Heroes Came To My House

October 22, 2011 By 27 Comments

 

 This time of year, children dressed as super heroes will be arriving on many doorsteps. But that is not what I’m talking about!!  Tonight - a family of superheroes walked up on my front porch!  You couldn’t tell they were superheroes just by looking at them.  There were no huge “S”‘s on their chests but there should be!

Now I know they would *blush* at the thought of me saying this about them and I don’t want to put undo pressure on them - as I am very aware they are NOT superhuman…But in a world that holds up pop stars and rock stars as role models for our children – I MUST give a huge “shout out” to all the missionaries around the world!!! You are my heroes!

Holly and Andy and their 3 children are missionaries in the Ukraine – but let me tell you how our friendship began!

 

We met in our youth group at church when I was a freshman in high school and Holly was a Junior.  I was a public school, chatty cheerleader with a hungry heart for more of Jesus in my life and she was a homeschooled sweet, quiet, strong spiritual role model.  She took me under her wing and met with me weekly giving me daily Bible reading assignments and holding me accountable for 2 years straight.  Then off to Moody Bible Institute she went!

I longed to be like my mentor, so I visited her at the Moody Bible Institute and I loved it.  2 years later, off to the Moody Bible I went – following in her footsteps.  There once again, I was the immature Freshman and she was the mature, leader and R.A. of our dorm floor.  I continued to watch her like a hawk and often found myself sitting in her dorm room –  pouring out my problems to her!  She always had a Bible verse and prayer as she calmly reassured me of God’s sovereignty.   This girl was as cool as a cucumber through every trial and tribulation – she amazed me! 

A verse she introduced to me, that I still turn to today in times of fear, trouble, or confusion is Psalm 84:11,12.  It says:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor, no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”

This verse helped me when I wondered if Keith would EVER ask me to marry him lol! (we dated 4 years) God has brought this verse to mind when I’ve wondered why certain trials were in my life and it helps me even now as opportunities arise and I pass them by because it’s the wrong season of life…I remember “no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”  If these things were good for me, he would not withhold them and when they are withheld I am reassured – their withholding is a gift.  Simply trust.

And so tonight – I heard superhero/real life stories of lives being transformed by the amazing power of God working through Holly and Andy and their children in the Ukraine.  Their family ministry is compelling, inspiring and puts some of my feeble attempts at ministry to shame.  Once again, I just long to follow in Holly’s footsteps…to faithfully follow God wherever he leads…”For the Lord God is a sun and a shield”…he is worthy!  He is able!  

They are living proof that being blessed comes not from all the stuff and junk we Americans cling to and call blessings but of Psalm 84:11,12 – “Blessed is the man who trust in you.”  Be blessed and don’t forget to read missionary stories to your children – this world will try to offer them weak heroes –  they need real life spirit-filled heroes!

Walk with the King,

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Filed Under: Missions

Are You Cheating?

June 6, 2011 By 18 Comments
Forneys- Missionaries to Indonesia

Missionaries are my heroes! As a child, missionary stories challenged me and motivated me to want to live the crucified life. When I have a woe is me day…where life seems rough, I remember my Christian brothers and sisters in Christ who have sacrificed all to take the message of the gospel to unreached places. My small afflictions are NOTHING compared to what they face!

One of my favorite on-line missionaries to follow are the Forney’s. They fascinate me! Dave is a missionary pilot married to Joy and they have 5 children! Their stories of snakes and jungle flights fascinate me! And my heart most unites with Joy’s when she jokingly says on Facebook – “dreaming of a Starbucks coffee today” – or – “sure missing Diet Coke“….She reminds me - I’m such a baby! I’m spoiled and I’m numb to it because it’s so normal to have so much in the states.

Missionary newsletters challenge me – they challenge my loyalty to God. How far am I willing to follow him? I think “Oh Lord, I will die for you!” but maybe God is simply asking me to walk across the street and meet my neighbor! Why is that so hard?
It’s hard because I’m selfish to the core. I don’t like to feel uncomfortable. My flesh wants the easy life but my spirit longs to glorify God. So I must put to death the desires of my flesh to remain loyal to God.
This 3 minute video below, first played over on GoodMorningGirls.org . I share the story of a classmate  from the Moody Bible Institute who was a missionary in Lebanon.  She was shot and killed. For years, I kept the news clipping hanging at my desk to remind me to live a sold out life for Jesus.

James 4:1-12
Warning Against Worldliness
4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Are you cheating on God with a friendship to this world?
James says “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”(v4)
Maybe God is not calling us to Indonesia or Lebanon – but he is calling us to forsake our love of this temporary world. Release it’s grip, pursue God daily, take a risk and live life to the hilt – all for Jesus!
Walk with the King!
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Filed Under: James Video Series, Jesus, Missions

Christmas Traditions Around the World

December 10, 2010 By 99 Comments
Christmas Around the World with CurrClick has partnered with myself and nine other homeschool bloggers this week. Each one of us will be giving goodies away during our bloggy event so be sure to check the schedule and stop by each site to learn about Christmas in other countries, enter the giveaways and maybe even make some new friends!

