By Faith...

Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.

By faith we believe God created the world by His command.

By faith Able gave his best to God.

By faith Enoch pleased God and it is impossible to please God without faith in the One you believe in.

By faith Noah obeyed and built an ark.

By faith Abraham obeyed and went.

By faith became a father because he knew the One who promised was faithful.

They lived by faith until they died.  Many never received the things promised to them, but they saw and welcomed them.  They longed for a better home – a heavenly one.  God was not ashamed to be called their God.

By faith Abraham offered Isaac.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him and did not fear the king.

By faith Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated with his people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He was looking ahead to his heavenly reward.  By faith he left Egypt not fearing.  He persevered because he saw God.

What more shall we say?  Through faith kingdoms were conquered, weaknesses turned to strength, became powerful in battles, others were tortured to gain a better resurrection, chained, stoned, sawed in two, persecuted and mistreated…the world wasn’t worthy of them.  They were all commended for their faith, yet none received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for them and us.    

I don’t know about you but I am truly inspired by this list in Hebrews 11.  I mean I am pumped up and hope someday God writes a verse 40, “By faith Mandy…”   

Faith is confidence in what you believe is true.  It is putting your trust in something.  It is hoping in what you believe.  It leads to action. 

Look back at the words in bold.  Faith caused belief, people to give, obedience, to go, offer, not to fear… The key to faith is knowing the one you put your faith in is trustworthy and true.  You cannot trust what you do not know.  Heb. 11:11 Abraham had faith and believed God because he knew the one who made the promised is faithful.  Abraham knew God and could trust Him.

And when you know the One you have faith in, you obey.  Faith brings obedience. 

A few years ago as we were preparing to come back to Uganda, I understood these truths more than ever.  We had really enjoyed our time in Michigan, we were close to our families, connected with friends, involved in church, and now were days away from leaving it all again.  We were uprooting our children again and taking our new born baby away from grandparents.  My emotions were everywhere.  Fear could have easily set in.  I desired to stay where it was comfortable.  I was sad.  It was then I realized I had a choice.  Would I obey God and go back to where He called us or not?  Did I trust the One who called us enough to obey?  Everything I said I believed would now need action.  If I know God is my protector, my provider, wants what is best for me, hold the plan for my life, is my Lord, in control…then I can trust Him and obey.  By faith in God, who is trustworthy, I could obey and go.

Faith is knowing you can trust God and causes us to obey (action).  The opposite of faith is not believing God and disobedience.

Hebrews goes on to say in chapter 12, since we have all these great examples in chapter 11 of faith, get rid of everything that keeps you from faith, the sins that entangle you and follow the plan God has for you.  Persevere.  Put your focus on Jesus!  Put your faith in Him who is trustworthy.  He is the author of your faith and the One who makes your faith perfect.  With joy Jesus endured the cross, shame and sat down at God’s right hand (the work was finished!).  Remember what Christ endured so that you will not grow weary and loose heart.  Put your faith in God.      

Great Pain & Great Grace

I have begun reading through the Bible again and I am amazed at how it speaks so powerfully each time.  I have had the privilege of hearing the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abraham since I was a child, but I love how the Holy Spirit speaks new truths through it again and again.  They are not just nice stories we tell our children.  In fact the more I read them the more I feel we have watered down these great truths into cute kid stories.  God’s Word is powerful truth!  Each story gives us a beautiful glimpse into God’s heart, His love, plan for us, grace, holiness…and His plan for salvation, Jesus.

Read the story about Noah for example.  It begins with God in great pain.  Did you know God, the Creator of all, King of King, hurts so deeply?!  You know why?  His great pain comes from sin.  When His children sin, it hurts.  God made all people in His likeness and they turned from Him and made Him their enemy.  The Bible says that every thought of their heart was evil all the time.  And God grieved.  Their wickedness was so great God regretted making man.  This caused Him so much pain.

