Morning Psalm

Lord I wake up distraught,
And you fill me.
I set my eye upon despair,
And you remove it.
When my world crumbles,
It is Your hand which picks up each piece.
You lovingly fashion them back,
Not into what I used to be,
With cracks and mildew.
But something whole, fresh
And ready for a new day.

-MP

The Battlefield

Our staff prayer and fasting time yesterday at lunch hour was very heartfelt. I read some words on determining to stick to your call, and then the passage including the following verse:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

We were priviledged to have Shirley Bodie, missionary to the Bahamas for 40 years join us in prayer and fasting. Both she and Ken shared from Scripture and experience that we are to stand firm in our faith and calling.

Ken shared about the spiritual battle, reminding us that it is very real and that we are in the midst of it.

He had read in his devotions that morning from the book of Job: God asked satan twice, "Where have you been?" And satan's reply both times was this: "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:7 & 2:2)

Ken closed admonishing us:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"
(1 Peter 5:8)

Shirley had three thoughts for us:

1) Make sure your relationship with God is in high gear. If you cannot align yourself vertically with Him, your horizontal, earthly relationships will be to no avail. Satan will use this to divide and conquer.

2) Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page. Many missionaries give up because they are not compatable with their spouse in their calling.

3) Satan will use molehills to make mountains. Love covers a multitude of sins so cover over one anothers petty offenses, such as forgetting to communicate or other innocent mistakes and wrongs. If the enemy can divide us horizontally, he will. We must be aware of his devices.

We closed in prayer and praying Scripture to one another. The Lord is in our midst and His Spirit is providing renewal, restoration, and refreshment.

I said to Shirley, "How did you know that was exactly what we needed?" She smiled and said, "But I do." It was a gift of exhortation in the greatest sense because not only did we need to heed her words, but just knowing she had been through it and has fought the same battle many times on the mission field was greatly encouraging.

Paula's Prayer

For more than five years our staff has had a weekly evening Bible study. Not compulsary, yet we have always had full participation. Together, we have grown and truly experienced life as a body.

Last night during our prayer time, Paula, Jack's wife, prayed a simple prayer:

"Father, thank you for this awesome group of people."

These awesome people. We are friends. We are family. We are a community. We are acting as a true cross-cultural missionary team. "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

While the Lord is overflowing us with financial blessings and the largest graduation service we have ever had on Monday night, the enemy is attacking us with discouragement and despair.

So, last night we studied much Scripture, humbled ourselves before one another in prayer, and fought a good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)

Paula said, "That Bible study was like a spiritual retreat!" How the Lord can make two hours seem like an entire weekend retreat is a gift to all of us.

This afternoon we are meeting in the chapel to fast and pray for one another and continue to seek God. If you think of us, please pray for unity and love to prevail.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 16&17

Does anyone have the time?

McLean's Magazine had an article on the gadget of the year. Incidently, I don't read McLean's but Melanie reads it weekly... in order... cover to cover. She begged me to put this alarm clock on my blog.

In actuality, I DO have several staff who find promptness a real problem. Of course, it would be inappropriate to mention their names here. But I've tried various options to get them to come to work on time...

The current policy is that for up to every 15 minutes you are late, you have to stay and extra 1/2 hour.

Well, for Jarad, that solved that... except for those 6 a.m. shifts, of course! For me, I don't even have to track my sick days because I regularly clock in 60 hours per week. For the rest of the unnamed crew, it's not really an incentive either, because they just stay and work the extra time. So, I do get a lot more work out of people. Just not promptly in the morning.

Well, now there IS a better solution! The puzzle piece alarm clock! When the annoying alarm sounds, the puzzle on the top POPS off!! The annoying buzzer won't shut off until you re-asseble the puzzle. It's perfect!

It would have been particularly helpful for Melanie, who was battling Hawaiian jetlag a few weeks ago.

Say, Jon, Vicki, Rebecca, Mesfin, Jarad... do you have the time?

No rest for the weary?

Lest my Chain of Daisies post leave you frustrated and exhausted from workaholism, I want to clarify. The implication of this post is not that rest is from the devil. However, it is an implicit warning that we ARE accountable for our time and what we do within that time.

