He Loved Me - Even When I Was Mad At Him...

What do you do - When you love God but you're also so mad at Him - that you want to back away from Him? You are so angry - that you back away from church - your core group of Christian friends - your devotionals? This is where I have been the past three (3) weeks... I'm angry... But even through my anger - He made His presence and His love known to me.....

We have been going through our first serious trials of being a parent to a teen - A teen that decided she knew best... A teen that created such a mess that she could not find her way out... Instead of seeking help from us her parents - she decided to take out her anger on us.... She covered her fear and lack of control by being rebellious and disrespectful....

Before things started to spiral out of control - my daughter had left a message with the dean of girls at her school... She wanted to talk to her about something... Due to the busyness of the end of the year school activities - the dean did not get back to her for over a week...

God's timing is Perfect!!!! This is what the dean said when she called me after her discussion with my kid... This is what happened:

The dean finally called my daughter in to talk and my kid was mad...The first thing my daughter said is this, "I know why you called me in here - I don't know why my mom can't stay out of my business!" The dean advised my daughter she had no idea what she was talking about... She said that she called my daughter in because she had left a note that she wanted to talk.... My kid was shocked.... The dean asked her if she wanted to talk about what she meant... At first my kid said no and then all of a sudden everything came out... This huge weight was lifted off my kid's shoulders... The secret burdens she was hiding were freed and when my daughter came home and we talked - we cried together... and the healing started.....

You see - if the dean had called my kid in earlier - it would not have helped what had happened later... I was at a loss - I was so fearful for my daughter.... But God - opened that door of communication.. He knew I was desperate .... He knew my kid needed me.... He showed me He loved me regardless of how I was feeling about Him.... He is much bigger than my human emotions.. .. His love is far greater than I could ever imagine... I am in awe... I am humbled..

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. if I rise on the wings of dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-9

Pushing Down Roadblocks

Today I received the following prayer request:

"Here is a urgent request for you prayer warriors out there. A Missionary family we know that is serving in Africa has asked for prayer from their friends and partners around the world. They have three children who have contracted malaria. Two of them are responding to the recommended treatment and protocol and are doing better. The third child, a son is not responding to the protocol and it is been over four days. Pray for God's healing for this son and for all the family to regain health quickly.Thank you for your diligent prayers in their behalf."

In my Church we are gathering a group of women to go to West Africa next Spring. Our plan is to create a Vacation Bible School for children in a small village..... We are just beginning the planning stages.. One of the leaders that is critical to the planning of this missions trip shared with our group just recently her strong fear of malaria..... One of the reasons she had never gone to West Africa... is because of the possibility of malaria. She has been to Lebanon, Jordan, and many other "hot" zones and felt no fear.... But West Africa - major fear... A month ago she decided to try to overcome her fear and trust God and go to West Africa..

Satan knows our fears.....and is continuously trying to set up Road Blocks to prevent us to from following God's word, helping us to share God's word, and many times just being happy in God's word... Take my friend for instance and her fear of malaria... and suddenly a family she is close with contracts this awful illness....... Getting out of our comfort zone is so tough when these road blocks keep popping up... With prayer and God on our side...Satan does not have much of a chance.... but God never promised things would be easy.... if anything He is constantly preparing us for the trials and sacrifices we need to make in His name...

I have another friend who was in the missions field with her husband and young son in the Ukraine....she was starting to learn the language and the culture....she and her young family started to make a difference in the town they were in and all of a sudden BAM they are sent home.... Satan does this.... again those nasty ugly roadblocks.... when good is being done... he sets out to tear it down..

We as Christians need to jump over, push down, and walk around these roadblocks... We need not be discouraged because if there are roadblocks coming up... we are making a difference.. God is being seen, felt, and heard.....

Would you please join me in praying for this family in Africa. Pray for God's healing hands.. pray for all the children to be well and cured... Pray that no one else gets sick.. Thank you.