We need to stop and hear the terrible side of the story – the great sin, great pain…so we can see the greatness of God’s grace at the end of the story.  If we miss the pain, the ugliness, the emotion, we will miss God’s mercy and love.

Now God is Holy.  He cannot be anything else and so He can not tolerate sin.  He is just.  Justice is right and good.  And so, God knew He had to destroy His very own creation.  And He grieved.  It didn’t make Him happy, He grieved.

But, there was one man, one Father, one family who chose to follow the Lord in such wickedness – Noah.  Noah was righteous and blameless among the people because he walked with God.  How about us?  How about you?  Our world is still wicked and full of sin do you stand out to God?  Are you walking with Him and living in righteousness?  Or have you fallen into the ways of the world, accepting it instead of standing for truth, and looking no different than the world does?

Noah found favor in God’s eyes, He blessed Noah.  God chose to start over with mankind through Noah’s family.  God told Noah His plan.  And Noah obeyed.  Noah didn’t question, didn’t doubt, didn’t say no…Noah did everything just as God commanded him.  You see when God speaks the only answer is, “yes, Lord.”  Everything else is disobedience which really is rebellion and lack of faith.  However, Noah was human and when he was building the ark in a desert, mocked and laughed at he most likely went to God in his times of questioning, waiting, doubt.  The key is bringing it to God and continue to obey.

After the whole ordeal was over, Noah’s first response was a thanksgiving offering to God and it was pleasing to God.  And God said in His heart, after watching His whole creation die because of their sins, NEVER again!  Even though He knew mankind would become just as wicked again (every bit of our hearts from childhood!) He chose never to destroy everything again.  When God makes a promise it is for sure!!!  Then God made a sign to remind Him of his covenant – a rainbow.  God knew He would need a reminder because the world would make Him grieve again.  What grace, what mercy, what love God has shown us!  He didn’t have to, but He wanted to.  Why?  Because He loves you!  He loves His children and gives us grace so we can know Him.  That is the beauty of the rainbow.  Not just pretty colors or things the world has distorted it to, but God’s handmade sign of everlasting grace and love.           

Rondo Retreat

We had the joy of meeting our Freedom in Christ Africa director and his wife, Howard and Aileen, for a five day retreat in the rain forest in Kenya.  We stayed at Rondo Retreat Center and were blessed by the service and beauty.  We enjoyed walks in the rain forest, relaxing and teatimes, encouragement and fellowship with Howard and Aileen, and fun with our children.  

The rain forest was different than I expected but amazing.  It was even a taste of MI being in the woods and cooler temperatures.  The trees were huge and so tall to get to the light I suppose.  There was tons of moss going on everything, it was damp, very green, and thick.

It was so much fun to find interesting thing with our kids and simple thank God for His creative handy work.  Kids are great at slow us down so we stop and enjoy the smallest wonders.

Rondo had beautiful gardens that just made us "stop and smell the roses."  We truly rested.

Josh loved this TALL tree

Our "home" at Rondo.  We loved it!  It was old, yet beautifully kept.  I felt like I was in the South with our big porch and the hospitality we received.  There was even a fireplace to sit by each night (and yet it was even cool enough)!  

We were spoiled!  Three meals a day and supper was 3 course candle light meal.

I know this picture is blurry but I wanted you so see what the inside of one of the homes looked like.  We played lots of games together too.

Everyday at 4pm we enjoyed tea and cake on our porch.  We also had wonderful talks with Howard and Aileen.  They are a great source of wisdom and support to us!

We enjoyed seeing monkeys in the rain forest.  This is a Colobus monkey.

Just cool :)

We are thankful God has used our time in Rondo as a part of His healing and restoring us.  While I was there I read 1 Peter 5:10-11, "God Himself will resore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."  What a wonderful, personal promise from our Father!  I see how He has provided and is with us.  I am thankful we get to be apart of Freedom in Christ and serve under Howard and Aileen.  I was able to pray with them while we were at Rondo using the 7 steps to freedom.  I love that God has and is working in me.  His way is right and good!  Praise God for His rest and the joy He gives us through His creation and His people.