How much of the world is in your thoughts and actions? How much time are you spending watching movies or listening to the radio? How much time is spent in selfish puruits with no thought to God or His Great Commission?

How many of us, when we go on vacation, also go on a vacation from God? Are we remembering to bring Him into our family fun times? Are we teaching our children about loving God and loving our neighbours? Are we practically outworking that love in all that we say and do?

Rest is mandated through example in Scripture. The Creator rested one day a week and commanded us to do the same. That means we get 52 days off per year. These are NOT days off from God! In fact, it's the opposite.

What did Jesus do on His time off? It was all about refreshment and reconnecting with the Father.

What will you do on YOUR next day off?

Hit & Run

This afternoon, after we had coffee, I was standing on the side of the street saying good bye to my good friend Grace, who is the President of our Women's Auxillery. Before I knew it, a car backed into me then took off! He didn't even know he had hit me, and, since I wasn't hurt, I didn't know why I should chase after him.

It was like one of those slow motion stress dreams I have where I am running across the street and whoever I am following won't wait for me!

I said good bye to Grace and shouted as I got into my car, "Thanks for saving my life!" She had pulled me out of the way as I was losing my footing and might have been run over altogether!

No big deal, but the adrenalin rush was intense! I got into my car and relaxed, chuckling over what happened and driving away, when suddenly my back was in EXCRUCIATING pain! Apparently I was hurt!

So, I've been somewhat stiff and sore and I imagine it will last a week or more, but nothing too bad. Slipping on the ice later and wrenching my back trying to stay upright didn't help... Still, it's fun to tell people I was hit by a car...

Yes, I'm weird.

So, I'm at home and I can barely think or move. I am going to rest so Ken and I can travel for a speaking engagement this weekend. See you Monday!

A Whisper In The Dark

A recent email from Roy Lessin—Co-Founder, DaySpring Cards:
"A line in a popular hymn states, “As He whispers in my ear, I am His and He is mine.” What are the things God is whispering to you today? His voice will speak the best words you will ever hear. Quiet your heart. Hear Him saying to you, “Come to Me. Draw close to Me. Come closer still. Let Me comfort you with My mercies… encompass you with My grace… assure you with My presence… embrace you with My love.” God has so many tender things to whisper to you. Each day He invites you to come close, to draw near, and to listen. Take a moment each day and listen for a “whisper” from God."

Melanie has been teaching through the spiritual disciplines. She knows I enjoy them and so she passes her weekly LifeChange Lessons for my perusal. This week she talks about "Simplicity and Solitude."

Point 12 was of particular interest: "Solitude can set us free. It takes us into a place of darkness where all is stripped away."

We can't hear God's whispers until we're in the dark. Solitude is NOT lonliness. But the darkness of lonliness can drive us to the Father. For comfort. Security. Companionship.

If you've never experienced the depth and richness of being alone with God, perhaps you have not yet entered into the darkness. We are to embrace our pain, not run from it. And through this we shall be changed.

Like a seed planted in the dank dark earth, our growth towards the light must begin in darkness.

If you're burning your candle from both ends of the wick, it's time to S-T-O-P. Chances are, you are running from something God wants you to deal with. If you have plans every night of the week, it's time to S-T-O-P. Chances are, you are not living out the personal discipline of "Simplicity and Solitude."

The hymn, by Will­iam D. Long­staff, 1882 comes to mind:
TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

Spring Cleaning

Last week a SaskTel volunteer and his lovely wife came and fixed our phones!! YAY! He saved us hundreds of dollars, so it was worth waiting for, although some of you had a hard time getting through to us for a few days, there!

Anyway, while I took this couple around, I noticed it was high time to do some spring cleaning! I sent a memo to everyone asking them to begin working on decluttering their offices, and bringing personal items home. So, inspection time came this morning.

Any of you staff who are feeling your blood boil can blame Jarad, because it was the state of random office items that reminded me to check things out.

So, here's the most out of place item for each office:

Melanie: needles & condoms... not so out of place in a Mission, really, as I imagine they were confiscated from a new resident.

Rebecca: hamster cage... Becca, the hamster is dead.

Jack: Zeddy bear... for my American friends, that's a teddy bear that Zellers puts out with their "Club Zed" program. Yes, we say "Zed." I say "Zee" so Jarad feels more relaxed. =)

Ken: (I had to snoop in a drawer to find something random!) A535 stretchy bandage thing for your elbows!