I chose the country of Hungary because 1. I am Hungarian, 2. Missionaries are my heroes and 3. I would like to mix #1 and #2 and feature a missionary mom blogger from Hungary!

So meet Kevin and Kristen from Following the Dream and their two children. They have been living in Hungary since 2007 as missionaries!


Here’s the church in town on Christmas Morning.


Here’s ice skaters in front of one of their castles – beautiful!

Szent István Bazilika in Budapest, decorated at Christmas


The Christmas Market


Here’s Kristen’s friend Audrey eating a type of langos, which is a popular food that they serve everywhere, but especially at the Christmas market.
For a couple years, Kristen taught a free English class with a couple others to Hungarians in the community. They celebrated Advent with them, and despite most of them not being “religious,” they all do know what Advent is.
Kristen says: “Boldog Szent Mikulás Napot!” (Happy St. Nicholas Day!) In Hungary, December 6th is the day that St. Nick/Santa in their culture makes his appearance. Baby Jesus is the one who gives gifts on Christmas Eve. For Szent Mikulás Day, the good kids get treats in their boots only if they are clean! And the golden switches the “bad” kids get are called virgács.


And although the Baby Jesus is the one who brings gifts on Christmas Eve, hardly anyone actually celebrates Jesus as the meaning and reason for Christmas. Traditionally, Hungarians put up the tree the night of December 24 and keep it up until Feb. 6th. It’s always the dad who puts the star or a csúcsdísz (ornament for the top) on top of the tree.


Usually before Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, Jézuska (little Jesus) comes. A little bell will ring and gifts will be under the tree. All will say Boldog Karácsonyt (Merry Christmas) and listen to Christmas music and sing Csendes Éj (Silent Night). And yes, some go to the midnight mass.

After the gift giving, they have their big dinner on Christmas Eve with lots of traditional Hungarian food, usually fish or maybe turkey breast. They also enjoy fish soup, töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage), húsleves (meat soup, often with pasta in it), and some stuffed turkey breast…and of course bejgli! (poppyseed=mákos, walnur=diós, or maybe chestnut=gesztenyés).”

Thank you Kristen for sharing! I’m reminded of Revelation 5:9b which says “with your (Jesus’) blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and launguage and people and nation.” I deeply admire your willingness to take the gospel to another nation – a nation that Jesus loves and for which his blood was shed. We serve a worthy Savior and I am honored and humbled to be called your sister in Christ.

Now for you dear readers, I have some giveaways!

CurrClick is giving away 5 items for one reader to win! To be eligible for the giveaway, leave me a comment answering this question – what nationality are you? I’ll select one winner of all 5 items randomly on Dec. 14 at 9m.

Prizes include:

Christmas Copywork by Lilliput Station
Let your child learn the true story of Christmas as they practice their writing skills. This file contains fourteen different copywork pages with verses from the KJV Bible and one with a verse from a hymn. Each page is illustrated with black and white drawings and comes with both primary and straight lines.

Christmas Around the World by Homeschool Learning Network
Christmas is coming! You’re probably getting ready to decorate the tree, hang your stockings and make your wish list. Did you ever wonder how children in other lands celebrate or observe this holiday? Why do some countries’ celebrations last for weeks? What do you do with a buche de Nol? Who’s La Befana? Why do some children wait until January 6th to receive their Christmas gifts? Christmas traditions and celebrations vary around the world. Learn all about Christmas around the world as HLN journeys across the globe in search of the spirit of the season.

Missionary Heroes by Brandenburg Studies
Looking for a great way to inspire your student with exciting, true stories of some familiar and not-so-familiar Missionaries? This “restored” out-of-print book is just the ticket: 28 enthralling accounts that are sure to have your son or daughter “thinking” about what is really important in life.

Faithbooking: Missionary Biographies by Fortunately For You Books
This series will take your child on a journey of faith, trust, and service towards God the Savior. We believe every child should know of God’s great and wonderful commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. Students will be learning about famous missionaries and their life stories. They will learn about what events triggered a
life-long service to the Lord in foreign countries. These missionaries took the commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself” to a new heights and learned to love, really love, their neighbors and fellow man. Missionaries covered are: J. Hudson Taylor, Mary Slessor, David Brainerd, and William Carey.

The Great Commission by Live and Learn Press
Christ commissioned his disciples to “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations…” Since that time there have been countless missionaries who have gone into the world with the Gospel. Some of them are well-known, and others may be known to very few. Our Learn ‘N Folder will help your student learn more about the missionary of his or her choice.

