Today’s Gonna’ Be Good!

“God by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of…infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20 TLB

What would today look like if we lived, thought, walked and talked, like we truly believe this?! What can you dare to ask or dream?! What are your highest prayers, desires, thoughts and hopes?! Do we dare to dream, to ask, to pray and let God work His great plan! It’s a great day to be alive for King Jesus and see what He wants to do!

Early this morning a little book caught my eye so I picked it up and read it. It was full of scriptures, prayers and thoughts. Ephesians 3:20 was one of the scriptures and my mind couldn’t help but pause at those words and contemplate them. When I was in college, a single missionary lady, Helen M, who traveled the United States and around the world encouraging Christians and witnessing for Christ, spoke in Chapel. She told thrilling stories of experiences she had; impossible situations when God intervened in miraculous ways. It was amazing; totally wonderful to hear the details of such adventures! After chapel, students walking the halls commented on her presentation and I was truly astonished to hear one say, ‘You don’t really believe that stuff, do you?” His comment was unbelievable to me. How could he NOT believe the things this person witnessed and recounted to us?!

Upon retrospect, I can’t help but wonder if my friend knew or served the God that lived in and through Helen; the true and living God of Creation, heaven and earth. Coming back to the present, I wonder if that unbelief has crept into our lives? Do we really KNOW the God of miracles? Do we really experience His reality as we live our daily lives? If not, why not? It’s certainly not because the Lord is unavailable. His Word tells us He is as near as our breath. It’s not because He does not long for us to have intimate fellowship with Him. We’re all acquainted with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Is it perhaps that we do not know this great and mighty God at all? This Creator of all things we see and do not see, ‘the same yesterday, today and forever’, who ‘holds all things together’ by His power (Colossians 1:17)? My heart cries out to know Him as He would have us know Him, in His fullness; to live with assurance that He hears and answers prayer; that He is always working ‘all things’ (Romans 8:28) for our good and His glory, whether things are going our way or down the drain! To see beyond the circumstances that may look grim; to see the reality of eternity. His Word IS true. We can stake our lives on it! But do we LIVE that reality?!

He did not speak in vain but rather spoke that we might have assurance and live with confidence in His unfailing, tender care for us. Kurt Kaiser expressed it well in the words of his song, “Oh, how He loves you and me”

Oh, how He loves you and me; Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me.

Today is the day to begin to live new life in Christ, to take Him at His word, to let Him do what He wants to do in and through us. The words my mother painted often linger in my mind, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life.’ What an opportunity we have …NOW…TODAY! God wants to help make it a great day, a truly wonderful life…in Him!

Today IS Gonna’ Be Good…because of Christ!

LaWanda

Merry Christmas to you!

Rex and I are so blessed to be a part of your lives,
our wonderful family and friends.

This has truly been a year filled with events and activities that have taken us to so many different places to fellowship with God’s forever family.

I have ministered in Spain and Kenya, bringing encouragement and hope from God’s Word to women who are living in harsh situations. It was a special treat for me to have Brittian, our youngest son, go with me to Spain. Rex and I have spoken in The Philippines to pastors and spouses as well as to our European leaders in Madrid. We’ve gotten to share with friends in Louisiana, Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Arizona. We were privileged to watch several years worth of planning come to a climax as we participated in the Free Methodist General Conference and Women’s Ministries International General Sessions in Rochester, New York.

It’s been the thrill of our lives to continue to help lead the gracious folks at Cornerstone Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. After nine and a half years, they are still the greatest people in all the world and our Cornerstone leadership team is just the best. We are especially thankful for their consistent, faithful prayers. We are blessed indeed!

But of course, to be parents and grandparents is what we love most. To watch our kids and their families attain goals and grow is so wonderful. Jonathan is advancing with his career in Southern California. Sherilyn and Allan have continued to advance and have added new achievements. (A special ‘Congratulations!’ to Allan for achieving Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do!) Brittian and Kristi found God’s Grace and each other; it’s beautiful to see God at work in their lives. Gordon-10, Canon-8, Ransom-6½, Judah-5, and now little Maxine-8 months, totally capture our hearts. Geri Sue and Aaron, my niece and husband and their four children, Zach-14, Bret-10, Sarah-8 and Rachel-3, also occupy a very special, close place in our family.