Vicki: Well, she's the most organized of us all... I can't really find a hint of her personal life in there... so I'll say, the poster of Meal Tickets from DECEMBER!

Me: (Michelle) Well, I'm probably the messiest of all... thankfully there wasn't a jack in my office when the phones got fixed! I string a l-o-n-g cord from Jarad's side of the office. (I can't wait to tell you what there is to find in his office. I'm saving the best for last.) Anyway, as for me... I think I'll pick the shoebox of cutlery. Hey, it's real silver, "Hello."

Larry: Larry wins the random item search... I hardly had to look at all. For some unexplained reason, there is a black plastic spatula on his computer keyboard.

Jarad: Oh, where shall I begin... arrows, a bottle of ginseng, assorted plumbing parts (although that is work related) a life sized plastic bear head for his taxidermy, booster cables, cans and bottles of truck gunk, a blanket, a deadly piece of broken glass, and a Kinder Surprise toy still in the plastic egg. (Isn't he odd?)

So, need I remind us all--it's clean up week... AGAIN! However, this was rather fun, so if you don't get to it, we'll see you back next Wednesday for another random round!

Missionary Job Description

I urgently beg you to walk worthy of the vocation by which you are called:

1. For the perfecting of the saints
2. For the work of the ministry
3. For the edifying of the body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1 & 12

Chain of Daisies Part 2

When Amy Carmichael wasn't going to waste her time making daisy chains, I wonder if she had the words of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, ringing in her ears:

"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face - whose mercy you have professed to obey - and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world."

The great missionaries of the world packed their belongings in their coffin. They never expected to return home once they heard and responded to the call.

While the rest of us in North America sit around making daisy chains, oblivious to the men and women drowning in the nearby river.

Paul's words are hard to take when he writes in Romans 8:36, "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Maintaining Vehicle Fleets

A few days ago we got a call from Gerald & Bev Neufeld. Jarad took the call.

"Do you still need a van?"

"Why, yes, we do," Jarad replied.

"Well, we have a van to donate; we'll drop it by this week!"

YAY!! ... We were all abuzz, rejoicing and snoopy dancing. Well, only Melanie was snoopy dancing.

About an hour later Jarad checked his box, and there was a note from one of our awesome volunteer receptionists, Nancy:

"Capital Pontiac called. They have two vans for you and they'll drop them off in a couple of days." Well, today was the day! A whole crew of them came out, toured the place, and delivered the vans!

THIS WEEK WAS THE WEEK OF VANS!! Larry came up the back lane this morning and there's an entire FLEET of vans out there!

Later on in the day, Jarad, who is in charge of our vehicles, said to all of us, "I sure wish I would have listened to that training tape in rescue college."

"Oh, which one is that?" I asked

"Maintaining Vehicle Fleets," Jarad replied, sheepishly.

Oh, what a wonderful dilemna to have!!

Thanks to the Neufelds and the Team at Capital!!

DON'T QUIT!

A lot of us have been fighting flus, discouragement, insomnia, financial hardship, and spiritual warfare. Hm. Almost sounds like a line out of the book of Acts. It doesn't surprise me that we endure such afflictions.

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. " 2 Timothy 4:5


DON'T QUIT!

When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer, with its twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he/she might have won had he/she stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Get a Life!

Yesterday, one of my staff members told me, "You need to get a life." Interestingly enough, I have a life.

I can't say that it's my life, really. I'm at a place in my journey where I am coming to the realization and acceptance that "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

In "A Chance To Die" Elisabeth Elliot speaks about the life of Amy Carmichael: "Missionary social activities were not Amy's cup of tea. How to justify the time spent in this way? It was like making daisy chains while people were plunging blindly over a precipice."

I think the apostle Paul had similar thoughts when he wrote: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-21)

By my way of thinking, this means... hm... my life does not belong to me. I live in the flesh to serve a Master. I am called and drawn to a greater, higher purpose.

Who's life are you living today?

Congratulations, Vincent Wolfe!

Last night Vince graduated from the LifeChange Discipleship Program! He's been here a lot, and worked hard since day one. Vince is a natural leader, and he has been a great example to the other men on LifeChange.

