Nicaragua 2013

Wow!  what a great week !!!  Just returned from my 5th annual trip to House of Hope in Nicaragua, and thought I'd try to capture a few highlights while the memories are still fresh...

On Sunday, January 20, I met up with my teammate, Ana Rich, in the Houston airport - I'd met Ana on Global Celebration's "Steps of Paul" mission trip to Bulgaria, Greece & Turkey in 2011 - her flight was delayed, but United got her on another plane in plenty of time, and she arrived full of peace and joy.  I'd had a half-caf mocha while I was waiting for her in Houston, so when we arrived at Quinta Shalom in Managua around midnight, unpacking & organizing our supplies for the week (in our big 4-bunk room) was a breeze... Monday we started our week of classes & activities on multiple but related themes:  Culture of Honor, Supernatural Ways of Royalty, & Restoration of our True Identity in Christ.  House of Hope residents ages 10 and up attended for about 2 to 3 hours of ministry every day, except for Tuesday morning, when I spoke for about 40 minutes on "Identity" to about 350+ women who come to HoH on Tuesdays to make greeting cards & jewelry.  For more information about House of Hope (including testimonies, projects, how to donate or order products), please see their website www.houseofhopenicaragua.com

On Monday, we talked about what it means to "Honor all people" [from I Peter 2:17a] and how unity is not sameness - that God created us all different and He enjoys diversity!  We closed the class by sharing Communion, and asked God to help us see ourselves and one another as He sees us (forgiven, accepted, loved) and to appreciate our God-given differences as unique individuals, created in His image and likeness.  Tuesday's message focused on how our behavior flows from our sense of identity, and asking God to paint HIS picture (of ourselves & one another) on our hearts and minds - I posted this cartoon image of an ordinary cat painting himself as a tiger to illustrate the idea that God's vision for us is more beautiful and powerful than we have yet seen or realized.

On Wednesday, we talked about humility and honor, focusing on the fact that true Biblical humility is not putting ourselves down, but serving one another through being secure in God's Love.  Jesus knew who He was, where He came from and where He was going, and He received glory and honor from the Father by laying down His life for others and setting us free.  We closed this session with footwashing - complicated by the fact that the water was shut off on HoH campus that day (interruptions to water and power can happen unexpectedly at any time in poor countries) - Brittany, my friend and HoH dorm mom, provided us with 3 gallon jugs of water that she & her girls had saved for bathing... Each member of the group took turns both giving and receiving, washing another person's feet and speaking positive encouragement to each other, which continued building our sense of community and willingness to "love your neighbor as yourself." [Lev 19:18, Mt 22:39]

Thursday began with a short skit by two of the dorm girls to illustrate a teaching on conflict resolution, then we did a second session on "royal robes" with scriptures that show how special clothing (including "putting on Christ" and wearing Love) can be an outward expression of the worth and dignity of the person wearing it.  We passed out beautiful fabrics in assorted colors and encouraged each member of the class to use them to dress creatively for our "royal banquet" (chicken dinner).  The girls far surpassed my expectations and looked outstanding in their glamorous "gowns" that evening!   A few of my favorite photos are attached - a beautiful 8 year old, who would barely smile for a picture on Monday, truly stepped into her identity as God's Princess as she paraded her long train of satin butterflies... who doesn't feel more wonderful wearing a necklace, bracelet, crown or tiara?  a few young boys (who live with their mothers or grandmothers at House of Hope) really enjoyed pinning fabric to their shoulders like superhero capes - what a transformation!   :)  

Friday's last class was on "Following Your Favor" - I began by telling a story from last year's trip (see 2/22/12 blog posting "Buttery Steps!" http://holy1fire.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html ) - then explained how, when we follow what God has truly put in our hearts, we find that His grace opens doors and we feel His smile upon us.  Although we will encounter challenges and opposition, we have what it takes to overcome obstacles when we are walking with God in His will for us!  Again we encouraged one another to seek God for how He sees us, and what He wants to do with us in our lives day by day.  Then we invited the younger children to join us for an art activity - each person decorated their piece of a posterboard puzzle with colors & pictures expressing their unique identity & God-given talents or dreams - and celebrated the end of our week together with ice cream for all... :)

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 NIV

Saturday was a relaxing outing for me and Ana with our "guide" Laura (House of Hope staff member who coordinates team visits, along with many other duties! :)), who drove us about an hour southeast of Managua to Laguna de Apoyo - a small volcanic crater lake just west of Granada (we also visited the Granada marketplace for souvenirs before heading home).  I loved seeing signs declaring "Everyone has a right to relax" and "Please respect others' right to rest" at the lakefront restaurant & guesthouse called "La Abuela," where we enjoyed an hour of sunbathing on the deck after lunch (the water looked refreshing, but we decided not to swim and then have to drive home wet).  It was a beautiful day that allowed us to appreciate a bit more of the Nicaraguan countryside, since the rest of the week we mainly shuttled between House of Hope and our nearby lodging at Quinta Shalom, with a few side trips for supplies & groceries.

