I woke up in the night, around 3:30 AM, when my husband began receiving calls from concerned people in his home state to share the information that everyone is advised to take a bath with salt water to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.
While I wasn't too happy to have my sleep disturbed, I was relieved to hear my husbands laughing response. Apparently many are taking the advice seriously and a very fearful that Ebola is spreading quickly.
Fear of the unknown is very common. Fear of what we don't understand and cannot see is even more common. It's no surprise that the most common theme Jesus addressed during his ministry was fear. He understood how fearful humans can be and he tried to calm our fears by encouraging us to put our trust and confidence in him.
It's so easy to make careless mistakes in life or to be faced by tragedy in the form of abuse, loss of financial security, floods or fires, betrayal, etc. Jesus certainly faced the first and last and provides comfort to those in pain or suffering from depression.
In times of uncertainty, do not forget to turn to God and seek comfort from the Word and in prayer.
Showing posts with label Trust in God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trust in God. Show all posts
Friday, August 8, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Summer's End; New Beginnings...
Here it is the end of my summer break, which of course isn't summer in Nigeria but rainy season! Anyway, I have two more days of my break, then the weekend and then I report with the other teachers on Monday.
I hardly went out of town during the break. It was hard on the kids, but at least they had soccer camp to attend and some friends were around. As for me, I enjoyed my usual "favorites": baking, reading, watching NCSI shows, Food Channel, and Travel Channel. I also spent some time doing a little organizing around the house.
Even though nothing grand happened, I do feel refreshed. It was good to have time to tickle Daniel, share some late-night chats with Annette, and drive Nat to soccer practice across town. I find it is during the summer breaks that I feel I have more time to do "Mom" types of things. The kids are at that age where I don't want them to depend as much on me, but it's good to have time to be there for them and allow them time to develop their own levels of independence.
Becoming independent is never easy and I think letting go is even harder. I remember being excited to travel alone for the first times, get a job, and go off to college...but now to anticipate some of those opportunities for my kids is even harder. Now I know what's out there and its hard to let them stretch their wings; with all the security and health issues going on today it is especially hard.
Nonetheless, I continue to rely on the same God for guidance, protection, and trust that whatever happens, he is still in control. Watching a TV show with my daughter the other night reminded me that since my kids are black (or brown as they say), they will face challenges and attitudes that I may not understand so trusting God in those areas is like trusting someone leading me with my eyes blindfolded.
That element of trust is nothing new since I've always enjoyed change and accepting new challenges I've learned how to trust God. Granted, that doesn't mean it's easy or doesn't involve additional prayer because it does! It just means that I feel safe knowing God is in control. There's a hymn we sing here that includes the line, "...in the hollow of your hand..." I like knowing that God holds me in the hollow of his had, but I don't see him squeezing tight. He holds me loosely, knowing that I will want to stretch my wings and flutter here and there. I guess that's what I try to do with my kids too.
With a new school year starting there are new beginnings; I like new beginnings too...you never know what new challenges and opportunities are just around the corner!
I hardly went out of town during the break. It was hard on the kids, but at least they had soccer camp to attend and some friends were around. As for me, I enjoyed my usual "favorites": baking, reading, watching NCSI shows, Food Channel, and Travel Channel. I also spent some time doing a little organizing around the house.
Even though nothing grand happened, I do feel refreshed. It was good to have time to tickle Daniel, share some late-night chats with Annette, and drive Nat to soccer practice across town. I find it is during the summer breaks that I feel I have more time to do "Mom" types of things. The kids are at that age where I don't want them to depend as much on me, but it's good to have time to be there for them and allow them time to develop their own levels of independence.
Becoming independent is never easy and I think letting go is even harder. I remember being excited to travel alone for the first times, get a job, and go off to college...but now to anticipate some of those opportunities for my kids is even harder. Now I know what's out there and its hard to let them stretch their wings; with all the security and health issues going on today it is especially hard.
