Midnight Ministry: Hearing God in the storms of life

The last few weeks were filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. 

First I had a terrible flare. It was painful to move my entire body and for some reason my right elbow was killing me. (Down)

My doctor put me on steroids to calm the flare and settle things out in my joints. Now I don't know about you, but me on steroids is not a good combination - they make me angry. So I warned my family.

There were benefits though: they gave me so much energy I (almost) reorganized the entire lower level of my house! (Up)

Then my daughter got the flu and I got it while nursing her. (Low) I was sick with fever and chills and spent the better part of the week in bed. At one point I lost an entire day - July 12th to be exact. Everything was "off" and on the third day I realized I'd forgotten to pray for myself! I'd been so focused on trying not to vomit, I didn't remember to ask God for help. So I prayed and went back to sleep.

Later that night, I heard a scream. I pulled the earplugs from my ears and turned on the light to find my husband flailing around in our bed. I tried to figure out what the heck was happening when he said, "Water! I spilled water all over us!" It turns out he'd had a dream that we were on the couch talking and he grabbed a cup of water and . . . fell asleep with it.

"Are you sure we weren't talking just now?" he asked.

"Definitely sure." I said.

"Really?!"

We both had a good laugh as I stumbled around trying to find new sheets and blankets. By then I was wide awake and couldn't fall asleep. Terrible storms with deafening thunder and lightning were shaking the house. I decided - at two o' clock in the morning - to catch up on some overdue filing, so I went into my closet (because that's where I keep my files).

While there, I had the distinct impression I was supposed to read the devotional for July 12th in Streams in the Desert. I tried to ignore it and keep filing, but the impression grew stronger so I read.

This was the scripture: He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

This was the first sentence: Faith grows during storms.

Everything I needed in that moment - in the storm of the flare and flu - was found in that little devotion of the day I'd lost. (High) It was about faith in God during the toughest times of life.

The last few sentences really spoke to me:

Yes, "in all these" - even during storms, when the winds are the most intense - "we are more than conquerors." You may be tempted to run from the ordeal of a fierce storm of testing, but head straight for it! God is there to meet you in the center of each trial. And He will whisper to you His secrets, which will bring you out with a radiant face and such an invincible faith that all the demons of hell will never be able to shake it. E. A. Kilbourne

Suffering friend, I believe God poured that water on my husband and me. I believe that He is indeed making us stronger through our trials, testing us so that when all is said and done we'll come forth as gold.

Now you: Has God ever ministered to you at midnight or in the middle of a life storm? Do tell! We never know how our stories of suffering can encourage someone going through the same struggle.
                                                                                                   Praying for you, Erika

What season are you in?

By Erika Rizkallah

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Have you ever felt like you're in a spiritual desert? Like you're not hearing or seeing God? I have . . . more times than I can count.

In these times, the most useful thing we can do, is search for the root cause. Just as when we're feeling physically ill, we naturally try to figure out what caused it:

   Could it be food poisoning?

   Was it that snotty baby we held in children's church? (God loves snotty babies).

    Am I allergic to something (or someone)?

I recently had this experience; I was as dry as the desert - not hearing from God at all, which is unusual.

I began looking for the root cause, asking him in prayer and receiving no answer. Until  I noticed something . . .

Lilies began appearing in my front yard. I didn't plant them and so I was surprised when they began to blooming in early spring. The lily is a spiritually significant flower for me because of this favorite Bible verse:

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I (Jesus) tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" Luke 12:27, 28

These verses and the ones before them, are about God's care and provision for his children. We're not to worry about meeting our own physical needs. Isn't that liberating?

I do have to consider the lilies and I don't have to worry about myself. Maybe this is my season of seeing God at work.

What season do you find yourself in?

Are there levels of faith and does yours measure up?

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Last week I was in Jerusalem for the Easter and Passover holidays.

I've always considered myself to be a faithful person, but then I visited Church of the Sepulchre, which is believed to be the burial place of Jesus.

People come to pray and worship, and it was packed with Easter pilgrims.

I watched the women as they prayed. I watched their bodies as they bent and reached and kissed the Stone of Unction, which is the stone Jesus' body was placed upon after he was taken down from the cross.

This is where the "American me" kicked in. As they were kissing and rubbing it, I thought about germs.

I'm not kidding.

But, I still wanted to touch it, so I squeezed in that open space next to the lady in blue.

I thought it was crazy to come all that way and not touch it, so I laid my hands on it and prayed that Jesus would heal my body and my husband's.

