27T05:38:00.003+02:002016-08-27T05:38:34.161+02:00August Blessings and Burdens<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country..." Proverbs 25:25</b></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-US">Dear Co-laborers
and friends,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "harlow solid italic"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Vacation? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">Summer months are usually tied
with the idea of vacation time. Even
though it is true that our children are out of school, the ministry never
stops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">We did have the opportunity
and privilege to go to the south of France in July to attend to the camp we
have been ministering in since arriving in France in 2000. Last year the camp went from being a youth
camp to a family camp for the first time and two people got saved, including
one boy who followed the Lord in baptism when he got back to his local
church. Even though we were only but a
handful this year, my family and I enjoyed this camp and we praise the Lord for
His safety and provision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">Does this mean that
missionaries never have any vacations?
We do, just not necessarily as would a “non-missionary” family. We make sure we have family time, go for
walks, visit things that are close by and just try to relax together and enjoy
each other’s company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "harlow solid italic"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Still working!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">Mission’s work is never done
and there is always more that needs to be done than we can ever finish.
Everywhere we look we see needs and people who need the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">Susan recently met a lady
named Dominique, and she has accepted to go on bike rides with Susan. Please pray that this will be an open door
for future conversations on salvation. We also had an older couple who came to
our Sunday morning service. They attend
a Reformed church in town but were curious as to who we were – they had
received one of our tracts in the mail box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">There’s also another younger
couple with the two children we’ve been meeting with. The Lawsons were in French-speaking Quebec
before moving to France and we have enjoyed helping them with some of their
needs. Susan and our coworker’s wife,
Damaris, will be having ladies meetings with Mrs. Lawson starting this month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif";">Thank you for your faithful
prayers and support throughout the summer!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Servants of
Christ,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Carey &
Susan Abbett</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-518639628461567392016-04-17T07:40:00.002+02:002016-04-17T07:40:53.063+02:00Spring Family Camp 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_sFBQcrHc18SBBiHgcqs6u3Uuq76E8gjbcPcxGICM9n56-gHnLBwCN7xmWTNkTInPjx8YRvQV6Q_GrC0LcPCn4yZ33wjj7T4cBke1luFNUvPObQDQPxa8PNx2fc1fVvtAdLv8rCBp6c/s1600/family1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_sFBQcrHc18SBBiHgcqs6u3Uuq76E8gjbcPcxGICM9n56-gHnLBwCN7xmWTNkTInPjx8YRvQV6Q_GrC0LcPCn4yZ33wjj7T4cBke1luFNUvPObQDQPxa8PNx2fc1fVvtAdLv8rCBp6c/s320/family1.jpg" width="320" /></a>If you've been wondering where I have been, so have I! Life attacks at random moments, and it's either feast or famine with the work here. Everything seems to happen at once! Thankful for springtime and being able to get back outside with family and friends. Here's to the final stretch until the end of school and the beginning of summer!<br />
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We returned Friday from our annual family camp in Belgium. This camp joins several churches ministering here in France and although the location and ages have changed, this camp has been active for 30+ years! This year we were celebrating 10 years "at the castle" in Belgium, where we have been enjoying this special family camp! So many good memories throughout the years!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8MJuKTEq39cijZLA40iEV219e57lNY8WVMVF-Nu5n9hZte1MF2dTyFI9OsC8jZ81XcaqzC6KZmIRT_o4WodkfOtYLFBY4rmNXu9ct8lAdKG9y_1V1swTvCK5sJDIVgxs3NrPwpN6nKk/s1600/castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8MJuKTEq39cijZLA40iEV219e57lNY8WVMVF-Nu5n9hZte1MF2dTyFI9OsC8jZ81XcaqzC6KZmIRT_o4WodkfOtYLFBY4rmNXu9ct8lAdKG9y_1V1swTvCK5sJDIVgxs3NrPwpN6nKk/s320/castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The castle," our restored meeting place in Belgium</td></tr>
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This year's theme for children and adults was on the armour of God, and spiritual warfare! As you can imagine this was a popular theme for the kids, and a very unpopular one for Satan! He fought us hard this week, with lots of unplanned issues and difficulties. We can see the Lord's hand working as we fellowshipped and ministered to each other. Here are some of the highlights of the kids' ministry from this week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE2QyOjPE-_SLBql0eYTJkpp2agrCEi-hFH21q0Vz7_-c9fW_ZZF5ZaKXMs3DH66sCIAzGDDloNqiXW16DLMmLmPsfQ9qS6qwHH79XzLWmnEZDRzuXxPpyIoa-auor6F3kkN1CJeoQnA/s1600/suzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE2QyOjPE-_SLBql0eYTJkpp2agrCEi-hFH21q0Vz7_-c9fW_ZZF5ZaKXMs3DH66sCIAzGDDloNqiXW16DLMmLmPsfQ9qS6qwHH79XzLWmnEZDRzuXxPpyIoa-auor6F3kkN1CJeoQnA/s320/suzy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our good friends Sam and Suzy did a great job with the kids this week!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4bZj6_LKwTkZ2l0Qyo3vHcxj57aWUQnIUQKltPUHbyZoOeCrr0Jn3LxxJuRrMja68oK2xg1Nn3a7vgUp43fVQtdwjZqNLxcO-6slUG1UYhyphenhyphenA2oqq3h1nC0Dr2_c_EsTqsjav4MFHQUM/s1600/bows+and+arrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4bZj6_LKwTkZ2l0Qyo3vHcxj57aWUQnIUQKltPUHbyZoOeCrr0Jn3LxxJuRrMja68oK2xg1Nn3a7vgUp43fVQtdwjZqNLxcO-6slUG1UYhyphenhyphenA2oqq3h1nC0Dr2_c_EsTqsjav4MFHQUM/s320/bows+and+arrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids made their own bows and arrows!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcSrnYWwmKtYwalZLDd7ORqOOSEE_Lwym_-nR856Nv2RYP47pon2wepPJOFnB6-YwgVSXtMg7Ex0y90kiuxkhSK7Kqi4l4kWfalcWSaAd8C4jkKW_qH88ZIE1CMmgahkNvZtnU9rcrSg/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcSrnYWwmKtYwalZLDd7ORqOOSEE_Lwym_-nR856Nv2RYP47pon2wepPJOFnB6-YwgVSXtMg7Ex0y90kiuxkhSK7Kqi4l4kWfalcWSaAd8C4jkKW_qH88ZIE1CMmgahkNvZtnU9rcrSg/s320/painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting the shield of faith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-owZ87UpxJt16MW7cNXL7MUOEjDTzv9uDSgEQMBcRWNL16e0nm5y73XrRxt14jClo0qPbddRWXW-wT1_fy460AAMbZyeOACu1iEN14v6bXC-7pwdm9wRKJbQLNqRtBqHTM1mnLTaBaJE/s1600/sack+race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-owZ87UpxJt16MW7cNXL7MUOEjDTzv9uDSgEQMBcRWNL16e0nm5y73XrRxt14jClo0qPbddRWXW-wT1_fy460AAMbZyeOACu1iEN14v6bXC-7pwdm9wRKJbQLNqRtBqHTM1mnLTaBaJE/s320/sack+race.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sack race! Old games are the best!</td></tr>
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We had a great time and came home both refreshed and tired from all the activity! Many thanks to all the people and their hard work that was invested for eternity during this week!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy, who taught the adult lessons on spiritual warfare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m7ttG_unQCjegUptvzph_-kZRg-4_lcCM2IaBkF4EW-dCx_ZSs2-29UzC5XHGyeVgyxXD_GhHCgsDkaooDU7uwXGZq0cJBW7eq5mBJz6mZQjfHJpJrIqq3gULEv-PqYylj55tTB6sMQ/s1600/carey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m7ttG_unQCjegUptvzph_-kZRg-4_lcCM2IaBkF4EW-dCx_ZSs2-29UzC5XHGyeVgyxXD_GhHCgsDkaooDU7uwXGZq0cJBW7eq5mBJz6mZQjfHJpJrIqq3gULEv-PqYylj55tTB6sMQ/s320/carey.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hubby, working hard as always<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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It's always hard at the end of camp to say goodbye to our friends, both new and old, some of whom we only get to see during this one week out of the year! We love and miss our faithful workers in France! It will make heaven that much sweeter...no more goodbyes!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Until next year!</div>
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<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-70854278318058048002016-03-20T06:25:00.000+01:002016-03-20T06:28:37.821+01:00It's Not Fair! Bible Club March 2016<h3>
"But God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdzMSu32FJRGx2VJqe8x3RAUFTzoLg3zhYQVPHGXJoNaNy-kIo2WXLTM47dY8YMrEZhLhjHvbhORSgh7l-XLZBEDwFDqZ2t_bfLgnERAn_1c98kbegafb1NtK3CDs0d-V_M8XNhlqe9M/s1600/club+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdzMSu32FJRGx2VJqe8x3RAUFTzoLg3zhYQVPHGXJoNaNy-kIo2WXLTM47dY8YMrEZhLhjHvbhORSgh7l-XLZBEDwFDqZ2t_bfLgnERAn_1c98kbegafb1NtK3CDs0d-V_M8XNhlqe9M/s320/club+5.jpg" width="180" /></a>It's been a while since we've had a Bible club update, and with Easter Sunday coming up soon, this past Saturday we had our Easter club! As always, so thankful for the children who show up, and another occasion to share God's good news with the children in our neighborhoods here in France.<br />
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Since we have our children (who know a lot about the Easter story) and French children (who know very little about the Easter story), it is always a challenge to find a common thread that will help them both. <br />
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This year, I had some help, from an issue that pops up periodically in discussions with my family, and maybe in yours. With more than one child, comes the inevitable thought: "It's not fair!" Since we have been battling this issue as of late with our own children, it got me thinking about the Easter story. I am so glad that Jesus was willing to be treated unfairly, to take my place on the cross, and die for my sins, aren't you?<br />
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I had some help with the lesson ideas, especially the object lesson about being treated fairly. (To see the original source for this idea, click <a href="http://teach-from-the-heart.blogspot.fr/2012/03/flashback-to-third-is-this-fair.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) The children had to imagine a hurt somewhere on their body, and since our daughter said that her hurt was on her hand, she got a Band-aid on her hand. Then, everyone who said they were hurt, no matter where on their body it was, got a Band-aid on their hand. It was a good visual to tell the children that although they were all treated the same, it wasn't "fair." <br />
