Doctor's Visit - Praise Report!

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PRAISE to my Lord! My doctor's visit went very well today. Thank you so much for your prayers...they were felt.

They went over the MRI and Nerve Study results with me today, and there were no surprises (good!), but the same issues were present and degenerative from last year's report (which means they have a better understanding of my condition/pain and how to treat it - a very good outcome in m...y perspective). Altogether (*big breath*)...hypertrophic facet disease, degenerative discs, 3 bulging discs at the L3/4-L4/5-L5/S1, leaking disc also at the L5/S1, sensory motor peripheral neuropathy in both legs (created from back issues), and fibromyalgia. This is great news considering that they can better pinpoint where to do injections/epidurals and surgery (in about 2-5 years) with the best outcome to help relieve my pain and help me function better.

This is a continual trial in my life, but also an unbelievable blessing! I have had so many opportunities to share how God works on His children through hardships. I would not be who I am today if it weren't for challenges in my walk with the Lord. I have PEACE, a HOPE and a FUTURE in Jesus....simply because I asked the Lord to be the "boss" of my life. You can do that too! It will change your "mess" into a "message!" My God is good!

I Stand for LIFE!



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The shooting incident in Connecticut has truly and legitimately rocked our nation once again. I can't imagine what those families are experiencing right now. Many, many prayers go out to those affected.

But I have to admit, something has been very heavy on my heart. I have been so burdened by what I am about to share that it has literally made me sick. As a nation, we are numb to the fact that 4,000 lives are lost... on a daily basis...murdered by their own mothers. Why do we not comprehend that it happens DAILY!?...can I say the statistic again...4,000 daily. It may be legal, but it certainly does not make it right. We should be showing the same outrage about the killing of innocent, defenseless lives as we do about the Connecticut shooting incident.

 

Again, I'm not downplaying what the people in Connecticut and the nation are going through. I'm simply trying to open eyes to what is happening consistently on a daily basis, yet we are silent. Please stand for LIFE! In regards to the shooting, so many have exclaimed in the last few days, "we need to get on our knees as a nation!" Agreed! But let's take it a step further. If we haven't been on our knees, why are we expecting results? Are we praying for the right thing? So many will pray for protection over their children, yet they don't care about thousands of lives being ripped away in an act of selfishness. Pray for mothers to choose life for those precious babes that have been knitted in their womb by the hands of a mighty God. Pray for the mothers that have chosen abortion. They need healing...an eternal healing from a forgiving and loving Redeemer. I pray that testimonies will pour out of those women...testimonies to shed light on the terrible experience and the aftermath. And my last request...don't be silent in standing for LIFE.

 

Target Practice

Mission: Point Others to Christ

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In reference to our life-long mission as followers of Christ, I like to think metaphorically in regards to a bow, arrow, and target/destination. We are the bow, and the word of God is the arrow. The target – God. The bow (us) is useless without the arrow. It seems pretty simple to put together the combination of the bow and arrow to efficiently reach the target, but it can be a challenging task in reality.

In John 1:6-7, we are introduced to John the Baptist – one of the greatest evangelists of all time. Why was he great? His aim was right on target – when that arrow was shot, he didn’t let himself get in the way of the destination – God. He didn’t want the glory, and he made that clear.

John 1:8 (NASB) – 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

There are times that I find myself getting in the way of pointing others to Christ. In what ways can that happen?

1. Is it for God’s glory or my own?

Do I want even the slightest bit of recognition for serving Sunday after Sunday in the nursery changing dirty diapers?...then it’s not for His glory, but my own. Do I want to be noticed on stage singing in choir?...then it’s not for His glory, but my own.

2. Un-confessed sin creates a barrier in reaching others for Christ.

Have I sat down and quietly searched my heart for any wrong that has not been brought to the Lord’s attention? Our hearts must be pure and clear of any sin.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (NASB) – 1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

3. Am I willing to sacrifice time, convenience, comfort for the benefit of God’s kingdom?

It takes full sacrifice...not partial. I'm reminded of the video "God's Chisel."

