Praying for a special Miracle

The above picture was taken in January 2008, when Miracle was 2 months old.

She had just been dedicated to the Lord at church. Nigerians put eye make-up on babies for special occasions. :-)

Please read the story below about Miracle.

Some of you have already heard it - it's fascinating!

And then updated pictures of this sweetheart are at the end.

Written in January 2008:.. My Nigerian 'parents', Reverand Haruna and 'Mommy', took care of Friday, their nephew, for seven years. Just recently Friday died from a sudden sickness at age 12, which devastated Rev. and Mommy. However, God was so good. The day before Friday passed, Mommy was at work at the community health clinic, where she stays for a few nights at a time, since it is outside of Jos. Someone brought in a newborn baby with her umbilical cord still attached. The baby had been abandoned and covered with sand. She was discovered because a dog was biting on her umbilical cord and she began to cry. The mother of the baby, of course, was nowhere to be found. The police interviewed different women in the neighborhood and decided that Mommy was the best candidate to look after the baby while they tried to find her mother. Mommy was caring for her when she received the news that Friday had died. So Mommy bundled her up and took her home with her.

In the midst of the intense grief, God provided a miracle baby to bring joy, comfort and purpose to their lives. I went to their home the day we received the sad news about Friday. When I saw the baby and heard her story I said to Mommy "You must name her Miracle, for indeed she is." She agreed and that is her name. :)

Today...

Two years have passed and Miracle continues to bring happiness and God's love into their home. They see how the Lord was so good to them and His timing was just incredible, giving Miracle to them the day before Friday passed. Rev and Mommy have been wanting to have another baby (have 2 older children), but it has not been possible. They have formally adopted Miracle.

I sent Miracle some Christmas presents. I just received the pictures below - so adorable!!! She's modeling the gifts I sent to her. The picture with the rabbit on her back is so great because she is 'backing her baby' - Nigerian women carry babies on their backs.

Miracle is a child who was chosen by the Lord to be rescued from certain death and adopted into an earthly family who are the perfect God-send to raise her in His Word and His love. My prayer is that is special Miracle will be a mighty Warrior Princess for her King!

Allah ya bamu godiya kowace rana. Ku kwallo masu! = God gives us blessings every day! Watch for them!

Please be gentle

For many, the Christmas season is a jumble of emotions. We think of where we were this time last year, what our hopes were, dreams were, expectations were... Some of you have lost people very close to you and you can't wait until Christmas is over, so that you won't be forced to remember past Christmas celebrations with the loved ones who are no longer with you.

Christmas brings hope - a reminder that Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life - yet still was ridiculed, slandered, abused, rejected and betrayed - but He endured and was victorious.

Last night I was reading a blog of a family who lost their 10 week old son to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and I was grieving along with them. Their pain is much deeper than I can fathom, yet I can identify with the loss of their hopes, dreams and plans.

These days, my mind and prayers are all over the place... seeking God for clarity, hope, perseverance in the midst of unclear situations and many questions... I am thankful to be walking through this time and not escaping from it or allowing myself to be distracted from the reality of the depth of my need for the One who will be constant in the midst of lifes storms. Throughout Scripture, God allows His people to walk through the pain, to suffer, to endure, to be sanctified through loss -- to completely depend on Him, for we cannot trust ourselves. Sometimes it was a quick deliverance, but most of the time, Scripture shows a long process of peeling back the layers of pride, self-reliance, selfish motivations, etc... to bring the people/person to the place God intended them to be.

For those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is with us and He will speak to us, guide us, and comfort us (John 16). He declares Truth to us - which is so comforting since we live in a world of lies and false promises.

My journey is not a unique one - many of you have experienced deep loss in your lives. My loss of health, home, dreams, etc just happened all at once... but it doesn't make my loss any worse than yours. Some people don't understand, and if they haven't experienced loss, or if they have but just didn't allow themselves to feel the loss... how can they relate? Some people think that I should get over it, move on, forget Nigeria... well, ok, but no I won't. I am resistant to allow myself to be on anyone's time table except for God's. I am not saying that I know what I am doing - not by a long shot - but I have learned that for most of my life, I just smoothed things over with a smile. Not anymore... I want God to dig deep and take as long as it takes to heal from the inside out. It's not just about Nigeria - it's about living a live of genuine emotions, of being 'real' and vulnerable, about really letting God search my heart and point out any area that is not completely surrendered to Him. Saying good-bye to Nigeria was just the beginning on this road of healing, of sanctification, of hope...

I don't live in despondency or hopelessness. God has actually given me great joy and peace in the midst of this season of uncertainty and transition. I love living in Chicago and am so thankful for the friends I have and the opportunities I have to serve the church body. I am not in depression and I am not lazy. One day at a time, by only God's grace and power, am I sustained to look ahead and to love God and love people for that day. He will give strength for the next day. I am learning to love the present. To not think too far into the future. I am learning to be ok with times of rest and loneliness. I am learning to be ok with not living a fast-paced life and taking time to rest when I need to. I am learning to be ok with not knowing everything - or anything at all! I am learning to using this time in my life to relate to the loss others are going through - marriage, financial, relationships, etc... It has really been wonderful to see how God is weaving all of our lives together for our good and for His glory! Every time God teaches me a big lesson, He then brings someone into my life to share with and to encourage them with... it's a beautiful cycle.


Here is a poem that I found that expresses exactly how I feel and, perhaps, how many of you are feeling, too...

Please Be Gentle
By Jill B. Englar

Please be gentle with me for I am grieving.
The sea I swim in is a lonely one
and the shore seems miles away.
Waves of despair numb my soul
as I struggle through each day.
My heart is heavy with sorrow.
I want to shout and scream
and repeatedly ask 'Why?'
At times, my grief overwhelms me
and I weep bitterly,
so great is my loss.
Please don't turn away
or tell me to move on with my life.
I must embrace my pain
before I can begin to heal.
Companion me through the tears
and sit with me in loving silence.
Honor where I am in the journey,
not where you think I should be.
Listen patiently to my story,
I may need to tell it over and over again.
It's how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.
Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.
Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.
A small flame still burns within my heart,
and shared memories may trigger
both laughter and tears.
I need your support and understanding.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
I must find my own path.
Please, will you walk beside me?