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This led us to our lesson, about the two thieves and Jesus dying on the cross, and about grace and mercy. The thieves were being punished justly for their crimes, and deserved to be there. Jesus was not treated fairly, but because of His unfair treatment, we are able to go to heaven, just like one of the thieves on the cross, who obtained grace (receiving what he did not deserve) and mercy (not receiving what he did deserve) from God. <br />
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The children listened very well, and I hope it will be a lesson they will not soon forget.<br />
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Damaris helped the children to make "Ressurrection cookies," made from crescent roll dough with a marshmallow inside. When baked, the marshmallow melts, leaving a hollow space inside the cookie, to represent the empty tomb. As always, our kids enjoy anything that they can eat!<br />
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A special thanks to all of you who pray for our clubs! We are so thankful for each opportunity the Lord gives us to share the good news with these children!<br />
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See you in a few weeks for our next club update!susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-85439808891180471342016-03-10T10:14:00.000+01:002016-03-10T13:11:10.764+01:00What Jezebel and the widow had in common<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 33.6px; text-align: center;">“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Romans 12:13</span><br />
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Good morning, dear friends,<br />
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As a young Christian, I had some very good role models in the faith. I have already mentioned them here several times in my blog posts. They by their very example shaped many aspects of living out God's faith in my daily walk with the Lord.<br />
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These same friends had a very insistent open door policy. Literally. Their door was always open, to anyone in need, whether or not it was convenient. Throughout the years I and countless others have been blessed by the open acceptance at their doorstep.<br />
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Their hospitality is rare in our day and time. There are few families who give a standing invitation to anyone, everyone, regardless of the day, hour, or need. How much I need to grow in this area of my life.<br />
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In my reading in First Kings this morning, I read the portraits of two very different women: the widow of Zarephath, and Queen Jezebel. Both of these women lived at the same time period, and even knew some of the same people. But their way of life was completely different. <br />
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But the title of this blog is "what these two women had in common!" They did have something in common.<br />
<ul>
<li>They both had houses.</li>
<li>They both showed hospitality in their homes.</li>
</ul>
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The results of their hospitality could not be any more different.</div>
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Sometimes we place so many restrictions on our hospitality towards others. Our home is not good enough, or clean enough. Our sheets are old, our towels are frayed. We don't know how to cook, or entertain. We don't have Pinterest worthy attempts at anything. </div>
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Hospîtality does not come from what we HAVE, but what we allow GOD to DO with what we have.</div>
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The widow of Zarephath had next to nothing. She was literally preparing the last food that she had, for her and her son, and then planned to die. <br />
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Jezebel had everything. She owned the best that the nation of Israel could offer: a sumptuous palace, and enough food to eat and even waste. </div>
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Having too little does not have to be an excuse, and having too much does not mean that it will be well spent. </div>
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What they did with what they had was their responsability before God.</div>
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When Elijah asked the widow for water, she gave him what she had. She must have had more water than food, because it was offered without hesitation. When Elijah asked her for food, it was a different story. She laid out her story to him:</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And she said, As the </span><span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. I Kings 17:12</span></b></blockquote>
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This made me wonder: do I only exercise hospitality towards others, when I am in abundance, or am I quick to give to others in whatever state I am in? Do I only open my house to others who can receive me in turn, or am I willing to open my doors to anyone who has a need?</div>
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On the other hand, Jezebel lived in extravagance, but instead of putting what God had given her into His service, she took God's blessings to encourage sin and rebellion. When Elijah confronted Ahab, he told him:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, <i>which eat at Jezebel's table</i>. I Kings 18:19</b></span></blockquote>
Those who live selfishly with the blessings of God, will never be satisfied. When Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard, Jezebel encouraged him to get it by force, killing Naboth in the process without hesitation. (I Kings 21:7) When we take God's blessings on our lives lightly, as something that is due to us, it becomes increasingly easier to close the doors to our hearts--and our homes--to the needs of others, to satisfy our own selfish desires.<br />
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May that never be said of me.<br />
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The results of these two women's lives could not have been more different. By inviting the man of God into her home, the widow of Zarephath also was inviting God's blessing on her home. God provided her physical needs--flour and oil in abundance--but also provided for her in ways she could not have imagined at the time: God restoring to life her son. <br />
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We have no idea what blessings lie in store, when we open our homes.<br />
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Jezebel's life ended just as it was lived: tragically. I would not say that her hospitality killed her, but her flagrant abuse of God's blessings certainly did. She was killed by the very people that ate at her table (2 Kings 9:32-33). All the riches and food that she had laid in store for herself went to feed the man responsible for her death. <br />
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What a waste. <br />
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I am so thankful for all the years that I enjoyed sharing God's blessings with my friends who opened their homes to me, time and time again. I am thankful to say, that their children are following in their footsteps. Their love has been such a stunning example, of how I want my home to be: not my home, but a home to anyone who walks through my doors.<br />
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May my door be always open to those outside, so that I may always be ready, at any moment, to open my heart's doors, as well. susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-42123381455935875482016-03-07T09:49:00.000+01:002016-03-07T09:49:08.347+01:00My way<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the </span><span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2</span><br />
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Good morning, dear friends,<br />
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Like the new spring theme? I guess it's wishful thinking.<br />
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I went on a bike ride and played tennis with Timothy yesterday.<br />
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It was snowing this morning when I woke up.<br />
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Welcome to March in northern France.<br />
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SIGH<br />
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Funny experiences abound when you are a foreigner adapting to a different cultural surrounding. People are still people, and yet, they're different. Or maybe I should say, different from me.<br />
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Living in France, I have gotten used to being told I am wrong. <br />
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About everything. <br />
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On a daily basis.<br />
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My language is wrong. My way of disciplining children is wrong. My way of dressing is wrong.<br />
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I joined a crafting circle here in Boves, where once a week I would sit with grandmas living here and do my cross stitch. Not only was I doing it wrong, but they couldn't agree on the right way to do it. There were eight ladies, with 16 different ways of doing cross stitch.<br />
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I haven't been back for a while.<br />
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(Not just because I was told I was doing it wrong, but because I couldn't sit still in a hard backed chair for three hours doing cross stitch. Or anything else, for that matter.)<br />
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Yesterday, I was even told that I was pedaling a bicycle wrong. Really? How many different ways are there to pedal a bike? <br />
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More than one, apparently.<br />
