Joy and Peace 'happens' when . . .

God's original plan for family as described in Genesis, and expanded in other places in the Bible, never intended that a person should have to 'make it' alone. Somewhere, though, many of us have imbibed of the lie that in order to 'make it' (whatever that happens to mean) a person has to somehow do it or go it alone.

Proverbs talks about a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister. It also mentions that a three fold cord is not easily broken. It is really a sad commentary that especially in our secular (some refer to also as western) culture it has almost been touted as a virture to 'make it alone'. In my biological family I have a sister in the southwest, a brother in the northwest, another sister in the southeast and a brother in the midwest, USA. In some cultures the extended family still has some ties, but for some of us those ties have gotten quite thin, if not broken altogether.

There are some things a person has to face alone, yes. But by and large that kind of a scenario should only happen - if at all necessary - after a person has been brought to maturity the way God intended in His kind of family setting. Even though God's plan for family has been sadly, badly twisted in many places, I believe God still intended each person should have a support system of family - in our system we might call them grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, cousins and more. But because the family system has been often so badly mangled, God has been working to establish 'christian' family, also called church, to restore and give support for each other.

A friend of mine has been through some VERY rough experiences the past few days. (Actually I should say several of my friends have been 'hit hard' this past week with a variety of challenges.) I have been so grateful when each one has been willing to let me know they are struggling. Some friends have been willing to call me and we have had the distinct privilege of claiming God's promises for them as we prayed together on the phone. One friend has been able to share some challenges via email. When this has happened, I have several times been able to pray with folks who are struggling with spiritual battles. I can pray - claiming God's unfailing words - whether or not we are talking 'live'. I may not be in the midst of a super challenge myself - at the moment - but I consider it a distinct privilege given to me by God to be able to claim God's unfailing promises for my friends when they are being stressed. I hope that my words have also been encouragement to them whether written or spoken.

As one advantage of sharing one another's burdens I have watched some miracles take place. I have also been practicing claiming God's promises in ways that I have a feeling I will be needing for myself some time. God never promised we would have no problems. He did promise never to leave us or forsake us. But when you are in the middle of a BIG problem it sure can help when someone has compassion (comes along side with God's kind of passion). When you hear a human voice, or read an email from someone you know cares about you, reminding you that God's word does not return to Him empty but He will accomplish what He has promised, I believe that is part of God's plan for His kind of family.

Another truth I have just been reviewing the past few days is that true joy - experiencing that another mind loves for you to be with them - can only happen when you are in connection with another mind. The same is true for confiding, peaceful rest - experiencing that another mind is so safe that you can confide in them and rest in their presence. And the more you learn and experience true JOY and confiding PEACE with another mind, your capacity to cope with life and with the stresses of living on planet earth increases.

Since real JOY and genuine PEACE, as mentioned above, can only develop when two minds synchronize and are in harmony it becomes even more important for each one of us to 'take time' for friendship.

When I described the above scenario of joy and peace producing relationships to someone the other day they thought about it for a moment and then commented that they weren't sure they had ever had that happen to them in their life.

I don't know about your life but if you have read this far I just want to tell you: God loves you and is delighted for you come spend time with Him. He is the greatest joy builder in the universe as well as the wellspring to true peace for all of life's challenges.

And if you would like to learn more about God's plans to build you up in joy and peace, feel free to ask. I don't have all the answers but I will be happy to share what I have learned.

Bringer of Peace

Miracles, ending with a hot cup of coffee

Today has been rather eventful. A friend of ours was facing the very real possibility of being evicted and, more than that, her electricity could be cut off today and phone shut off.

What do you say or do in that situation? We have been praying together and claiming that God's will would be done. Friday of last week the possibility of financial assistance became known. There were a few possible hitches but she decided to 'go for it' anyway. Because of snow the check was delayed - not getting here until after 1 p.m. today. Then when we took her to the bank there were more problems. This bank was not her regular bank so she asked if we would drive her to a nearby city where the officers knew her personally for several years now. During the drive we kept encouraging each other to 'trust in the Lord'. While she was in the bank we prayed. After a short time she came out and reported success. To make a long story short, even though the bank is holding the check for a few days the phone company, electric company and landlord all agreed to 'wait' to be paid. Just a day or two before they had all been adamant that March 3 was 'cut off' time.