Nonetheless, I continue to rely on the same God for guidance, protection, and trust that whatever happens, he is still in control. Watching a TV show with my daughter the other night reminded me that since my kids are black (or brown as they say), they will face challenges and attitudes that I may not understand so trusting God in those areas is like trusting someone leading me with my eyes blindfolded.
That element of trust is nothing new since I've always enjoyed change and accepting new challenges I've learned how to trust God. Granted, that doesn't mean it's easy or doesn't involve additional prayer because it does! It just means that I feel safe knowing God is in control. There's a hymn we sing here that includes the line, "...in the hollow of your hand..." I like knowing that God holds me in the hollow of his had, but I don't see him squeezing tight. He holds me loosely, knowing that I will want to stretch my wings and flutter here and there. I guess that's what I try to do with my kids too.
With a new school year starting there are new beginnings; I like new beginnings too...you never know what new challenges and opportunities are just around the corner!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
1Corinthians 10 is a reminder of how we, and people of the past, often feel trapped by the world around us as we search for an escape.
These days I have been amazed at how lifes challenges continue to bombard me through busy schedules, negative students, hot days, limited electricity, but God's Word and words of hope still manage to get through to me.
Escape is impossible on our own, but through Christ anything is possible. During this Lenten season remember to look not at the challenges from friends, work, busyness, family members, but to look further down the road at the Resurrection promises that wait for us.
Lifes challenges will never end, and neither will God's promises of protection and hope in eternity with him. If we can find that balance between doing our work and other tasks before us and trusting that God has control of everything, then we can hear his music to guide our dance steps even in the midst of a storm.
May His music always be stronger than Satan's lies and confusing myths. Let us find a way to dance to the cross together!
These days I have been amazed at how lifes challenges continue to bombard me through busy schedules, negative students, hot days, limited electricity, but God's Word and words of hope still manage to get through to me.
Escape is impossible on our own, but through Christ anything is possible. During this Lenten season remember to look not at the challenges from friends, work, busyness, family members, but to look further down the road at the Resurrection promises that wait for us.
Lifes challenges will never end, and neither will God's promises of protection and hope in eternity with him. If we can find that balance between doing our work and other tasks before us and trusting that God has control of everything, then we can hear his music to guide our dance steps even in the midst of a storm.
May His music always be stronger than Satan's lies and confusing myths. Let us find a way to dance to the cross together!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Faith in Christ
It has been a few weeks since I last posted. School work and meetings, family needs, and Internet issues has made it hard to find the time. Even so, life is going well. We've had a month of school already and progress reports just went out. The kids and I have settled into our routines and are trying to keep up with all our challenges.
Nigeria too has stayed calm. We thank God for that! Our church attendance is even back to where it was two years ago.
This is the 6th Biblical Truths. We had seven of us at Bible Study yesterday as we shared the study below. We shared how it is a challenge to understand the difference of doing good works and being kind to others as a way of showing our thankfulness to God for his love to us. We also discussed how it can be a challenge to hear God in the midst of our busy lives.
We have just two more Biblical Truths to study and then we will begin to study the lives of Christians in the past.
Faith in Christ Romans 3:21-24, Romans 8:5-8
Like Luther, we have to understand that if we try to work out our faith with our minds and our wills, it won’t work. We will always fall short. The only answer is to surrender to Christ and put our faith and trust in Him. That’s not to say God’s way will always make sense; often it doesn’t from our human perspective. But trusting with our heart, mind, and soul, even when it seems crazy or impossible, is what Christ wants. We have to come to the point of letting go and letting God take charge of our lives.
How do we do this? We study the word, we study the lives of Christians before us or around us, and we live one day at a time trusting God’s will above our own. We put our dreams to His test and study His ways so that we can understand His direction better. We come to Him in prayer, communicating our desires to Him and weighing them against Jesus’ words in the scripture and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Those two things, God’s Word and Prayer, are what can make all the difference.