It's not an easy task to accomplish! The first three months are to develop routine, stay sober, as well as focus on the basics of faith and recovery. It sounds easy but for a grown man to live under "house rules" as though he were living on a college campus, requires submission and determination.

At the three month mark, Vince was able to set himself some goals for Phase 2. He wanted to work with youth, become integrated in his church, and further his education. He was able to do all that and more! He completed his dozen or so Phase 2 assignments, which include things like personality and career assessments, creating a resume, etc. He discovered a real heart for counselling youth, and was able to do his 20 hour internship with a local youth agency. He entered some difficult times there, but he was stretched and strengthened. In the end, they asked him to stay on as a hired employee.

But Vince had bigger goals in mind. He met the program staff team again and evaluated his Phase 2 progress. They set new goals for Phase 3. He would now be attending college to learn counselling! He would also be working towards getting his children back. And he would continue leading his church youth group.

Now the powers that be have asked Vince to take a new step to prove he is ready to be a full time dad. And so, he will be moving out on his own to show the authorities that he is not institutionalized, and that he has been building a clean, sober, productive life for himself.

And, truly, Vince has done that. I am so proud of him. He has built a strong support network through his church, he is hotly persuing his educational and career goals, and he is 100% committed to becoming the dad our Heavenly Father wants Him to become.

Vince gave up a life of addiction and sin, and the Lord has filled it with good things.

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalm 34:8

Fresh Start Monday

Celebrate!
Celebrate!
Celebrate!

Don't be calling anyone an idiot

Don't be calling anyone an idiot
Neil Scott, Leader-Post
Published: Friday, March 03, 2006

If your boss calls you an idiot, she could potentially be charged under an anti-bullying bylaw being drafted by city solicitors, a Regina city councillor said Thursday.

I need to put a sign on my office door that says: "Henceforth, the word, "Idiot" is now a term of affection at Regina RESCUE Mission.

An Amazingly Blessed Day

Sometimes God just decides it is time to pour out His blessings...

Yesterday we were offered many amazing donations:
1 van from an individual
2 vans from a car company
5 elk (1500 lbs of meat!)
1 walk in freezer
up to $25,000 - a matching gift for our upcoming May appeal

There was a lot of Snoopy dancing going on at Regina RESCUE Mission yesterday afternoon! I told Vicki that is she ever wanted to ask Ken for anything, today is the day!!

There shall be showers of blessing
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
Text: Maj. Daniel W. Whittle
Music: James McGranahan

Lessons Learned from a StarTrek Captain

I happen to be a Star Trek fan. That's right. Confessions of a Trekkie, or Trekker, as some like to be called. I like the original Star Trek, TNG (The Next Generation), and Voyager.

I found out from Melanie that I can pretty much watch Star Trek all afternoon on various channels. (We had a sick day together. Really, Larry we WERE sick!!)

I think Star Trek does a good job of portraying leadership and followership on the show.

The other day, Captain Janeway faced an interesting challenge. She had 2 of her crew in trouble, and wanting to leave the ship.

First, there was Seven of Nine, or Seven, for short. Seven broke away from the Borg Collective, but was having trouble learning to be independant as a human being again. She was angry and wanted to quit. But Janeway couldn't let her go without allowing great peril to the entire ship. Not only that, she knew that if Seven could get through her initial fear and transitional discouragement, she would choose humanity over the Borg for herself. So, Seven was locked up in the Brig to prevent escape.

Then there's Kes. Kes was turning into a different life form, and her energy matter was harming the ship. However, Janeway was reluctant to let her go. She told Kes, "What if you are basing this decision on your feelings, getting caught up in what is happening to you? What if an alien is doing this to you."

"Captain, you can't make me stay," Kes replied.

"No, but I can beg, plead, and cajole you to reconsider. I don't want you to act out of emotion or persuasion from an alien force. I want to protect you."

In the end, she had to say good-bye to Kes. In fact, she was wrong about Kes, and Kes was meant to leave. And Seven of Nine got out of the Brig and began to deal with her humanness.

As leaders, we face some pretty tough decisions. Sometimes we get it wrong. But always we get it right if we are fighting for truth and justice, and if we are considering our shipmates more than ourselves.

"in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3b