And the lady in blue,  really got in my personal bubble space. She was moving back and forth, gently bumping me. She was "washing" the stone... with holy water or something. She had a bag full of folded notes and clothing and she would rub and pray. I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I looked.

Gosh - I think I look irritated in the picture, but I wasn't - I was just curious. Ok, I kind of was irritated that she was hogging the holiness out of the stone and not taking turns. I looked in her bag and realized...she had clothing in there.

                                                  She was rubbing underwear on it.

Many things run through my head about this, but the bottom line is that this woman was faithful.

She came to the stone with work to do, and nothing was going to stop her from praying over her notes and clothing.

I came and left empty handed and wondering about my level of faith. The Lord told me not to compare, because to him there's no such thing as levels. What matters to him is the heart and the belief that lies within it.

I'm curious. How do you come before God in prayer?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1

Sharing Saturdays: Devotions for strength in suffering

Today I want to share one of my favorite devotionals with you. It's the classic, Streams in the Desert, by L.B. Cowman.

I bought this devotional years ago for a friend, who (after not reading it) promptly returned it to me. Hurt, I put it on a bookshelf and left it there for a year or so. Then, one day it occurred to me that maybe I should read it myself.

                                                           What a gift!

God knew I would need the words and encouragement in my own struggles and suffering.

I hope it ministers to you in the same way it does for me.

                                                                                         He is faithful and wonderful!

Faith Detective

One of the things I most love about digging through my family's history, is finding common characteristics and interests that link us together now. Just some of the many things I've found are writing, singing, art, archiving and historical preservation.

                                                                     
Growing up as a young child, I felt like there was something off about me. Like there was a piece of myself that was missing and it was my destiny to find whatever "it" was. Now I know, that what I was searching for was God, the knowledge of who I am, and a sense of authentic intimacy in my family relationships.
                     
                               Thankfully, God found me, but I never lost the love of the search.

There were several breaks in my family's faith over the generations, but through ancestral research, I've been able to pick up pieces of the chain that once held us together.

Family History Tip:

Before you hop online and waste money, gather as much information as you can.  Making a list of full names, dates of births and deaths, hometown information and country of origin are most helpful.

                                                                                           Happy Hunting!

The Most Powerful Woman

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke 1:1-2

     What an incredibly rich and purpose-filled verse! Luke decided, that like many other believers who'd encountered God, he'd write his own account of the good news.

     I love the personal way this gospel account is written. Luke was writing to someone named Theophilus, which literally means "one who loves God" in Greek. There's speculation that Theophilus was either a general term for Christians, a patron, who financed the book's writing, or a Roman acquaintance with a strong interest in the Christian religion.

     Whatever the case may be, we do know one thing: Luke invested time in this person. Writing this gospel wouldn't have been easy; it's not as if he could write it on his laptop and whip it out on a printer. It would've been a long and painstaking process because it's the most comprehensive gospel written.

     What struck me about this particular passage was the phrase "just as they were handed down to us." Luke was a gentile (non-jew) believer who got this spiritual heritage from someone who cared enough about him to hand it down.

                                 This got me thinking about the most powerful woman in my life.

Look at her! She looks pretty mild-mannered there in her little knitted sweater and polyester dress. That's how I mostly remember her, sitting on her recliner, reading her newspaper from her farmhouse. 

                                      Oh yeah - everything about that screams POWER.  

     But she was. She was! That's my Great Grandma Edna.

     You see, from that recliner or davenport (which is an old-fashioned word for couch), she wrote me letters and sent me the kid's funny pages from her beloved newspaper. She did this almost every week. She was the only Christian in my family (that I knew of) and her letters are entirely responsible for my faith today.

     She was the one who told me Jesus loved me and taught me how to pray... through her writing.

     Grandma Edna lived in Michigan and I lived in Maryland, and we were only able to see each other once a year. Honestly, the only thing I truly remember about her was her farmhouse, her chocolate chip cookies and her incredibly wide backside. I mean she was really, really old.

     But she didn't let the distance in geography or age stop her.

     The verse above got me thinking about her today and about ways I can invest in other people through my writing. I need to get creative and active in this way for people in my own life.

                                 Got any ideas?

                                                                                          God is faithful and wonderful!

Affliction

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Joyful in hope...yes!

   Patient in affliction...ugh!

      Faithful in prayer...ok.

I find it hard to be patient in affliction, especially when everyone in my family is afflicted. Yes, officially every one of us. We all have a condition that needs to be managed and guess who's the manager?