My strongest impression and greatest joy on this trip was seeing so many familiar faces and spiritual growth among the residents, staff & women who come on Tuesday mornings - I still find myself rejoicing at their continued progress in faith and life.  After 5 trips since 2009, visiting House of Hope is more than a "short term mission trip" for me - it's a spiritual investment in many lives, and I am privileged to see the rewards of sowing God's Love unfold before me year after year.  As on previous trips, we left behind most of our supplies, clothing, a couple of suitcases and several backpacks as donations to House of Hope.  I was also thrilled to "plant" about 30 copies of my 16-page teaching notes in Spanish in the lives of spiritually hungry women who will study the scriptures, share with their friends, and continue to listen as Holy Spirit speaks to them personally about who they are becoming in Christ.  I know the Lord keeps sending us each year to refresh and encourage the hard-working House of Hope staff as well.  Ana's spiritual sensitivity, sweet spirit & prayers were a great blessing - God was faithful to keep her safe and well in spite of some hip pain and lots of bumpy Nicaraguan roads!  Please keep all of these precious people in your prayers.  As for me, I fell more in love with the place and people than ever - each year, life in Nicaragua seems a little less hard and a lot more beautiful - I can hardly wait to return...


Source books & teaching CD's available at http://store.ibethel.org/
Danny Silk, Culture of Honor & The Practice of Honor
Kris Vallotton, Supernatural Ways of Royalty

For a complete album of photos from this trip, click here:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4106693268577.143393.1320390486&type=1&l=8510884f0a

*lightning! :)

*lightning!  :)   an expression of wonder & delight at all this activity “lightening” heaven & earth… moisture rises from earth to heaven then rains down, electrical energy sparks cloud-to-cloud (75%) & cloud-to-earth (25%) with powerful displays of light & sound...
  
earth longs for heaven and heavenly activity abounds - prayers rise up, glory comes down – a few weeks ago, many of us tasted lack of earthly power & fresh dependence on God, the greatest power source in the universe...

Kingdoms Flash / Clash / Crash, and Hope is Alive, as We Cry Out:
"Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On Earth as it is In Heaven..."

I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below…

[Acts 2:19a NIV, also Joel 2:30] 

"The time has come, God's Kingdom is near!"

[Mark 1:15a CJB]

Loving Leaders

“Our job is to love.” – Heidi Baker

Lately I’ve been highly aware of how the pressures of life can war against our kindness and respect for other people, especially when we are in a position of busy leadership or responsibility.  I supervise ordering and distribution for four departments normally staffed by three employees, and for a couple of  months we were short two of those three people (for unexpected reasons beyond our control).  As the pace became more hectic, I saw how easily I can lose patience or fail to communicate how much God values and cares for each individual He allows me to work with – it’s challenging, when we’re focused on accomplishing goals, multi-tasking with all our might, and feeling more than a little stretched and weary ourselves!  

I’m fortunate to work in a corporate culture that encourages respect for all people, as the scripture teaches:

“Show respect for everyone.”  [I Peter 2:17a NLT]

Danny Silk - in his book, Culture of Honor – points out that we are well-schooled in Biblical principles of respect for parents, pastors, elders, governmental leaders, employers, and those whose work merits honor;  but scripture actually tells us to “Honor all people” [I Peter 2:17a NKJV] - not just those we deem worthy.  It’s important – as parents, bosses, or leaders in any situation – to remember that all people are created in God’s image, and He values each one highly, regardless of their accomplishments or situation in life.

It’s also no secret in my office that I am a Christian, so I am compelled – both internally and externally - to grow through this time of pressure into a greater understanding of how to walk in love in all circumstances.  I can’t honestly say I have it all figured out, but the cry of my heart in prayer these days – more than getting all the work done or just managing the stress - is, “God, fill me with more of Your Love & Wisdom!”