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It's hard to be told that you are wrong about something, isn't it? I was always amazed by my mother-in-love. No matter how many times she was told by a French person that she was doing something wrong, she would just shrug and laugh it off. It may have stung privately, but she never let it show publically.<br />
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Our sinful nature WANTS to be right. It DEMANDS that we be right. After all, if I were doing something wrong, don't you think that I would do it differently? Do you think that I go around doing things wrong ON PURPOSE?<br />
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Of course not. No one does. <br />
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Our selfish nature seeks to be justified, to show that it knows better than everyone else around us, and it will not be appeased. Only constant submission to the Holy Spirit (and painfully gnashing down on my tongue sometimes) keep me from lashing out with the words that I long to say:<br />
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"Don't you think that I know what I'm doing? Do I look stupid to you?"<br />
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(My children have learned not to answer that question when I ask it.)<br />
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This week I was reading in Proverbs, and since I was paying attention to the verses that talk about my walk, and the ways of man/ways of God, I was amazed at the number of times God reminds us in His Word, that we are WRONG, and that He alone is RIGHT.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the </span><span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the </span><span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> weigheth the spirits. Proverbs 16:2</span></blockquote>
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What is the common thread for me in these verses? I may think I know what's going on in this world, and I may think that I understand what God is doing or how He wants me to act, but I can't KNOW for sure. I could be assuming that I am right, when in reality, if I am not checking my thoughts and ways against the Word of God, I may be (and often am) dreadfully wrong.<br />
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May God help me today, in humility, to examine my ways. Am I walking in God's Word, or in my own ways? Am I seeking to know His mind on the matter, or stubbornly holding to my own prideful thoughts? <br />
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And when others say that I am wrong, does it really matter? Or can I lovingly, patiently accept what others tell me (even if they are wrong :) and let God use me to be an instrument of His grace today?<br />
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Time to get out of the way...<br />
<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-7837794687709484312016-02-14T07:13:00.000+01:002016-02-15T07:27:23.408+01:00Light-Hearted<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b>"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." I John 3:18-22</b></h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
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Life attacked last week...and the blog did not happen. Sorry to leave you all hanging in the middle of my countdown to "Heart Day." I trust that everyone is enjoying their special day with the ones they love. </div>
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I spent my day in church, with the one I love the most, surrounded by some of those closest to my heart, and listening to my sweetheart proclaim God's love for me....</div>
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Today's "heart verse" is one of my favorite passages about the wonderful work that God does...in my heart! </div>
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For many years, even after becoming a Christian, I struggled with feelings of condemnation. I knew that God loved me, that God forgave me, but I was unwilling to forgive myself. I knew myself, my past sins, my evil thoughts, my doubts, my self-loathing, all those things that Satan and my flesh would continually bring to mind, especially in the middle of the night. I would beg God over and over for forgiveness for the same sins, never feeling the peace that comes from knowing my sins are truly forgiven.</div>
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My husband was the one that finally helped me to figure this one out.</div>
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We would have a disagreement. I was in the wrong. I would apologize, and he would forgive me. Later, still feeling guilty, I would go to him afterwards and ask for his forgiveness, a second time.</div>
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He would look at me blankly. "I don't know what you're talking about."</div>
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I would remind him of the wrong I had done him. He would shrug his shoulders and raise his hand innocently. No clue to what I was referring.</div>
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I would become even more insistent, reminding him of the wrong I had done him. </div>
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My husband gently reminded me that all was forgiven. As far as he was concerned, my wrong to him never happened. </div>
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I must confess, at first his attitude was a mystery to me. I wanted to relive the wrong I had done, until I felt satisfied that all was right and forgiven. My husband just wanted to move on in love.</div>
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Needless to say, my husband had the right attitude.</div>
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Sometimes, when we have disagreed, I would need a minute to cool off. I would go away and then come back to apologize, but before I could open my mouth, my husband would say to me, "I forgive you."</div>
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I would get upset. I needed closure. I needed to make things right. I needed to relive the moment, and then beg my husband for his forgiveness. Nope. He gave it freely, no strings attached.</div>
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It took some time for this attitude to work in my heart. My husband was willing, at the very first, to forgive the wrongs that I had done him, no matter what they were or how often. </div>
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I cannot tell you the impact that this has had on my life, on my marriage. I learned so much about God, from my husband's willingness to forgive.</div>
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There is nothing more freeing, more comforting, more releasing, than KNOWING that my heart is clean, and that I am right before God. </div>
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<b>"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth..." </b>God wants me to put action behind my words. When I say, "I love you," I need to be able to show it with my works. My love should be grounded in the truth that comes from knowing God and His Word.</div>
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<b>"And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." </b>God has given us so many beautiful promises in His Word that we can know that we are His children. This knowledge should reassure us of our position as beloved children of a Perfect Heavenly Father. </div>
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<b>"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." </b>Those times when I am tempted to doubt of God's amazing love and forgiveness do not come from God. They come from my own flesh, Satan's whispers, my own tendancy to trust my feelings instead of what God says in His Word. When God forgives, it is finished. He knows all things, and when He forgives, there is nothing left to confess, work out, beg or plead for. It is forgiven.</div>
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<b>"Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." </b>Is there anything more comforting, and reassuring, than knowing that our sins are forgiven, that there is NOTHING standing between us and our Lord?</div>
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"<b>And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." </b>Just like a beloved child can come to his parents at any moment and ask, so I can come to God and ask my requests. There is nothing between me and God, as long as I follow His commandments and do what is pleasing in God's sight.</div>
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Now there is a freedom from worry, or guilt. Nothing between me and my Creator. Forgiveness.</div>
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That is a wonderful heart gift this Valentine's Day. There is nothing more special than knowing that I am loved by God, and that makes my heart lighter than air.</div>
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And you, do you know this forgiveness? May the Lord help us all today to recognize the release that comes from the Lord forgiving all our sins.</div>
susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-43804260995705678312016-02-07T04:59:00.000+01:002016-02-07T09:33:14.340+01:00There's my Heart: Children's Discovery Club<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
"Lay not up for yourselves trasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where you trasure is, there will your heart be also..." Matthew 6:19-21</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
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It's been a while since I shared updates from our Children's Discovery Club, and there have been many goings-on. Let's try to catch up and share the latest news!</div>
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<b>December Clubs</b></div>
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If your month of December was anything like ours, it was busy! Every year Christmas gives us many opportunities to share the good news of God's coming to earth with those around us. Our children's clubs were no exception!</div>
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Our first club in December, taught by our coworker Damaris, was all about Jesus's coming, taught through the message of...the candy cane! The children really enjoyed...</div>
