Recently my husband and I had a chance to get away for a weekend in San Francisco.  We’ll be celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary in August, and thought it was a good way to reconnect after a busy summer with kids.  We’ve got five teenagers at home … well … need I say more?

If you’ve ever been to San Francisco, you know it’s a very difficult city to drive in.  So we decided to take public transportation our entire time there.  And I re-discovered something about myself:  I don’t like to wait.

When I want to go to the store, I like to get in my car and take off.  Not stand and wait 6 minutes for the next bus or 10 minutes for the next subway car. 

Tod and I never rode a cable car because the lines were too long.  We just couldn’t wait.  In fact, I would rather walk a mile than wait 10 minutes for a bus that would get me there in two.    Honestly, it doesn’t make sense … I know.

And yet all around me I saw people who were content to wait.  They chatted with friends, listened to music, read a book or just seemed contemplative.  While I itched to get going.

I realized there is talent to waiting … a skill of sorts.  Those who waited patiently for what they couldn’t see (the bus or train), had a grace to them that I lacked.  To them, waiting wasn’t wasted time.  It was part of their journey that day.  And, it was productive in it’s own way. 

The Bible has a lot to say about waiting.  It has a lot to say about hoping, and persevering and not giving up.  Throughout history, God’s chosen people, the Israelites, had to wait for God to act.   And often they just gave up, and went their own way.   They couldn’t even wait for Moses to get down from being with God on Mount Sinai before they created an idol of gold.  Here’s a bit of the story from Exodus 32:

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’”

Instead of waiting for God to speak through Moses, they gathered all their gold and made it into a golden calf to worship.  This after God had brought them out of slavery. 

Impatience always led the people of God into trouble, and always of their own making.  And as I read those words of God-followers thousands of years ago, I can hear myself at times.  “I’m sick of waiting … I’m going to do things my way!”

I know many of us are waiting these days.  We are waiting for homes to sell, jobs to materialize, bills to be paid off, doctor’s reports, kids to turn back to the Lord, and the list goes on.   Today I’d like to suggest that we discover a purpose in our waiting.   Perhaps there is something to be learned in the waiting.  Perhaps God is changing us in the waiting.  Perhaps God is testing us in the waiting.

If you are tired of waiting today, here are some verses to encourage you:

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:14

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;  do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”  Psalm 37:7-9

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”  Roman 8:24-25

“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  James 5:10-11

May the Lord bless you, my sister, in your waiting.

In His Love,

Glynnis

I need to live my life un-apologetically for Jesus.

I know that someday when I die I will be standing before the Father, answering for the things I have done in my life, both on the mark and off.

The image I have of God is not one of Him shaking a finger at me, while fire barely misses my head during the “ off the mark” moments.
I see myself weeping at His feet while he strokes my head and grieves with me as I recount moments where I took control.

One of the things I look forward to is the moment when he looks at me, and says, “ Well done good and faithful servant!”

This above all else is what I desire most in my life.

Colossians 3
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

I want to live my life sold out to Jesus.
I want to serve others as if it were Christ himself that I was serving.
I want to be a true reflection of the abundance that Christ places daily in my life.

I won’t always get it right and I certainly need a huge amount of grace for the moments when I still miss the mark. Thank God He is liberal with His spiritual gifts. All we have to do is ask!
I want more than anything else to die with very few regrets.
To know that I loved my family the best of my abilities and to celebrate the ways God has refined my heart during my life, even when it has been painful.
To know that I served my church and community with no need for acknowledgement from people, just the knowledge that it pleased the Holy Spirit and brought Him joy.

John Wesley said this about living and serving in this world
“Heartily – Cheerfully, diligently. Men pleasers are soon dejected and made angry: the single – hearted are never displeased or disappointed; because they have another aim, which the good or evil treatment of those they serve cannot disappoint.”