By ourselves, we just can’t do it, but by trusting God’s love at all times, trusting His forgiveness when we stumble or fall, and being open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we read His Word and come to Him in Prayer means that God’s salvation is a sure thing. Through faith in God and His promises we can stand firm no matter what storms come our way.
Nigeria too has stayed calm. We thank God for that! Our church attendance is even back to where it was two years ago.
This is the 6th Biblical Truths. We had seven of us at Bible Study yesterday as we shared the study below. We shared how it is a challenge to understand the difference of doing good works and being kind to others as a way of showing our thankfulness to God for his love to us. We also discussed how it can be a challenge to hear God in the midst of our busy lives.
We have just two more Biblical Truths to study and then we will begin to study the lives of Christians in the past.
Faith in Christ Romans 3:21-24, Romans 8:5-8
Of all the
Biblical Truths, this is one that Lutherans should understand most. Martin
Luther, like so many others, tried to earn his way into God’s favor. Over time,
he realized that his own sinful nature always got in the way of his efforts.
This is the
same for so many of us. We try to do what is right, we try to do good and be good,
to think kind thoughts, to be there for our family, friends, and church
members, but somehow something keeps us from putting God’s will ahead of our
own. It’s hard when we try to do what is right and then someone near us does
something or says something that just isn’t right or fair and we get annoyed or
even angry. Sometimes it’s hard not to lash out with words meant to hurt. But
then we have to pick up the pieces and no matter how hard we try or how much it
makes sense in the world’s view, defending ourselves with the intent to put
others down is just not right in God’s eyes.Like Luther, we have to understand that if we try to work out our faith with our minds and our wills, it won’t work. We will always fall short. The only answer is to surrender to Christ and put our faith and trust in Him. That’s not to say God’s way will always make sense; often it doesn’t from our human perspective. But trusting with our heart, mind, and soul, even when it seems crazy or impossible, is what Christ wants. We have to come to the point of letting go and letting God take charge of our lives.
How do we do this? We study the word, we study the lives of Christians before us or around us, and we live one day at a time trusting God’s will above our own. We put our dreams to His test and study His ways so that we can understand His direction better. We come to Him in prayer, communicating our desires to Him and weighing them against Jesus’ words in the scripture and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Those two things, God’s Word and Prayer, are what can make all the difference.
By ourselves, we just can’t do it, but by trusting God’s love at all times, trusting His forgiveness when we stumble or fall, and being open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we read His Word and come to Him in Prayer means that God’s salvation is a sure thing. Through faith in God and His promises we can stand firm no matter what storms come our way.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A New Year
I'm feeling melancholy tonight; usually I try not to write when I feel this way so that I don't come across depressing. But here I am...
The break has been good. I did wear myself out some with baking before Christmas and managed to make a nice meal for Christmas Eve...then I crashed for a few days. Then I baked, packed, and cleaned for about thirteen hours straight before getting a few hours of sleep. The next morning we headed off to Adamawa, our home state, for New Years.
Our time in Jimeta and Bilachi was very restful. We love our house in Jimeta. It is so spacious and comfortable that we immediately feel at home. Our time in the village was good too. Amson was busy visiting friends and family while I took it easy.
Nat and Annette were out a lot with friends, new and old, and Daniel was in and out too as uncles went around with him a little. I had a little time with my mother-in-law, but since it's a challenge to communicate, we don't try much. She's a very hard worker, especially as my two sisters-in-law that live with us had to head back for classes before we left and Mama was left without all her helpers.
One afternoon I spent a little time with her washing a few dishes and watching her clean and smoke fish. It was amazing to realize how quickly the fresh fish dries up in her smoker; the fish caught that morning was dried before evening.
We came back yesterday and now I am trying to think about what I want to do before school starts. I don't want to stress myself too much, but we do have to celebrate Daniel's birthday.
His sixth birthday is actually today, but we will celebrate it two days late. I'm glad I have tomorrow to do the baking. Today I had a few brainstorms about what to do and what to make so I'll bake tomorrow. Amson promised to look for the remote control car he's been asking for; I couldn't find one before Christmas and the car I did find only lasted a few hours before starting to break apart after the first time it was dropped on the floor.