After all, God doesn’t exempt any of us - leaders, parents, bosses… even busy, stressed out, or gifted ones – from caring about what’s important to Him, and scripture clearly shows how highly He prioritizes love.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.  If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.  If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

[I Corinthians 13:1-3 MSG]

God confronted Israel’s leaders in Jeremiah 23:1-4 and Ezekiel 34 for protecting their own interests at the expense of His heart for others, especially those who are weak or broken.  Sometimes we may feel that other priorities are so important that we are tempted to redefine love in ways that justify our attitudes or behavior, but God’s Word clearly describes how love behaves:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

[I Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV]

As I’ve been seeking God for how to “do a good job” without failing to demonstrate His love, I realize that, when I’m stressed or anxious or impatient, I may be operating on a concept of “success” that is not flowing in full harmony with God’s purposes.  Perhaps I’m worried about how I will look to others, or a goal God hasn’t actually given me, or I need to do things His way in order to tap into His empowering grace…

As beloved children of God, I believe we can live in His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… no matter what else is happening.  So, in the midst of “impossible” busy-ness, He’s been showing me a few things that help me to love:

Worship – Heidi & Rolland Baker oversee a network of about 10,000 churches in developing nations, which feed roughly 10,000 children daily, while they also travel and speak around the world approximately 1/3 of their time.  Heidi spends hours in worship each day, and I’m starting to understand a bit more how this helps her to flow in God’s love, even though she is surrounded by overwhelming needs.  There’s nothing like laying down and surrendering everything (all that we are, have, hope for, worry about, etc.) to focus on our Lord Jesus – who is altogether beautiful and worthy of adoration, regardless of additional benefits to us – to also refresh our perspective and renew our energy for any and every area of life.

Prayer opens us up to receive more of His Love and grace – His empowering Presence – His gifts and ability for whatever He has called us to do.  As we pour out our hearts and listen for His response in prayer, we may also receive inspired “heavenly strategies” for dealing with specific situations that challenge us.  In this season, prayer has helped me to know when to ask for help, what to delegate, how to set boundaries and manage competing priorities, etc.  Prayer brings me back to the Prince of Peace [Isaiah 9:6, Ephesians 2:14].  He has promised to provide all I need – including wisdom, strength and love - for anything He gives me to do each day.   [Philippians 4:13, 19; Deut 33:25, 1 Cor 1:30, 2 Peter 1:3]

Value for the Individual

Although we might not admit it, it can be tempting as leaders to see ourselves, our struggles, or the work we are trying to accomplish, as somehow more important than other people and their concerns.  A wise & godly grandmother used to say, “Everyone, if we only knew it, has about all they can stand.”  In other words, there is grace for whatever each one is called to do, and everyone encounters opposition at their own level.  God doesn’t value leaders, “good people,” busy people, or any one person more than anyone else.  Consider the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17), or this revelation of God’s heart:

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.  [Matthew 18:10-14 NIV]

Healthy Boundaries, Communication & Self-Love

Last but not least, I’ve been learning that “healthy boundaries,” including appropriate self-care, are an important and practical key to fulfilling my responsibilities without sacrificing kindness, patience, and genuine love for others.  (This topic is more thoroughly explored – both scripturally and psychologically - by Drs. Cloud and Townsend in their classic book, Boundaries, which I found helpful and encouraging during this season of “growth under pressure.”)

If I’m feeling impatient or critical toward others (especially those I lead) and how they seem to be “burdening” me, I need to stop & ask myself a few questions like these:

-         Am I getting enough rest and nourishing myself - both spiritually and physically?

-         Have I communicated with others – kindly and respectfully – what I need, how we could interact more effectively or where my limits are?

-         Do I understand clearly what is and what is not my responsibility before God?

-         Do I explain clearly & teach those I lead – making sure they understand instead of judging them?

-         Am I willing to apologize, forgive, and listen in ways that show others I value their concerns?

In order to truly love others, we need to be sure that our own “love tank” is full by spending time in God’s presence and receiving His Love for ourselves.  Jesus summarized all the commands of scripture this way:

“Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"  Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.'  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'  These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

[Matthew 22:36-40 MSG]

As I said above, I haven’t fully arrived, but I’m more convinced than ever that our ability to show love in even (especially?) the most difficult situations is key to communicating the true gospel to those around us.  God invites all of us to participate in His ministry of reconciling others to Himself, as He pursues a deep and loving relationship with each and every one of us.  “Success” depends on our ability to communicate and demonstrate what He is really like:  to put that in simple Bible language, God is Love [I John 4: 16]. 