All around us, people are hurting. Especially during this season. But there is Hope through Jesus Christ. It is all about Him - every pain, loss, joy, challenge... it is all about Him - for He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords... as we take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on Him... the peace that surpasses all understanding will reign in our hearts. Thank You, Jesus! Amen!

It's not just about the sale

This is just tooo cool - I have to share! And it's not about what happens to me - it is about what happens afterwards and how it all fits together :-)

Ok, so it all started a couple months ago. A man at church knew that I was looking for a car to buy. He recommended a large dealership here in Chicago, and specifically two dealers that he had a good experience with previously. One of the men, Bob, is a Christian and the other one, Joe, is not (not their real names). My friend called ahead and 'introduced' me to these two men. I did not tell him what to say - but he explained the whole 'missionary' thing and I figured, well, might was well milk it for what it's worth at this point! :-)

So I arrived and quoted my very low budget and they just looked at me. Then said they would be right back. They came back and offered me a great deal on a great looking car (the make/model will remain anonymous --- keep reading to find out why). So, I bought the car and loved it. Before I left, the non-Christian dealer, Joe, looked at me and said "Erin, there is something different about you. I mean, I can't put my finger on it, but there's something special". I answered "The Lord has changed my life. He is Who you are seeing. I take no credit!". He just smiled and shook his head.

Within two weeks, all sorts of things were going wrong with the car, including the catalytic converter (have no idea), water pump (for what?) and the transmission (I know this is important!)... The guys were so apologetic and so kind and allowed me to return the car, which is super nice because usually a used car is sold 'as is' and sorry ma'am if you have any problems. I spent a lot of time with Joe discussing the problems as they came up, and he kept saying "Erin, man, there is something about you."

Well, I still needed a car. So I spent hours (yeah, I take awhile to make big decisions sometimes) in the dealership deliberating on what car, how much to spend, etc. They ended up giving me such a fantastic deal on a Honda Civic with very low mileage - they only made $28 on the deal!
I knew that they had actually lost money, because of all the time spent the past two weeks on the situation and because the first car was a total loss.

I was about to leave and I was contemplating about how gracious they had been and how I really felt that God not only guided me there to purchase a car, but that He is pursuing Joe's heart and that He wants Joe to know how important he is to God. So, Joe and I were about to close the deal and I was about to leave. We were walking past a brand new, white Hummer in the showroom.

God told me what to do.
I said "What?!"
He said "Do it".
Sigh.

"Hey Joe," I said. Joe turned around.

I put my hand on the Hummer and said with a lot more confidence than I felt, "I really appreciate all that you've done for me. I am going to pray that God will let you be the one to sell this Hummer."

Joe just chuckled and said "You do that."

So I get in my newly purchased "pre-owned" car and started talking to God. "Ahhh! How could you make me say that?! Joe sell the Hummer? It is a huge dealership - lots of employees. That is such an expensive car. How SOO specific is that?! Ok, Lord, it's Your reputation and glory on the line, not mine! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an eternal purpose in my buying this car. I know that You are chasing Joe. I know that You want him to know he is important and valuable in Your sight. So, well, God... pllleeeeaaase let him sell that Hummer!"

And that's how my prayers went over the last few weeks.

Folks, I talked to Joe today.

HE SOLD THE HUMMER!!!!!
Wa-hoooo! Go God! Get the Glory!!!

ahhhhh.

It's so funny because I called Joe today with a question about my car and I wanted to say something about the Hummer and was thinking, "Man, I am going to sound foolish". Well.

"So, Joe, don't forget that I am praying that God will let you be the one to sell that Hummer." Cringe.

"Erin! I sold it on Saturday!"


Ahhh, may I become more of a fool, for the glory of God in His pursuit of peoples' souls.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25

Video

To all my dear subscribers...

I don't know why, when I post a video, it won't show up in your email of the blog.

Here is the link. It is such a powerful song and music video. I played it about 20 times yesterday. Refer to the lyrics on the previous post.


http://vimeo.com/channels/failusnot

You Fail Us Not

In the midst of questions without answers, You are there. Your presence presses in and captures my soul. You pursue my devotion to the innermost parts of my being. My brokenness turns to praise and my searching turns to contentment.

The lyrics and the video below are perfect for where I am right now in my journey. I saw this band, 1000 Generations, a couple months ago and was taken to an intense time of worship through their God-honoring songs.

Failure doesn't phase you. Worry doesn't win. Lost doesn't leave you afraid to start again. Our sin doesn't shock you. Our shame doesn't shame you at all.

Mistakes do not move you. Terror doesn't tame. Death doesn't doom you to life in the grave. Our suffering doesn't scare you. Our secrets won't surprise you at all. At all.

There is nothing above you. There is nothing beyond you. There is nothing that you can't do. Whatever will come, we'll rise above. You fail us not, You fail us not. No matter the war, our hope is secure. You fail us not, You fail us not.You fail us not.

Hatred doesn't hide you. Evil doesn't ail. Despair can't disguise you and tell you that you fail. Our doubt doesn't daunt you. Our darkness won't defeat you at all. At all.

There is nothing above you. There is nothing beyond you. There is nothing that you can't do. Whatever will come, we'll rise above. You fail us not, You fail us not. No matter the war, our hope is secure. You fail us not, You fail us not. Whatever will come, we'll rise above. You fail us not, You fail us not. No, You fail us not. You fail us not.

You’re bigger than the battle. You are bigger than the battle. You are bigger than the battle has ever been.

http://1000generations.com/

PS - I this band is even sweeter because the pianist and vocalist are married :-) And, I don't know why the video shows up twice.

Clip of boys singing praise

This is my first time to post a video, and I must be doing it wrong. Am trying again here. This is the clip I referred to in my previous post. Our boys are singing "Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty. Holy, Holy is He!.... Holy is the Lord, God Almighty, the earth is filled with His glory."

