The Family of God

Recently I had the blessed privilege of being part of  a small anointing service for a dear friend and sister who was struggling with an illness.  ( James 5:13-16)

As a small group of close friends and fellow missionaries gathered around the sick bed it just struck my heart how miraculous it was that such an unlikely group of people all the way from Canada and across the US would end up together like this, close like a family. All of us with different backgrounds, different personalities, each of us with our own strengths and weaknesses but all of us adopted into the family of God! Just as parents delegate responsibilities to their children so our Father God has called each one of us to this spot on the earth at this time and season of our lives to fulfill the work he has for us. On this common ground we stand each one us doing our small parts to make up a bigger part.

It was a precious and beautiful time, gathering in the cool, airy room just as the evening shades fell closing another day. We began with a time of singing, opening our hearts in worship to Jesus. The spirit of God was present as the healing oil was applied. We gathered around the bed knitting our hearts together in unity lifting up our dear sister to the great Lover and Physician who alone can bring deliverance and healing and comfort to the brokenhearted and the wounded and give joy to the oppressed! A tight circle of heads bowing low, healing hands reaching out to minister.

Afterwards there were songs again and blessings! Our hearts bound together like a family with God our Father and Jesus our brother!

Thanksgiving for grace flowing down rich and free to clean, open hearts. Thanksgiving for times of testing and trials that draw us closer to each other and closer to God; that make us more homesick for heaven, that help us put things in perspective. We are the body of Christ and this is why I wouldn’t trade my life for anything in the world!

Saturday Morning With Veronika

It had been a hard week and I was looking forward to sleeping in but at 6:00 I was awakened by a small girl standing beside my bed, “ Mama, look,” she made a little downward motion with her hand. I looked down in time to see yellow liquid running down her legs and forming a rather large puddle at her feet right beside my bed. I cleaned her up while trying to stay in a state that would allow me to take up sleep again right where I had left off. Meanwhile in the tiny cradle beside my bed a small boy was stirring. I quickly tucked Nika back in her bed and crashed on mine hoping the baby boy would not wake up. Two seconds later Nika was beside my bed, “ Mama, babys crying!” I soked her back into her bed and stumbled out to the kitchen to fix a bottle. I took the baby to bed with me thinking I could still keep sleeping while holding his bottle but once again the little girl appeared beside my bed with the request that no parent can refuse, “Mama, potty!” I just groaned and rolled out of bed, leaving the baby with a propped up bottle ( bad mommy, I know! ) While Nika teetered lengthily on the edge of the toilet seat I sat on the floor with my head leaning over on the tub I closed my eyes once more in hopes of a couple minutes of rest. After a long time I finally pulled her off and said she can finish later if she’s not done.

Back in the bedroom I eased back into bed so as not to disturb the baby but Nika was jealous about the baby being in bed with me so here she comes with her pillow and blanket!! Oh joy! I pulled her up on the bed then lay down once more and covered my head with my sheet in a desperate attempt to block out reality. But no such luck was in store for me! one second later the sheet gets pulled back and Nika peers underneath to let me know the baby is crying again! I slowly pull the baby toward me and comfort him in my arms meanwhile Nika has gotten off the bed with her blanket and spread it out in the closet. Now she gets her dolls and lines them all up facedown on the blanket, she gets up and finds the spanky spoon and proceeds to spank each one while solemnly telling them, “No, no, don’t do that!” (I’m  not sure what her dolls did as I thought it was her who was doing everything!)

I closed my eyes and opened them a couple minutes later to see her climbing up a wicker clothes shelf in our bedroom, grabbing a wad of balloons from the top shelf and stuffing them into her mouth! I knew she was headed my way and sure enough there she was with a handful of slimy balloons begging me to blow them up. I blew one up and said we’re saving the others for her birthday. I close my eyes one last time but open them again when I hear her chanting, “ Micheal Jordan, Micheal Jordan!” I thought I couldn’t be hearing right but I was! She was using her balloon as a basketball and chanting the name Micheal Jordan!! Not exactly what I had envisioned my daughter to be chanting at 2.5 years old!!

Beside me on the bed was  a not so fresh smelling baby boy still squirming and complaining… At that point I gave up the idea of sleeping in and decided to just get up. It was now 7:00 am on a saturday morning!! How exciting!!

Time behooves me to tell of the rest of the day and the activities of one small girl. I’m surprised I don’t have any grey hair yet.