My prayer for myself and all of us – especially in difficult circumstances - is that He would help us to focus on His priorities in every situation, and increase our capacity to love as He Loves.

  “If you’ll value every person, it’s amazing what you’ll receive from them.”

– Bill Johnson

Bonus :)  link to video message by Bill Johnson

Bethel Church in Redding, CA - Sunday 6/24/12 a.m.

http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/1376/sustaining-a-move-of-god/2012/06/24

Opening the Armoire

A few months ago, a visiting minister at my home church concluded his message by offering to pray for the sick.  Since I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in December 2001, I’ve experienced tremendous improvement, but I’ve still dealt with recurring pain, stiffness and fatigue from time to time.  My condition is generally better than many RA patients, so I probably wouldn’t have gone forward for prayer, except that he specifically mentioned arthritis and physical pain several times, and I really would like to be 100% pain-and-symptom-free…

I thought I would slip over to the far side of the room to wait in the prayer line, but the minister walked over to me first, then spent quite a long time with me, even though others were waiting in line and he only ended up praying over 4 people all evening (other altar ministers prayed for the rest).   I am so glad the Holy Spirit led him to take that time to minister to me!  As God gently touched and healed a number of “hidden issues” in my heart – things I was barely aware of day to day, and the even more hidden root causes or earlier experiences behind them – I began to feel more free and more “light” than I had felt in months.

For example, I was not fully aware of when or how disconnected I’d become (from God and other people, especially in church), but chronic pain and fatigue plus a number of disappointments in the past year had let to a vague undercurrent of weariness and lethargy, even though my daily “spiritual disciplines” – established habits of prayer, worship, Bible reading, giving, etc - were all in place.  God also took me back to a moment of anger from childhood, and as I forgave those involved and surrendered the areas of self-protection that resulted from immature attempts to manage my own fear and hurt in an unjust situation, I began to experience the tenderness and light of the Holy Spirit flowing into areas of my heart and life that had been “closed” to Him and others.

As this was happening, I “saw” (a mental image of) an armoire, at first with the doors closed.  Then the door on one side began to open, and light began to enter the cabinet, as I felt God gently touching my heart and softening places that had been hard or “closed.”  I wasn’t crying or shaking or doing much at all - it was a very quiet, gentle experience.  In fact, if God hadn’t basically called me forward (with the arthritis altar call) and brought a minister in front of me who simply wouldn’t move on until God was finished, I wouldn’t even have realized I how much needed His touch in these areas.  It was amazing how peaceful I felt!

The next night I found myself dancing with renewed freedom at a worship service, and the following day I walked outdoors (for exercise) twice as long and twice as fast as I had quite in a while.  I felt great! – so much more healthy and free...

I share this very personal experience, because I think all of us have experienced some degree of “shutting down” or “shutting out” things that bother us, and it’s worth checking with God to see if there might be something we need to surrender to Him in order to open the channels of love & communicaton (with Him and others) – so His healing power can flow not only to our bodies, but in all our relationships and expressions of ministry (loving & living for Him).  It’s not always at a conscious level, or maybe we have lived with certain limitations for so long we don’t even notice them… but He is faithful and unlimited in His ability to heal and free us from anything that hinders His Love and Truth in our lives.

An armoire is a cabinet / closet that is used nowadays for everything from clothing to televisions and computers, but was originally used for tools and weapons.  How many of us have hidden talents or aren’t experiencing the full flow of God’s power to heal ourselves and others (spiritually, emotionally or physically) due to closed doors of self-protection?   Ask God to show you, and let Him in.

Extravagant God!

"Enjoy yourself in the Lord.  Relish His goodness.  Revel in the adventure of walking with Him.  Savor every moment with Him.  Delight in His unconditional love."    - Steve Backlund's expanded version of Psalm 37:4

Just returned from "Catch the Wave 2012," a 7-day Caribbean cruise and conference-at-sea, hosted by Catch The Fire  (http://www.catchthefire.com/), with speakers Reinhard Bonnke, Heidi & Rolland Baker, John & Carol Arnott, Duncan Smith, worship leaders Chris DuPre and Chris McClarney... I wanted to describe some highlights, but how does one choose from so many wonderful experiences?  It was such fun to hear Duncan Smith, son of British missionaries to Africa, doing his impression of childhood hero, Reinhard Bonnke - followed by Bonnke himself a few days later (who joked that Duncan's imitation of his German accent was the best English he'd heard so far :))  Of course, the endless sun and sea and extraordinary food & entertainment options were all delightful... A few thoughts here:

1.  You can have everything.

A startling statement?  While ordering dinner one night, one person at our table said this to another who was having trouble making up her mind between two appetizers.  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, I laughed, because (of course) it sounded prophetic to me  :) 

A week before the cruise departed, I found myself in a prayer circle at church, mentioning that I was about to sail on the biggest cruise ship in the world (Royal Caribbean's fabulous "Oasis of the Seas") and that, during a mission trip to eastern Europe last June, I'd also flown on the world's largest passenger airplane (Air France's Airbus A380).  A prophetic intercessor responded, "Seems like there's a message in that..."