If the video does not show up for those of you who subscribe to this and get the post automatically, it will work if you go directly to http://erinrigsby.blogspot.com
It's a grrrreat clip - so I want to be sure you can watch it!

Renewed Fear of the Lord God Almighty

Last night a friend and I were talking about how we want to live with expectancy and to live intentionally. We were reflecting on how fast time goes by and, before we know it, a week is gone and what eternal significance do we have to show for it? Did we love on people God brought across our paths? Did we show patience to people who were maybe having a bad day? Did we stop and help someone else, even when it was inconvenient? And what makes something inconvenient? Pretty much the fact that, in our selfish minds, wherever we are going or whatever we are doing is more important than others needs.

We talked about how our culture really affects us. I am fascinated by cultures and find myself analyzing what I am seeing or experiencing through the eyes of an American, or a Nigerian, or perhaps a wealthy person versus a poorer person; a single person versus a married couple. Chicago has so many cultures within cultures, that I am never without a loss for material.

It can be downright confusing sometimes, for me, as many times I find myself unsure of how to respond - do I respond like I did in Nigeria or do I respond like other Americans? Is a situation I may be in because of a healthy cultural influence or is it negative? Is it sinful or is it Biblical? I am not thinking of one thing in particular, but every day things - the more we are looking for culture, the more it is revealed to us. The more we question our motives, our spending, how we relate to others, how others relate to us... the more aware we are of how complex we are.

After getting off the phone with my friend, I was really missing Nigeria and all the kids there, thanks to all my analysis of culture. I spent a lot of time looking through pictures, thinking and just feeling homesick for a place that seems so far away now. Then I went to bed. Which I KNOW is not good for me - to dwell and reflect on Nigeria right before bed - because almost 100% of the time, this results in really sad dreams about my life in Nigeria and then I wake up in a cloud of sadness. I am praying for self-discipline in this area, to fill my mind with joyful, peaceful and encouraging things before I go to bed.

So I woke up this morning, in desperate need of some encouragement from the Lord. I went to Jeremiah 10. As I read the chapter, my heart was sobered. Read Jeremiah 10 here. God was talking to Israel (and talking to us) about the necessity of being separate from the evils in culture. The people of Israel had been making their own idols, out of wood, silver and gold and then worshiping these powerless things. God calls the customs worthless and He calls the people senseless and foolish. The people will be shamed, will be mocked, will perish in judgement. Ouch.

The LORD Almighty goes on to say, through Jeremiah, that He is the King of Nations, the True God, the Living God, the Eternal King. The Israelites were choosing to worship things that were dead, things that had been formed by human hands, things without any power.

We are senseless to not inquire of the LORD. As a result, we will be scattered and will not prosper. God will remove His hands from us, if we continue to worship false Gods. He is a jealous God and He WILL NOT share His glory.

Not applicable enough? Ok, verses 23 and 24:

I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, LORD, but only with justice - not in Your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.

A renewed fear of God was put into my soul this morning. I so easily build up idols in my life. I allow things, people, memories to control me, to demand my worship. I give power to situations and circumstances and to Satan, when they are worthless, and that makes me a fool. I was corrected in my thinking, as God reminded me that I am right where He put me. He directs my steps. My life is not my own. My life is a tiny blip on the radar of eternity. He is pursuing my complete, total, abandoned affection. He wants ALL of me.

Like with the children of Israel, God allows us to choose how we will respond to adversity, to suffering, to persecution, to sickness, to poverty, to injustice. Like with the children of Israel, He will respond to us in relation to how we respond to Him.

Will I respond with complete commitment and worship of Him? Or will I spend my days on my own worldly pursuits, giving pieces of my worship to people, in response to the cultural temptations and influence, to the newest fad or sensation?

"Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name." Jeremiah 10:14-16

This 1 minute clip was recently taken of our older boys in Nigeria, during a spontaneous time of worship.

They are singing... "Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty. Holy, Holy is He. Holy is the Lord, God Almighty, the earth is filled with His glory".

In case you are interested...

Yesterday at church, a woman lovingly reminded me that she is waiting to read the next post on my blog, that it has been too long - she even knew that I hadn't written one since July 9th!! ... that warmed my heart, and encouraged me to write a nice, long, juicy one... :-) There are pictures at the end!

Yes, so much has been happening and I am internally processing so many things. I sometimes wonder what is beneficial to share with the cyberspace world. And then, I suppose, if I keep things focused on HIM, and not on me, then perhaps others can benefit. Sharing my life experiences, challenges, trials, blessings, etc on a computer screen is therapeutic for me and, if someone else is blessed, yeah for that!

At least once a week I think "oh, I need to share this on my blog" and then I hesitate or forget. And so, wow, a month or more goes by and here we are... Some random tidbits...

** I found an apartment in Chicago! It is on the 18th floor and looks out over the lake. It is really a gift and praise pours out of my mouth every day when I sit out on the balcony, when I get home after a long day, when I wake up and see the lake from my bed - thank you Jesus! Lesson I have learned from this - I resisted this apartment SO much because I didn't feel like God really wanted me to have it. I know I am very adaptable and have slept in various kinds of places and know that I don't need to have nice things. I literally argued with God for two days about this place - I kept trying to find all sorts of loop holes as to why I shouldn't get it - and He kept taking care of each one. The root of it all - I really didn't believe that He wanted to give this amazing gift to me. He was excitedly providing and what was my response? "No, really? Seriously, I don't need this. I've lived in a Third World Country, God, I can be happy with much less., yadda, yadda, yadda.." And on and on and on I went. And then, tada, the lights went on - I LOVE to give people gifts, mostly because of their reactions to the gifts. My reaction was so ridiculously self-deprecating and resistant to His love.... thanks for insisting, God! I love it and, while I hold it loosely and know that materialistic things don't bring lasting joy, I am enjoying every minute of this gift of beauty and safety!