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...our candy cane cake...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXA7uINnSepVzIQkg75E20XW0ygNlx22Gga2OMGyLSLmK8iuK0EoCdw2WtBp9J71rRB9fNvZIm0MrOHOD6Czcp2iX5rRljJ4mzNW_8VauPU5kY0hYi2cLdTQACrhs5L51ItPmUS_34U0/s1600/candy+cane+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXA7uINnSepVzIQkg75E20XW0ygNlx22Gga2OMGyLSLmK8iuK0EoCdw2WtBp9J71rRB9fNvZIm0MrOHOD6Czcp2iX5rRljJ4mzNW_8VauPU5kY0hYi2cLdTQACrhs5L51ItPmUS_34U0/s200/candy+cane+cake.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VvOntmsPqJ22RGLVnXm2BHpzCHFoK6MKtM3R2bILq_Nk4g0CJdbPzAv0ohWJAkIxBb4Q-pRkgciJVJREZyPurUDO_SIQkRm0fGWJON3bwQgvMTNkHwoi2wkgXFn8URWFYcvKd0qKKfc/s1600/candycane7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VvOntmsPqJ22RGLVnXm2BHpzCHFoK6MKtM3R2bILq_Nk4g0CJdbPzAv0ohWJAkIxBb4Q-pRkgciJVJREZyPurUDO_SIQkRm0fGWJON3bwQgvMTNkHwoi2wkgXFn8URWFYcvKd0qKKfc/s320/candycane7.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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...and our craft time! Damaris led the kids in making a candy cane Christmas ornament with the message of the candy cane attached to it. No red pony beads here, so Damaris dyed some wooden ones with Koolaid! Smelled nice, too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM50hZQneVZYeaH0jF3z2A7EY7Wpn-2No9sqm3WcvrsCXt_4MI1jrmJNt9D_TOi4fRO1FR6v25UOXzWMDEmeNxXlieqSehDGBL9MpNF0fOm-wHqYTaoFjycoY8ZkKlkZfq7uHM8u1x9Y/s1600/candycane4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM50hZQneVZYeaH0jF3z2A7EY7Wpn-2No9sqm3WcvrsCXt_4MI1jrmJNt9D_TOi4fRO1FR6v25UOXzWMDEmeNxXlieqSehDGBL9MpNF0fOm-wHqYTaoFjycoY8ZkKlkZfq7uHM8u1x9Y/s320/candycane4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the Christmas season, the children practice for a Christmas program to which we invite the parents. We were thankful for the families that came and saw firsthand what our children's clubs are like! One mom came early and stayed for the lesson time. Our children always practice and perform well. This year we gave them a song to learn in English! (C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S)</div>
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Thankful to share the good news with these children at Christmastime!</div>
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<b>January and February</b></div>
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We had some "false starts" to our club this year after the holidays, but we're back in the saddle now!</div>
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In January, it is traditional to eat a "king's cake" for Epiphany, and our club happened to fall very close to that day, so of course we had to celebrate! A tiny porcelaine figurine is baked into the cake. The cake is cut in its entirety and all of the pieces are distributed, usually by the youngest child present (who picks the person receiving each piece randomly.) The one who finds the figure is crowned the "king" of the day, and gets to pick his queen. Two cakes = two kings and queens, and some happy kids. (The cakes are delicious, too!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZXz4_qwb7F_Ycc_Uh-kl01ZYD4PHIiVKOz1KGPCPhA8M6u8c0iTuMuuzyzFFzVA9e6GJJmQ8HqGoxUMIjVh6IKOO5OsfsCreGVB3XbJPWRwSutmDjrnTnyEeEl9jVn0nINN8_IObSOM/s1600/clubjan2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZXz4_qwb7F_Ycc_Uh-kl01ZYD4PHIiVKOz1KGPCPhA8M6u8c0iTuMuuzyzFFzVA9e6GJJmQ8HqGoxUMIjVh6IKOO5OsfsCreGVB3XbJPWRwSutmDjrnTnyEeEl9jVn0nINN8_IObSOM/s1600/clubjan2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZXz4_qwb7F_Ycc_Uh-kl01ZYD4PHIiVKOz1KGPCPhA8M6u8c0iTuMuuzyzFFzVA9e6GJJmQ8HqGoxUMIjVh6IKOO5OsfsCreGVB3XbJPWRwSutmDjrnTnyEeEl9jVn0nINN8_IObSOM/s400/clubjan2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fast forward to February...For the first time in many weeks, "all" of our kids were there. Here's a picture of the group, on our very crowded living room couch:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-XJsST8JmnYg132jkIsaUoJWozs7Osq17uaRnY3i8m61Tdqou52tSMlTv7BuaBiVSw9zr3M10Dsmw77y4ze3Ihv_qf4Tt7W3u3BAOPTAXkeKcOPKqjjLU6J8_c_lsil72ub0uPQ-lRY/s1600/clubfeb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-XJsST8JmnYg132jkIsaUoJWozs7Osq17uaRnY3i8m61Tdqou52tSMlTv7BuaBiVSw9zr3M10Dsmw77y4ze3Ihv_qf4Tt7W3u3BAOPTAXkeKcOPKqjjLU6J8_c_lsil72ub0uPQ-lRY/s400/clubfeb2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We are continuing our travels with Christian in Pilgrim's Progress. After reviewing Christian's progress in January, we climbed the Hill of Difficulty to reach the Beautiful Palace and receive our armour. We learned that God is very near in times of troubles (He even told us ahead of time that there would be troubles in this life!) and He gives His armour to protect us and help us.</div>
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The heart verse at the top of the blog for today reminds me of why I am here in France! These children are our "treasures," and yours as well! Thank you for investing in the ministry here with us in France! This is treasure abounding to your account in heaven! Thanks for "paying it forward!"</div>
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See you in a few weeks for our next club!</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-41925375936381858042016-02-06T07:08:00.002+01:002016-02-06T07:09:52.987+01:00Heart Searching<h3>
"Search me, o God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGIxf6WUc9RbkcZgVPTHqS09fGJZ0p4LxwiQFp0fONXqmyM8HtgJs2ShmIa02oCC7yQ7mHpSxTS5BNOzoJi6UguWeKcpkfdht3DPhl_2SMmH6crlJEacGctVMsQu7-AHh8kYNn9MS0f8/s1600/heartsearching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGIxf6WUc9RbkcZgVPTHqS09fGJZ0p4LxwiQFp0fONXqmyM8HtgJs2ShmIa02oCC7yQ7mHpSxTS5BNOzoJi6UguWeKcpkfdht3DPhl_2SMmH6crlJEacGctVMsQu7-AHh8kYNn9MS0f8/s640/heartsearching.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
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I love my children, but they can't find anything.</div>
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I'm sure I'm not alone. Please tell me, I'm not alone.</div>
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Where's your backpack? Your shoes? Your homework? My sanity?</div>
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(Sorry, that last one went a long time ago.)</div>
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To their credit, my children are getting better. Mainly because I don't give in anymore. If you can't find it, I did not eat it. Sorry, keep looking.</div>
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I think I could hide an elephant in their bedrooms, and ask them to find it, only to be greeted by blank stares when I help them look. "Oh, that elephant..."</div>
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Sigh.</div>
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When God goes looking, however....</div>
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...He finds.</div>
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I can't hide the elephant from Him. I can't hide anything from Him.</div>
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<b>"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" Psalm 139:7</b></blockquote>
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Am I ready to pray this prayer? <br />
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"Search me, o God..." Examine thoroughly, inspect, with the intent of finding out...<br />
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"and know my heart..." Become acquainted with, very personally...<br />
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"try me..." Test, scrutinize...<br />
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"and know my thoughts..." Everything that I am, even the thoughts that I think that I don't even know about or understand, are as an open book to the Lord. <br />
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The Lord already knows all of this, but by praying this prayer, I <i>want </i> Him to know. I <i>want </i> Him to examine, to test, to become acquainted with my thoughts and my heart's attitude. Nothing to hide, nothing to keep back, but everything surrendered fully to Him.<br />
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Wow.<br />
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Now that's a prayer for today. May the Lord help me to clean out the sin that clutters up my heart, and allow myself to be scruntinized by God today. <br />
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I wonder, what He will find...<br />
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<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-18901169069469362732016-02-05T10:13:00.001+01:002016-02-05T10:13:11.914+01:00February Blessings and Burdens<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Serving <b>CHRIST </b>in FRANCE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Field Address:</span></u></i></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;"> </span>1 rue du Traité de Boves * 80440 Boves* France* <span class="Hypertext"><b>csabbett@msn.com</b></span><span class="Hypertext"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Home Address:</span></u></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Baptist International Missions, Inc.*PO
Box 9* Harrison, TN 37341 *(423)344-5050<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.susanabbett4france.blogspot.fr/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">www.susanabbett4france.blogspot.fr</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> February, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Dear Co-laborers
and friends,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You may not realize this, but writing a
prayer letter is not as easy as it may seem.
There are times when I can’t wait to share a particular news with you
(such as the salvation of the little boy in our December letter). Other times deciding what to share in a positive
way is a challenge. Then again, on other
occasions my heart is heavy and do not feel like writing – not because I do not
want to share with you what is going on, but because I feel the need to share a
news that is not pleasant – which is the case this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have been asking you to pray for us and
with us for many years now for this elderly lady we have been visiting and
witnessing to almost on a weekly basis. Her name is René Lemarchand. For those of you who follow Susan’s Blog (her
blog’s address is in the letter head) you will already be aware that René has passed
away in January. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I would love to say that we know she accepted
Christ before meeting Him face to face.