Nat was happy with the games he got to play on his PlayStation and Annette could hardly believe she got the phone. (Let's hope it lasts, it's already on its second life since it was dropped in the latrine in Adamawa, but somehow continues to work.) I'm enjoying the wall clocks my husband bought me. (Not very romantic, but I did ask him to buy one as our bedroom clock that had been a wedding present finally got hit once too often by a bouncing ball and couldn't be taped up again.)
This mood I'm in has been hanging around for several days, I started thinking about my Dad and sister Mary when the kids and I were playing Monopoly. (Mary and I often played board games when cousins came for a holiday.) Later I realized that the day we were playing was actually the same day my Dad had died two years earlier. Mary died in 2001, just after Thanksgiving. I know one thing that is hitting me more this year is how important it is to not stress so much that I forget to enjoy the moment.
With school starting up again I hope I can remember that. I always get so busy when school is in session and the pace seems more draining this year...I guess that's why I have allowed myself to work less at home.
Well, it's after midnight here in Nigeria and I still plan to get up before the kids to have devotions and get my baking started. I'm always in a better mood when I get up before anyone else and can have some quiet time before the TV comes on and everyone starts waking up.
One thing I have been very thankful for is a peaceful holiday season. After rumors of unrest in Jos, and some problems in a neighboring state it has been a relief to have calm where we are. I truly believe God is in control of our lives and even if He allows trouble to occur, I also believe He provides us with the fortitude to withstand life's challenges. May this year be a year where you turn more fully toward God and trust his control.
The break has been good. I did wear myself out some with baking before Christmas and managed to make a nice meal for Christmas Eve...then I crashed for a few days. Then I baked, packed, and cleaned for about thirteen hours straight before getting a few hours of sleep. The next morning we headed off to Adamawa, our home state, for New Years.
Our time in Jimeta and Bilachi was very restful. We love our house in Jimeta. It is so spacious and comfortable that we immediately feel at home. Our time in the village was good too. Amson was busy visiting friends and family while I took it easy.
Nat and Annette were out a lot with friends, new and old, and Daniel was in and out too as uncles went around with him a little. I had a little time with my mother-in-law, but since it's a challenge to communicate, we don't try much. She's a very hard worker, especially as my two sisters-in-law that live with us had to head back for classes before we left and Mama was left without all her helpers.
One afternoon I spent a little time with her washing a few dishes and watching her clean and smoke fish. It was amazing to realize how quickly the fresh fish dries up in her smoker; the fish caught that morning was dried before evening.
We came back yesterday and now I am trying to think about what I want to do before school starts. I don't want to stress myself too much, but we do have to celebrate Daniel's birthday.
His sixth birthday is actually today, but we will celebrate it two days late. I'm glad I have tomorrow to do the baking. Today I had a few brainstorms about what to do and what to make so I'll bake tomorrow. Amson promised to look for the remote control car he's been asking for; I couldn't find one before Christmas and the car I did find only lasted a few hours before starting to break apart after the first time it was dropped on the floor.
Nat was happy with the games he got to play on his PlayStation and Annette could hardly believe she got the phone. (Let's hope it lasts, it's already on its second life since it was dropped in the latrine in Adamawa, but somehow continues to work.) I'm enjoying the wall clocks my husband bought me. (Not very romantic, but I did ask him to buy one as our bedroom clock that had been a wedding present finally got hit once too often by a bouncing ball and couldn't be taped up again.)
This mood I'm in has been hanging around for several days, I started thinking about my Dad and sister Mary when the kids and I were playing Monopoly. (Mary and I often played board games when cousins came for a holiday.) Later I realized that the day we were playing was actually the same day my Dad had died two years earlier. Mary died in 2001, just after Thanksgiving. I know one thing that is hitting me more this year is how important it is to not stress so much that I forget to enjoy the moment.
