In case any of you would like to find out what The Salvation Army is doing to help those affected by the Tsunami, please go to:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf/vw-news?openView&start=1&&count=10
I hope that works. Please let me know if it doesn't.
Joy
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Report from Sri Lanka
Yesterday an email was sent out to everyone here at The Salvation Army's headquarters from a missionary who is serving with The Salvation Army near where the Tsunami's hit. She was writing to a man named Colonel Faulkner who is in charge of Personnel here at the SA but since he was willing to share it with us, I thought others might like to read it as well. It is quite eye opening, as all news of the disaster is. It is also a call to prayer although most of us have been since we heard the news.
Grace and Justice in a time when neither seems very close,
Joy
Colonel Faulkner would like to share the following message received from Lou Brandon following the disaster in Sri Lanka:
"Thank you Colonel for your concern.
Things are pretty grave here.
All of our officers survived. We had officer all along the coast. Most lost everything, but God spared their lives. We have been unable to evaluate our properties as of yet. There is too much confusion. We have been doing relief work, sending teams to make sure our people are okay. One officer lost several family members. He just buried his wife three months ago. Please pray for their family.
Most of the deaths here appear to be children. Sunday Morning the sea was doing amazing things. The children were in awe. They called their mothers and father to watch. Then the waves came and everyone was gone.
Babies torn from their mothers arms. Grandparents at home gone.
The city of Galle is a ghost town. Sunday morning trains were full of travelers, the bus stand was full of people waiting for their transport and the open air market was crowded as usual. All gone. The trains floating out to sea, the buses full of people floating out to sea.
Usually for Christmas I take a short sanity break. I head to the coast and take lodging at one of the hotels. This year there were no rooms where I normally stay. There was a room available at a hotel in Hikkadewa, right on the beach. I knew the place and decided it was too busy and it would not be a quite place. So I declined. Colonel that hotel is gone, it collapsed and washed into the sea. Many tourists died there. By the grace of God, there go I. It could have been me.
Please pray for us. This county is not equipped for this type of disaster. Neither is this territory. Our Terrirorial Commander is on furlough in Indonesia. The earthquake happened during the time they were in the air. Our Chief Secretary and myself are doing the best we can.
Thank you for your concern.
One last thing before I close. Our Dewheila Girls Home and Eventide, has a fishing boat sitting in its yard. We have forty girls there and 30 senior ladies. Most of the girls had gone home for Christmas and the rest were attending services here at THQ. No one was hurt.
The waves lifted this big fishing boat out of the water over the railway track and over our 6 foot plus retaining wall and set it right down.
God is good.
That is about 3 miles from where I live. I am six blocks from the ocean.
Thank you for your prayers.
Love to you all.
Happy New Year. "
Grace and Justice in a time when neither seems very close,
Joy
Colonel Faulkner would like to share the following message received from Lou Brandon following the disaster in Sri Lanka:
"Thank you Colonel for your concern.
Things are pretty grave here.
All of our officers survived. We had officer all along the coast. Most lost everything, but God spared their lives. We have been unable to evaluate our properties as of yet. There is too much confusion. We have been doing relief work, sending teams to make sure our people are okay. One officer lost several family members. He just buried his wife three months ago. Please pray for their family.
Most of the deaths here appear to be children. Sunday Morning the sea was doing amazing things. The children were in awe. They called their mothers and father to watch. Then the waves came and everyone was gone.
Babies torn from their mothers arms. Grandparents at home gone.
The city of Galle is a ghost town. Sunday morning trains were full of travelers, the bus stand was full of people waiting for their transport and the open air market was crowded as usual. All gone. The trains floating out to sea, the buses full of people floating out to sea.
Usually for Christmas I take a short sanity break. I head to the coast and take lodging at one of the hotels. This year there were no rooms where I normally stay. There was a room available at a hotel in Hikkadewa, right on the beach. I knew the place and decided it was too busy and it would not be a quite place. So I declined. Colonel that hotel is gone, it collapsed and washed into the sea. Many tourists died there. By the grace of God, there go I. It could have been me.
Please pray for us. This county is not equipped for this type of disaster. Neither is this territory. Our Terrirorial Commander is on furlough in Indonesia. The earthquake happened during the time they were in the air. Our Chief Secretary and myself are doing the best we can.
Thank you for your concern.
One last thing before I close. Our Dewheila Girls Home and Eventide, has a fishing boat sitting in its yard. We have forty girls there and 30 senior ladies. Most of the girls had gone home for Christmas and the rest were attending services here at THQ. No one was hurt.