We do not have that assurance. We
don’t know whether she responded to the Gospel she received these past years,
even perhaps in her final hours before passing away. Only in Heaven will we know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This sadness does not discourage us, but it
motivates us to keep witnessing and reaching to those we still can. Our heart may be heavy and burdened, but that
is a good thing. We rely upon you to
help us use the burden as a motivation to go out and share the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We know you all have your own trials and
burdens, which is why we are happy to take time to pray for you as well. As I have said for many years now: we need
strong churches in order to have strong missionaries. We need faithful churches in order to help
missionaries to remain faithful. In the
end, God is the only one who should receive any glory for what is done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We continue to work with our coworkers and
friends, the Dodeler family. We thank
the Lord for the good and strong connection we have between our two
families. Jeremie and I have been
looking for a building that would be suitable for a meeting place. Unfortunately, we have not found anything yet
that would either meet the security requirements or meet our budget. I am
assured the Lord knows our need and will give us what is best for His
work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We thank you for your sacrifice and
faithfulness! You are very dear to us
and we never cease to thank God for each one of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Servants of
Christ,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Carey &
Susan Abbett</span></div>
susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-16350097612766198302016-02-05T05:48:00.000+01:002016-02-05T10:25:32.849+01:00Desires of my Heart<h3>
"Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4</h3>
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<br />
Good morning, dear friends,<br />
<br />
Another "heart verse" for my countdown to Valentine's Day! Hope you are enjoying them as much as I am!<br />
<br />
If someone were to ask you what your "heart's desire" is, what would it be? <br />
<br />
For some, it might be for a family member or friend to come to know the Lord. For others, it might be a more stable job or financial situation. For some, it might be a healed relationship with a loved one, or healing from a sickness or disease. <br />
<br />
For some of us Moms, it might be five minutes alone in the bathroom without someone knocking on the door.<br />
<br />
All of us have something that we long for, even if it never leaves our lips. I know I have several for my family and friends and the work here in France.<br />
<br />
But I think that too many times I am focused so much on the second part of this heart verse, that I overlook the first part.<br />
<br />
The first seven verses of Psalm 37 contain a long list of commands, and cradled in the middle is the verse at the top of the blog. What are some of the others?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers..."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Trust in the Lord, and do good..."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Delight thyself also in the Lord..." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Commit thy way unto the Lord..."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Trust also in Him..."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him..."</blockquote>
<br />
There is a common thread in these verses, but I don't think the focus is on me. The focus is all on God. These verses speak to my heart, about my attitude toward the Lord. <br />
<br />
Am I worked up, because I see wicked people prospering? "Fret not..."<br />
<br />
Do I trust in my own ways, or in the Lord's? "Trust..."<br />
<br />
Do I seek the Lord for my daily guidance? "Commit thy way..."<br />
<br />
Do I trust the Lord to be faithful in His promises? "Trust also in him..."<br />
<br />
Am I impatient for the Lord to work? "Rest in the Lord..."<br />
<br />
Finally, there is the heart verse at the top of this blog: "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart." <br />
<br />
What is the command? "Delight..."<br />
<br />
Take exquisite pleasure in...<br />
<br />
Love in a delicate way...<br />
<br />
Enjoy closeness and priveleged company...<br />
<br />
Perhaps that should be my focus, instead of "getting something from the Lord."<br />
<br />
Maybe my heart needs to be fine tuned to the Lord in meaningful worship of Him. In praise of His Person. In loving trust and confidence in His Word and His Promises. In delighting in His company and making my requests known to Him. In thanking Him for what He has already done and will continue to do in my life.<br />
<br />
What if I made my number one desire, to know the Lord better? To walk more closely with Him? To know Him more personally? To be more obedient to His ways?<br />
<br />
May I place this desire above any other in my heart today. May the circumstances of this day, "good" or "bad" not shake my resolve, to delight in my Lord. <br />
<br />
<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-44580759561995668222016-02-04T06:46:00.002+01:002016-02-04T06:46:47.824+01:00Feasting on my Heart's Joy<h3>
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hate grocery shopping.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know I shouldn't complain about this, since all I have to do is go to the store with my buggy, throw things in, and wheel my chosen items up to the register. It's not like my grandparents' time, where people had to grow, can, kill and barter for what they needed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Grocery shopping in France takes on a life of its own. Think Walmart, two days before Christmas, before going into the store on a Saturday. I feel some days like I need a crash helmet and a driver's license on those days. You can be standing in front of a selection of canned goods, reaching out for what you want, to have three other people reach right in front of you for the same thing. (Am I not standing here?) Nope. I've learned to dodge and weave and squeeze past and keep going, without feeling like I need to apologize to the person I just breezed past. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All that being said, I try to limit my forays to the grocery store. I stock up once, maybe twice in the month for all the basics, and only go out for fresh items like salads and fruits. (And send my hubby for those forgotten items in the store!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How does that work? We have a large chest freezer (courtesy of my mother-in-love when they moved to the US) and a small pantry in the basement. All the canned goods, cereals, pastas and long-shelf life milk make it down to the basement. My kids laugh at me as during the month, I can pretty much tell them what's left in there, at any given moment. I have a wonderful storehouse, graciously provided by our sending churches that can feed us and our guests for the month. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was thinking about yesterday's heart verse as I was going about my day:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
"A good man out of the good treasures of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I mentioned, I can only get out of my heart, what I put into it. Just like my basement pantry, if I store up correctly only "good things" in my heart, only good things will come out of it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And then I read today's heart verse:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I think of feasting, I think of International Dinners and Missions Banquets, of Homecoming Dinners and Fifth Sunday Fellowships. You know the ones: the fellowship hall or church basement with the tables spread out with every starchy goodness available, where every dish looks more tempting than the last. Oh, my. I think I gained weight just thinking about it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is how Solomon describes those that have a merry heart. There is always a reason for rejoicing. There is always a new blessing to be shared. There is always something better than the last that the Lord has said or done. There is always a new reason to be merry....</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...if I take the time to store up the necessary ingredients in my heart.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A merry heart nourishes first and foremost...myself! My burdens will be lighter, my heart strengthened, my step a little happier, if I will remember to rejoice in the Lord. There are so many reasons to be happy in the Lord today, if I will take the time to remember them! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It would be a shame to have a pantry full of food, and to eat leftovers for the month. Or...Ramen noodles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But having a merry heart does not only nourish me in my walk. It affects everyone around me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My family and friends and neighbors will eat well at my house this month, because of faithful supporters who give, and for my time spent in the grocery store. My cabinets will bless my family with feasting, because of the good things stored up in my pantry. I have been blessed, and now I can rejoice!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rejoicing is contageous! Just like good food, everyone wants to sample. Everyone wants a taste, to see how good the feast is!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8</b></blockquote>
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May the Lord help me to remember...to rejoice! May I remember to feast on the knowledge of all He has done for me, and let my praise be the fitting "thank you" for His blessings!<br />
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Let's all feast today on God's goodness to us!susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-1398798858456415722016-02-03T06:13:00.000+01:002016-02-03T06:13:54.131+01:00An Abundant Heart<h3>
"A good man out of the good treasures of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
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For my countdown to Valentine's Day, I have been thinking about my favorite heart verses. I have not been trying to establish a pattern, but just thinking about the verses as they pop into my head. I just love how all these "heart verses" come together. The verse for today just so naturally flows together with yesterday's verse: </div>
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"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23</h3>
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If my life flows from what is in my heart, it begs the question: What is in my heart?</div>
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The Bible verse at the top of the blog reminds me: whatever I have put in my heart, naturally will flow from it. If it is "good," then that is what will come out. If it is "bad," then that is what will come out.</div>
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Of course, I only want good to come out of my heart (and my mouth), so what is the "good" that I can put in?</div>
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God's Word: "<b>Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against God</b>." (Psalm 119,11)</div>
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God's Joy: "<b>Thou hast put gladness in my heart</b>..." (Psalm 4:7)</div>
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God's Wisdom: "<b>Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding</b>..." (Proverbs 14:33)</div>
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When all of these are at work in my life, won't my mouth speak about "good things?" What about the last issue of the heart:</div>
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"<b>Thou shat love the Lord thy God with all thine heart...</b>" (Mark 12:30)</div>
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Wow! Now there's a heart filled with good things!</div>