Because we are people who don’t always get it right we will disappoint others. We won’t always meet everyone’s expectations or ideals. We won’t ever be able to give enough of our time, energy or love. I am only in the end responsible for my actions and no one elses
The thing I want to get right is balancing my desire to be a people pleaser and my desire to serve Jesus as He created me to. Keeping in my mind the Colossians passage helps me maintain a healthy balance in my life and helps me to live my life sold out for Jesus. Striving to live a committed life to God and His purpose for my life.

May God richly bless you this week! Thanks for letting me share my heart.

A friend of mine got a new car last week and offered me a ride. It’s been a while since I got my last new vehicle so I’d forgotten how unique that “new car smell” really is.

When you first buy a new car, you look for every opportunity to drive it, volunteering to chauffer people about; running errands becomes a joy rather than a burden. Even running a letter to the post office is a treat when you slip behind the wheel of your new car and breathe in the smell of an interior that’s yet to be christened by the smell of McDonald’s Happy Meals, Chinese take-out or your pooch’s quarterly grooming trip.

Eventually though reality settles in, the new car smell wears off with each successive monthly payment and before long the kids are drawing pictures of “WASH ME” on the back tailgate. You forego the carwash altogether waiting until monsoon season trusting the universe to take care of that detail and you’ve given up on staying ahead of vacuuming up the remnants of the after-game soccer death matches.

With little or no effort, your treasured new car has simply become just another obligation.

Riding with my friend this week and sharing her new car smell and excitement started me thinking about the parallels with our excitement over new things and our relationship with Christ.

When I first got saved I couldn’t wait to share my faith with others – sort of like taking that new car out every chance I got – I couldn’t wait to show off my relationship with Jesus and talk about how He was working in my life. Once life got busy though and I became one of those busy moms that keeps precariously balanced schedules, my excitement for Jesus waned somewhat. Squeezing in time for church, prayer and ministry became an obligation to pencil in on an already over-burdened calendar.

I spent a few hours at Starbucks this week with a new friend getting to know one another. Over the course of the evening I shared with her my walk with Christ. I shared story after story of some of the amazing prayers God Has answered in my life and miracles I’ve seen unfold. Once I opened up I couldn’t stop talking and was overwhelmed by the unbelievable walk I’ve had these last 30 + years following Christ.

To share my many victories was like that “just saved” attitude again. I’d conveniently forgotten some of the miracles God has worked in my life. It’s hard to believe that I could ever take that power that’s living on the inside of me for granted – but I’m guilty as charged.

If we only drive that new car to and from the grocery store we tend to forget what power lies under the hood. I confess all too often I take God’s power and miracles for granted. Thankfully God uses new car smells and Starbucks encounters to reignite my flame and remind me He’s not merely an obligation but my whole life and far better than any new car I’ll ever drive. 

As always – God is so amazing!

Blessings In Christ,

Kathy

www.kathleenkurlin.com

First of all, I’d like to thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and words of encouragement during my trip to Honduras with mi amiga, DaNetta Fernandez. We had an amazing time and were kept safe by the grace of God.

We traveled that beautiful country, from its capital city, Tegucigalpa; to Danlí, bordering to the east with Nicaragua; to San Pedro Sula, which borders to the west with my beloved Guatemala. We visited with, prayed for and met wonderful people – many of them pastors of the various La Viña (Vineyard) churches. How wonderful it was to see the ongoing work of the Lord in Honduras!

On our way back from San Pedro Sula, we stopped at the shore of Lago Yojoa – a majestic lake with gorgeous views, dotted with little stands where you can eat a mean plate of fried tilapia. Being a pair “healthy eaters”, DaNetta and I eagerly accepted Pastor Jorge’s offer to stop for lunch. (By the way, we stayed at Jorge and his wife Eva’s house while in Tegucigalpa, and they also graciously drove us all over the country. ¡Gracias, Jorge & Eva!)

Imagine our surprise when a young girl inside the stand motions for us to follow her, then opens up a freezer and begins to pull out these big, wide-eyed fish, and asks, “Which one do you want?”

“Are you ladies hungry?” Jorge asks jovially.

“Well, I was,” DaNetta responds, looking a bit green in the face.