I can’t wait to hear what nationality you all are!! God created us all – every nation, language and people group for his glory!

Walk with the King!
I am linked to (In)Courage today.

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Filed Under: Christmas, Missions

9 Doors Down

September 23, 2010 By 24 Comments
I have never emailed another blogger and asked if I could literally repost their entire post for my readers. But on Friday, Karen Ehman posted this post. Since moving into my new home in February, I have found it extremely difficult to get to know my neighbors – they just don’t come out! And to be honest I’m on facebook or the web with a lot of my free time – so I’m not out there either! When I run in the evenings, it’s just me and the crickets! If my neighbors want to get to know me they’d have to email me! So sad. So her post hit me so hard, I emailed her and asked for permission to share it with all of you. I hope it will simply make you think about who in the world lives 9 doors down from you?

**************************************
Karen Writes:

She lived nine doors down.

In the two years we’ve lived in this subdivision, I’d seen her on my walks.

Perhaps she was rolling her trash out to the curb. Or in her front yard watering her flowers.

I’d smile and said “hi”, just for a brief second.

After all, my neighborhood is big; my life is busy.

So I’d pop my Ipod earbuds back into my ears.

And I’d keep walking.

Nine doors down.

Just nine doors down this past week flashed lights and sirens and all things alarming.

A fire? I thought as I turned into my sub, returning from an errand-running venture.

My mama heart raced. My son was home alone. Had he burnt some toast and set the smoke alarm system blaring?

Or worse?

Had a car caught fire or a power line fallen?

As my car crept closer to home, I saw it was not my house. Relief for my soul. And though the rescue vehicles were parked in front of her house, no fire appeared to be blazing at my nine-doors down neighbor’s house either.

“Must have been a false alarm”, I reasoned to myself.

It was two days later when I heard the awful news.

No fire. No smoke. Just a saddened soul.

You see, nine doors down, something happened in the soul of my nameless, flower-watering, ‘smile and say hi’ fellow human being; something told her this life was not worth living anymore.

So she made sure she stopped living.

Her heart no longer beats.

Her flowers still grow, but she can’t water them anymore.

I can still walk by her house, lost in the Jesus-music blaring on my Ipod.

But there will be no more waves. No smiles as I stroll. And no more thoughts of, “I should stop and find out her name. I haven’t really met this gal yet.”

But the conversation my husband and I have had for the past year will continue. Perhaps with greater urgency now.

In our old neighborhoods (there have been three) we’ve made it a goal to offer a Bible study. A low-key, doesn’t-matter-if-you’ve-ever-gone-to-church-before, short and simple meeting of folks who all happen to live in the same development.

Todd does this at work too. Men and women meet on their breaks to gather round and meet Jesus. Many for the first time. Their curiosity is piqued when they are handed a flier announcing the short, you-don’t-need-to-know-nothing-”Jesus-y“-to-attend study.

Others in his factory throw the flier in the trash.

Yes, right after Todd hands it to them.

In our neighborhood, we’ve not yet passed out fliers. Is it too soon? We haven’t held a Christmas open house to meet everyone yet. We’ve baked bread and pulled weeds for those real near by. But haven’t struck a friendship with too many others.

So we’ve pondered, is it time?

And do we have time?

So far we’d answered no.

Now, nine doors down, no flier is needed for the single gal who is no more.

Would things have been different if she’d gotten an invitation? Or would she have rolled it out to the curb with the rest of her trash?

God only knows.

I cannot beat myself up; but I can do something.

So can you.

We can stop, permitting God to tap us on the heart, gently interrupt, and rearrange our day.

We can go deeper; beyond a “hi!” to an authentic “Who are you?”

Will you do it?

Will you at least try?

Then, leave the results up to God.

Results are His job.

Obedience is ours.

And trust me, it is AWFUL to get to know your neighbor through the tales and tears of her relatives as she lies lifelessly nearby in a coffin.

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17

May we all respond to those taps on our hearts today and not ignore them and keep walking. God just may use us as He saves a life.

After all, remember…..

It isn’t a far walk.

It is just nine doors down.

____________________________________

If you hear God tapping too, will you respond? Will you think of one person whom you see often but have never gotten to know? Then, do something.

Ask them their name. Thank them for bagging your groceries faithfully for ten years. Hand them a thank-you card if they are someone who serves. If it is a neighbor, invite them for coffee or soda or sweet tea. Offer kind words or a hug. Anything to show God’s love.

Walk with the King!

Karen is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries national speaking team and is a contributor to Focus on the Family’s magazine Thriving Family. She is a featured speaker for Hearts at Home conferences for moms and is the author of four women’s books. To watch Karen on the 700 Club visit her here.
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Filed Under: Friendships, Missions
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