Ok, I need to add a side note.  You have to know that almost everything about vacationing in Africa is difficult.  Thankfully we kinda know how things work and can make the most out of most things but it is never easy or relaxing.  Travel is an adventure here, not the good kind.  Roads are not always good, there aren't signs or good markers, and it takes ALONG time to get anywhere.  Going to Kenya we were actually thankful we live in Uganda and could see better the blessings we do have in Uganda and that it has become home, familial.  The border was just plain yuck!  Uganda had a new building and it was peaceful and easy.  We were so thankful.  Then we did the Kenya side and their new building was still in the making.  There was chaos everywhere.  People everywhere (not checking in or out either), trucks crammed in every inch available (they literally wait for a day or two in line to cross), and nothing about it was nice.  The only way we knew what to do and where to go and who to trust was by hiring a guy who walks you through the process -- for a price which is worth it!  To top off the chaos there was a man there who looked normal, but we learned was "mad", who did not like us, called us fake Africans, and told us he put a bomb under our van.  Ok, I am pretty sure they should not have that guy hanging around the border.  We needless to say kept the kids right by our sides or locked in the van with me while Josh did paperwork.  If we were new or tourist we would have not been ok with all that happened.

So, thankfully Rondo was truly rest and great because the trip is not.  On our way home Malai threw up three times and I was sick with a sinus infection or something.  I am so glad our kids don't complain though and make the most out of all situations.  We were all grateful to be home after our week away.

Twins x 2

Two sets of twins born this month in Obulle - to brothers too yet!
This is Sam's wife Esther and their twins.
She didn't know she was having twins til she delivered (at home)!

These are Pastor Robert (also a twin - runs in the family!) and Penna's twins.
Penna had a c-section because the first baby was breach and the second had the cord around it's neck.
We praise God they are healthy and safe!

Just a note, I think the twins make 8 children for each family. 

This is baby Mandy!

16 Years!

God sure loves us!

  After being sick for days, I thought our anniversary was going to go by without celebrating. 

But yesterday, June 18, was my first day on the mend.  Josh had to teach all day so the kids and I decided to surprise him with an anniversary supper -- a family anniversary supper!

Lydia helped by making the dessert -- individual cheesecakes with blueberries on top (we used our special, use  once and gone, ingredients -- it was a celebration) and with the bread.

We had the nicest, simple, but special family anniversary meal.

The kids asked us about our wedding day, how we met, how Dad proposed...

They knew the stories but they love them and it is special to them too.

I am thankful God allowed this wonderful evening to happen, 

for children who enjoy special things, and for a marriage of 16 years to my best friend. 

I love him more today than our wedding day.   

Sick of being Sick

June 17

As some of you know I have been sick for the last five days.  I really don’t like being sick.  In the last six weeks I have been sick three times (thankfully the others were shorter).  Unfortunately, one or two other family members were sick each time I was.  This seems to sum up our year.  I hate to say it but since moving to the village I don’t think we have had more than four weeks straight without someone or multiples being sick.  This has been a discouragement we continue to pray about.

We are not getting sick from food or water (or we’d have more bathroom issues), other than a few of us we aren’t getting crazy African sicknesses; it is mostly fevers, headaches, and flu like stuff.  We are pretty careful people. We live freely here but wisely.  It is our home and you can’t worry about everything all the time.  People in village seem to be sick a lot and must share a lot.  It is pretty communal living but outside in the fresh air.  However, even our close friends here feel back for often we have sickness in our home.  This year I have recognized all the sickness as a spiritual attack.  The enemy has some pretty big strongholds here and that means there is a spiritual battle going on.  The enemy loves to discourage in anyway possible – to win.

