My Inheritance & Identity in Christ, Day 1

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God. 

John 1:12

When we put our trust in Christ, believing he is who he said he was, and we accept a personal relationship with him, and submit to him, as God's Son, 

we become a child of God, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.   

That is our Adoption Day into God's family, 

and we are legally bound, (justified) to him for all eternity.  

It is legal and binding and can not be undone.

The family of God becomes our Forever Family!! 

That my friend is a pretty amazing thing!  

Easter...

I hope you had a Happy Easter!!  Our family enjoyed being in the US for this special holiday.   I will be honest that I was pretty much in love with all the cute decorations available and all the aisles at the stores, filled with Easter "treats" for the kid's baskets.  It was a bit overwhelming, but at the same time it was so much fun. :)  I didn't let myself purchase very many decorations, just a few for the 2 tables we have here.  Haven't decided if I will be taking them with me back to Ecuador, giving them to my daughter here, or packing them away, to be available the next time we are in the States for Easter. :D  Oh the decisions to be made. 

 Sunday afternoon, 4/16/2017

My married daughter here in Florida, had to work Sunday night, (she's a CNA at a local hospital). So we decided to have our big dinner, on Saturday, and give the kids their baskets afterwards, and even have our family egg hunt. Sunday was focused on church. Tony and I along with Teddy and Carla, helped out in the children's groups here, as they have a huge influx of people in on Easter. Carla, Teddy and I were assigned to pre-school, while Tony worked down with the 5th grade boys.


I will admit that I was NOT looking forward to working with the preschool kids. There were 2 things going on with this. First, we as a family aren't in the States very often at Easter time. When I thought about Easter and getting to be in the States, I was looking forward to being in the Worship Service as a family. Then there's the fact that it's just not an age I really enjoy working with... yes, if you know me, I did teach in Early Childhood for years... yes, children's ministry was my primary focus of ministry for the first 13 years of our missionary service. But, I have spent more than a decade working in Women's ministry, and my involvement in Children's ministry has been as a "resource" and a teacher, training teachers. I am much more comfortable speaking to a room full of ladies than dealing with preschool kids and all that entails. (and yes, I very much enjoy having my grandkids around and the majority of them are "preschool" age! :) Anyway, that being said, I had been praying that the Lord would help me to have the right attitude, and use me to encourage and bless someone on Sunday.


Just about the time we were ready to actually start class, the door opened and 2 little kids walked in. Their parents were speaking English to us, but Spanish to the kids. They came in, and watching the other kids started trying to participate. I went over to the little girl, and asked her if she spoke English? She looked and me and then said, no. So, I explained to the two of them what we were going to do next. They joined the rest of the kids on the rug, and then I watched as the teacher, started the opening, using some eggs to explain the Easter lesson, (a shortened version of the popular Resurrection Eggs). I asked her if I could have the eggs for a minute before she moved on, and I sat down on the floor next to these 2 children, and showed them the eggs and explained the whole story. As I spoke to them in Spanish, they lit up and became engaged. We continued with the video lesson, which involved some interaction with the kids. They tried to follow along and do the hand motions with the rest of the kids for the songs, etc. Then we broke up for "small groups" where we were going to review the lesson. I took them over to a table, and using the visuals we had, told them the story in Spanish. As I was speaking to these 2 and they were asking and answering questions, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the still small voice... "See, I didn't make a mistake! You are EXACTLY where I needed you to be today!"


I don't know about you, but I still need these reminders from time to time. You know, when we think things should be going a different way, or we wish they were different. When we are following God, and seeking his will and walking in the way He leads, it's important to remember that he NEVER, EVER makes a mistake. He has a plan and a reason for everything he allows. Sometimes we will know right away, like I did yesterday, sometimes we may not know until we get to heaven, BUT, that doesn't mean we can't trust Him, and remember that he does ALL things well. His plans are not my plans and his ways are not my ways. He has plans so much bigger, and better than I could ever imagine.


Keeping my eyes on Jesus today. Hope you are too!


Blessings, Joy

The Armor of God

Sometimes, God's working in our life is slow and gentle, and sometimes it comes as at a time when we weren't expecting and catches us totally by surprise.  Have you ever been in a place in your life, when you felt a bit unsettled, uneasy, or even just a bit fearful of what the future was going to be, or how all the pieces were going to fit together, BUT at the same time, felt that you were in a pretty good place in your spiritual life?  I mean you were consistently having your devotions and you were "doing" all the "right things".   Right in the middle of this, season, when even though you were struggling at bit with contentment and joy, you were sure everything was "fine"... God drops something in your lap, that totally lifts the "scales" that had been over your eyes, and clouding your spiritual eyes from what was really happening in your life?

Well, that is where I found myself just 4 short weeks ago.  We stopped at our friends house, for one night on our family trip along the east coast.  That evening my friend shared with me that they had started a new Bible Study with the Ladies of their church.  I shared the Bible Study I was doing, (which was/is an excellent study).  Then she mentioned that a few of the ladies that hadn't been able to attend Sunday evenings study was going to get together that night to watch the video from Session 1.  So I went up to watch.

I will admit that I almost didn't go up... I thought, I don't want to intrude.  I won't be able to do the whole study, why go watch the first session, I don't even have the book.  I'm in the middle of doing a great Bible Study, myself.  But, the Spirit of God prompted my heart to go.  Thankfully, this is one of the times, I didn't try to rationalize myself out of obeying, but just went up.  That first session,  I took several notes on my phone.  I was captivated by how many of the truths she was speaking about, lined up with what I had been studying...you know,  you really need to sit up and pay attention when God uses multiple people and sources to speak the same truth to your heart!!