** When I left Nigeria in May 2008, I thought I would only be gone for two months. As a result, I of course left my house as it was. When I realized a few months ago that I would not be returning, one of the most difficult parts of that decision was what to do with my house in Nigeria? God provided some incredible ladies there who worked many hours to sort through, pack up and sell my things. Most of my belongings were sold last week, except for sentimental things that are slowly coming back to me through travelers. This has been a very painful process for me because I am a very sentimental person. Something that looks worthless to you will be precious to me because of the memory attached to it. It has been hard to let go and allow others to go through all of my belongings and for them to make decisions about what may or may not be important.

God used Hebrews 10 to really help me, especially verse 34: you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

I can't say it has been a joyful process, emotionally, but I can say that I have tried to choose to be joyful and thankful, even if I don't feel like it. This situation has really humbled me to think about what value I put on things that will burn and how much do I really value Jesus, Who has saved me from eternal death??

So, I basically don't have much now, compared to many, but I have an abundance compared to many. Make sense? Practically speaking - I used paper towels to dry off after a shower for a week because I didn't have any towels. I slept on a couch for two weeks because I didn't have a bed. I ate off of paper plates until yesterday, because I didn't have any dishes. But was this an issue? No! It really doesn't matter, does it? In the midst of the questions, pain, loneliness, uncertainty, vulnerability of this season, the Lord God has taken me to a different level with Him. A clearer understanding of what matters. A deeper sense of dependence upon Him.

Plus, it has been so amazing to be loved by God through His people - last night someone gave me some plates (remember, just yesterday I used my last paper plate!), towels, some kitchen stuff; another lady has offered some furniture; another man has offered me a table and others have offered household items. What a blessing that my apartment will be full of gifts and tangible reminders of God's love and provision.


** I've been seeing a counselor weekly, sometimes twice a week, since January. It has been so very helpful! Sometimes I walk out of her office just shaking my head thinking "Will this learning process ever stop? When will I get it?" other times I walk out with a huge smile on my face and praise in my heart as I reflect on the healing that is taking place. Every time I thank God for showing up, for revealing so much about His character and my need for Him... every time! A few things I am meditating on from recent sessions: before I do something I need to check my motivation: am I doing it because I feel guilty?convicted?joyful? Too many times I am motivated by guilt, either that I put on myself, that others put on me, or that I perceive from others. Yikes! God says there is no condemnation for His children, through Jesus Christ, so Erin, be free!

Today my counselor encouraged me to write a letter of closure to myself - to write as much as possible, as long as necessary, to facilitate a sense of closure of a season of life. Hmm, that sounds a bit painful. Am still chewing on that one. She's also encouraging me to be secure in my relationship with the Lord, to see myself through His eyes, to receive His confidence - that sounds better and am all about this!


** I am looking for a nursing job in Chicago and could really use your prayers. I have an idea of what I want to do and am currently researching all the jobs here in Chicagoland, working on my resume, and preparing for a couple mock interviews with helpful friends.


** I absolutely love Chicago! It is NOT all about cold weather, folks. Summertime is fantastic because the weather is so mild (July avg of 69 degrees!) and there are lots of free things to see and do. The first two pics are when Holly and I went to Millenium Park. There are two large (in blue) glass structures that act as fountains and video player! For 13 minutes, a video of a real person's face is on the 'waterfall', blinking, staring, etc. After 13 minutes, the person puckers his/her lips and 'blows' - then a part of the wall opens up (right at the mouth of the video) and water 'spits' out. Totally cool! The water is only 1/8 in deep, so even really small kids get to take
advantage of it.








Also, throughout the summer, Chicago Summer Dance offers free dance lessons and live music three times a week. Susan and I went last week on African Dance Night :-) I actually met Susan in Nigeria - she was there for two years with SIM! I am very thankful for her friendship because she really 'gets me' and she knows exactly what I am talking about, who I am missing, and why Nigeria is now and forever will be a part of me - because she feels the same way.

Whew - ok, Hazel, how did I do?

Pictures of girls needing prayer

In my previous post, I shared the tragic story of sisters Ruth and Sarah. Here is their picture, along with another new girl who just arrived on Tuesday, with a similar background. Her name is Godiya. Beautiful smiles. Broken hearts. Please pray for restoration, healing, and complete freedom and deliverance.

Urgent Prayer

I received the following message today....

City Ministries Nigeria just rescued two sisters who are in desperate need of prayer. Ruth (6) and Sarah (11) were lured into joining a secret witchcraft society. To enter this evil cult they had to sacrifice something of value to them. Brainwashed by the members, they gave permission for their mom to be murdered. This happened last week. The funeral took place Saturday.

Learning what had happened, their Uncle brought them to us immediately following the funeral services. Although finances have limited the amount of new kids we can take, we accepted these girls due to the urgency and nature of their situation. After an all day prayer session with the girls Sunday they gave their life to Christ...Hallelujah!

They are in desperate need of people interceding on their behalf. Here are some things you pray for:

~ Protection particularly between midnight and 3 AM (6 PM to 9 PM your time). Due to the nature of what they were involved in they are under heavy spiritual attack during the night.

~ Forgiveness. As the reality of what has taken place sinks in chances are the enemy will try and use guilt to lure them away from their freedom in Christ. Please pray that they grasp the concept that there sin has been paid for in full and they are blameless in the eyes of God.

~ Aunty Altine. She will be their new mother at the orphanage. Please pray for her and the other girls living in her house.

To my dad.....

During my years in Nigeria, I became more and more grateful for my childhood and for the loving father God gave me. The children I took care of have been beaten by their dads, have been thrown out on the streets by their dads, have been disowned by their dads because the child chose to follow Christ, have been starved by their dads, have been cursed by their dads. The one person in their life who was created to protect them, guide them, accept them, teach them, encourage them in a way no one can... for so many children all over the world, their fathers have caused unspeakable harm

In the midst of the sorrow I saw, God opened my eyes even more to what an amazing Dad I have.

~ It was him, not Mom, who first put my hair in pigtails when I was 1 years old.

~ When I was 3 years old, he let me sit on his lap and drive the riding lawn mower... right into a fence.