With school starting up again I hope I can remember that. I always get so busy when school is in session and the pace seems more draining this year...I guess that's why I have allowed myself to work less at home.
Well, it's after midnight here in Nigeria and I still plan to get up before the kids to have devotions and get my baking started. I'm always in a better mood when I get up before anyone else and can have some quiet time before the TV comes on and everyone starts waking up.
One thing I have been very thankful for is a peaceful holiday season. After rumors of unrest in Jos, and some problems in a neighboring state it has been a relief to have calm where we are. I truly believe God is in control of our lives and even if He allows trouble to occur, I also believe He provides us with the fortitude to withstand life's challenges. May this year be a year where you turn more fully toward God and trust his control.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Back in Jos
There are many titles I could use for today's blog, Had I been able to change they type setting in the title I would have called this,
"Afraid?" Give it to God...
Earlier this week I was contemplating our return to Jos and the tears started falling. As is often the case, it was late at night and everyone else was fast asleep so it was just me and God.
I had been reading a book by Lori Wick, Every Storm and was reminded of God's steadfastness. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold in my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 The passage goes on to describe those that might be after us and the writer offers shouts of joy knowing that, "he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble..." verse 5a.
Claiming these verses gave me peace. That idea of peace continues to be on the forefront of my mind and I can see it is on the mind of many.
How many are not living in peace right now? My husband is hoping to travel to Israel soon; as I write this I hear the news of Israel and Palestine. I pray for peace there.
I have not been following much news lately, but I read that in my home state there are many fearing floods; the elements too can create fear in our hearts.
Life is so unpredictable that I am reassured to seek peace and protection in God's shelter. I have always felt I could trust God with my life and He has so often given me courage, I should say, COURAGE! I have put him to the test so many times in the past years, not just the eighteen that I have spent in Nigeria, but even as a child when life's challenges seemed too great for me, He was there reminding me of the price he paid on Calvary and that if He could rise up from the cross, I too can rise up from whatever happens to me.
There is a lot of Peace in the Promise of His Love! Sharing love can bring a lot of peace, but persnally Knowing the Source of that Love clears the worry and stress that tries to cloud my vision. When my tears stop falling and my vision clears, His Presence is always clearer and I thank and praise Him for the assurance He offers. God is Peace and through Jesus Christ there is joy no matter what happens to us!
May you too know His Peace and Trust His Steadfastness!
Dorthea
"Afraid?" Give it to God...
Earlier this week I was contemplating our return to Jos and the tears started falling. As is often the case, it was late at night and everyone else was fast asleep so it was just me and God.
I had been reading a book by Lori Wick, Every Storm and was reminded of God's steadfastness. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold in my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 The passage goes on to describe those that might be after us and the writer offers shouts of joy knowing that, "he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble..." verse 5a.
Claiming these verses gave me peace. That idea of peace continues to be on the forefront of my mind and I can see it is on the mind of many.
How many are not living in peace right now? My husband is hoping to travel to Israel soon; as I write this I hear the news of Israel and Palestine. I pray for peace there.
I have not been following much news lately, but I read that in my home state there are many fearing floods; the elements too can create fear in our hearts.
Life is so unpredictable that I am reassured to seek peace and protection in God's shelter. I have always felt I could trust God with my life and He has so often given me courage, I should say, COURAGE! I have put him to the test so many times in the past years, not just the eighteen that I have spent in Nigeria, but even as a child when life's challenges seemed too great for me, He was there reminding me of the price he paid on Calvary and that if He could rise up from the cross, I too can rise up from whatever happens to me.
There is a lot of Peace in the Promise of His Love! Sharing love can bring a lot of peace, but persnally Knowing the Source of that Love clears the worry and stress that tries to cloud my vision. When my tears stop falling and my vision clears, His Presence is always clearer and I thank and praise Him for the assurance He offers. God is Peace and through Jesus Christ there is joy no matter what happens to us!
May you too know His Peace and Trust His Steadfastness!
Dorthea
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