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The "treasure" that is mentioned in Luke 6:45 talks about a storehouse. I store up God's Word, and joy, and wisdom and love and all the other good things that I can about God. Then, when it comes time to withdraw something from the storehouse, it can only be good, because that is all I have "laid up."</div>
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As I go about my activities today, may I be carefully selecting what I put into my heart. May I be careful to confess sin in my life, so that the good does not get shoved aside by what is bad. May I meditate God's Word, renew my heart with Bible verses, songs, and any other good things, so that my mouth will speak only goodness today.</div>
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So, what's in my heart today?</div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-43659055318057884462016-02-02T05:30:00.002+01:002016-02-02T05:30:59.872+01:00Are You a Heart Keeper?<h3>
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends!<br />
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My countdown to Valentine's Day continues, and after yesterday's post, I couldn't help myself! If God has gone to such great lengths to give me a "new heart," then obviously I need to do everything I can to keep it new, right? That's why today's verse is such an important one for me:<br />
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"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23</h3>
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<b>Keep</b>...gives the idea of guarding something preciously. It is the same word from which comes the watchers on the city walls who looked out for dangers, and cried out to warn others.<br />
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...<b>thy heart</b>...the center of my being, where everything that is important about me--my emotions, my will, my intellect--are kept. It is also a root for caring for by keeping everything centered and in its place. It is also very personal--"thy heart." I am responsible first and foremost for my own heart, and making sure it is centered on Christ.<br />
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<b>...with all diligence...</b>Diligence requires effort. It will not just happen. I must everyday put the desire there to protect my heart from the influences of this world. This word is another word for guarding or protecting as well, so I must guard my heart by every means at my disposal, and then some! There is nothing more important to be guarded today!<br />
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<b>...for out of it... </b>What comes out of my heart? Whatever I put into it! How I must be careful to let God's Word and God's thoughts penetrate my heart! Only if I am feeding my heart correctly will I be able to let out thoughts and feelings that are right with God!<br />
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<b>...are the issues of life. </b>The word, "issues" speaks of a source, like a spring of water, and "life" of course is life! Everyday living is a result of what "springs up" from my heart! Just like the physical heart is what keeps me alive physically, my spiritual heart is what keeps me alive spiritually. Is it any wonder that I am to guard it so preciously?<br />
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How do I guard my heart? By keeping close watch of it! Do I "coast" through a day, not paying much attention to my words, my thoughts, my actions? Or am I constantly checking what I am doing in light of what I know about God and His Word?<br />
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Ouch. Lots of work to do today.<br />
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Let's all be keepers of our hearts today, not letting anything get past the Lord's defenses.<br />
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-76812468923752207702016-02-01T06:56:00.000+01:002016-02-01T06:56:32.742+01:00Heart transplant<h3>
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,</div>
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It's that time of year again: February! Hope you like the new look to the blog. I can't seem to help myself, just thinking about Valentine's month again! Yes, I am a hopeless romantic, and yes, we do Valentine's Day here in our house. </div>
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For those of you thinking that I hold my husband hostage to romantic expectations, nothing could be further from the truth. He shows me so much love each and every day, I don't look for special treatment on February 14th! And that's the way it should be! I just love the fact that every year, people make special efforts to show their love to each other in creative ways. </div>
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First and foremost on my mind this year, is showing my love for my God.</div>
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Last year in the blog I shared some of my favorite "love" verses, counting down to Valentine's Day. This year, I wanted to focus on the "heart" of the matter. The Bible has so much to share about my heart, that I wanted to share my heart with you...</div>
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One of my favorite passages about the heart is at the top of the blog:</div>
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"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26</h3>
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The very first heart transplant, ever recorded in the world. God promises to give me a new heart.</div>
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The chapter surrounding this verse in Ezekiel is such an encouraging one. God is promising the people of Israel that He will restore the nation, not because of anything that amazing that they had done, but in spite of their actions against God! The reason that He restores the people of Israel is for His name's sake:</div>
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<b>"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went." Ezekiel 36::22</b></blockquote>
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Then God explains how He will perform the transplant. Notice all the "I wills":</div>
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<b>"For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. </b> <b>A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezekiel 36:24-27</b></blockquote>
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I love the image of God taking out my "heart of stone" and replacing it with a "heart of flesh." I was recently watching a video that explains how hearts for organ donation can be harvested from dead patients, and then be resuscitated by a machine to restore the heart back to its original condition, before being transplanted. That is amazing to me!</div>
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What is even more amazing, is the work that God does in my own heart! God takes me unresponsive, lifeless heart, dead in sin and lifeless toward Him, and replaces it with an active, vivbrant, perfect heart toward Him. What a tremendous blessing, to have a heart transplant from my loving Father!</div>
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May God help me to remember this new heart that He has given me, and "open" my heart to sharing this good news with others today! </div>
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susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-62431702285863222002016-01-27T06:20:00.000+01:002016-01-27T06:20:07.531+01:00To all the Naomis out there...<h3>
<b>"...whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God." Ruth 1:16</b></h3>
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Good morning, dear friends,<br />
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It was déjà vu all over again...<br />
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Monday evening I had the blessing to sit down in front of my computer screen, and there on the other side, was my adopted family. Mom, Dad, sister and their children, and instantly I was transported back to when I was 13 years old, lost, confused, and in need of encouragement. Or 18 years old, making an important life decision. Or 22 years old, the year I lost my mom to cancer. Or 24 years old, waiting for the next day so I could get married.<br />
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There were a lot of moments, just like Monday, sitting on the couch with my adopted family, laughing, loving, crying, and being cried over. Hearing my adopted dad pray over me. Being reassured of their love for me, despite the miles and life changes. <br />
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It"s a different couch, in a different place, but it's still home for me...<br />
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This week I have been reading in the book of Ruth, and as a hopeless romantic, I have always treasured the love story between Ruth and Boaz. The beautiful imagery of Boaz putting his coat of protection over her reminds me of my Lord's salvation, and also my loving husband who puts his coat of protection and faithfulness over me as well.<br />
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But today, I am moved by Naomi. <br />
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I have a wonderful Mother-in-love, and you can read about her <a href="http://susanabbett4france.blogspot.com/2015/05/mother-in-love.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but today I just want to take some time and be thankful for all the Naomis that God has placed in my life. Pastor's wives, youth pastor's wives, adopted moms, special sisters a little bit older in the faith. Those women were not afraid to take a neighborhood child into their home, and love her to Christ, and keep loving her through growing up years, life decisions, and eventually the mission field. So many women along the way, so many years of loving and caring and faithful prayers, have been poured into my life. <br />
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Could I ask you just to take a few minutes to think about the Naomis in your life? <br />
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Naomi took a heathen into her home. Yes, there's no other way to describe Ruth. As far as the law was concerned, we should never had even heard about Ruth. The people of Israel were commanded to have NO dealings with the Moabites, much less to have their children marry together. Naomi had left the land of blessing with her family, with the thought to save her life, only to be a stranger in a strange place, and ultimately alone, except for the heathen daughters her sons had married. <br />
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And yet, there was something in Naomi that left her daughters hungering for more. Ruth especially could not be dissuaded to return to her people. She was willing to give up everything that was familiar--her country, her place of upbringing, her gods--to be with Naomi and stay with her loving example:<br />
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<b>"...whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God." Ruth 1:16</b></blockquote>
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I wonder, if my testimony for the Lord, creates that kind of hunger in the people around me. Especially the ladies with whom I am in contact. I am so thankful for the ladies that God brought along my path on so many occasions, who strengthened my desire to love the Lord and be faithful to Him. <br />
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Did Naomi realize, when she left Moab and returned to her people "empty-handed," that she was bringing with her an amazing blessing? Here was Ruth, a young lady eager to be taught, and to help, and would ultimately be the one that God used to provide for her needs, as well as the needs of all humanity? Because of Ruth, her life was changed for the better, and one day, through her children, Christ would be born! <br />
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I wonder, do we realize the impact that comes from loving and caring for other ladies, to bring them up in the faith, and encourage new believers in their spiritual journeys? We have no idea the far-flung influence that our loving and caring today can have on others tomorrow!<br />