Throughout the year we keep the bond strong with visits by air, phone, email, FaceBook, Twitter and now FaceTime which we LOVE! In a few days, we’re looking forward to gathering around the Christmas tree and making it “the most wonderful time of the year.” Just to be together is the best gift of all, sharing food, games and sweet fellowship. I started baking and have made our family’s traditional fabulous fruit cake, with a little help from Rex ☺

We would love to spend some time with you and hear what is happening in your life. Thanks for sharing your cards and updates. Even though we may not get to be with you, we pray that you have warm, meaningful days with those you love. We’re hoping you will take a second look at the manger and God’s irrational introduction to all mankind; His indescribable gift, His lavish love. We pray, too, that you will take a second look at each other–witnesses of love personified. Take time to tell others how much you appreciate them and show them how much you care. Let’s BE the message we need to be and want to be this year!

Rex and I pray that the void brought by loss and disappointment, this season, “will only bring a smile”, as God’s great sovereignty renews our strength and faith.

We pray for you His joy and laughter and a hard drive full of terrific memories! May 2012 bring you many blessings and much fruit in this life and for eternity!

With our love,
LaWanda (and Rex)
(Pictures of *Jonathan, *Sherilyn, Allan, Gordon, Canon, *Brittian, Kristi, Ransom, Judah, Maxine)

Rex & LaWanda

Brittian, Kristi, Ransom, Judah & Maxine

Sherilyn, Allan, Gordon and Canon

Jonathan

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Powerful Women’s Session at European Leadership Conference

Thank the Lord for wonderfully working in the hearts of the ladies in the session this morning at the European Leadership Conference. He spoke to our hearts as Susy shared about the traumatic impact leaving family and friends in the States and moving to Spain had on her. The Lord clearly directed her through scripture and she was able to surrender her desires to God’s Plan and has been blessed many times over in many ways.

Maria blessed our hearts as she told of the hectic events of the last several months, how it incredibly stretched beyond her comfort zones yet the Lord walked with her, gave her peace and joy as she followed Him every step of the way.

It was my privilege to share an account from a few years ago when we moved from the west coast to the east coast, 3,000 miles, leaving our kids and grandkids behind, of course. Even though our west coast home was on the market, it did not sell and 6 1/2 months later, our finances were greatly strained. Since I make out the checks and mail the bills in our family, I expressed to my husband my uneasiness at the lack of funds in our bank account, wondering from whence a miracle might appear! I must have mentioned this to him previously, on perhaps, several occasions because he said to me, ‘You are obsessed with this!:( Hmmmmm! I reluctantly pondered this and was still ‘pondering’ it the next morning about 4:00 as I read from a New Living Translation version of the New Testament that had been given to me. My daily reading had me in Philippians, chapter 4, a beautiful chapter. AS I got to verse 6, I read, ‘Don’t worry about anything’ and it pierced my heart like a dagger! ‘Oh Lord,’ I prayed, ‘please forgive me, I am surely worried about our west coast home not selling and how we will ever be able to sustain these dual living costs.’

Step by step the Lord took me through that entire verse, ‘Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything, tell God what you need and remember to thank Him for all he has done. Then when you do this, He will give you His peace which is beyond our understanding and He will guard your hearts and keep your minds as you walk with the Lord’ My heart rejoiced all over again as I remembered that early morning experience! It was beautiful how the Lord helped me to follow His plan: Confess my worry to Him, pray about my worry, tell the Lord what I needed and praise Him for all He had done. What a great time of rejoicing I had that morning! That very day, we received an offer on our home and within two weeks it was a done deal!

Sometimes the Lord says, ‘No’; sometimes He says, ‘Wait’ but no matter what He says, His ways are always best and we eventually, if not immediately see that. He is ALWAYS working for our good; this we know because His Word assures us in many places that He is kind and compassionate, always loving and caring.

This morning in our session, the Lord graciously spoke to hearts and helped many to ‘do business’ with Him. How we praise Him, Creator of Heaven and earth and all that is in them. What a wonderful Savior we serve! How privileged we are to walk with the Master moment by moment!

European Leadership Conference, Madrid Spain

LaWanda

Leaders from ten countries have converged in Madrid Spain for resourcing, encouragement and fellowship, Nov 11-14. Area Director Jerry Coleman leads this group and presented an excellent discussion on ‘Bearing Much Fruit’ from John 15:1-8 the first evening. ‘This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit.” The three parts of bearing fruit are 1) The vine (Jesus), 2) The gardner (God the Father), 3) The branches (you, me, us). There are 3 rolls: 1) The vine supplies; 2) The gardner prunes the vines, 3) The branches produce the fruit.

The branch does not focus on the fruit or the production of the fruit; the vine focuses on connection. First and foremost we must be grafted into the Vine, then remain in the Vine. Remain is mentioned ten times in verses 4-10 of John 15. If you want more fruit, remain in the Vine!