As we draw more blood and send off more biohazardous samples to yet another lab, I lean on God's word and cry. Yes, cry! Jesus wept and I weep a lot because I'm so dang tired of caregiving when I'm sick myself.

You know what else we found out when we were at the doctor's office? It's good to cry. Really, really good. In fact, she prescribed it, because if we don't, our cortisol (stress hormone) levels rise and do terrible things to our bodies. So whenever I feel stressed out by all these trips to the doctor, I cry.

I also have joyful hope because God sent us to the right physician for help. Two weeks ago, my 17-year old daughter, Dania, was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Her blood count's at a chronic level which means she's probably had it for several years. It is a missing piece of the depression puzzle so for that I'm eternally grateful.

I'd greatly appreciate your prayers...
           especially for patience and perseverance during these trials.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Friday Follow Ups # 4 - May

Yahoo, the weekend is finally here!

In March, I posted about my children having to take standardized tests for the school year. I know many of your kids are studying for those tests right now. It was my first year homeschooling and I was terribly stressed out.

                                You can read about that here: Testing 1-2-3

If you're in that place and are trying to keep your kids from feeling the same way, I've got a handy little piece of news...

      Their intelligence didn't come from you.

That's what God spoke into my spirit when I was overly worried. Their intelligence doesn't come from you, it's from me.

When I heard that, a huge burden lifted off of me. God is the giver of all things. He's the one who bestows gifts and purpose and smarts. Testing is just a measurement to help us figure out where our child falls on the spectrum. It's a shame that it causes so much chaos, all for the sake of comparing our kids with others.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

   establish the work of our hands for us,

   yes, establish the work of our hands.

        Psalm 90:17

Taking the burden off of my kids helped greatly and they performed better than I ever expected. We prayed together about it and when all was said and done, Katya, a 9th grader, tested at grade 18 (?) Dania, an 11th grader tested at freshmen college level and Samih, a 5th grader tested as a 7th grader.

   But only in the areas of their strengths - comprehension, reading, writing, etc.

They were a little behind the curve in math, except for Katya. That makes sense because it's their least favorite subject (and mine too).

Everything blooms in it's own time.

    The most important thing we can teach our kids, is how to love God and trust him to get us through the real tests of life.

So relax. Chill. Be still...

    and know that He is God.  Psalm 46:10

May you be blessed with grace and peace this weekend.   Erika

Do Not Worry

This morning I awoke with an unsettled spirit. It's been a difficult week, but this morning had a special edge to it.

I've been praying for two special people who don't know God. They don't have the spirit of Christ in them, because they haven't claimed Christ as Lord and Savior. They don't know his peace or how he changes our hearts and fills us with love because...
                  They just don't. Or won't.

I took a call from one of them at 2:30 this morning and it still feels like a dream.

 "We got into a fight and I called the police. They're on the way."

I got further instructions to call the sheriff's department if I didn't hear back by morning.
                         

                               I haven't heard back yet.

It's fitting then, that today's bible study was about the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

Martha was a friend of Jesus, who'd opened her house for him. She was trying to get all the preparations made but her sister Mary, was sitting at his feet, just listening to what he was saying. Frustrated, Martha says, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

In my study Bible, this passage cross references to other stories about disciples dealing with life's concerns. One of those stories has to do with material possessions (Mt 6:25-34) and the other is when they're sinking in a boat during a storm at sea. (Mark 4:38)

Christ's command remains unchanging for all these situations.

       Worry is not allowed for followers of Jesus.

Christ didn't worry in any situation because he always trusted His heavenly father. He considers those who do it, to be people of little faith.

So I'll continue to sit at his feet every day and listen to him - and not worry.

     Will you join me?

Five Finger Fasting

One great thing about getting older is that you care less about what others think and more about what's really important.

Another great thing is that you begin to lose a little bit of your memory.

Now, I realize most people wouldn't think that's great at all, but I do, because it makes things simple for me. I find that when I struggle to remember something, I become more creative. Like when I start to forget people's names, I begin to focus intently on them and try to find ways of remembering.

That narrowing makes me more focused, and when I focus intently, everything becomes clearer and sharper. Check out what Steve Jobs says about focus:

                                    Yikes! This Fast Company Magazine photo makes Steve look like he's focusing on you.

"That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking down to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

        Moving mountains.

No one on earth knew better about moving mountains than Jesus. He said that with faith, his followers would be able to move mountains, and some people I care about are in desperate need of a miracle. Because fasting is one way to break through strongholds and obstacles, I've decided to fast for awhile.