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I'm sure if you asked those that took me in almost 30 years ago, if they ever dreamed that one day I would be a missionary here in France, they would probably deny it. I was a hot mess! And yet, here I am. (This is not for my boasting but for God's glory--I can't even believe it myself some days!) <br />
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How different our homes and churches and youth groups and our Bible colleges and our Christian homes and yes even the mission fields could be, if we would invest in the young ladies that God puts in our paths today.<br />
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I wish I could take time here to thank every lady personally who has been a Naomi to me, but I know I would miss many along the way. Chances are good, if our paths have crossed, the Lord has used you to encourage me to be stronger in my faith. Thank you for your investments in my life.<br />
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And may God give me the courage and patience and all the rest, to be a Naomi to someone today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12548892_10153178544341441_4072454061925725203_n.jpg?oh=629e88b40b02b3544dff4599fb7fd42b&oe=56FB2E4A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12548892_10153178544341441_4072454061925725203_n.jpg?oh=629e88b40b02b3544dff4599fb7fd42b&oe=56FB2E4A" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my Naomis, with her husband and my sister in every way but blood...</td></tr>
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<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-33077516566527109452016-01-26T04:53:00.000+01:002016-01-26T04:53:04.577+01:00From the Outside, Looking in...<h3>
"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7</h3>
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Good morning, dear friends!</div>
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My daughter was saying the other day that she could never write a blog, because she could never find good ideas of things to write about. I told her, that many times I don't have to look for things to write about, they find me. I would be going about my routine, and look up and see something and my mind would start to make connections.</div>
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She replied, "So, it's a good thing when your mind wanders off..."</div>
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Um, yes. Sometimes, it is a good thing....</div>
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One of the aspects I love about living here in France is that so many of the buildings from time gone by, have the same exterieurs now as they did when they were built. We have seen in town an entire building demolished except for the façade--which was an historical landmark--only to have the new building constructed behind it. The French are very insistent to protect as much as possible what is old, even when something takes a new purpose.</div>
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Yesterday as we were walking with my son to school, we ventured past a demolition site, where an abandoned factory in our village is being torn down for new housing. I looked up, and my eyes caught the scene from the picture at the top of the blog. </div>
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On the left of the building you can still see the aluminum siding that had not yet been removed, which is all I had ever seen of the building before. I thought it was just another industrial building that had been built for that purpose. On the right of the picture, as they had stripped off the siding, was the original façade of the factory: in writing you can see "pâtes alimentaires" and the name of the company.</div>
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Just under the metallic exterieur of this structure, was a brick monument to a much earlier time in the company's history. It was a surprise to me to see what looked like a building at least a hundred years old. </div>
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Looking from the outside, you would have never guessed what lay just under the surface...</div>
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So much of our lives are like that building. People that know me now, only see the "me" that I am now. The "outside" that is so prominently on display now is so different from the one I wore some 30 years ago, when the Lord found me and gave my life a permanent "make over." I became His child, and the "old me" got swallowed up in the "new me."</div>
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That doesn't mean that the "old me" isn't still there, just under the surface, waiting to rear up its ugly head from time to time. Oh, how it wants to come to the surface. In an impatient attitude toward my family. In a lazy attitude toward my responsabilities. In an unkind word spoken in response to an unkind word. In times of anger. In times of frustration. In times of discouragement.</div>
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The verse at the top of this blog has always been an encouragement to me, knowing that God does not judge man from what He sees on the outside. It has always whispered to me that no matter what kind of image I project to others, God knows the real me, and He loves me just the same:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7</b></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
May these words encourage us today to look past what we see on the outside of others today, and have a heart for what's happening on the inside. All of us who know the Lord struggle with our "old me", and may God help us to be praying for our family in Christ all around us. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For others that we may meet, who have yet to come to Christ, may the Lord help us to pray faithfully for their "old me" to be swallowed up in a "new me."</div>
susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-28405451732173684872016-01-19T07:46:00.000+01:002016-01-19T10:50:23.526+01:00The Other Side of Missions<h3>
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep..." Romans 13:15</h3>
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<br />
Hello, dear faithful praying friends,<br />
<br />
I am always encouraged by the letters I get from family, friends (and even complete strangers) who have read our latest prayer letters, send us a line in the mail, and tell us that they are praying for us! What a tremendous encouragement that is to us on the field!<br />
<br />
For my husband, writing those prayer letters is tricky. It is always a balancing act to know the right words of encouragement and burden to share with everyone. What to say, what to leave out, our entire lives of two months, written in an interesting and understandable format that must fit on one page, with headers, and pictures, and...well, you get the point. <br />
<br />
Sometimes, though, what doesn't make it into the prayer letters, is the part that we as missionaries wish we could share the most.<br />
<br />
We all like to read about the success stories: people saved, churches started, nationals taking over leadership, and missionaries moving on to the next work that God has placed on their hearts.<br />
<br />
What about the stories, with the less-than-happy endings?<br />
<br />
For five years now we have been visiting with an elderly friend here in Amiens. Nearly every week we have been in her home, and more recently her nursing home room, drinking her coffee and eating her cookies and sharing love and God's Word with her. <br />
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<br />
There have been good days, when her mind was clear and we would laugh and reminisce over her life with her husband and her family. There were days when she was crying from pain from aching joints, nights of sleeplessness, or worry over a family member or friend. There were days when her face would light up in a huge smile just seeing us there. Other times her eyes would mist over as she confided about her solitude and loneliness (even though we know people checked up on her regularly.)<br />
<br />
And then, she was gone.<br />
<br />
It happened earlier this month. We had stopped by her room at the nursing home, the day after she passed away. We knocked on her door and no one answered, but that was not unusual. Some days were so bad for her that she didn't get out of bed, and couldn't hear us. We went back the following week, and the same thing happened, only to find out yesterday that her funeral had been held just the day before our last visit. I had to call the nursing home and finally found someone who would let us know what had happened.<br />
<br />
"I'm sorry to tell you this over the phone, but Madame Lemarchand died earlier this month..."<br />
<br />
There was no closure, no final goodbye, no sharing our condolences with her family and friends. There wasn't even a courtesy phone call from the nursing home, even though we were on the "to call" list. Just silence, and, hearts aching, we try to put the past five years of visits and calls and cards and flowers, into our ministry box and shut the lid.<br />
<br />
Today is Tuesday morning, her morning, our weekly visit time, and my eyes are just misting over at the thought. <br />
<br />
There are always regrets at times like this, aren't there? Could we have done more? Probably. Should we have done more? Always. <br />
<br />
Was it enough?<br />
<br />
Was it worth it?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Ministry in missions is more than can ever be tallied in a monthly report. It's always more costly than our monthly budget, and the profits are always worth more than any amount any church or individual could ever give. In times like this, when all of the efforts are expended and the page on this opportunity is turned, I am always confronted with the question:<br />
<br />
Did it make a difference, in the end? Or was it all in vain?<br />
<br />
Only God can comfort in times like these:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Then the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Hebrews 13:16 </blockquote>
<br />
As you read the next prayer letter from your missionary, especially those letters in which there seems not to be much "going on" in their report, please remember that not everything makes it in those letters, and not every "result" can be quantified in human terms. Only one day, when we are standing in heaven and God's records are opened, will all be revealed. <br />
<br />
Until then, let's keep on encouraging others, and staying faithful, and busy doing all that we can to reach those around us. I'm sure that God will be honored in those efforts, even when they do not always have the "happy endings" that we would hope for. <br />
<br />
I'm so thankful for all of you who hold the ropes with us, and have for many years, in the ministry here in France! Days like today are hard, but they do not last forever, and there are many more people around us that still need us to show God's love to them today...<br />
<br />susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-50381640700753519762016-01-12T06:08:00.001+01:002016-01-12T06:08:09.139+01:00The Gift, and my Reaction to it...<h3>
"Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning..." James 1:17</h3>
<br />
Good morning, dear friends,<br />
<br />
I went to my husband's office to get a book, and there it was.<br />
<br />
Folded on the shelf, unassuming, just waiting to be noticed.<br />
<br />
Was that what I thought it was? I took it down from the shelf.<br />
<br />
Yes, there it was. I unfolded it, and examined it closer.<br />
<br />
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<br />
A cane. A folding cane that could easily fit into a purse or backpack.<br />
<br />
I could not believe my eyes. My husband had bought me a CANE? Did he think I was a cripple, or unable to take care of myself, or someone who NEEDED, much less wanted one of those?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn_PS_yeiGuElUv9yOTqUl4kHjvazaFbCWaWYGPqVM1TuIP2cuthoKgJgi3HsPVxi6GtydUhJIXCxaoOmZ5-ojVSTxF0HCdUawL6VyHhF6D80a49NUFBFoUDoFlkXk0T9_MVc65AEgPk/s1600/CANE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn_PS_yeiGuElUv9yOTqUl4kHjvazaFbCWaWYGPqVM1TuIP2cuthoKgJgi3HsPVxi6GtydUhJIXCxaoOmZ5-ojVSTxF0HCdUawL6VyHhF6D80a49NUFBFoUDoFlkXk0T9_MVc65AEgPk/s200/CANE.jpg" width="200" /></a>I quickly stopped myself. Wait, I wasn't a cripple, but my knee hurts something awful walking in the cold. It wasn't that I couldn't take care of myself, but sometimes I did need a steadying hand. <br />