Obviously there is much we could say about the bigness of God, His limitless love and power, His endless blessings... On a Catch the Wave cruise, the enormity of the sea and sky - the beauty of creation, and the extravagant goodness of God who allows us to enjoy the richness of life - are all brought to one's awareness in vibrant living color.

Another message I heard the week before the cruise (via internet) was a remark by Bill Johnson, at a Global Awakening meeting in Florida, that in these last days before the return of Jesus, we (the Church) need to learn how to "access everything" God has for us, due to the size of our assignment as His Body in the earth.

Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

[Matthew 28:18-20 GNT]

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:19 NKJ]

I heard a related message from Heidi Baker on my first Catch the Wave in 2006, that we need to lose this notion that we cannot feed the poor and also enjoy a Starbucks or vacation, as if somehow God's resources are limited or insufficient to do everything He wants to do.  It's a lesson Heidi has had to learn as well - that God loves those with material wealth just as much as He loves the desperate poor - and we need to let go of limited ideas about how God moves and loves a lost and dying world back to Himself & His everlasting Life in every possible way.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

[Romans 8:32 NKJ] 

2.  Joy & Enjoyment

Believe it or not, it took my first 3 cruises with Catch the Wave (this year was my 5th) to loosen a deeply entrenched pattern of "working hard" and really begin to enjoy God's Love and the pleasure we find in His Presence.  We can find Him anywhere in the world - among the poor as well as in relative comfort and ease - but if we do not learn to enJOY Him, we risk burn-out and might well question what we are working so hard to share with the world.  Is it really the gospel, i.e. "good news?"  Do we manifest His love, joy, peace...?  For me, Catch the Wave is an exercise in learning to enjoy His Presence, to accept and be saturated in His abundant and overflowing Love.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

[Psalm 16:11 NIV]

Again this year, Rolland Baker, 3rd generation missionary and co-founder of Iris Ministries (www.irismin.org), wonderfully demonstrated and communicated God's love & joy while delivering a profound message on this essential power to sustain us through the many serious challenges that confront those who would advance His kingdom around the world.

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

[Psalm 36:8 NIV]

Abundance tends to overflow:  although organized outreach events were smaller this year (Abilene TSSM did prophetic evangelism training & outreach in Cozumel), we couldn't help sharing the Love of Jesus every day of the week.  Salvations, healings, even baptisms occurred on a port stop in Jamaica.  Worship leaders from IHOP-KC and Bethel sang in an onboard karaoke contest, and Oasis crew members showed up at our meetings.  And, by the way, this group of 600 "pleasure-seekers" also gave a missions offering of $75,000 to Iris, CFAN & CTF for ministry among the poor in Africa.   :)

"The joy never ends!"

- Pastor Surpresa Sithole, Iris Ministries

3.   Feasting, Exercise & Hunger
It may sound silly to write about "my greatest difficulty" on a luxury cruise but, honestly, this time I struggled a bit with all the food.  And since God can use anything to teach me multiple lessons - spiritual as well as emotional & physical - it's probably worth mentioning...

There are more than 20 different places to eat onboard the Oasis, and most of them are free (no extra charge above the cruise fare).   The Opus dining room serves up sumptuous 3-course dinners, with multiple menu options every evening.  Pizza, hamburgers, french fries & frozen yogurt are available all day long around the pool, and the Windjammer Marketplace buffet curves around the entire aft portion of the ship.  While there are plenty of healthy options - yogurt, fresh fruit, salads, whole grains, grilled fish, etc. - needless to say, temptations to over-indulge abound.