The waves lifted this big fishing boat out of the water over the railway track and over our 6 foot plus retaining wall and set it right down.
God is good.
That is about 3 miles from where I live. I am six blocks from the ocean.
Thank you for your prayers.
Love to you all.
Happy New Year. "
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Simeon and Anna
Christmas morning Marty was reading the Christmas story to the rest of the Mikles family and I was privileged to sit next to him and read along. I love how God's word is continually made new to us and how there will always be something to learn from a story we have heard so often.
On Christmas morning this was what I heard:
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'
Luke 2: 25 - 32
Then a little bit farther down the Scripture talks about a woman named Anna.
"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying (pretty cool, I'd say). Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." verses 36 - 38
Fact: We have seen the salvation which God has prepared in the sight of all people - a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Israel.
Question: Who are you going to tell about the redemption of your town, your world, your soul and theirs?
We're coming up on New Year's resolutions - perhaps the answer to that question should be among yours.
That's Christmas after all, isn't it? One that really makes a difference and doesn't get thrown out with the wrapping paper.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
On Christmas morning this was what I heard:
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'
Luke 2: 25 - 32
Then a little bit farther down the Scripture talks about a woman named Anna.
"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying (pretty cool, I'd say). Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." verses 36 - 38
Fact: We have seen the salvation which God has prepared in the sight of all people - a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Israel.
Question: Who are you going to tell about the redemption of your town, your world, your soul and theirs?
We're coming up on New Year's resolutions - perhaps the answer to that question should be among yours.
That's Christmas after all, isn't it? One that really makes a difference and doesn't get thrown out with the wrapping paper.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
Monday, December 20, 2004
Christmas
The day we celebrate as Christmas wasn't always a Christian holiday and still isn't in many parts of the world - it used to be a pagan agricultural festival called Saturnalia that was celebrated in Rome by gift giving and lots of debauchery - even the election of a mock king. Actually most European countries had a pagan festival that they celebrated around Christmastime.
My friend is in China right now and she says that Christmas isn't really a holiday over there and although it has been growing in popularity it is still a strictly secular holiday. That made me think about what my life without Christmas might look like or be.
I celebrate Christmas in America and it looks a whole lot like the other pagan holidays that are mentioned above - gift-giving, gluttony, lights, trees, Santa - no Jesus.
Around 350 AD a Pope redeemed the pagan festivals and made it easier for men and women to convert to Christianity. They still got their festivals; they were just celebrating something different.
Personally, I believe Jesus was born in the springtime. However, I am absolutely thrilled by the fact that December 25 is the day that is set aside for me to celebrate his birth, the gift that he gave to me. I'm absolutely thrilled that Pope Julius I had redemption on his heart and mind when he claimed that day as the day we should celebrate Jesus' birth. That he snatched it from all things unholy and made it a holy day.
What I'm ashamed to admit is that I don't know that I've always done such a good job of celebrating Christ's birth as I have at celebrating the pagan festival of gift-giving. Most of the time, I'm more concerned with what I'm going to get and give to other people than I am about who Jesus is and what He means in my life. This year it's all coming into a much clearer picture for me and while I'm ashamed at myself, I'm also quite awakened to worship. I'm also quite awakened to the fact that after 25 years, the Lord still has redemption on his heart and mind for me, to continually plant His reality in me - His meaning for Christmas.
Perhaps reading through Isaiah and understanding the need for a Messiah awakens within me my own personal need for a Messiah, not just once to "ask him into my heart" but every day and it arises within me the hope of his return.
"O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord."
My friend is in China right now and she says that Christmas isn't really a holiday over there and although it has been growing in popularity it is still a strictly secular holiday. That made me think about what my life without Christmas might look like or be.
I celebrate Christmas in America and it looks a whole lot like the other pagan holidays that are mentioned above - gift-giving, gluttony, lights, trees, Santa - no Jesus.
Around 350 AD a Pope redeemed the pagan festivals and made it easier for men and women to convert to Christianity. They still got their festivals; they were just celebrating something different.
Personally, I believe Jesus was born in the springtime. However, I am absolutely thrilled by the fact that December 25 is the day that is set aside for me to celebrate his birth, the gift that he gave to me. I'm absolutely thrilled that Pope Julius I had redemption on his heart and mind when he claimed that day as the day we should celebrate Jesus' birth. That he snatched it from all things unholy and made it a holy day.
What I'm ashamed to admit is that I don't know that I've always done such a good job of celebrating Christ's birth as I have at celebrating the pagan festival of gift-giving. Most of the time, I'm more concerned with what I'm going to get and give to other people than I am about who Jesus is and what He means in my life. This year it's all coming into a much clearer picture for me and while I'm ashamed at myself, I'm also quite awakened to worship. I'm also quite awakened to the fact that after 25 years, the Lord still has redemption on his heart and mind for me, to continually plant His reality in me - His meaning for Christmas.