<br />
Maybe the cane wasn't something that I WANTED, but maybe it was something I NEEDED. At least, for days when my knee goes wonky and doesn't want to work correctly. Which, in the winter time, is quite often.<br />
<br />
It was my pride and my selfishness that didn't want the gift.<br />
<br />
But that got me thinking...<br />
<br />
There have probably been many gifts, that God has given me, that I didn't necessarily want to receive. For example, God has at times "gifted" me with loneliness on the mission field. I didn't want that gift, and could have been tempted to rail at God and say, "I don't want this!" But God knew I needed it, to make me a stronger Christian by depending on Him more, and others less. To help me empathize with others who feel isolated. To appreciate friendships more.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"...for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..." Psalm 23:4</b></blockquote>
<br />
God has "gifted" me with trials of faith, trusting Him to provide for a financial need, or a health need, or a family need. I certainly would have avoided these gifts if I could have, and yet, God has grown me as a Christian to trust Him more, time and time again. Just when I think my faith has been stretched to its limits, along comes another "gift" of a trial, and it stretches again.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice..." I Peter 4:12-13</b></blockquote>
<br />
God has "gifted" me with the strangeness of living in a foreign country, constantly adapting to the customs around me, doing mental gymnastics of learning how to communicate love and Christ in words that do not always come easily, or come out correctly. This may not have been something that I want everyday, but how I need to empty myself of my "foreignness," and go to others, and speak His words, and trust Him for the results. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Though I speak with the tongue of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." I Corinthians 13:1</b></blockquote>
<br />
I looked again at the gift that my husband had not yet even presented to me, and I stopped my ranting. After all, this cane was a gift of love. My husband knows how much I love to walk, and how frustrating it is on the days when my knee doesn't want to cooperate, to be excluded from family outings, or even walking my youngest son to school. <br />
<br />
I decided to ask him about it. When I showed him my discovery, he sheepishly admitted that he had been thinking those exact same thoughts.<br />
<br />
I told him how much I loved him, and thanked him profusely for the "unwanted" gift. <br />
<br />
So many times, I think that God is just waiting for us to acknowledge Him in thankfulness, for the difficult things in our lives, as well as the more apparent blessings. How much different my outlook would be, if I would just remember that both come from the hands of the same loving Father.<br />
<br />
Think I'll take the cane out for a spin this morning, as I walk Joshua to school...susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-40245385601442350982016-01-08T06:20:00.001+01:002016-01-08T06:20:33.313+01:00Blessed, abundantly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<h3>
"And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians." Exodus 12: 35-36</h3>
<div>
<br />
Good morning, dear friends!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My basement is calling me, calling me, and not in a good way. What a mess! A new year is here, and all my thoughts of, "I'll get to it next year!" are no longer valid. It IS next year, and so to the basement I go, with one question on my lips:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Where did I GET all of this stuff?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I realize again, how blessed I am, not only in having my needs met, but being overwhelmed by abundant blessings. So much so, that I must take myself down to the basement, and sort out all my blessings again. What to keep? What to recycle? What to give away? What to throw away?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm sure I'm not the only one. It was almost nice when we moved more often, because I accumulated so much less "stuff." Now it's just sitting around in my basement, awaiting future usefulness.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or a future collection day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This week I was rereading in Exodus, about the children of Israel building the Tabernacle. I think (again) that my mind has been too long clouded over by Sunday school drawings of the Exodus. So often I tend to imagine this great mass of people leaving, with literally just the clothes on their backs, and the unleavened bread that they carried with them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nothing could be further from the truth. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3>
"And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians." Exodus 12: 35-36</h3>
</blockquote>
The Bible records that over 600,000 men left Egypt, not including the women and the children. (Exodus 12:37). That in itself is a HUGE number, but some have estimated the entire nation of Israel between one and two MILLION people! For the children of Israel to have been so many, "borrowing from" the Egyptians, is staggering indeed. The Egyptians were so glad to see the children of Israel leave, that they gave everything they had, and then some.<br />
<br />
This was not a poor, wayfaring people that left Egypt! This was a formidable nation, a rich nation, abundantly blessed by God! <br />
<br />
Here are some thought that struck me as I was reading this passage:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Blessed, by the hand of God:</b> The children of Israel had to say honestly that everything that they had received was a gift from God. As slaves, all they had possessed were their lives and their meager possessions in Egypt. The spoils they received, were the result of their obedience to God's command, and directed by His foreknowledge of the coming judgment of the people of Egypt. Not one of the Israelites could say, "I made myself rich." Everything they possessed was truly a gift from the Lord.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3>
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these I delight, saith the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24</h3>
</blockquote>
<b>Blessed, abundantly: </b>When I read the passage at the top of the blog, that speaks of the children of Israel receiving things from the Egyptians, I don't really take into account the amount of material blessings they received. OK, so they took some jewellry, some clothes, some pots and miscellaneous trinkets with them. <br />
<br />
It was only when I started to read the accounts of the furnishings of the Tabernacle, that it began to take shape in my mind. <br />
<br />
Almost everything in the Tabernacle was covered BY GOLD, even the floorboards. Some of the pieces were made of SOLID gold. Even if the gold plating was a thin layer, that is still a LOT of gold. This is not counting the silver, the brass, the cloth for the structure of the Tabernacle, the oil for the lamps, the perfumes, the spices, the jewels for Aaron's priestly garments.<br />
<br />
The children of Israel had been blessed, abundantly.<br />
<br />
<b>Blessed, to offer to the Lord: </b>What is sobering for me, is what the children of Israel did with their blessings:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"And the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 32:3-4</b></blockquote>
How much better is was for them, when, instead of worshipping their blessings, they offered them back up in sacrifice to the Lord:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much." Exodus 36:6-7</b></blockquote>
When I choose to take the blessings of the Lord, and worship the blessings instead of the Blessor, I will always be found lacking. There will never be enough to satisfy my sin-craving. When I return the gifts that God has supplied to me, I will be satisfied in the giving, and the Lord's work will be blessed for it.<br />
<br />
Most of us will agree, that we have been blessed like no other people before us, in this world's riches. Do we recognize them as God's gifts, or as gods?<br />
<br />
As I have heard many times, "Do I possess my things, or do they possess me?"<br />
<br />
Time to clean house...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953299091165558692.post-53939377710374102162016-01-06T05:37:00.001+01:002016-01-06T05:37:19.210+01:00Happy New Bonne Année<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<h3>
"<b>That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness..." Colossians 1:9-11</b></h3>
<br />
Good morning, dear friends,<br />
<br />
There are so many aspects of French culture that are a lot of fun, especially when you observe them through the eyes of a foreigner.<br />
<br />
For example, in case you missed it, we started a New Year a few days ago. <br />
<br />
(OK, now even I'm not THAT clueless, but you would think I am, since I keep writing 2015 on everything. And probably will, until March.)<br />
<br />
A fun French custom, is that the first time you see someone after the New Year, you wish them a "bonne année." To forget is to seem weird, or clumsy, or forgetful ("Didn't you notice that we just had a New Year?")<br />
<br />
Which brings some funny situations. For example, if I remember to say, "Bonne année," and the other person doesn't, they get kind of flustered. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0kb2ssaTNPELuDNX5dtgKH2sVfaBwrw9Fb41a7AvUP6QH6tVCcdj9PwQIKtGENUVW3FWrzCQtwh4xbHaJrNNpYVVDdg_x73kLp4H_C0SK0u_HARZF3ntZQIZhTokS87DRWME5-sm4P8/s1600/woman-698987_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0kb2ssaTNPELuDNX5dtgKH2sVfaBwrw9Fb41a7AvUP6QH6tVCcdj9PwQIKtGENUVW3FWrzCQtwh4xbHaJrNNpYVVDdg_x73kLp4H_C0SK0u_HARZF3ntZQIZhTokS87DRWME5-sm4P8/s200/woman-698987_960_720.jpg" width="147" /></a>And then, what happens when I don't see someone until about January 12th, do I still greet them with a "Bonne année?" What about in March?<br />
<br />
The spoken formula is also a little comical as well. "Bonne année, bonne santé, surtout la santé..." "Happy New Year, good health to you, especially good health..." This is usually accompanied by a recitation of all that has gone wrong with the person (and especially their health) in the past year. <br />
<br />
I have a hard time not cracking a smile. I usually reply something like, "Well, it's a new year. Hopefully this one will be better..."<br />
<br />
I had been thinking about this way of greeting each other after the holidays, and during our prayer meeting last night, my husband read the following verses before our praying time:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"For this cause also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness..." Colossians 1:9-11</b></blockquote>
Now, there's a New Year's greeting for you. <br />
<br />
What if I greeted my friends in Christ that way? More specifically, what if I prayed that way for each and every one of you today? And you prayed for me in the same way?<br />
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What a difference that would make in our families, our children, our churches, and our ministry!<br />
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There is so much more in store this year than wishes (another popular New Year's greeting, Meilleurs Voeux) and hopes for good health. There is the knowledge of a relationship with my gracious Heavenly Father, who supplies all my needs, many of my desires, and knows better than I do, which are which!<br />
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May Paul's greeting be on my lips today, as I think of each one of you, and of those that are around me.susan4frhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722641108266249458noreply@blogger.com2