For the first 3 or 4 days of the cruise, I felt overly full and fat from all the meals - it's not hard to see how this could be a picture of North America, where we have so many resources and don't always realize how it's affecting our health when we consume more than we can really digest.  I began to see that the root issue, for me, was that I'd been stressed out and starved for enjoyment - when presented with so many options, at first I wanted to try everything at once.  I've heard Heidi speak about bringing orphans home, and how desperate street kids grab for everything because they lack security that there will always be enough.   Sons & daughters of the King don't have to gobble up everything in sight - we know there will be another lovely meal later on today, and again tomorrow.  Once I realized that I could simply try something new at each meal, I didn't need to "eat it all" in one day - I found it easier to choose, appreciate and enjoy a variety of options (salads, as well as desserts :)) in a healthy way.

I felt God spoke to me in those first few days, "Don't just eat."  When we overeat, our energy and ability to enjoy anything (including good food) is diminished.  We are meant to be so much more than consumers -  we need exercise & activity, as well as nourishment & rest.  Fortunately there is plenty to do onboard the Oasis, including an extensive fitness center (I love looking out at the sea and listening to worship on my iPod while using the treadmills and elliptical machines :)) and lots of other activities - I even went ice skating one afternoon, just because it tickled me that you could do that on a cruise ship in the Caribbean!  We are meant to give out and spend what we take in  (spiritually and physically), then rest and hunger again and receive more...

"...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

[Isaiah 58:10 NIV]

Last but certainly not least, it's important to realize that our real hunger is for God Himself.  A luxury cruise with extravagant meals and endless options for entertainment & activity can never fill the depths of our spirits or satisfy our true desires.  Love, joy, peace... God is everything we really want, and the source of all true pleasure.  The word "Eden" literally means "pleasure" - we were created to live in a garden of delights, enjoying God and sharing His joy as a family.  I believe this reminder to pursue His Presence and connect with others in His Love is the best part of Catch the Wave!

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink -- even if you have no money!  Come, take your choice of wine or milk -- it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!  Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.  He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations.  You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."

[Isaiah 55:1-5 NLT]

For information about next year's Catch the Wave conference-at-sea (February 24 to March 3, 2013) - check for updates coming soon to www.catchthewavecruise.com

"Buttery Steps!"

"When my steps were bathed in butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!"

[Job 29:6 NAS]

The night before I left for Nicaragua (see previous posting 2/12/12), members of my home church gathered around to send me off with prayers and spiritual encouragement.  After we were done, a prophetic leader got up to share on another topic and, before she began her own subject, she turned toward me and said something like, "Gina, I felt the Lord wanted me to say this to you, but I didn't say it earlier because I'd never heard Him say anything like this before.  But I keep hearing it, so I believe He wants me to tell you to 'Follow the yellow brick road.' "  :)

I smiled, because I understand that God speaks to us creatively, in ways that may seem unusual, amusing, or even confusing at first.  I think this aspect of Holy Spirit communication encourages us to be child-like, to remain open and expand our hearts & minds, to keep listening and seeking Him for all that He wants to say and do in our lives.  So I thanked her and tucked that funny little word away in my heart.  I'd been experiencing new freedom to follow Holy Spirit (more than just "rules" or what other people expect of me), so I figured this had something to do with following His grace and guidance - I knew He'd continue to speak and bring futher understanding and clarity, as I continue to listen and walk with Him.

The next day, as I was going through security at Dulles airport, I heard a TSA employee call out loudly, "Come on, people... Follow the yellow brick road!"  Now, I have been in dozens of airports in my lifetime, and although there are probably yellow lines on the floor in many of them, I had never heard those words spoken out loud in the security area before.  I chuckled, because it seemed obvious to me that God was reminding me of the previous night, and that those words really were from Him.  I continued to "put them on a shelf," so to speak, and to walk in His grace, looking forward to the mission work we were about to do in Nicaragua.

To be honest, I didn't fully connect the words "yellow brick road" with "walking in His grace" until the end of the week, but God continued to develop this theme by introducing a second - seemingly unrelated - thought:  "buttery steps."   As I walked through the airport that morning, I was keenly aware of God's presence, and a sense of peace & joy in the perfect ease with which He was providing all we needed for this trip - it reminded me of a sermon I'd heard the previous week about God's grace and favor, including a reference to a Bible verse about "steps drenched with cream," butter and oil... so I got out my cell phone and posted on Facebook (where lots of my 329 friends are Christians :)), "Who knows where the verse is about 'buttery steps'?"  Instantly, a friend replied, "Job 29:6."  When I got to my departure gate, I sat down and looked up the reference in various Bible versions on my Kindle.  The first two translations were very different from one another, but I was starting to get the picture:

"In those days my cows produced milk in abundance, and my olive groves poured out streams of olive oil."  [NLT]

"When everything was going my way, and nothing seemed too difficult."  [MSG]

Another version sounded more like the message I'd heard the week before:

"...when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil." [NIV]

I believe this verse came to mind because I was experiencing how wonderfully things come together when we're walking in God's grace.  I had seen God's provision for every detail of this trip - from things I knew would be "easy" to others I'd been tempted to worry about ("how am I going to...?") but had seen Him provide effortlessly as I simply trusted His grace and "put one foot in front of the other," following Him step by step.  Of course I don't think that walking with God means we won't encounter obstacles or challenges along the way, but I've begun to realize that, as we yield everything to Him, we can have confidence that He - in all of His magnificent Goodness and unlimited ability - will give us all we need to do wherever He has called us to do.  Perhaps you've heard this, too:  "Where God guides, He provides."   It's true!

The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives.

[Psalm 37:23 NLT]

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

[Ephesians 2:10 NAS]

So maybe I was a little slow to make the connection, but I didn't fully realize that "buttery steps" were related to His

earlier instruction to "follow the yellow brick road" until my fifth day in Nicaragua:  on Friday morning, a Canadian visitor was teaching a baking class for some of the women at House of Hope and, as I walked toward the kitchen, I was vaguely aware that something was stuck to the bottom of my shoe...   a butter wrapper!  When I looked down and realized what it was,  I could hardly believe it  :)  it seemed so random, and yet perfectly in line with what God had been speaking to me that week.  As I reached down to peel the greasy paper from my foot, I laughed out loud and said to my friend Aeron (as the light bulb went on above my head), "Butter comes in yellow bricks!!"

When I got home from my trip, I ordered a 2-CD teaching set by Danny Silk of Bethel Church called "Follow Your Favor" (see http://store.ibethel.org//advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&categories_id=0&keywords=Follow+Your+Favor&x=22&y=4), which I recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about this subject.  I also started re-reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (the complete Oz series is available for about 94 cents on Kindle :)) - it's been fun and inspirational to rediscover this magical tale of a child who travels a golden path through all kinds of dangers, having been kissed by Goodness that overcomes evil in every situation.   Life is not always easy, but difficulties will melt before you, as you look for God's goodness and follow His way.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

[Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJ]

But for those who are righteous, the path is not steep and rough. You are a God of justice, and you smooth out the road ahead of them.

[Isaiah 26:7 NLT]

Love from House of Hope - Nicaragua 2012 :)

Just returned from my 4th annual mission trip to House of Hope (Casa Esperanza) in Managua, Nicaragua, and wanted to summarize some of this wonderful experience! :)  A link to some of our photos (with captions) is included below.

I traveled with Aeron Moore, a friend from church with whom I've traveled twice before on mission teams to Guatemala (she's 24 and I'm 54, so people kept asking if she is my daughter :)) - this was Aeron's first trip to Nicaragua, but the 11th overseas mission trip for both of us. The purpose of our trip was to minister on "Joy" at House of Hope, a Christian vocational rehab center for women & children escaping prostitution in the Managua area. We left on Sunday 1/22, returning Monday 1/30.

House of Hope currently serves nearly 60 residents - primarily teenage girls, plus several adult women and their children - and over 400 women who attend the day program on Tuesdays, making greeting cards and jewelry as an alternative source of income (vs. prostitution).  Most of the women attending on Tuesdays have accepted Christ, and are able to plug in to multiple home fellowships led by Oscar & Vilma, Nicaraguan directors who live on the House of Hope campus.  For more information about House of Hope, to purchase products made by the women or contribute financially to this growing mission work, please check out their website: http://www.houseofhopenicaragua.com/

Aeron & I arrived close to 11pm on Sunday at Quinta Primavera, a beautiful Christian lodge which accomodates teams working in Nicaragua for just $10/night ($20 with meals) - the lush tropical vegetation and peaceful atmosphere on this well-tended property made us feel as if we were on vacation at a luxurious resort!  Since I'd previously visited House of Hope solo or with just one other person, I'd never experienced Quinta Primavera (or similar lodging at Quinta Shalom) - House of Hope is not equipped to host visiting teams overnight.  Because there were only two of us, we were allowed to stay at House of Hope during the latter part of the week - I even got up for devotions with Oscar & the residents at 4:30am this year!  :) - but Aeron's brave battles with unusually large spiders in her room there convinced me that the restful "Quinta" surroundings are best for overnight stays, with visits to HoH during the day.  Pastor Mike (HoH director April Havlin's husband) pointed out to us that, although conditions at HoH may seem primitive to North Americans, it is still a great improvement for the women and children who live there to have shelter, security, running water, electricity, and a Christian environment in which to grow & be established in a new life. Some have previously lived in cardboard boxes near the garbage dump, or on the street near the brothels. Children as young as 6 to 10 years old have been sold for sex, some by their own family members.  The desperate poor are most vulnerable - with over 60% unemployment, Managua has numerous child brothels, and Nicaragua is 2nd only to Haiti as the poorest country in our hemisphere. Thank God for practical help and vocational training offered by ministries like House of Hope, and for the unlimited power of Jesus Christ to save, heal and transform broken hearts & lives!