Perhaps reading through Isaiah and understanding the need for a Messiah awakens within me my own personal need for a Messiah, not just once to "ask him into my heart" but every day and it arises within me the hope of his return.
"O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord."
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Silent Night
One more thing for today!
Church on Sunday was kind of hard for me. The deeper I go in my walk with the Lord the less satisfied I am with shallow services - enough said. However, whatever went on during the first part of the service was completely forgotten when at the end, we all stood, lit our candles and sung "Silent Night." I'm not even a fan of the carol because I can't bring myself to believe that it was anything but silent but something in that moment struck a chord in me and worship happened. Right there in the middle of a traditional Salvation Army meeting where you're supposed to raise your candle on the last two lines of every verse, I cried and raised my hand. I don't know if it was the music, or the brilliance of the candles (even though, evidently, they cause a lot of damage to the air inside the building), or the fact that my husband was leading the song and singing so beautifully. What I do know was that in that moment, the gift of Jesus Christ given to me was absolutely huge and the gift of grace was unfathomable and the only way I knew how to say thank you was to cry. That's what I like about candlelit rooms, nobody notices when the tears flow and no one asks you if you're okay after the service.
What an amazing gift! Overwhelming and astounding!
Now, even though I don't believe the words are right, I have a new favorite. Maybe I'll re-write it. I don't think it'll fit but I'd call it the "Not so Silent Night."
Joy
Church on Sunday was kind of hard for me. The deeper I go in my walk with the Lord the less satisfied I am with shallow services - enough said. However, whatever went on during the first part of the service was completely forgotten when at the end, we all stood, lit our candles and sung "Silent Night." I'm not even a fan of the carol because I can't bring myself to believe that it was anything but silent but something in that moment struck a chord in me and worship happened. Right there in the middle of a traditional Salvation Army meeting where you're supposed to raise your candle on the last two lines of every verse, I cried and raised my hand. I don't know if it was the music, or the brilliance of the candles (even though, evidently, they cause a lot of damage to the air inside the building), or the fact that my husband was leading the song and singing so beautifully. What I do know was that in that moment, the gift of Jesus Christ given to me was absolutely huge and the gift of grace was unfathomable and the only way I knew how to say thank you was to cry. That's what I like about candlelit rooms, nobody notices when the tears flow and no one asks you if you're okay after the service.
What an amazing gift! Overwhelming and astounding!
Now, even though I don't believe the words are right, I have a new favorite. Maybe I'll re-write it. I don't think it'll fit but I'd call it the "Not so Silent Night."
Joy
Last night Marty and I gave away two vehicles to two incredibly deserving single moms for Christmas. I know! Can you believe it? "Where'd you get the money," you ask? "How'd you do that," you ask? It's a simple principle called the New Testament principle found in Acts 2:44 - 47.
You see, we went to a singles Bible Study (shh...don't tell anyone, we snuck in, for those of you who don't know, Marty and I are married.) called 7:22 last night for the last sermon in a series called "Treasure" which was basically about how we should honor God with our wealth and about how most Americans have this mindset that they are poor even though the majority of us live better and have more money than the majority of the world. Louie talked about the American culture's mindset of "WHEN we get, THEN we give" and how that's backwards from God's standard of giving so that you get so that you then give. He also had this chart up that ranked everyone as to how "poor" or not so poor they really are in the world's standards. It was all pretty cool.
Then he hit on this really neat thing about how the New Testament church pooled their resources. Then, you know what we did? We pooled our resources. We took up an offering to raise money to help buy two single mothers cars (one had a car that had 212,000 miles on it and the other rode Public transport everyday) for their families (each mother had children between the ages of 12 and 18). So, last night, I put $20 in the offering plate and walked out of a Bible study having bought two moms cars! How cool is that? Of course, it wasn't just me. That's the power of God working through a community of believers to bring forth His will. That's even cooler! I love the way God works. He makes you a part of something just so that you can see how He works and so that you can be a part of it.
I love it!