"God, you can change this part of my life, but my job is fine like it is. Thanks..."

Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but you and I do it all the time.

In what ways can I point others to the Lord?

We are all given various spiritual gifts in order to efficiently carry out our mission as the universal church of believers.

Romans 12:4-5 (NASB) – 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Many of these gifts include:

Administration (Proverbs 17:2)

Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11)

Exhortation (Hebrews 3:13)

Giving (Matthew 10:8)

Helps (1 Peter 4:10)

Hospitality (Romans 12:13)

Leadership (Romands 12:8)

Mercy (Matthew 5:7)

Discernment (1 Corinthians 14:1)

Service (Galatians 5:13)

Shepherding (Psalm 78:72)

Teaching (Matthew 28:20)

I know God’s still shaping me. And it takes practice on my part...target practice. I miss the mark numerous times, but I’m called out by the Holy Spirit when that happens. I have to adjust my aim and make sure there is nothing in the arrow’s path to keep it from reaching it’s destination.

“We’re of greatest use to God’s kingdom when we reshape our lives to direct all attention to Him.” – David Nasser

Finding Joy through Rough Circumstances

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James 1:2-4 - 2 Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

I'm convinced from personal experience that the closer we grow to our precious Lord, the more persecution/hardships we encounter. The trials come one after the other, but if it's for my Lord, I am to count it "pure joy"! I've seen how hardships/persecution help us grow stronger in Him. And it's easier to deal with those circumstances when our eyes and heart are set on heaven. Easy?? Nope...it takes trust that God will carry us through. Trust...complete surrender...it's a hard thing to grasp. Guess where God has been working on my heart this week? ;)

Favorite Quotes from "Into the Eye of the Storm" by Max Lucado

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p. 112 - "...[Job] had discussed God, had notions about him, and had prayed to him. But in the storm, Job sees him!"..."I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you." - Job 42:5

 p. 124-126 -

                "'Lord, if it's you,...tell me to come to you on the water.' (Matthew 14:28)

                The voice was Peter's he wasn't being cocky. He wasn't demanding proof. He was scared. Like me, he knew what this storm could do. He knew that the boat would soon go down. He knew that Jesus was standing up. And he knew where he wanted to be...where we all wanted to be.
                'Come on,' Jesus invited.
                So Peter climbed over the side and stepped onto the sea. Before him opened a trail through a forest of waves. He stepped quickly. Water splashed. But he kept going. This path to Jesus was a ribbon of calm. It was peaceful. Serene.
                Jesus radiated light at the end of the trail. Smiling.
                Peter stepped toward the light like it was his only hope. He was halfway there when we all heard the thunder. It boomed, and he stopped. I saw his head turn. He looked up at the sky. He looked up at the clouds. He felt the wind. And down he went.
                Boy did he yell!
                A hand came through the water sheets and grabbed Peter. Lightning flashed again, and I could see the face of Jesus. I noticed that his smile was gone. Hurt covered his face. It was like he couldn't believe that we couldn't believe. Danger to us was just a detour to him. I wanted to ask him, 'Aren't you afraid, Jesus? Aren't you afraid?'
                But I said nothing. Before I knew it, he was in the boat with us.
                The sea stilled as silk.
                The winds hushed.
                A canyon opened in the clouds; soft moonlight fell over the water.
                It happened instantaneously. It didn't take the rest of the night. It didn't take an hour. It didn't take a minute. It happened in a blink.
                From chaos to calm. From panic to peace. The sky was so suddenly silent that I could hear my heart pounding. I thought I was dreaming. The I saw the wide eyes of the others and felt my clothing soaked against my skin. This was no dream. I looked at the water. I looked at Peter. I looked at the others. And then I looked at him.
                And I did the only thing I could have done. With the stars as my candles and the stilled boat as my altar. I fell at his feet and worshipped."

