Month: March 2018

It’s been difficult returning from Guatemala to find the right things to write. I’ll include more information and photos next week. Because this is Holy Week, most of us will attend church more and contemplate Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us.

Putting together the two – returning from Guatemala and Holy Week – I think it’s fitting when we attend church to use our time in focused prayer. Our mission efforts need prayer. Our missionaries request it. They are up against things most of us don’t realize or have to deal with. Prayer is a powerful tool and weapon for them in their struggle against evil and their efforts to spread the Gospel message. They depend on it as we all should.

Jesus depended on prayer. He asked his friends to “watch” with Him but they fell asleep. He was in great distress and asked them to come with Him and they fell asleep. Now is not the time for us to be sleepy! We should pray, and pray continually.  We can pray for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to open many hearts to the saving message of Jesus Christ. We can also pray for the safety our missionaries and their psychological needs. We can also pray that we will continue to support our churches all over the world.

I share this painting with you. The picture accompanying this blog is titled, “Christ in Gethsemane” from an altarpiece, St. Hans Church, Odense, Denmark by artist Carl Bloch. It’s one of my favorites.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation (Luke 22:39-46).

There is much praying to be done. Take advantage of Holy Week and be focused in prayer.

Patti

This week I leave for a trip to Guatemala. Some of my LWML Oklahoma friends and I are heading out on a MOST Ministries Eyeglass Clinic trip. LWML Oklahoma President, Dianna Just is going. She’s been on many mission trips. She is an educator and has a real love for people which shows up in her many trips she has gone on all over the world. Lori, Sharon, Ruth and I have been on mission trips together before. Ruth was a missionary nurse in Nigeria. Kathy is a new traveler and we look forward to having her along.

One of the many reasons I love to go on these trips is the break from “stuff”. You see, most of God’s people that you serve on these trips don’t have much “stuff”. There’s that much less to get in the way of having God lead them into depending on Him for everything and seeing God in control of it all as He provides everything they need.   

Do you think that the United States is the only country in the world where people have so much stuff they have to pay for storage units to keep it in?  I do. I’ve never heard of other countries having storage units for rent. Does our stuff sometimes get in the way of our devotion to God? I think so.

Another thing I’ve experienced on these trips is the reliance on prayer and the answers God gives. Years ago, when Servant’s Heart was active near the Guatemala City dump, we would walk through the compound and pray in each room with our hosts. Prayer was foremost in their efforts to keep the ministry going, for protecting their workers and for providing food for their lunches served at the dump.

And finally, relationships. Last trip I went on I took one photo of my grandchildren along to the clinics. This sparked many conversations (my broken Spanish and lots of hand gestures), smiles, and hugs as we related to our common human emotions. No relating to common stuff, but to common feelings and emotions. Those times I carry in my heart and smile.

One of our 2017-2019 mission grants is for MOST Ministry family scholarships. I urge you to support that grant and also to consider taking your family on a mission trip and applying for one of those scholarships. You’ll see firsthand that prayer, dependence on God, and relationships trump “stuff” every time!

Talk to you when I get back!

Patti

Banners have played a big part in the decorations of our churches. Many centuries back they often took the form of fantastic tapestries woven in great detail. They were often done to illustrate stories of the Bible.

They have flown during military engagements back in the old days to designate an assembly point for soldiers to assemble and move forward together (or retreat sometimes).

We use banners a lot in LWML. One of my favorite moments at national LWML conventions is the district banner procession where 40 different interpretations of the convention theme are carried in by the LWML District Presidents and their Young Woman Representatives. It is always so beautiful and uplifting.

Much like the tapestries of old, our banners serve to convey a message, a story and for those of us who are visual learners, they often help us digest a thought or teaching by what they say and what they look like.

They also serve as a rallying point for us. The wonderful prophetic chapter 11 of Isaiah mentions banners twice. Verse 10 (NIV) says, In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. Again, in verse 12 it goes on, He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

I share this banner that my friend, Barb, made with the new LWML logo. It is really beautiful. She has a talent for banner making that she uses and dedicates to the Lord. She serves His people by using her God-given gifts of artistry. She is a blessing.

I know many of you also “raise banners” for the Lord. You rally His people around a thought. You do it for the glory of the Lord. Many of you will be making banners for Easter and for your upcoming LWML district conventions. I know you will be doing it for the glory of God!

As you do, think of that day when the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples, the nations. By the work of the Holy Spirit, our work in LWML will help bring those peoples and nations the saving Gospel message that will be the ultimate rallying point for all of us.

Patti