FOCUS ON JESUS

We are the recipients of many expressions of love and care, despite our unworthiness. The gift of faithful financial and prayer supporters over the past 40+ years humbles us. During Home Service and Mid-Term Deputation, people continually bless us with hospitality (our waistlines prove that!) and other thoughtful gifts. Back a number of years ago, one of our supporting churches gave us our very first digital camera which opened up a “new world” for us for sharing our pictures via emails and blogs. This past weekend, that same church gifted us with the invitation to attend a Ladies’ Conference free of cost…with the assurance that we could simply sit and enjoy!

The theme of the Conference was “Weight-less…laying aside every weight” and, of course, concentrated on Hebrews 12:1-5. Great  “food for thought” as we find/take time to think deeper on the teaching and its application to our lives. The middle session was especially convicting and helpful. It dealt with “the sins which so easily beset us.” The speaker suggested three “sins” which ladies seem prone toward…all having to do with keeping our eyes on the wrong things.

•  The sin of focusing on obstacles or problems that lie ahead causing both fear and anxiety.
•  The sin of focusing on the past causing bitterness and unforgiveness.
•  The sin of focusing on those around us causing discontentment. 

Obviously the answer is to confess these things as sin and fix our eyes on Jesus. "Thank you Lord for this precious reminder!" One of the challenges given was to stick with the race God has set before us and FINISH it! May we do that for the glory of God!" Thanks to our partner churches who minister to us holistically."

Child’s Talk

How refreshing to be among children who are being brought up in the nurture of the Lord! I have been able to spend time with a number of my nieces/nephew’s families where that is true. I’ll just share two such incidences that were such a blessing.

Following my time of sharing at my home/sending church on Sunday evening, my 8-year old nephew, Kaden, (about 8 years old) looked me in the eyes and said “Aunt Ruthie, I’m praying for you.” You know that when a child says that, it’s true…and we also know that God responds quickly to children’s prayers because they pray in such simple faith. Thank you, Kaden!

Then as I walked with a niece’s hand in each of my hands, 8-year old Elle casually said “I’m so glad that God hears our prayers and answers them.” When I asked why she said that, she told me that she had prayed that we could go to the balloon festival…and that’s where we were walking to. Plus she said that she was also praying that she could find at least one shark tooth in the “archaeological dig” which was the first activity of the balloon festival we were headed to. Sure enough, she found several of them and in fact found the largest one among all that her sisters and cousins found! And as a bonus, God cleared the skies enough so that all of the hot-air balloons were able to lift off—drizzly rain and very cloudy weather had made it questionable if they would be able to…but God answers prayer. Yes, Elle, I’m also glad that God hears and answers prayer! You and Kaden encourage me to persist in prayer with faith.