~ Some of my favorite childhood memories are when Dad and I would wake up super early and go fishing on his boat. It didn't matter if my cast was pathetic, if I caught a tree, or if I got the twine all tangled up - he was so patient with me and I knew that he loved those mornings just as much as me. One morning, we were fishing for white bass and man, they were biting. We started a competition to see who could catch the most by a certain time... and I won! I think I caught 31 and he caught 27. It was awesome.

~ Every Christmas for years, Shane and I would wake up and go into Mom and Dad's bedroom and crawl in bed with Mom while Dad went downstairs to turn on the heater, start the fire, make the coffee and get things all cozy for us. For years we made him be "Santa Claus" by handing our gifts to us, as we went around the circle and watched each other open one gift at a time. One Christmas morning, I caught him putting together a dollhouse for me. I think he was bummed that I caught him, but it's a special memory for me because I saw the joy in his face as he worked on the surprise.

~ He makes the BEST omelets. Dad loves to make "Big Breakfasts" and I love to eat them.

~ If he knew that mom or I needed to go somewhere and our car was dirty, many times I would go outside and find a sparkling clean car. He still does this!

~ He loves to make the outside of our home beautiful. Dad has a natch for landscaping and every house we've lived in has been blessed by dad's hands.

~ Whenever he would leave in the early mornings to go fishing (when I wouldn't go), he always came and kissed my forehead before he left.

~ He always knew when I was trying to pull a fast one on him during High School and he was quick to discipline, but always quicker to love me in the midst of it all.

~ He loves to drive me nuts by mispronouncing words on purpose... like "guacamala"

~ When I am crying, he will start crying with me. (and I think this is AWESOME for a man to do this!).

~ If he doesn't want to cry, he will start laughing.

~ Every morning for years, he goes on one hour 'power walks' - an hour of powerful prayer and intercession. Our dog, Bonnie, who has spent these special hours with him for many years, has sure been privy to to some incredible conversations between my Dad and the Lord.

~Dad is an extremely gracious man.

~ Dad loves his family with a passion and seeks to serve the Lord every day of his life.

~ He loves my mom dearly and has been faithful to her all 37 years of their marriage.



I love you Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Princess

Don't Shrink Back

There are so many thoughts in my head and I've felt compelled to share this journey, with the prayer that God will use what I am learning to encourage others. I've found it difficult to know where to start, which has prevented me from even starting. So, I am just going to dive in and share bit by bit and hope it makes sense.

The last 10 years of my life have been focused on either preparing to go to Nigeria or actually living there. My years in Nigeria were life-changing. So many times while I was there I thought to myself "This is what I was made for" - loving on orphans and caring for people in their distress. I felt so alive there, so full of God's love for His people. I was constantly amazed that He would allow me to be a small part in the lives of the precious children whom He loves so much. He has given me such tremendous love and compassion for them that it sometimes hurts, it is that powerful - how much I love them, how much I want to see them cared for and protected - it is, at times, overwhelming to me as I considered His love for His children. That love has not been quelled, even though I am not physically in Nigeria anymore.

The intensity of my emotions have made it difficult for me to express into words how I am feeling and what God is doing in the very deepest parts of my soul. I am resisting allowing myself to blend into the fabric of the culture in America. I feel like I have tasted the life God has available for all of His children - a life of adventure, freedom, intensity, surrender, miracles, and power - that I don't want to lose it, but continue to live a life of complete abandon, regardless of my location on this earth. I have wrestled with how to keep feeding the flame of passion the Lord has given me for Him and for His people, in the midst of a culture that seeks to distract me from Him.

Last Sunday at church, a lady stopped me in the hallway to encourage me and she said
"Don't shrink back". When I heard these three words, I felt knocked off my feet. YES! THAT is what I have been praying, crying out to God about - that I won't shrink back, away from the life He desires for all of His children. I don't want to shrink back into a life of self-serving rituals that extinguish the flames, where just cinders of rememberance are left. I don't want to shrink back into a place where I am so surrounded by distraction and meaningless pursuits, that I can't hear His voice and even come to a place where I would rather not hear what He has to say because I prefer to live life on my own terms.

I mentioned to my mom how powerful these three words are to me, and being the amazing and godly woman of the Word, she soon came to me with her Bible opened to Hebrews 10:36-39:

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed,

but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Friends, may I encourage you who have received Christ's sacrifice for your sins and are seen as righteous in the eyes of God...

Endure. Do the will of God. Live by faith. Don't shrink back. Preserve your souls.

I asked God

Yesterday I went in search for a journal, for fresh, clean pages to hold the emotions, prayers, questions, and tears of this season in my life. The first journal I saw had this poem on the front of it.... I couldn't have said it better myself... how I feel now, and the hope I have in God's promises.

I Asked God

I asked God for strength

that I might achieve.

I was made weak

that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health

that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity

that I might do better things.

I asked for riches

that I might be happy.

I was given poverty

that I might be wise.

I asked for power

that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness

that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things

that I might enjoy life.

I was given life

that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for,

but everything I had hoped for.

He desires obedience.

Today marks the one year anniversary of my lung surgery. It has been quite a year. It's fitting that today, I share with you another milestone in this journey.

After a lot of tears, prayers, tears, counsel, tears, wrestling with God... I know that He is closing the door on my return to Nigeria.

Did I actually just type that???

I was able to surrender last week and every minute since... I am in the midst of intense grieving... a death has happened... and yet, He promises strength and peace, which I receive and praise Him for.

The basic explanation is that I know God has shut the door, that He has clearly spoken to me, and it was one of the hardest decisions of my life... but I desire to obey and that obedience requires putting the kids, my home, my life in Nigeria... on the altar... to love Jesus more than them... That my desires will die and be stripped away, as I keep my eyes on my first Love.

Regarding my health, my recent breathing test results are the same as last October. Thankfully not worse. Wish they were better. My CT scan is clear, praise God. One doctor is adamant I not return. The others say it is up to me. I still have symptoms that come and go and my breathing is affected by the air quality around me.

I don't know if God has closed the door due to my health or not... I just know that He has spoken.