 *Side note: Peter had to "take courage" and step out on faith, step out of his comfort zone, and step into the unknown.

p. 126 -

                "I saw God. The God who can't sit still when the storm is too strong. The God who lets me get frightened enough to need him and then comes close enough for me to see him. The God who uses my storms as his path to come to me.
                "I saw God. It took a storm for me to see him. But I saw him. And I'll never be the same."

 p. 127 - "After the storm, [the disciples] worshipped him. They had never, as a group, done that before." (Matthew 14:33)

 p. 128 - "When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him. When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him. When you discover his strength, you will rely on him. But only when he saves you will you worship him."

 p. 129 - "A season of suffering is a small price to pay for a clear view of God."

 p. 136 -

                "If Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water during a calm, peaceful day, do you think that he would have walked out to him?"

                "Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation."
                "At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear."
                "Faith begins when you see God on the mountain and you are in the valley and you know that you're too weak to make the climb. You see what you need...you see what you have...and what you have isn't enough to accomplish anything."

p. 138 - [Like Peter], "We come to Christ in an hour of deep need. We abandon the boat of good works. We realize, like Moses, that human strength won't save us. So we look to God in desperation. We realize, like Paul, that all the good works in the world are puny when laid before the Perfect One. We realize, like Peter, that spanning the gap between us and Jesus is a feat too great for our feet. So we beg for help. Hear his voice. And step out in fear, hoping that our little faith will be enough."

p. 139 - "With precious, wobbly steps, we draw closer to him. For a season of surprising strength, we stand upon his promises."

 p. 148 -

                "I think that [Jesus] was admiring [the Canaanite woman]. I think that it did his heart good to see some spunky faith for a change. I think that it refreshed him to see someone asking him to do the very thing he came to do - give great gifts to unworthy children."
                "Perhaps the most amazing response to God's gift is our reluctance to accept it. We want it. But on our terms."

p. 149 - "She knew only two things: her daughter was weak, and Jesus was strong."

p. 159 - "When your world touches God's world, the result is a holy moment. When God's high hope kisses your earthly hurt, that moment is holy."

 p. 163 - "When we choose to be baptized, by lifestyle as much as by symbol, into Christ, the same shielding occurs. Our sins and faults are lost beneath the sheer radiance of his covering. 'For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God' (Colossians 3:3). Please don't miss the impact of this verse. When God sees us, he also sees Christ. He sees perfection! Not perfection earned by us, mind you, but perfections paid for by him."

T-R-O-U-B-L-E-S...Used for God's Glory

I was reading my devotion last night and fell in love with the passage below. We don't always understand why we go through difficult times and trials in life, some temporary and some that are present throughout a lifetime. God has a purpose for it. I've seen His work in my life through my life-long trial of chronic pain (my condition is degenerative). He is always there and He loves us so very, very much, and I know and see the purpose in this trial. I would not be as strong in my faith if trials were not present in my life. Oliver Wendell Holmes understood that times of tribulation serve a purpose in growing us in Christ. He wrote, "If I had a formula for ridding mankind of trouble, I think I would not reveal it, for in doing so, I would do him a disservice."

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That trouble, trials, tribulation, difficulty and sorrow have enriched lives is amply borne out even in the hymns we so frequently sing. The blind Fanny Crosby, some of whose hymns bless almost every church service we attend; Horatio Spafford, who, after the horror of the devastating Chicago fire, followed by the loss of four daughters in an Atlantic shipwreck, was somehow enabled to wrote "It is Well With My Soul." George Matheson, likewise, threatened by certain blindness and forsaken by a beloved fiancee, gave to us the beautiful "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.

 

From a devotion entitled "Why All the Trouble?" by Jeanette Lockerbie

To the Ends of the Earth

This Wednesday (October 17th), my husband and I had the privelege of listening to 12 godly ladies from Mt. Zion Baptist (Anniston, AL) give their testimonies about the recent Puerto Rico women's missions trip. These ladies' testimonies blessed my heart and rekindled memories of my own mission-field experience in Romania in 2005. I went home, put the kids to bed (including the hubby *wink*wink*), and went in search of my scrapbook that contained my journal entries, support letters, and the report letter from the trip. Why am I so excited about a trip I took 7 1/2 years ago?...

 

(NAS)

Isaiah 6:8 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I, Send me!"