It can almost work.  I am still lying on the couch to write this but it is one step better than being in bed where I have been for three days.  We finally tested for Malaria and it was positive.  I quite mad at myself.  We have lived in Africa since 2001 and this year we couldn’t get the preventative medicine I do best on.  I fell into the lie that others aren’t on preventative and are fine.  I haven’t been on anything for two months and got Malaria for the first time.  I have always said I would rather take a little medicine everyday and not get Malaria than be sick in bed and take a lot of medicine.  I am eating my words.  It was not worth it.  I was miserable and Josh was caring for everyone best he could.  Needless to say, I am going back on preventive.

I am on my five day of not feeling well and still have to get rid of the sick taste, feeling not myself, and gaining strength.  I am down, lonely, (when I feel well enough) bored, I want to do something, go somewhere but am not up to it yet, I am homesick for MI… We had to cancel the Marriage Bible Study we were going to start Monday and tomorrow is our 16th wedding anniversary which we were going to celebrate yesterday because Josh teaches the next two days.  Lots of bummers.

However, now that I am thinking straighter and have hope of feeling well soon, I still know how very blessed I am.  My husband was fully capable of caring for our children, making meals, and holding the mother and father role.  Our children are so positive. Lydia and Luka were both sick for a day or two too, but everyone cared for one another and helped out.  Our neighbor Charles came and prayed over me.  Some of you emailed and prayed for all of us.  God is with us, faithful, and healer.  So many people hurt every day…that must be so very difficult.  May I always have compassion for those who endure sickness and pain as part of their lives.  

As soon as I get back to drinking coffee, I should be feeling better and life will be back to a normal.  Thanks for praying with us and for us.  God hears and answers.  

Friendship with the World

Do you hate God?

That is a question we don’t ask.  It is shocking.  Of course we don’t hate God!  He is our Father, Savior and Lord.  But here is what His Word says,

You unfaithful people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James 4:4

Whoa!!!  Make you uncomfortable?  Does me.  Am I a friend of the world?  I like things here and enjoy my life…but at times I really hate the sin in this world.  I could just rationalize it but it is God’s Word and that is truth.  So what do we do with this?

1 John 2:15-16 says,

Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes’ and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.   

Let’s be honest.  I see a lot of God’s children loving the world and things of the world.  So that means many Christians are also missing out on the love of our Father (vs. 15).

Let that sink in.  Our love for worldly things is causing us to not have God’s love in us.

I don’t want that!  The world will pass away but if I do God’s will I will live forever.  Everything in the world – does not come from God.  Wow.  Our sinful desires/wants, lust to look and want what isn’t good or right for us, and pride of what we have or what we do are the ways of the world.  We should not love these because they do not come from God.

So why do we do them?

We need to check our attitudes.  Are we preoccupied with gratifying physical desires, craving and accumulation things, bowing to materialism, obsessed with our status or importance?  We are focused on the wrong things, wrong values, and wrong truths.

Friendship with the world (James 4:4) and loving the world (1 John 2:15) are when we seek pleasure, self, things…the world at the expense of obeying God.  When we choose the world (all our cravings, lust, and boasts) instead of God’s will we are living in disobedience.  When the world keeps us from God it is sinful.

Truth hurts.

But, we know God and His character.  He don’t love us less – His love is UNCONDITIONAL.  It doesn’t depend on us and what we do, He will always love us!  He longs for all to be saved.  He grace is a gift not earned.  He has already purified us, given us victory and offers it to us to accept and live in. 

James 4 goes on to say,

Submit yourself, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

James 4:7-10

We need to come near to God.  Say no to the world and devil’s ways.  Even run from it!  Cry out to God in repentance; grieve your sinful ways.  Be cleaned from living as a child of Christ and part of the world (God’s enemy).  Submit your whole self, every part of your life, to God.  When we are humble God lifts us up.

This is God’s will for you.  He desires for you to be close to Him.

For Jesus said we are not of this world.  Because we are not a part of this world and all it does and believes, we will be hated by it. 

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.

John 15:18-19

So, my dear brothers and sisters, may we not love the world and so show hatred toward God.  But let us be hated by the world and show love to God.