GivingThanks...

So what am I supposed to do when difficult things are happening in my life and the lives of those I love... and there seems to be no consolation?

I feel like I pray and pray and pray, but sometimes it seems that God is not hearing...there are no answers
I find comfort in the scriptures but then that peace is snatched away and my comfort is replaced with fear and anxiety.

I'm finding that thankfulness is the key...even when its the last thing I want to do giving thanks for the situations brings peace...

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him, and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures
forever; His faithfulness continues
through all generations."
Psalm 100:4-5

I can give thanks for individual situations knowing that in all situations God promises to work for the good. My good and the good of those I love.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love Him , who have been called according to His purpose.


Psalm 94:19
"When anxiety was great within me
Your consolation brought joy to my soul"


We are in Vail, Colorado I thought you might enjoy these pictures... trees are beautiful this week.



"Weeping may go on all night,but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

Skirt Update....

Working on skirts and I have 8 done.
I am making them in lots of different colors and trims.
Makes it more interesting.

Its Going To Cost Us...

One of the ways I can feel connected to my missionary family is by sending packages. I don't overdue it, but a package or two a month is usually in order.
I have always been very careful on my custom forms trying to never go over around $70.00 in total. Over all these years we have never had a problem with the kids getting their packages or with customs..

Things are changing..The new customs agent in town has decided that he will be able to make a buck or two if he adds the postage and the dollar amounts of the package contents together. This will pretty much assure that in order to get the packages they will have to pay customs to him. Yesterday it ended up costing a small fortune for them to get the packages that were waiting for pickup.

Erik and Michele are ready to say no more packages
That would mean no more,
hot sauce,
homemade fudge,
books,
lollies
hair bows
beef jerky
underwear
fig bars
pencils
crayons
Christmas....

CHRISTMAS?

can't cancel Christmas packages...we need to figure something out...what about all those Christmas skirts? And my grandchildren need something from grandma and grandpa for Christmas..

WAIT!

I know the one who already paid the price..the God who can make the impossible happen.
I am going to have to pray about this one...Meanwhile...
It's going to cost us.

Christmas In September and October...

It was our last day in the village.

"Take my picture with all my friends grandma."

One of the hardest things for me in the village is seeing the kids tattered clothes. One day I mentioned to Sierra that it might be nice to make skirts for all the little girls in the village for Christmas. Sierra was delighted. For the entire 2 weeks she measured each and every girl, giving me their waist sizes and skirt lengths.
Consequently,
I have 18 skirts to get done before the end of October.
I'm just a little overwhelmed. Would you pray that I get them done...

Some of my Scripture prayers for the Ni Vanuatu...

Great are You Lord, and greatly to be praised..Ps. 48:12
Clap your hands all the peoples of this great earth
Shout to God with a shout of JOY..
For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
He is a great King over all the earth...Ps. 41:10

We praise you O Lord,
All the nations, and
all the peoples we laud You for Your loving kindness is great towards us.
Your truth is everlasting; we Praise You Lord...Ps.117

Your Word O God is truth as well as everlasting..
Blessed are You oh Lord.
I ask you that as the people on the island of Tanna hear Your Word
in their own language that You would teach them Your Statutes...Ps. 119:12

Open their eyes Lord that they might see wonderful things from your Law...Ps. 119:18
Please let Your Word penetrate their hearts. Let your Word teach them good
discernment and knowledge...Ps. 119:66

Jesus You are Messiah, You have been appointed by the Father to be a covenant to the people.
You are a light to all the nations on the earth
to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeons and those who dwell in darkness.
Jesus, the Ni Vanuatu dwell in the darkness of their customs.
Please give them eyes to see the error of their ways and that this is sin in their lives...Is. 42:6

Lord, You will not give Your glory to another, nor your praise to graven images...Is.42:8
Please show them that their custom beliefs are deceitful, that they will not bring life they are worthless and a mockery...Jer.10:14
We cannot have it both ways partaking at the table of the Lord and demons...Icor. 10:20
Give the Ni Vanuatu the eyes to see and the ears to hear this truth...to see that this is what they are doing....turn them back that they would repent of their evil ways.

You say that all the islands and those that dwell in them will declare Your praise...I want the people to sing to you a new song of praise a song of praise to the ends of the earth. Is. 42:10
Please God give them a new song to sing....

I believe that it is Your Word that will change the lives of the people on Tanna Island. I pray that Your Word in the tongue of the Tannese will go out in your power, and in the Holy Spirit bringing with it full conviction. Use Erik and Michele as an example to the people that they serve so that these people may be turned back to serve You the one true God...I Thes. 1:5

I love Your Word Lord...You declare that all nations will come and worship before You, all the nations shall glorify Your name...Ps. 86:9

What Joy Lord to know that someday every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, Yes Lord, some of those who speak the Nafe Language will sing a new song to You.
A Song of Praise and Worship because you are Worthy and Worthy to be Praised.
Thank you for this truth Lord...Rev. 5:9

I Pray for these beloved people in the precious name of their saviour and mine Jesus Christ ...
Amen..

We Are At War....

I started a new book this week: Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper.

This is a book about missions. Chapter 2 is on prayer, and these are
his beginning thoughts on warfare, prayer, and missions.

"Life is war. That's not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie=talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus, prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need."

Piper claims that " We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war."
Interesting.....