Our last stop was at Comayagua, which is about 1-1/2 hours from Tegucigalpa. DaNetta preached during the Sunday service; we met with several friends, and we got to watch the Soccer World Cup final at Pollo Campero (a delicious fried-chicken restaurant). But the highlight of our visit was on Saturday, when we attended the wedding of Josue Hernandez, the La Viña de Comayagua worship leader, and Jenny Whitson, a missionary from the North Phoenix Vineyard.

I got to interpret for Jenny’s family during the ceremony and even got to say, “And now I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Oh, what I kick I got out of that! ;0)

The wedding was happy and lovely and Jenny looked beautiful. We ate and danced and laughed to our hearts’ content. But one event in particular touched my heart in a very special, unforgettable way.

It happened early in the morning, before the ceremony began. Esperanza, who is the groom’s mom and Pastor Antonio’s wife, asked DaNetta and I to help her transfer the wedding cake from the bakery to the hotel in which the nuptials would take place.

“And then I’m going to drop you girls off and ask you to put the cake’s top tier on its columns. It should be easy,” Esperanza said airily.

Never known for our hand-to-eye coordination, DaNetta and I seriously doubted we were the most adequate selection for the job. But since everyone else was busy with another wedding-related task, we prayed for steady hands and bravely accepted the challenge.

On our way to the bakery, Esperanza broke into tears as she shared how God had granted a very special wish of hers. “I’ve always wanted to pay for our son’s wedding cake,” she said, wiping her cheeks unabashedly. “It didn’t look like we were going to be able to afford it. But the Lord opened a door for me to make a little extra money at work, and now I rejoice in God’s faithfulness and provision.”

A big lump formed in my throat – part shame, part emotion. I don’t know about you girls, but for me “toughing it” mostly means not using my credit card. Yet this people face need and poverty and want, every day, and they do it with a grace that humbles me and puts my meager struggles in perspective.

Monday morning, we said good-bye to our dear friends and returned to Phoenix and to our families. It’s kind of funny how DaNetta and I talk non-stop on our way to Honduras. Yet on the way back we are uncharacteristically quiet. I guess we’re tired, and a little sad, but mostly in awe of the many wonderful things we witness God do during the few days we get to visit there.

It is awesome indeed, and we are so glad to be a part of it.

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters and for the work of the Lord in Honduras.

Grateful,

Ana
PS. You can check out pictures of our trip on Facebook – look me up by name: Ana Stine

Sometimes I like to write out how I am feeling toward the Lord, with all the longing and desire for Him, by writing a short story or creatively taking you on a journey to really being able to feel it yourself. So below is something I wrote about how I felt about the Lord. I usually get very visual when He speaks to me or when I express how I feel. Enjoy!

My mortal being is back to walking hand in hand down the street. Tears of gratitude, that you would case after me, run down my face. My heart feels all squishy. The emotions have been hard to handle. You came running when there was nothing left. When I felt as I was laying in a gutter left for dead. Though weeping endured through the night, you brought me joy as a nice warm breakfast in bed. You wipe my tears, hold me and tell me its alright. The morning sun kissed my face and brought color to my cheeks. You are so good to me. I don’t deserve you. All I’ve done, all I am . . . is not worthy of this love you give. You have played a whistle in my heart and stuck a hook in me . . . you’ll never let go of me. I hear your songs over me as I sleep and am comforted by your melody. Every night you sing, and every morning you enrich me. You’ll be faithful til the end and to my heart . . . will you come and unify me?

Cheers!
Christi Schuman

So much of the ministry which happens through VCNP goes unnoticed.  I wish I could figure out how to get more good stories “out there.”

 I heard of someone recently who said “our church” would not do something like minister to prostitutes.  At our Single Mom’s spa day, we have ministered to battered women, women living in shelters and…well, we have ministered to “women of the evening” as well.  I’m glad we have.

 During any given week, various people who are addicted to drugs are ministered to through the “Living Free” ministry.

 Grieving people are ministered to through programs like “Griefshare.”