A week later our trip brought us back to these same friends, where we were planning to spend a week.  In that week, I had the opportunity to watch Sessions 2 and 3, and my friend, gifted me with the Study book.  In one week, I completed the "homework" for weeks 1 and 2.  I couldn't seem to get enough.  I also kept wanting to share every new thought with someone.  I would think, WOW, I never saw it like that before!  Or WHOA, what a difference that would make if people actually applied it to their lives!!  What a difference it would make if I would just apply it!

Now,  I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 5 years old.  That means that I have been walking this Christian life for 50 years.  Just like everyone else, some seasons better than others.  I have been taught and have taught about the Armor of God, we find described in Ephesians 6, countless times. As a child I did "sword drills" in Sunday School and Children's Church...(if you don't know what this is, it basically is a game you play with children, to see who can look up Bible verses the fastest).  I even became aware of the need to "put it on", daily, asking God to use each piece to guard the different areas of my, my mind, my heart, my walk, etc.  BUT, I can honestly say that until I did this study, I never really looked at each piece in detail or thought about how each one specifically was designed to protect me from the attacks of Satan.  I also NEVER connected the Armor of God in Ephesians 6 to the Armor of the Divine Warrior in Isaiah 59, BUT many of the people who were reading Paul's letter in that day, totally got the connection, both the examples to the armor of the Roman soldiers that they saw on a daily basis, and also to the Divine Warrior described in Isaiah as they were students of the Old Testament.  This armor God has given to me, is not just any armor that was lying around... It is his very own armor!!  He took it off and GAVE it to me!   I have God's own armor to put on and defend myself in this daily battle.  There is NOTHING more powerful that I could have than that!!

If you are feeling unsure of your value or who you are in Christ, or if you are filled with fear and insecurity right now.   I encourage you to read the book of Ephesians.  To put on your Armor, and remember who you are in Christ Jesus.  You have been adopted into God's Forever Family!!  He is your Father, your Daddy.  He is blessed.  He loves you and because He is blessed, you are blessed. It's part of your DNA!  If you have access to it, I highly recommend The Armor of God Study by Priscilla Shirer.  You can rent the video sessions on-line at Lifeway.com.   BUT you don't have to have the video sessions to do the study.  They are just an extra "bonus." :)  (and just as a disclaimer, I am not receiving anything to recommend this study.  I doubt the people at LifeWay or Priscilla Shirer, will ever even see this post and know that I have recommended the study.)

Here, There and Everywhere...

We left our temporary home in Florida on Sunday afternoon, March 12, and headed on an adventure.

Monday afternoon we arrived at the home of long time friends in Spartanburg, SC.  It was such a joy to spend time catching up with the Blantons.  We met them for the first time, just a couple months after we arrived in Ecuador, and they have been close family friends ever since!

Tuesday evening found us in Madison, VA, spending the night with our friends, Tim and Lori Duggins.  Their daughter, Megan,  was on Spring Break, so it was great to get to have a little time with her, too.

Wednesday, we headed up to Lancaster, PA, to spend a few days with the Blevins.  Cindy is from the church in New Jersey where I grew up, and is the closest to a sister, I have. :)  The exciting thing about traveling to PA, was that they had just had a "nor'easter" just come through and got about 2 feet of snow on Tuesday evening!!  We enjoyed some quiet days resting and visiting with them.  It was wonderful to get to see their grown children, and meet their new grandson, Ezra!

Another great surprise and highlight of our trip to PA, was that we had a "back-stage" tour of the Sight and Sound theater, which was super interesting, and then we were surprised, with tickets to see the Jonah Show!  It was amazing!!  What a wonderful gift to our family.

On Monday, March 20, we said, "good-bye" to our friends in PA and headed back to VA.   Tuesday, the 21st, our daughter, Carla, had her cardio check-up, at UVA medical center in Charlottesville. What a blessing to hear her doctor say, she is doing great!!  We are praising the Lord for all he has done in her life.  During our week in Madison, VA, we enjoyed catching up with friends.  Visiting a farm, and also seeing Tad Coffin Performance Saddles being made, and learning what all goes into it and why.  It was super interesting.

While we were there, I had the opportunity to join the Ladies Bible Study, from Mountain View Chapel.  My friend Lori, gave me the study book, to follow along, and I started the most amazing Bible Study, I have done in a long time.  The Armor of God Study, by Priscilla Shirer.  I have done lots of studies and they have all blessed my life in one way or another, but this one definitely is up there with the best of them.  I don't know why I am surprised, when God brings things into my life, at the perfect time, to teach me what I need to learn.  Many times, when I didn't even know I needed to learn it! ;)

Now we are back in Florida.  The kids just finished their week of spring break, although, I'm sure Teddy and Carla, would argue that point with you, since both of them spent time during their break participating in the standardized achievement testing going on at the Christian School.  We are looking forward to Easter and celebrating the resurrection of our Savior!!  Time is flying by.  We will be making a trip the first of May for 10 days to visit family in Ohio and Missouri.  When we get back home around the 10th, we will just have about 2 weeks, before we make our move back to Tennessee for June and July!  During these days, I am enjoying every minute with 2 of the grandkids that live nearby!!

Right now our plans are to spend 2 months in Tennessee and head back to Ecuador early in August.
Thank you for your prayers for our family.