SIM has been very gracious and patient with me. We are looking at various ministry opportunities for me with SIM in the US. At this time, I am still a missionary with SIM, supported by individuals, through my Support Account. Funds sent to my Ministry Account are still being sent to my SIM colleagues in Nigeria to cover the medical and nutrition costs of the kids. To my financial team... I appreciate your continued financial support during this time. I will keep you posted as decisions are made.

I am not at a place to make big decisions about my future. I still need to process this decision.

I will be flying to Tennessee on Saturday for a week of grief counseling at Fairhaven Ministries It will be very intense, but greatly needed, and I am very thankful for this opportunity.

When the time is right and if God releases me to return to Nigeria, whether just to say good-bye and get closure, or to move back... you can bet I will be on the next plane.

Until then, step by step.

I wanted to inform you and thank you for walking through this grieving process with me.

Specific prayer requests... There are many layers to this grief:

1) I wrote a letter to the children. Please pray for their tender hearts, as it must be hard for them to understand and comprehend. Pray they will know my love for them, but most importantly that they will desire to follow Jesus in their own lives, no matter the cost.

2) I will not return to pack up my house, sell my dogs, sell my truck, etc. These temporal things tug at my heart, as they symbolize my home and sanctuary in Jos. Pray that I will have clarity to make decisions from here and for strength for those in Jos who will do all the work.

3) Please pray that I will allow the grief to come when I am in Tennessee. I've been holding back because I am not sure how to handle it, but I desire to meet it head on and I know that Jesus has allowed this storm and will meet me in the midst of it. Praise Him. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Erin

Tribute to my Mama

I am so glad my grandparents got married and that they had my mom, Candace Cook, who was born and raised in Hawaii. I am so glad that my dad, Keith Rigsby, who was born and raised in California, loved to surf. I am so glad that his passion for surfing took him to Hawaii, where he met my mom. I am so glad that he saw what a catch she was and that he lured her in. I am so glad that they got married and had me. I am so glad I get to say that I was born in Hawaii ;)

As God had planned, Candace Cook Rigsby is my Mama. When I was born, she called me "Precious One" and has never stopped. We have a tape recording of when I was 2 or 3 yrs old and Mom and I are talking and going about our day. I love hearing my little voice, but even more I love to hear Mom's gentle, loving and patient one. Here's some other things I love about my mom...

~ she made homemade popsicles out of orange juice
~ she understood that I wake up very slowly in the mornings and never pressured me to be different
~ she would creatively pay my brother and I for doing chores around the house
~ sno-cones at Al's BBQ Barn
~ many, many, many trips to the library. She fostered a love for reading in my brother and me that will last for the rest of our lives.
~ for years, just before school started in August, she and I would have our annual shopping trip to Austin
~ her laugh
~ using our frequent flyer miles to go to Hawaii for my 20th birthday. Will never forget being taught how to surf at Waikiki by a Hawaiian man with a big belly, long hair and brown, leathery skin. Awesome.
~ driving me to T-ball practices/games, play practices, v-ball practices, b-ball practices, cheerleading, football games. Never complaining, always willing and happy.
~ the random memory of her eating 'wheat germ' when we were kids. Now, for the past 10 or so years, she has been drinking grass and carrot juice. But, hey, she is healthy :)
~ man, she made the best orange julius' when I was sick.
~ going on a mission trip to China with her and watching her come alive in ways I'd never seen before.
~ when I was 14, she would let me 'drive' from the passenger side, by holding onto the steering wheel. Of course, now she regrets doing that. But at the time, it got her the label of very cool mom.
~ she is super practical. If it's uncomfortable, she's not wearing it.
~ MANY a time, she has given great advice that makes perfect sense, but not always at the time when I am FEELING such and such. I've learned over the years to say 'Hey Mom, I am just venting. I will get your advice later'. And I always do, because it is always gooood.
~ hours of prayer and Bible Study. As far back as I can remember, my mom will lay in bed and just pray and pray and pray.... without falling asleep! What a warrior. She's going to get some crowns in heaven for all those hours talking with the Father. She also LOVES to read the Bible. Every day. She usually reads it before bed and I loved walking in and seeing her reading out of enjoyment and pleasure - with no agenda - only to know her Father more. She loves the Old Testament and loves reading through whole books at a time and gleaning from the mistakes and triumphs of the men and women who have gone before us. For 8 years, she was in Bible Study Fellowship and would spend 2-3 hours a day studying and praying. No wonder she is so full of grace and wisdom and love.
~ man, I sure put her through some you know what for a couple years in high school. Goodness, she persevered. She put her foot down. She didn't care about what others thought or what I thought - she knew what was right. She gave me space but also gave me discipline.
~ she could care less about being a 'cool mom'. She stood her ground, she was consistent, she said 'no', she made me come home, she took away the keys to my car, she told me exactly what was on her mind about what I was doing and who I was doing it with. And that, in my book, made her cool (although I never told her that at the time).
~ we were blessed that she was a stay-at-home mom our entire lives. It was so great to have her take me to school and pick me up each day.
~ the smell of her face when I hug and kiss her good-night. She has used the same facial products for years and years and oh, how I love the scent.
~ all my life, she has told me that rainy days are 'cozy days' - a great day to curl up and read a novel while drinking coffee. To this day, I still view rainy days as cozy days and am so glad she has passed this on to me.
~ attention to detail! She has taught me to never buy the clothes that are on top of the pile or at the front of the rack, since those are the ones that everyone touches. Get the best from the back. Inspect it, too. It also applies to noticing beautiful detail - in rooms, on walks, in restaurants. I love how she is all about the atmosphere of the place and that's how I am, too.
~ she is a loving, dedicated, prayerful and wonderful companion to my dad. I know it is a rare thing for a couple to be together for 36 years and I don't take it for granted.
~ when I had my lung surgery last year, she literally took on the symptoms herself. She didn't want them, but she had them because of her intense love for me. As I got better, so did she. Now that is something.

She visited me in Nigeria. It was precious for both of us, as she stepped into my world.

After she visited, we had a lovely vacation in England. We really enjoy each others company and just have fun together. No drama. I like that about my mom.