 Now…the things I just mentioned are areas where someone can be ministered to through a program of the church.  But, in our daily lives, we are all “the church.”  No church can minister to anyone unless the people in the church are yielded to God in their own personal lives.

 We all need to be asking God….What might you want me to do today?  Who do you want me to notice?  Who do you want me to pray for?  It might be through a church program and it might be something God calls you to do personally.  It might be for a guy who looks like a bum on the street and it might be for your elderly neighbor.

 Go for it!  What is God calling you to do to “be the church?”  Ask God for insight!  Ask for wisdom!  (Years ago Brian and I took in a homeless man to live with us for awhile.  With small children, I would not do that now.)  Ask God to make your life exciting with opportunities! 

 If you have a great recent experience, please share it on the blog!

 Blessings,

Thora

God has entrusted me with responsibility for a number of things.  For example, I’m responsible for my faith, health, home, children, my role as a wife, and finances.  However, there’s one area of responsibility that weaves its way through all of these: time.  God is watching to see how well I handle these responsibilities in the time I’ve been given.

In order to become a better steward of the responsibilities God has given me, I’ve worked to become a good manager of my time.  And I’ve had lots of experience managing time in many different life experiences.  You see, in the past 20 years I’ve  worked full-time and part-time outside the home, worked part-time in the home for someone else, not worked for any pay at all, and owned my own business from home.  I think I’ve done it all.  Through all of life’s changes due to moves, children and becoming an entrepreneur, I’ve always valued wise time management. 

I don’t know about you, but I feel a heavy sense of responsibility to be about God’s business – whatever that looks like in my life.  Whether it’s been going to school, becoming a wife or running a home and/or business, I want God to trust me.  Without some basic time management skills, I find myself looking back on a day or week, and realizing that I was busy, but I didn’t always accomplish what I believe God was calling me to do.

To help me stay on track with my God-given responsibilities, here are some time management tools I’ve incorporated into my life.  Note: these are very low tech and affordable on purpose, so everyone can use them:

1.  Keep a to-do list in a spiral notebook.  I learned this tip at my first job out of college from a co-worker.  When she completed a task, she dated it.  This notebook was also the place to store names and phone numbers.  The benefit is you can always review your lists to see when you finished something, or to retrieve a piece of information.

2.  Organize your tasks by projects.   If something involves more than one step, then create a project title for it, and action steps necessary.  For example, writing this post could be a task or a project.  If I wanted to read a book on time management, and review some websites, then I might make it a project.  If not, it’s a task and just goes on my to-do list.

3.  Create a project list for projects and a to-list for one-step tasks.  Transfer one action item from your project list to your to-do list as time allows.

4.  Purpose to do one significant task a day, other than your daily tasks.  When I write “significant” that doesn’t mean time-consuming.  It just means something important you want to get done.  It could be filling out a form, preparing for Bible study or grocery shopping.  Set expectations at a reasonable level.  And if you get six significant things done this week, then congratulate yourself. 

5.  Only check e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and so on at given times of the day.  Schedule this time in to your day.  Otherwise, it starts to master you.  Turn it off if necessary.  I read about one person who told her co-workers and friends she would only be checking e-mail at certain times of the day, and to not expect an immediate response.  If you need to get control over your electronic connections, consider doing the same.  Your friends and co-workers will understand.  If there’s an emergency, they can always call you. 

6.  Create margin in your schedule.  In other words, allow extra time to do everything.  This might mean you arrive at a meeting or church early, or that you have time to call your mom.  (hint, hint)  You might finish projects early and have time to help someone else. By establishing this practice now, you’ll find your life has more peace and that you’ll develop a reputation of dependability.

I’m always interested in hearing how others manage their time.  I hope you’ll take a moment and share some of your tips.  We can all learn from each other.

