The Nudge of the Holy Spirit

I was making supper last night. I put in 5 pieces of chicken and literally felt a "nudge" within me to put in an extra piece. So I did. In went 6 pieces of chicken.

I was then making rice and put in the usual amount when I felt the 'nudge' again to add more. So I did.

I had a salad made, but then for 'some reason', added to it. Also opened a big can of green beans...

And then I 'realized' I had a package of rolls in the freezer. Again, the 'nudge' came, so I put them in the oven to finish baking them.

Then I got a call from Tom, "Do we have enough food to feed someone else?"

Tom and Laura were walking home from soccer practice and one of the other coaches caught up to them. They found out he had a game to play in and was going to run to McD's for supper (three blocks from our house). So instead they invited him home for a meal at our house. They did not know I had been 'expecting' him by the 'nudging' of the Holy Spirit. I was truly happy and praising God that I could be hospitable with more than a glass of water in Jesus' name.

The Gift

I think of our time at VCS in Vienna, Austria as a gift from God. We don't deserve to serve Him and it is only because of His grace reaching down to me that I even know HIM. So ministry is a gift. It comes from the life of God in men and we can serve one another in His name. And when a time of refreshing comes, that, too, is a gift. We are thankful for the time away in Schladming. It is one of the most beautiful of God's creations. It was soul-refreshing! The high mountains, the waterfalls, the sheep on the hillside, the beautiful architecture of the chalets, the winding roads, a surprise cluster of homes to make a village. I am aware that it is all a gift! We are thankful to the people who gave a little extra to make this three day journey possible and to our friends who navigated and drove us all around. They wanted to make it special for us.

Here is a little conversation I had with Andrew:

Mom: "Can you even imagine a more perfect vacation than the one we just had?"

Andrew: "Well, we could have met Jesus.....(long pause).....but then I suppose we would have died and that wouldn't have been a vacation."

So I guess it was a perfect vacation time---I think I met Jesus though....in his creation and in the silences.

Mission and Numbers

Often I have judged missions effectiveness by looking at the numbers involved. I think we naturally tend to think that God's blessing is revealed in large numbers. How many are in youth group? How many students in your class? How much money in your budget? How many bodies in your church building? How many hits on your blog? How many square feet to your building? How many nights a week are you out serving?

The latest challenge to my re-thinking are the limitations that I face on a daily basis. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and somehow God has me on the mission field! My role is changing from that of ELL teacher to that of pray-er! Is that any less needed than teacher? No one sits in my class but me. God is my teacher. He is redirecting my attention to HIM. We are together in this journey. I am here for God's purposes even if I don't really get it. CFS is an invisible condition. To most everyone I look just fine! But to those who can see, there is an ache in every step and a sore throat in most every conversation and a fatigue that comes after an hour of talking or typing. So I do the best I can with the few hours I have everyday to serve and I trust that in serving my family they will be able to do all the visible work that I cannot.

This is not who I was or who I want to be, but I am growing to be thankful for the fellowship with the Lord in the midst of it that is deeper. And this is my prayer..... Psalm 119: 74 says, "May all who fear YOU find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your Word." I seek to put my hope in His Word--Jesus-- who never changes.