I hope you get the opportunity this Christmas to buy a single mom a car, or an orphan a shirt, or a foster kid a present, or a needy family some groceries. Not because it makes you feel good (even though it will) but because God has invited you to be a part of something bigger than yourself and it's called His will for the world! That's peace on earth.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
You see, we went to a singles Bible Study (shh...don't tell anyone, we snuck in, for those of you who don't know, Marty and I are married.) called 7:22 last night for the last sermon in a series called "Treasure" which was basically about how we should honor God with our wealth and about how most Americans have this mindset that they are poor even though the majority of us live better and have more money than the majority of the world. Louie talked about the American culture's mindset of "WHEN we get, THEN we give" and how that's backwards from God's standard of giving so that you get so that you then give. He also had this chart up that ranked everyone as to how "poor" or not so poor they really are in the world's standards. It was all pretty cool.
Then he hit on this really neat thing about how the New Testament church pooled their resources. Then, you know what we did? We pooled our resources. We took up an offering to raise money to help buy two single mothers cars (one had a car that had 212,000 miles on it and the other rode Public transport everyday) for their families (each mother had children between the ages of 12 and 18). So, last night, I put $20 in the offering plate and walked out of a Bible study having bought two moms cars! How cool is that? Of course, it wasn't just me. That's the power of God working through a community of believers to bring forth His will. That's even cooler! I love the way God works. He makes you a part of something just so that you can see how He works and so that you can be a part of it.
I love it!
I hope you get the opportunity this Christmas to buy a single mom a car, or an orphan a shirt, or a foster kid a present, or a needy family some groceries. Not because it makes you feel good (even though it will) but because God has invited you to be a part of something bigger than yourself and it's called His will for the world! That's peace on earth.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
I've been making my way through Isaiah lately. I've always wanted to know more about prophecy concerning Jesus but then this summer some other really cool knowledge was imparted to me that came from the book - so I figured that I would make my way through it.
Well, all of it hasn't been all that mesmerizing as I thought it would be. So many things aren't always as they turn out. I'm on chapter 16 and so far all of it has been God's wrath towards a people who have badly treated and abused their God and forgotten about Him. I've learned a whole lot about that - perhaps I'll go over that in another blog.
But I was having a hard time. I didn't understand how it applied - all this war and every once in a while there would be a tiny glimmer of hope, a little ray of sunshine. Those were the verses I really enjoyed. Perhaps because I don't understand war. I've never been a part of it, never seen it and after seeing the movie "Saving Private Ryan" I never want to be anywhere near it.
Anyway, this morning, I simply prayed before I started reading, "Lord, I don't understand how all of this applies to me but I want to know your word. If that's all that I get, then that's okay because at least I'll have a better understanding. But please help me to glean something from it today - reveal yourself to me, help me to know you better through your word. Please speak."
So, I started Chapter 16 and Moab was getting beaten up pretty bad by the Assyrians but then, right in the middle of the chapter verse 5 happened. You know what it says? "In love a throne is established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it - one from the house of David - one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness." Amen! That's my Jesus he's talking about and he's comeing. Well, he came but every Christmas it's like he comes again and this Christmas he gave me something new to hold on to. I want to be like him. I want to seek justice and speed the cause of righteousness. There's hope - right in the middle of war, there's hope. Right in the middle of despair there's faithfulness.
I hope this Christmas season you're looking for him to come in love. I hope he has established a throne in your heart and life.
Justice and Mercy,
Joy
Well, all of it hasn't been all that mesmerizing as I thought it would be. So many things aren't always as they turn out. I'm on chapter 16 and so far all of it has been God's wrath towards a people who have badly treated and abused their God and forgotten about Him. I've learned a whole lot about that - perhaps I'll go over that in another blog.
But I was having a hard time. I didn't understand how it applied - all this war and every once in a while there would be a tiny glimmer of hope, a little ray of sunshine. Those were the verses I really enjoyed. Perhaps because I don't understand war. I've never been a part of it, never seen it and after seeing the movie "Saving Private Ryan" I never want to be anywhere near it.
Anyway, this morning, I simply prayed before I started reading, "Lord, I don't understand how all of this applies to me but I want to know your word. If that's all that I get, then that's okay because at least I'll have a better understanding. But please help me to glean something from it today - reveal yourself to me, help me to know you better through your word. Please speak."
So, I started Chapter 16 and Moab was getting beaten up pretty bad by the Assyrians but then, right in the middle of the chapter verse 5 happened. You know what it says? "In love a throne is established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it - one from the house of David - one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness." Amen! That's my Jesus he's talking about and he's comeing. Well, he came but every Christmas it's like he comes again and this Christmas he gave me something new to hold on to. I want to be like him. I want to seek justice and speed the cause of righteousness. There's hope - right in the middle of war, there's hope. Right in the middle of despair there's faithfulness.
I hope this Christmas season you're looking for him to come in love. I hope he has established a throne in your heart and life.
Justice and Mercy,
Joy
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