On the way home we stopped to use the rest area at a very nice station/store. My friend went in first and I followed shortly. While I was in the rest room she was 'dreaming' of a cup of coffee. I was planning to buy her one when I came out (she was broke) but when I walked up a man had offered to pay for a cup of coffee for her. To me it seemed like the 'cream' on a day of God's interventions. Even more interesting was that the man seemed very interested in her paintings so gave her his card and they plan to communicate more. She has been internationally known for paintings in the past and I believe God is reconnecting her to people who might once again purchase her works.

God is a God of mighty miracles and we had the privilege of watching Him at work today.

Bringer of Peace

Did I tell you?

When situations get intense, God, at times, gives tokens to remind us that He is still with us and will NEVER leave us to perish.

The other day we were at a friend's house helping her with some things. I had purchased some 'conditioner' fluid for her contact lenses and she was using it. For some reason the lense she was working with slipped out of her fingers. She had been leaning over her desk so called us to come see if we could locate it for her. She has very poor vision without the lense. Both my husband and I looked carefully through every paper on the desk and every inch of the floor around her as well as carefully going over her, but all to no avail. After perhaps a half hour or more I finally gave up and went to do something else I had been working on. Duane continued to search on the floor inch by inch and our friend finally turned to her computer. During this time we were encouraging one another in the Lord. My friend was greatly frustrated because she couldn't really see without that lense and she asked me why something like this should happen. I kept praying often in my mind, sharing God's words of concern and comfort. Just after I went in the other room my husband called me back. My friend also looked to see what he was wanting of me. I came and looked as he pointed to a spot in a clear place on the floor - where all of us had carefully looked several times - where lay the lense. We all knew the lense was not there earlier. In our minds it was clearly a divine intervention and token of God's special care.

My husband is presently unemployed. He has been looking for another job but for the present also applied for unemployment benefits. He was sent a 'pin' number which must be used when reporting his 'job search' each week. By each Sunday we are to report the results of his 'job hunting'. We were ready to turn in the report but when we went to get the 'number' the page on where it is written was not in it's folder. We spent quite a bit of time searching but finally gave up. It was getting very late (11 p.m.) and I was about ready to quit. Before going to bed we knelt together and asked God one more time, according to His will, to show us where that paper might be. After pausing, I reached over, picked up a couple pieces of paper and there was the number I needed. I could only say 'Praise the Lord'. We were able to get the report in before midnight for which we thank the Lord. We won't get a lot of 'income', but every little bit helps.

I am taking these events as tokens that my God not only still loves us but is still in charge of the outcome of our lives.

Jesus loves you too. You are special!

Bringer of Peace

Prayer and Praise 2

My brother-in-law has been released on probation BUT if he stays with his wife she could be detained. We praise God that she has been able to see him after about 10 months, but we are also claiming that God will complete the freeing process physically, mentally and spiritually.

This man has not been tried by courts so according to the laws of this land he is still innocent. But this world knows a lot about being unfair. But that is not what I am praying about now.

I am praising God that my brother-in-law did not die in prison unjustly.

I am also praying that his desires to help those who have been pushed down and out that were 'born' while he was detained will continue to mature and bear fruit in God's way.

I am praising God I can now talk to them both on the phone in prayer and encouragement.

I am praying that these experiences will open our eyes and ears more to hearing heart cries of others who need not only a miracle of God but human words to encourage and lift them up when trampled down.

God is looking for 'friends' who will encourage others and raise up the feeble hands and strengthen the feeble knees as in Isaiah 35:3,4

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them[that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:
behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God
[with] a recompense; he will come and save you."

and repeated in Hebrews 12:12

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; "

God is wonderful, merciful, gracious, long-suffering, gentle, easy to be entreated and much more. He is looking for people who will work with Him in such a way that others will get the same idea about God because they have seen those characteristics, those attributes, in folks who say they know God.



It is getting late and I am tired this evening. I stayed the last two nights with a friend's mother who needed companionship during the night. It will be good to sleep all night, Lord willing.

I am also enjoying the peace of this Sabbath, especially the final meeting of the week of prayer at church.

Until we meet again, may God's words of blessing fill your heart and mind with His love.

Bringer of Peace

Praise and Thanksgiving to God

This evening my brother-in-law, Karl, is home, is resting and is eating.

We praise the Lord.

There are more challenges ahead but we have nothing to fear unless we forget what God has done in our past history.