 

Isaiah 49:6b - I will also make you a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

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Isaiah 52:7, 10b-11, 12b - 7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 10b That all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart, depart, go out from there, touch nothing unclean; go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord. 12b For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 (Jesus speaking) - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

The Holy Spirit placed an overwhelming desire on my heart to go to Slatina, Romania to serve a local church, community and orphanage. From July 7th to the 16th of 2005, we did daily tasks/chores, ran a children's day and sports camp, and organized an evening youth program. The trip entailed a good bit of work, but we learned quickly that we were going to be blessed beyond measure by what God had in store for us.

When we returned from Romania, I could not wait to share how my Father worked on my heart, and how others can be indescribably blessed through missions. Below is my report letter that was sent to supporters of the trip:

Dear Friends and Family,

I thank God for providing this amazing opportunity for me to go to Romania. As you will soon find out, He taught me many things. I also want to thank you for supporting me for this trip to Romania. I reached my financial goal of $1,800 with your help, and most importantly, your prayers were powerful and effective...they were felt thousands of miles away. Only two weeks prior to our departure, I was informed that I still had $700 to raise. God was truly testing my level of trust. I began to get worried about raising the money. As I prayed, and realized I wasn't trusting God to take care of everything for me (if it was His will for me to go). He stretched my faith before I had even left for Romania!

This mission trip was absolutely amazing! The team consisted of seven students and four adults. Our first three days were spent in Slatina at the girls' orphanage. Our main goal while we were there was to use the inflatable "moon walk" in the schoolyard to attract the children's attention. In this way, we hoped to draw in children and minister to them in a practical way. It worked...it worked beautifully! The children didn't even know what to think about it. They gathered around in amazement as to what this "big, bouncy thing" could be. When we were ready for them to play and jump 'til their heart was content, we actually had to show them how to play in it. Once they figured out the objective of this "big, bouncy thing," they had a blast!

We went to the schoolyard for two consecutive days. On the second day, one of the parents told us that she couldn't get her nephew to sleep because he was so excited about us possibly being there the next day. All the activities at the schoolyard proved to be a wonderful outreach. We had approximately 25 young children come on the second day. After playing in the inflatable, we had the children sit down to talk to them about Jesus...what a great opportunity! Surprisingly, half of the kids raised their hand when we asked them if they knew about Jesus, which was a touching moment. But I also knew there were even more children that we didn't see that needed to hear the word of God and see the love of our Savior.

During our stay in Slatina, we visited several churches. On Friday evening, we were at a small village church where our mission team helped lead praise and worship. It was awesome to feel God's presence as we praised the One and Only in two different languages! Saturday, we went to the church that the girls at the orphanage attended. This was their youth night, and the awesome fellowship was an encouragement to me. This was the first time I saw their extreme hunger for the Lord.

Sunday morning, we went to another village church. A man named TaTa was the minister at the church. At the conclusion of the service, we asked TaTa to give us his testimony. It reminded me of Paul from the Bible. He is an 84 year old man who was imprisoned for his faith during the Communist rule, which ended in 1990. In his desperation to continue to grow in his faith under such strict conditions and imprisonment, he had his wife sneak in a small New Testament Bible. It was policy that all incoming packages were to be checked by prison guards before being delivered to the prisoner. This package miraculously skipped inspection. If it had been found, he would have faced further penalties. His wife also put a small bottle of wine inside a can of homemade jam. They used the wine for the Lord's supper. If that hasn't amazed you, this will. With a gun pointed to his head, he was told he was to spy on the Romanian churches for the government. He replied, "no." They threatened him further by saying they would kill him if he refused. His response was, "You can kill the body, but my soul belongs to the Lord. I will not spy on my fellow brothers in Christ." The General then came in and released him. Wow! What an amazing man of God!