In His Love,

Glynnis Whitwer

www.GlynnisWhitwer.com

The other day a friend and I wanted to chill and have some conversation. The thought of sitting at a coffee shop, sipping coffee, laughing and giggling about life was so enjoying…only one problem, it was 9:45 at night and everything was closed. As I thought about it, scenery inspires me. Let me explain. I feel that being in a place with others who are talking drinking different coffee drinks, I just think my thoughts mean more or maybe I am just weird. Think about it, when you decide with friends or family that you want to meet at a coffee shop to hang out and talk, you get excited differently than you would just to invite them to your house. Tell me that you don’t and I will call you a liar. Anyway, my friend and I met, but at her place but in that back of my mind, I really wished that the coffee shops were open 24/7. Maybe conversation would be better if it were in a place where they brew coffee, or is that just my mind giving the coffee place too much credit?

My friend and I had GREAT conversation about life, God, books to read, verses and just who we are and what we like. I really enjoyed it. This got me thinking about how I put those sort of “boundaries”, for lack of a better word, on my time I spend with the Lord. I put all this effort into making sure that the atmosphere is “Perfect”. I make sure that I have ALL the resources needed just in case I get inspired to read the bible, highlight verses, write in my journal, sing a worship song, etc. I light candles and sit in the dark to perhaps create and intimate experience with the Lord.

With all that to say, I don’t need to have all this material ready just in case I get the urge to use them. I don’t need to always play music. I don’t need to prep my room as if a King were to appear and it should be properly fit. NO, I don’t need to do any of that. There is a couple that leads worship at the Bethel Church in Cali, they wrote this song below. I played it yesterday and was completely moved. The Lord doesn’t care if my house is put together, I have the right paper and pens to write down my feelings or a lightly lit room. He just wants to be WITH me. To LOVE on me. That was refreshing to be reminded of, because in a busy life…I tend to forget.

So please, let the Lord wash over you as you listen to this song…and maybe, just maybe you need to stop right now during your busy day and just BE with Him!

Cheers!
Christi Schuman

Every time I go to Las Vegas and I see those women who can engrave your name on a grain of rice, I think God is amazing in the fact that He gives to each of us unique gifts and talents.

I struggled for years making myself crazy trying to figure out what my particular gifts and/or talents were. The enemy had done an exemplary job for so long convincing me that I was the one person who God skipped over when handing out gifts and talents. After all, for more than 20 years my only “job” was that of full-time wife and mother.

My need to defend myself as “just a mother” or “just a housewife” found me questioning my worth and value in the body Christ. As though raising Godly children and nurturing them into productive, functioning, well-balanced and responsible members of society is looked upon as a lackluster career.

With all my children in college I’m learning to reinvent myself so I don’t become a member of the “just club.” I was just a full-time mom and now I’m just a wife. The dictionary defines the word just as, “perhaps, possibly” and “almost.”

I am a good mother and definitely a great deal better than “almost” or “possibly.” I’m capable of doing so many other things for God, but somehow the enemy is quick to point out all the things I cannot do. Truth be told, that list is far longer than the things I can do.

First Corinthians 4:7 says: What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

It’s easy to get hung up on what we are not when we should be focusing on what we are. I know I am saved and bought with a price and Christ died for me. I may not have a worldwide ministry, but I am a tenacious prayer warrior.

I may not be a missionary around the globe, but I can volunteer at the Food Bank, or host a small group, or invite a stranger to a Vineyard Church service. Okay, I can’t engrave my name on a grain of rice but I can lead someone to Christ so their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

God gave to each of us gifts and talents that are meant to be shared with others. We are meant to be channels that let our gifts and talents flow out from us to bless others, no matter how small or unimportant they may seem on the surface. We are not meant to be reservoirs that hold onto those gifts and talents. Whatever gifts we possess we need to do them as unto the Lord and with joy.

My job description may be changing now that my kids are all leaving the nest, but I’m going to do my best to not settle for just anything. Being a prayer warrior may not earn me my 15 minutes of fame, but if my Heavenly Father one day tells me “well done, good and faithful servant,” that’s just fine by me.

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy (not just another blogger)
www.kathleenkurlin.com

By the time you read this post, my dear friend DaNetta Fernandez and this humble blogger will be sharing God’s love with the people of Honduras.