Our ministry on the theme of Joy ("God is Joyful, and He wants us to be joyful in Him") was warmly received with smiles and open hearts from Day One:  on Monday, we followed the Bible teaching with giving out small gifts we had brought for each resident (soft toys, hairbrushes, small journals & personal items);  on Tuesday, I spoke about God's Joy to over 400 women who came for the day program - we touched and prayed over each one of them by doing a "joy tunnel" as the women walked by our small (but powerful :)) ministry team; on Wednesday, Aeron shared an anointed testimony from Zechariah 3 about how God's judgment is not like ours (He calls us righteous and beautiful!), followed by my teaching on Laughter (see 9/2/11 http://holy1fire.blogspot.com/2011/09/spiritual-benefits-of-laughter.html ), and we distributed postcards of "Laughing Jesus," which I had made for House of Hope with the artist's permission (http://www.suemartist.com/ - this was also the cover for printed handouts, with Spanish scriptures, which we gave to HoH residents); on Thursday, we taught about Celebration from Luke 15 and followed up with a pizza party - many of the women came forward to testify of the good things God had been teaching them and doing in their lives during the week;  on Friday morning, a lovely Canadian visitor taught residents to bake bread & cookies, which went well with ice cream we enjoyed after our closing "Jericho march" at the end of our last class called "Sounds of Joy," with worship streamers and silly instruments we gave to each resident as reminders of the beauty, colors & diversity of things to enjoy in God's kingdom.  On Saturday, Aeron & I enjoyed a beautiful day at the beach with Laura (HoH staff member who coordinates visiting teams), and on Sunday we visited Pastor Mike's new church in a wealthier part of Managua, and had lunch at T.G.I.Friday's with the Havlin family - including son Jeremy & his wife Jessica, who lead a growing children's ministry called One by One  http://www.theinnocent.org/) - before getting up early Monday morning for our flight home...

Two thoughts stand out most vividly in my mind and heart as I reflect on this trip:  one is how wonderful it felt - and I believe it thrills the heart of God as well - to see families and young girls who have been rescued from severe poverty and sexual abuse - especially so many teenagers and children who are now safe, laughing and playing and attending school, with a whole new life ahead of them.  As I prepared for my last teaching on Friday morning, God spoke to me from the book of Joshua that these few adult women who are holding on to the Word of God, plus a whole new generation of teens and younger girls, have an opportunity for radical blessing and transformation of the same magnitude as that of the Israelites who went from slaves to landowners - not just wandering the wilderness of escape from sin, but truly coming in to their own "Promised Land."

The other thing that happened to me on this trip was more personal:  on previous trips, the physical challenges of living & working at House of Hope (tropical climate, dirt, bugs, etc.) seemed much more daunting - this year I began to feel more comfortable in Nicaragua, and could imagine visiting at other times of the year (although I enjoy the pleasant weather in January) or for longer periods of time.  I also hadn't expected to return next year (I'm still planning to go to Israel in February 2013), but after 3 or 4 girls shared testimonies & said, "Next year when sister Gina comes back..." I began to feel - well, how could I not?  :)   I don't know exactly how God's plans for my future will unfold, but sharing the Word of God and His Love for these girls year after year has become more than isolated short-term mission trips - I'm beginning to see the fruit of ongoing relationships and investment in what God is doing at House of Hope... Before I left this year, April & I checked the calendar and decided on next year's dates, and by the time I'd been home in the U.S. for just 3 days, I already had a full outline of teaching notes and ideas, ready to begin communicating with potential teammates for 2013...

Lots of Love from House of Hope, Nicaragua... Until next year!    :)

Link to more photos with captions:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2531003357314.109872.1320390486&type=3&l=a29ef1ae36