If we do not remain in the Vine, we will not bear fruit. Verses 7-8 says if we remain in the vine we will bear much fruit!

God the Father prunes the branches with much love, then fruit happens!

Remain in the Vine; bear much fruit!!!

Why followers of Jesus could never burn the Qur’an

Someone told me of a recent twitter to CNN that said, “Nazis burn books not Christians!” Of course, the tweet came in the midst of the Florida pastor’s on again, off again plan to burn copies of the Qur’an. “Nazis burn books not Christians!”

It’s a great tweet and sound bite, in a way. But it misses a more important point. The Nazis claimed and sadly enjoyed the sanctions of the church. To much of the world, in fact, when the Nazis burned the books Christians struck the match.

Today that is the impression much of the world has of our way of life as Christ-followers. And still more sadly, that is the way we Christians are leading such people to think about Christ our Lord. We Christians become complicit in slandering the name and nature of Jesus Christ when some of us in His name burn books that others consider holy.

Thus, the true follower of Jesus the Christ will abhor what the Florida pastor proposes. To burn the Qur’an as he proposes slanders the name of Jesus. To burn the Qur’an violates the spirit of Jesus and the teaching of Jesus—do to others what you would have them do to you (we would be grieved and shocked if Muslim people burned the Bible!); love those who hate you or insist on being your enemies (love does not fight fire with fire); pray for those who persecute you or oppose you (who discerns the presence of the Holy Spirit in such a deed?) and the list goes on and on.

To burn the Qur’an as our pastor friends has considered doing violates the mission of Jesus. If Jesus came not to condemn the pagan and unbelieving world, why are some of us doing just that? Jesus condemned some folk, but they were not the “pagans,” but the people who claimed his Father as their God, the people who actually killed Jesus in the name of his Father! But there’s no hint whatsoever that Jesus found fault with the teachings or doctrines of other religions. Rather, Jesus announced the good news and then demonstrated enough of its reality that people flocked to him. Why can’t the church do it Jesus’ way? Why can’t the church follow its head—Jesus?

To burn the Qur’an as our pastor friend suggests violates the mission of Jesus in another way. Around the world the Spirit of Jesus is calling many people who are Muslim in culture to become followers of Jesus. It is even happening in the U.S. Many stories could be told. To burn the Qur’an is to disarm Jesus’ apostles to the Muslim world who seek to lead people to him from within their Muslim cultures. To burn the Qur’an is to arm some within the Muslim cultures with “evidence” that Jesus’ way is simply a disguise for the Western world’s corrupt values and practices. And to burn the Qur’an is to place Jesus’ apostles to the Muslim world in danger. If some Christians in the U.S. burn copies of the Qur’an today, perhaps as a result some Muslims burn live Christians somewhere else in the world. The blood of both the persecuted and the persecuters are on such “Christian” hands!

Friends, it is simply wrong in every way. Followers of Christ would sooner burn themselves than participate in slandering the Name and subverting the Spirit and Mission of Jesus.

Followers of Christ should encourage the reading of the Qur’an, and especially the sections that speak of Jesus and that admonish its readers to follow and practice the teachings of Jesus (which the Qur’an does) and then should be ready to step up and say to anyone who would listen, “Say, would you like to know more about this Jesus of whom your Holy Book speaks?”

Followers of Christ, let’s step up. Let’s ask this kind of question. Let’s trust what the Holy Spirit is doing. Let’s complement and contribute to the mission Jesus has going among people everywhere, including in Muslim communities.

Let’s follow Jesus!

September 11, 2010

Bishop David Kendall
Free Methodist Church

What are you doing?

Susan wrote asking what Women’s Ministries was actually doing with the money we raised, where is WMI making a difference, now and in the future?  This is my reply:

Thank you, Susan for your thoughtful letter.  I’m so new to WMI and definitely on a learning curve, trying my best to “catch up”, sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His Voice, following His directives.

Your thoughts are totally valid and I will do my best to address them in future communications.  In the meantime, here’s a few of my thoughts. The funds WMI raises go to the Special Projects that we’ve agreed to sponsor each year, that brochure can be seen on the Women’s Ministries International website under the Special Projects tab.  A very small percentage of funds raised goes to WMI Administrative costs, over 90% goes to the project recipients.