One of the most memorable services was the service we attended that Sunday night, which was a Baptismal service. This service is extremely special and important for the Romanians. They are proclaiming their faith not only to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but to a world of unbelieving (and sometimes hostile) Orthodox followers. With their acceptance of Christ comes the acceptance that they will face persecution by the Orthodox followers (a vast majority of the Romanian population). Those being baptized gave their testimony to the church. Voli, a 16 year old boy, spoke of the persecution from his alcoholic father, who even threw Voli's Bible into the fireplace and burned it in front of him. Florentina and Nina, both 17, are orphans. Nina broke down in tears during her testimony. When she was three, her dad died and her mom didn't want anything to do with her. At 16, she was in a horrible car accident, through which she came to know Christ. I believe the reason Romanian believers are so strong and passionate in their faith is because they go through so much persecution. Romans 5:3-4 says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope." The Romanians live by this verse. I was also touched by the ceremony after the Baptismal service. It was a time of intimate fellowship. It was clear that they share a love and genuine bond of Christ, which holds us all together.

Monday, we left for camp. The entire week of camp was absolutely amazing! We saw the biggest transformation in the Romanians, and in us. We saw the Romanians' natural competitiveness evident during game time. It became so competitive at times, it came close to the point of hurting one another's friendships over silly activities. In the middle of the week, Pastor Michael (our Youth Pastor) presented a lesson on the qualities of a leader. I Timothy 3 speaks of a leader as being temperate, self-controlled, gentle, peaceable, respectable, and able to admit when they are wrong. The next day, game time was completely different. Many apologized publicly for being so aggressive during game time. They were so extremely receptive to the lesson given the previous night. I was in awe over how willing they were to humble themselves and admit their faults and change. How willing am I to publicly admit my failures on a daily basis? Many times, we get so caught up in how we are perceived that we are extremely reluctant to humble ourselves in front of peers and most importantly, the Lord. They knew that in order to seek the face of the Lord, their hearts had to be right. They truly had a heart of repentance and wanted to set an example as a leader would, and as Christ would.

While at the camp, two people that I built relationships with stand out in my mind. One is a 25 year old young lady named Simona. She has cerebral palsy and is dependent on a caretaker at all times. Althought she struggles physically on a daily basis, she remains strong in the Lord! She has such a strong walk with Jesus, which she credits to her disease. Another youong lady, 24 year old Mihaela, also struggles physically. She couldn't given me a name for her condition, but she described it as a communication blockage between the brain and the legs; therefore, she can hardly walk. Throughout the week, she mostly depended on a wheelchair loaned to her by the camp. Surprisingly, she doesn't have access to any mobility equipment at home in Slatina. Despite her struggles, her heart is 100% sold to Christ. She loves her Savior with all her heart. I became extremely attached to these two young ladies while we were at camp. These ladies were, and will continue to be, an inspiration to me.

The last night, we went around the room sharing our thoughts and feelings that had accumulated throughout our stay. The Americans shared first, then the Romanians. We didn't want to leave them, and they didn't want us to leave. We developed such strong bonds within only a matter of days. I believe they ministered to me more than I was able to minister to them. I will never know what seeds I have planted, but I do know what seeds they planted in me. They taught me so much. The one thing that amazed me the most was how they face persecution for their faith in Romania, and yet they stand so tall, proud, and strong for Jesus Christ. They go through so many trials in life, and they keep their heads up and don't complain. They take the positive out of the negative circumstances. I am reminded of James 1:2-4, which says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." We are to rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that it is the good discipline from our Heavenly Father, and it is intended to keep us strong in Him.

Another of the several things I've learned from the Romanian people is that they love God with all they have. Every single one of the believers has such a strong passion for Christ. Here in the States, there are people who say they are Christians and don't even attend church. Then there are "lukewarm" Christians, who go through the motions. Even fewer are passionate Christians who are on fire for God! The Romanians hunger and thrive in Christ. They want to learn as much as possible with every opportunity.

Again, I am so thankful that God opened the door for me to go to Romania this year. He helped me overcome obstacles so that His will could be accomplished. Before and during the trip, I prayed that He would grow me and use me, and He has. I will never forget this amazing experience. I also want to thank you for your prayers. They were felt when we needed prayer the most. Again, thank you for all of your financial and prayerful support!

In Christ,
Beth Anne Lawrence