Boy, does this woman LOVE coffee. When I stayed with my parents, coffee was offered about every two hours. :-) I love how she has passed on to me the fun event of drinking coffee and loving it and sharing that time with others. I also get a kick about how hot she must have it - after she pours it, she puts it in the microwave for 30 seconds! She also adores our Twinkie-dog, her constant companion :)

I could go on and on... I love Candace Cook Rigsby soooooooooooooo much. Mom, thank you for loving me just as I am, for all you've done and continue to do for Shane and me, and for being just who you are - I wouldn't want you any other way. Fishy kisses, Mama!

Finding joy in the midst of uncertainty

Taken from 'My Utmost For His Highest' by Oswald Chambers....

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says - "Well, supposing I were in that condition . . ." We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in. Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time.

When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said, "Except ye become as little children." Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.

"Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not - "Believe certain things about Me." Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.

Snapshot of History

In my previous post, I shared with you about Ray de la Haye. His grandson, Doug, has this picture of Ray on his Facebook. I LOVE this pic and asked permission from Doug to share it with you. This pic was taken, decades ago, after Ray shot a hippo. I mean, how AWESOME is that?????? Check out all the Nigerians in the background. :) This is a sort of tribute to Ray - for living on the edge, right in the midst of the people, with a big smile on his face and Jesus in his heart and overflowing into his life!

I began at the end

Before I moved to Nigeria in 2003, SIM asked me to spend a month in Sebring, FL, working as a nurse at the SIM Retirement Village. It was one of the most powerful months of my life. The Village is a small neighborhood that is owned by SIM. All the houses there are occupied by retired missionaries and the staff who care for them. It's a gorgeous, yet simple setting. There's nothing pretentious about it, yet it exudes of royalty.

The 'Saints of Sebring', as I fondly call them, are ages 65-98 years old! Many of them spent 30+ years overseas. When they went overseas (many went by ship), they knew it was very possible that they would not return. These Saints were not able to have contact with their families except through a letter every couple months. During my month there in 2003, I spent hours in their homes, listening to their stories of God's faithfulness, of tragedy, and of humor. Oh, how they made me laugh!

I felt very honored by the opportunity to 'begin at the end', as I like to call it. God allowed me to kind of fast-forward 40 years and see where I could be living. He prodded me with questions of commitment, conviction and concern to live without regret. He showed me what I needed, in my flesh, to see: His materialistic provisions to His people who have served Him with their lives - The homes are cute, the cars are nice, the health care is available.... I saw first-hand how He takes care of His children until our last breath.

When I visited in 2003, I was so sure that I would spend 30+ years overseas. I am thankful for that commitment God gave me, as it helped me to totally immerse myself in my life in Nigeria. Over the past couple years, God has been refining me and asking me if I am completely satisfied with Him, no matter where I go or what I do. With my recent health challenges, I have been learning more and more what it means to live in daily surrender.

Back to present day... I recently had the blessing of returning to Sebring again. As soon as I drove into the neighborhood, tears started flowing (I am not one to cry easily). I felt His presence so strongly then and every day I was there. God used those few days to once again refocus my passions, desires, motives, and purpose.

Here are a few of my Heroes in the Faith...

Penny Pinneo. She contracted Lassa Fever as a young missionary in Nigeria. She almost died, but God saved her and used the antibodies in her blood to save many other lives, too!
A phenomenal book, Fever: The Hunt for a New Killer Virus, was written about her! 60+ years later, Penny still has effects from the Fever. Penny has kept in touch with me over the past 5 years and her faithfulness to the Lord floors me and causes me to evaluate my own devotion.

Ruth Grimshaw. She spent 30+ years in Nigeria, teaching at a small Bible school in the bush. She was a 'real missionary'. I've been to the area she lived, and even now, decades later, it is too rural for me! She spends hours at her typewriter, encouraging missionaries and keeping in touch with those she loves.

Combined years of missionary service overseas: 125+... These dear saints treated me to lunch at the Olive Garden. Penny had never been before! They also surprised me with an envelope full of money and told me to treat myself. :-) Wow, right? Mom and I used their gift to go see the Broadway musical, Mary Poppins. One of the most fun I've had in a long time. Lois, in black, sends me a donation every month. She also tells the funny story: Back in her day, the SIM Nigeria policy was that if a guy and girl spent time together, they had to have a chaperone and they had to have a lantern with them. Lois says, with a straight face, that nobody ever said the lantern had to be lit. :-) Oh, my, what good laughs we had.

Ray de la Haye. I think Ray spent over 40 years in Nigeria. His children are also in ministry. I met him in 2003. He was fluent in Hausa and French and read out of his Hausa Bible everyday. Hausa is the language in the area of Nigeria I serve in. He was the first person I ever heard speak in Hausa. Over the years, Ray would send me short, typed notes, letting me know he prayed for me every day. Late in 2008, Ray had to move into a nursing home. When I visited Sebring a couple weeks ago, I went to see Ray. It was really difficult to see a shadow of the man I had known. He was unable to speak very well, but he smiled when he saw me and grasped onto my hand. Ray seemed so close to seeing his Savior face to face and I felt overwhelmed with emotions: of thankfulness to see him once again, of desire to serve faithfully to the end like Ray, of reality that our bodies are wasting away each day, but that we can be renewed in our spirits, through God's work in our lives... I kissed Ray on the forehead and told him, through my tears, how proud I am to have known him, that he has finished well, and that he is one of my heroes.

Two days later, Ray left this earth and is currently speaking his heart language with the Father.

Magnify

I'd like to share with you something that I am learning and trying to put into practice each day...

If you're at a ballgame or at a play and your seats are in the back, it is difficult to see what is going on. You can use binoculars to help you see in better detail. The players or actors have not grown in size, but the binoculars magnify their size. A player you thought was skinny now looks strong. An actor you thought to be really pretty actually has a big pimple on her nose. The binoculars magnify everything and show you details that perhaps you wish would not have focused on and could have lived without.

Same with our thoughts.