According to feed back from recipients, the funds that support each of these projects definitely make a difference in the lives of women and children around the world.  These projects are sponsored by WMI and most do not receive funding from any other source.  Area Director, David Yardy stated that WMI is the major sponsor of India’s women literacy program, and it is DEFINITELY making a difference in the lives of women, children and communities as women who work in the fields all day come to classes after work and learn to read.  Some of those women are now teaching others to read.  In Newsweek’s Oct. 1, 2007, edition, a section was dedicated to ‘Global Giving’ from which I quote, “Of the world’s 781 million illiterate adults, 64% are women.  Their lack of education continually undermines their communities’ levels of health care and economic stability’  ‘Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world.”  WMI funds are making a difference in India!

One of WMI’s special project recipients, Caroline Ayuya, who attends Hope Africa University in Kenya, sent the following letter to us this summer: “Last week I had malaria but was treated and I am fine again. Glory to God. Last month our results for the June-July semester were released and I had done well with a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 for the four units I had taken during the semester. I thank God. My gratitude to you too the WMI officers and all members of WMI for the endless efforts you put towards my studies. It because of you that I am at Daystar University. Sometimes my people here just don’t believe how a needy person like me has made it to this far. I tell them about what a blessing you, the WMI have been to me since my undergratuate up to now! You are wonderful people! God bless you so much and fill your accounts abundantly! Pass my regards to all WMI officers and members. May Almighty God bless you so much. Continue to pray for me for I have many needs and that God may help me meet them. I too pray for you everyday and I know the Lord is blessing you.
With Blessings, Caroline”

WMI is making a difference in Caroline’s life and she is impacting others!!! Last week we confirmed with Philippines Bishop Jim Tuan and Area Director, David Yardy, that WMI would sponsor a Women’s Conference next July 16-18 in the Philippines.  This conference will be for the development, encouragement and education of the women there and will be used of God.  WMI will make a difference!  Funds the WMI Board is raising will help make this conference possible.

I hope this information is of some help to you, please let me know of any suggestions you may have that will benefit WMI and our quest for the Lord’s Kingdom’s work, reaching women in our neighborhoods and around the world. My husband and I have only been with the FMC for 5 1/2 years and my association with WMI has been very limited; I’m getting acquainted, and I have to tell you, Susan, that I feel that God is breathing a Fresh Wind from heaven over WMI, giving renewed commitment and enthusiasm for the task and opportunity we have as women of the FMC.  I have taken this position at His directive and am committed to performing His plan.  I’m convinced that the FMC needs women to unite together especially for the women and children globally.  This is my goal.  The new WMI board has united with me in this effort and we are doing our best to keep pace with God and working hard to change what has not worked in the past and allow God to do what He wants to do through us. We’re thankful for those who’ve gone before and thankful for the opportunity to unite together and forge new paths where the Lord leads.  My heart’s desire is that you would join us in this great endeavor.  Please pray for me and the team as we tread where we’ve not gone before, but as Abraham of old was led of God and rewarded by God, so will we be.

Together in Christ,

LaWanda

Financial gifts are tax deductible, should be made payable to WMI, marked ‘WMI Mission Trips’ and mailed to:

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002

Thoughts on Prayer

Aletha Hinthorn, Director of Come to the Fire, an outstanding annual women’s conference, recently shared the following. It spoke to my heart and I pray you too, will be moved to even greater action and prayer.

“After spending numerous times in prayer with a former associate in our ministry,” wrote Dick Eastman in The Hour That Changes the World, “I was amazed to find that he prayed for every person on the World Literature Crusade headquarter’s staff by name. He also prayed for each overseas leader associated with the ministry. Quietly and confidently he would appeal for compassion, wisdom, and strength for each of the more than two hundred workers on his list. Then, with continuing confidence, he prayed for every major Christian leader who was even vaguely familiar to me. And there was more. He proceeded to intercede for every king, president, and political leader of the almost fifty Islamic and Communist nations. He did not pray for the leaders collectively, but for each separately, by name.”

The apostle Paul often assured his fellow Christians of his prayers. Paul confidently lifted their names before God, fully trusting God to bless each of them. Samuel told the Israelites, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).

There is power in our prayers when we commit ourselves to regular praying in which we daily bring names to the Lord. Such praying is not just a recitation. It provides the Holy Spirit access to those hearts.

Could it be that someday we’ll say, “But, Lord, if I had known You were going to answer all those prayers, I would have prayed more; I would have put more people on my prayer list”? By that time we will have said farewell to the “sweet hour of prayer.” How wonderful that we still have time to touch others with our love and prayer.

“Thank You, Lord, for the high privilege of connecting others with You through my prayers.” I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16).