 We will be meeting with pastors and leaders, teaching the Word, praying for needy people, singing Vineyard music en Español and eating a lot of yummy food!  (I won’t disclose which one is my favorite.)

 I must confess that during the days before this trip, I was filled with much fear.  I’m humbled by the opportunity to interpret for and minister with DaNetta (an awesome woman of God and Pastor Mario’s wife) and we both await with great anticipation what the Lord will do during this visit.  But the thought of great things scares the bejeebers out of me. 

 Why?  Because of the resistance we face, especially before the trip.

 Every year, (BTW, this will be my third!) I’m put through the wringer.

 All sorts of ridiculous and seemingly well-founded insecurities torment me.  “What good do you have to offer?”  “There are people who can do this better than me?  “I’m just a lay person, what right do I have to be here?”  “What sort of mom/wife leaves her family for 10 days?”  “What will I find when I return?”  The mental clashes can be exhausting.

 Then, I always suffer some type of physical malady.  Like what I went through in 2008, when I hurt my back 2 weeks before we left for our mission trip.  I was out-of-commission for 5 days, heavily medicated and getting up only to pee.

 And then, there’s my right eye, the one that acts out every time I’m getting ready to go to Honduras.

 That very same year, after enduring a week of excruciating back pain, I had to have eye surgery (some of you might remember me telling you about my pirate-like exit from the eye center – moaning and limping and with one eye patched.  A sight to beheld.  Arrrggh!)

 The surgery was traumatic enough.  But what followed was a close second. 

 My surgeon’s assistance mistakenly put the wrong drops in my eye, causing the pupil to be dilated for A MONTH!  (I kid you not.)  I’m sure most of you have had your pupils dilated during a routine eye exam?  You know, when your pupils are so big, all you can see is this huge halo around your cat-like eyes.  And then – if you went for eye glasses – they tell you to pick a frame.  So you take a look at the displays, which from what used to be your peripheral vision looks like big globs of something nebulous. 

 And so you manage to grab a pair; you extend your arms as far out as you can in hopes that your eyes will somewhat focus on your “selection.”  And the sales person tells you that oh, you look so pretty and elegant in those frames, but when you come back a week later, it’ll be a totally different story…  And you drive home praying you won’t hit an innocent pedestrian or unsuspecting vehicle, because you can’t see squat because of the stupid halo?

 Well, yeah, that’s exactly how it was for me two years ago.  For a month.  At the airport.  In Honduras.  During the Inner Healing Conference and for the various meetings DaNetta had with all sorts of people.  The limping and the moaning and the squinting were non-stop.  A mighty warrior alright.  That was me.

 So this time around, my eye was acting up again. I also battled fears and insecurities galore.  But I had a pretty neat experience while sharing my feelings with God.  I said, “Lord, I’m terrified.  I don’t like to suffer.  But I am your servant, and I truly believe – despite all of my doubts – that You’ve called me to minister to the people of Honduras.”

 A picture of a soldier going to battle formed in my mind.  I realized that soldiers answer the call with the understanding that things might get ugly, but they won’t back down.

 “I’m here Lord,” I said, “glad to be called your servant.  This trip might be wonderful or it might be difficult, even painful.  But I consider it an honor to be in your army.  I trust that You will lead me and be right by my side.  So I really have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”

 So I packed my bags feeling super-excited, thinking, “What if this trip turns out to be absolutely awesome?” I knew I’d kick myself for wasting so much time worrying about the possibility of any more difficulties.  I have things to do there.  My energy needs to be focused on the task ahead, on the people God wants to minister to – not on my fears or insecurities.

 I can’t wait for the chance to report to you the wonderful things we get to witness.  God at work: healing, loving, instructing, saving, and setting people free.  And I get to be a part of that! 

 Please pray for us and for the people of Honduras.  And don’t forget to keep our missionaries in your daily prayers.

 May His Kingdom come; may His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

 Amen!

 Ana