When I called my sister she said Karl wanted to talk to us. It was SO good to hear his voice. He shared with us some miracles that had happened the past ten months or so he was detained. I could tell he is still needing a lot of rest.

We want to thank each one who joined in prayer for Karl and Frances.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

We do claim God's peace on them especially after so much trauma.

Bringer of Peace

Prayer and Praise

I talked to my sister this morning. Her husband, who is presently incarcerated, has a hearing today. Friday Karl's belongings were confiscated - things like sweats, coat, person correspondence, nutritional supplements, etc. - and he was put in a higher security cell. (He was able to grab his Bible.) He is almost blind without correctional lenses (which he has not had use of since being detained in April, 2008) and also has a heart condition. Without the added nutritional aids, he told his wife later, his eyes are getting worse already. He was also told he could only use the phone on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a half hour each day. All of these measures, including being in prison for going on 11 months, have been done against an innocent man, even by worldly standards, for he has not been convicted of any crime. Following these measures he was taken to an 'emergency' hearing in court by Judge Pfeffer in Santa Fe. A court trial had been scheduled for Feb. 24, 2009 but the judge told him his witnesses were to appear in court on Feb. 23, 2009 but that the jury trial had been 'changed' to March 4, 2009. The judge also told him that no more 'paperwork' would be accepted.

As mentioned above, phone privileges had been greatly reduced. Finally, however, he was allowed one call to a 'legal counsel' from which the above information was gathered.

When I talked to my sister Friday evening I was also very impressed when she told me another aspect of this 'case'. When Karl was detained and 'charged', paperwork was prepared stating the truth. When Karl appears before the judge he states to the judge "I stand on my paperwork." The judge has appeared to use all sorts of measures to get any other answer, but thus far to no avail. Unless the court can get Karl to contradict his paperwork their case against him doesn't look good (to put it mildly).

I was deeply impressed with the spiritual lesson for all of us in this experience. So long as we 'stand on the paperwork' of God's written Word, Satan and all of his hosts can't exert the power of their lies over us and trap us into slavery to him.

This morning I was studying Psalm 64 and it seemed so timely. I have posted the whole paraphrase in the link to the right, but I'm going to share it here too as it seems so appropriate for today, especially as Karl goes to another hearing.

1. Listen to my problem, Lord. Keep me from being terrorized by those who hate me. Defend me from unjust court officials, who wound, cause pain and even destroy with their sharp, acrid words. They intensely accuse anybody, with no respect for truth, and urge each other on to add even worse accusations, for they think no one hears or sees their unjust plots hidden deep in their hearts. 7 – 9 But God will surprise them. What they devised against others will so suddenly happen to them that they will get beat up. Everyone watching will back off in astonishment as they see how God handled the situation. They will respect Him as they tell others what happened. 10 Those who are honest in heart will rejoice in the Lord and continue to trust Him, thus revealing in their own lives what God is really like.

I also ask anyone who reads this to especially pray for Frances as well as Karl today. There have been rumors her physical freedom is also in immediate danger.

Our God, however, is the God of Freedom. It is fear that brings bondage and torment. Perfect love casts out fear. I am claiming that what God is really like - love - will be so revealed through Karl and Frances that those who love God will rejoice with them as the more distinct picture of God is revealed through this experience. And even those who don't love God will eventually admit that God is right. These past ten months have been very difficult for both my sister and her lovely husband, but God has been giving them His sustaining grace.

Thank you for your prayers of faith, for thanking God for keeping His promises of angelic protection, deliverance of the captive and a revealing of God's character in such a way that God will be glorified.

Bringer of Peace

Pray for Freedom and Peace

In April 2008 my brother-in-law was put in prison. He has been denied a speedy trial for whatever accusations have been made against him. After several previous dates for a trial - which were all canceled - the latest date is February 24, 2009.

He is legally blind without corrective lenses but has not had the use of any corrective measures since being in prison. He has health challenges which also have not been properly taken care of during these many months. The legal system says a person is innocent until proven guilty but the judge and court system have not acted such in this case.

Previous to this life challenge my brother-in-law was the chair person of the language department at a well known school and had been voted teacher of the year by students and staff.

We have been claiming that God's saving hand will break the bonds and set Karl free.

Please pray with us in his behalf.

I also ask that you will pray for my sister. The pressure on her has been tremendous as well. They both need God's healing and to be flooded with His love.

Bringer of Peace