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)

God bless you and make you a blessing as you follow the Master,

LaWanda

Am I Fulfilling My Purpose?

Is my life fulfilling? Am I honoring the purpose for which I am created? Do I know what my purpose is? A. W. Tozer had some excellent thoughts on this!

“Without argument, most things are at their best when they are fulfilling their purpose and design.”

“A piano is made with a specific purpose: to produce music. However, I happen to know that someone once stood on a piano in order to put a fastener of some kind in the ceiling. Some artistic women have used piano tops as family picture galleries. I have seen piano tops that were cluttered filing cabinets or wide library shelves.

There is an intelligent design in the creation of a piano. The manufacturer did not announce: “This is a good piano. It has at least 19 uses!” No, the designer had only one thought in mind: “This piano will have the purpose and potential of sounding forth beautiful music!”

…Do not miss the application of truth here. God was saying to Abraham, “You may have some other idea about the design and purpose for your life, but you are wrong! You were created in My image to worship Me and to glorify Me. If you do not honor this purpose, your life will degenerate into shallow, selfish, humanistic pursuits. Men Who Met God, p 23 A. W. Tozer

Lord help me! Lord help you, to fulfill our purpose, to worship and honor Him with our entire being!

LaWanda

God Answers Prayer!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

This morning in my quiet time with the Lord, going through my prayer lists, I read over the prayer requests I had asked various ones and groups to pray about in anticipation of our mission trip to Africa. For EVERY request I marked

Praise the Lord, God answered prayer!

Hallelujah, what a Savior! He hears us pray, He answers our heart’s cry!

THANK YOU! To everyone who lifted Rex and I to the Lord especially the last two or three weeks. THANK YOU for making it possible for us to be fruitful in Africa!

We are trying to get our internal “clocks” readjusted to Florida time; by 4:00 PM we can hardly keep going as we feel like it’s 11:00 PM, Congo/Burundi time. At midnight, we’re awake and about every hour and a half thereafter, feeling like it’s 7:00 AM, etc! Fun, fun! Truly, I’m smiling, thankful to be in God’s Hands, tenderly cared for by Him, in His service.

Answered prayers:

God ruled and over-ruled in every situation; i.e., a biker pulled out right in front of us, in heavy traffic but Randy was able to swerve and miss him as well as the on-coming truck! In many other situations, God “ruled and over-ruled!”

His Angels guarded and protected us every moment, i.e.; hiking slippery mountain trails, slipping two times but not falling into the ravine/river below; every day, He was with us!

The Lord moved on my heart, giving me freedom to speak a message of hope, encouragement and empowerment to the women!

God moved on the hearts of those attending the women’s conference, almost 500 leaders Saturday, February 13, and over 1,200 people on Sunday, February 14. Many came to the altar for prayer for unsaved husbands, children, physical healing, discouragement, domestic and community needs. God met needs and answered prayer!

The Lord gave me a fabulous interpreter, Congolese Supt. Bjotu (Buh-GO-tuh), a godly brother fluent in English who sensed my heart and was mightily used of God to relate His message to the people!

Randy and Alice Matthewson expressed to us many times that our being with them was a special blessing from the Lord in many many ways.

The Lord protected us from sickness, disease, accidents, insects, etc, although we were in contact with hundreds of people with many diseases in Nundu and Kibuye hospitals, in remote Congo and Burundi villages, on the streets and in places of high population. We had strength and energy for each day’s needs. As far as we know we are both in good health; praising the Lord!

God gave us traveling mercies in the air and over many miles of otherwise “impassable” roads in the Congo and Burundi (flooded roads, washed out roads)!

All our luggage came through with us from Tampa to Burundi and then from Burundi to Tampa, the final two pieces were delivered to us last night in Tampa!

Even tho I was unable to take my sleep medication or wear my sleep mask due to no electricity, my nightly sleep was sufficient, I felt rested each morning and had strength for each day!

Our days were full of laughter as we totally enjoyed being with our hosts and many new friends, experiencing new people, cultures and experiences!

PRAISE GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER! PRAISE GOD FOR YOU, faithful friends, family and pray-ers! We love you! YOU are making a difference!

With love, appreciation and prayers,

LaWanda

P.S. It should be duly noted that God ALWAYS answers prayer…sometimes He says ‘Yes!’, sometimes He says, ‘Wait!’ and sometimes, He says ‘No!’ His ways are ALWAYS best and it is a joy to surrender to His Plan!

Financial gifts are tax deductible, should be made payable to WMI, marked ‘WMI Mission Trips’ and mailed to:

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002