In case you're not familiar with it, fasting is when you give up something for a designated time and pray instead of indulging in what you've given up.

Because my memory is poor, I made up a simple trick that's been helpful for me in the past. I just put the initials of the thing or people I'm fasting over on my hand, like this:

This picture represents five families in need of a breakthrough. The "R" on the thumb represents my own family - we've been struggling with various illnesses for over six months. Maybe you need some sort of breakthrough too, and if so, I hope you'll ask God for help.

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Dimples

For this very reason*, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate exercising? I hate exercising almost as much as I hate math, but unfortunately I have to do both. I hate math because I was never good at it and neither are two of my children. Until they leave home, we all have to struggle over it together.

Exercise is a different matter. Working out is a non-negotiable for me because I paid a dear price when I neglected that area of my life. My body failed and I got miserably sick for over five years. As I age, the changes in muscle tone and strength change more rapidly and I have to work harder than ever to maintain strength.

A year ago I hired Robin, a personal trainer, in order to get stronger for my hysterectomy surgery. Even though I've been training for a year, I don't like it any better than I did before. She comes on Monday and Wednesday and I fully dread those afternoons. She gets me warmed up and then spends about 40 minutes punishing certain muscle groups. I sweat and make noises like an animal. My kids laugh at me, but that's because they don't work as hard.

Sometimes, when I'm working through the last set of weights or cardio, I have to visualize Jesus carrying his cross, because it's that hard for me to finish. Robin, just stands over me watching with a very unconcerned face. The other day I thought, I still don't like this, why do it? The voice in my head answered back, "Who cares if you like it? Do it anyway." I listened to the second voice because ultimately it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, it's necessary for health.

                                                                  Google images

Though I've trained for a year, I am just now beginning to see results in my body. I can tell I'm stronger and can lift and carry more. I may even have slightly more stamina, but in my physical shape, I can only see one piece of evidence of all my effort.

I can see one dimple.

It's on my thigh and every time I get a glimpse of it, I'm ecstatic. Let me also say that this little, beautiful dimple is enough to keep me going. When I look in the mirror and see the outline of that one little muscle trying to carve it's way out of weak flesh, it inspires me. In fact, I made the decision yesterday, to add another day to my training in hope that the extra punishment will encourage other, hidden little dimples.

Spiritual growth can be like a dimple sometimes. Don't get discouraged if you're not where you want to be spiritually. Be grateful for the dimples you can see,  focus on Christ and keep working hard. I promise you'll see results of your effort!

* the reason we need to work out like this is so we may participate in God's divine nature and escape corruption caused by evil desires in this world.

Heavenly Father, help us to seek you for daily strength as we add your qualities to our own spirits.
Amen.

Spiritual Gifts

"Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant."          1 Corinthians 12:1

Do you know which spiritual gift you've been given? Are you using it?

From experience, I know this topic can come with a lot of questions...

    How do I know what mine is?
    How can I be sure I have it?
    Where can I go to find out?

The best thing to do is to pay attention when you're serving others. What fills you with joy? What need do you meet that uplifts and encourages those around you? What makes you feel closer to Christ? Spiritual gifts tests are also available, and they're fun to take as well!

Once you start experimenting, God will usually confirm them through the encouragement of other people.

At times, I've struggled with how I should use mine. In fact, now that I'm not on staff of a church anymore, my gifting has shifted. It's up to me to make sure I'm using them properly. Also, a gift unused gets taken away and we may never get the opportunity again.

Paul shows his concern when he offers further explanation as to why he doesn't want us to be ignorant:

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit" (v 4)
"There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord" (v 5)
"There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." (v 6)
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (v 7)

Think about the hundreds of ways these gifts can be used for different service and different working!

It means that no matter where we are or what condition we're in, we can use whatever we've been given to serve God.

       Anywhere. Anytime

But we have to know what it is.

Your gift is to be shared with others in service to God and if you're not sure what yours is or how to use it, I urge you to make it your goal to know. It's more than filling a slot at church or volunteering for a couple of hours.

It's God's presence, his Spirit gift, working through you to build up his body. Since we are the body, when we use our gifts for others, we're also helping ourselves grow stronger. Look at what else Paul says about it in Romans 1:11:

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith."

We all benefit when we share our gifts with one another. I know that often, I will make a phone call with the intent of encouraging someone and I end up getting just the right message of wisdom. One time I took a meal to someone in need and three years later, ended up being encouraged by her AND amazed by God's perfect timing.

                                                                          Google Images

I challenge you to fan your gifts into flames! (2 Tim 1:6)