The actual situation or issue may not grow in size. But the more we think about it, dwell on it, talk about it with others... the more it is magnified. The more its power over us grows. The more we magnify it, the more ugliness and imperfections we see - either in ourselves or in others.

But, if we focus on the Lord, if we think about Him, dwell on His promises and character, talk about Him with others.... the more He is magnified! The more power He has over us! The more of His beauty and perfections we see. The more we love Him... and love ourselves... and love others.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3

May Erin always be fat

In Nigeria, food is a luxury and health is not a right. Men like their women with meat on their bones. If the lifestyle did not demand so much physical labor and exercise, I think there would be a lot of very big people in Nigeria, because they love food! I love how they love their food! Many times I watched in amazement as our 7 year old boys would eat a portion of food three times what my stomach could handle. Because they are naturally a very active society: walking everywhere, carrying 30 lb buckets of water for long distances, playing soccer hours each day... they burn off all those calories and are really strong.

However, as they get older and have families, if the wife is a little (or a lot) overweight, to some tribes, it is a very good thing. To be overweight is to show that your husband is caring for you and is providing food for you. It is a luxury to have enough food that you are a little overweight. (I realize this may be a generalization, but this is what I have gathered from my years there.)

As a result, any time that a slender person should gain even a little weight, the Nigerians exclaim with glee and say 'Oh, you are so fat!', which, to a Nigerian, translates 'Oh, you are so healthy!'.
To an American woman, it translates as 'Oh, you are so fat!' :)

As a tall and usually pretty slender woman, my Nigerian colleagues and friends would notice if I gained a little or lost a little weight. I guess they felt that since I was slender, that I was not eating enough (which was sometimes true and also thanks to bouts of Giardia). And they also took it upon themselves to worry about me, since I don't have husband to do that.

During my 2006 furlough to Texas, let's just say I really enjoyed my chips and salsa. And was sick and pretty inactive for 3 months = some weight gain. Not fat by any means.... BUT, when I returned to Nigeria, OH how happy the kids, my colleagues and friends were! I cannot tell you how many times a DAY I heard "Oh, you are SO fat!", followed by hugs and laughter. I knew they were telling me they loved how I looked and were paying a compliment, indirectly, to the care my parents showed to me. :) My self esteem had to recover a bit, to be honest, but then I decided that it was a positive thing and sucked it up... and sucked it in.

All that brings me to last Sunday at The Moody Church. I sat down next to two lovely older ladies I have not seen in awhile. One of them remarked "You look like you are feeling better. How is your health these days?" The other one said "Yes, you look like you gained some weight."
Ok, now, how would YOU respond, ladies? I flashed back to all those hours I have spent in the gym the past few months, all those nutritious meals I have been eating, and then realize that, yes, I may have gained 5 pounds (of muscle, right?), but I FEEL great and am getting stronger and building my endurance.... so all that flashed in my mind in like 2 seconds... so I responded with laughter and said "Now, I am not sure how to respond to that. But I will say that in Nigeria, if a woman looks healthy, then people say she looks fat."

The dear old woman looked me in the eye and said with a straight face, "Well, then may Erin always be fat."

Amen.

Seattle!

Last weekend I flew to Seattle to meet Jamie Higbee. Jamie spent 6 months in Nigeria, but we never connected because I was in the states recovering from surgery while she was there. During her time, Jamie kept a great blog www.jamiehigbee.blogspot.com and I felt like I already knew her before we met face to face. She was a great host and I loved getting to know her and hear her heart for the Lord and her desire to serve Him in any capacity. We had gorgeous weather during my visit - sunny and in the 50's - which I am told is very unusual for Seattle. We took advantage of it and spent a lot of time outside. The picture of us above was taken at Pike Place Market.


There were lots of fruit and vegetable stands, which kind of reminded me of Nigeria, since they were outside. The big difference is that, as you can see above, the prices for each item are displayed. In the Nigerian markets, there are no set prices, so you have to barter for everything, which I actually loved to do.

I've never liked any seafood I've tasted, so when Jamie asked me what I wanted to do in Seattle, I mentioned eating some fresh seafood, since not eating seafood for all of these years has away a lot of fun and healthy options! Jamie likes clams (ugh), so I took this shot of her at the market. We did go out to eat for some INCREDIBLE seafood - I am now a fan of crab cakes and salmon. Jamie's kind fiance paid for our meals, so that made it taste even better. Thanks, Shawn!


At Pike Place Market is the first ever Starbucks Store. Of COURSE I had to go there. Notice the look of excitement on my face. It's on a boardwalk of sorts, and the inside of the store has very old wooden floors and counters. The place was packed and after the cashier took the orders, he/she would throw the cups across the store to the baristas. Very fun atmosphere. It was warm outside... 50 degrees!... so I enjoyed my first frappuccino in months.



Outside the Starbucks was this singing quartet (fourth guy stepped out of the shot), which added to the atmosphere.

Pike Place Market is famous for throwing fish. Seriously. The chaps who work at this stand (see one of them in the orange fishing pant thingys) sing out to one another and from time to time throw big fish to each other. We were able to be there when a couple of the customers ordered these big black fish and they volunteered to catch them. So the chap stood about 20 feet from the customer and tossed the fish and hey, the lady caught the fish beautifully and the man almost dropped it. I was impressed and proud at that moment.



There are lots of little islands around Seattle. Early Saturday morning we went on a ferry ride to one of the islands. It was a beautiful ride and perfectly clear morning. Jamie says that sometimes whales make an appearance. These huge ferries go back and forth every hour, carrying cars and people. It was a fun, cultural thing to experience.


When we arrived at the little island, we headed straight to this little crepe shop. Yum! If you've never had one, please do yourself a favor and eat one when you can... the best kind is with Nutella, strawberries, and whip cream. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!


Eating our crepe's!


The view on the way back to the ferry.

We did actually do some 'work' while I was there. :) We set up two tables in the sanctuary of her church. After each service, we were able to share with a lot of individuals about City Ministries. We also sold bags and pants that the widows in our ministry make. Below, Jamie is modeling how to put on the wrap pants - which is an interesting process, but the final look is great! Sorry I don't have a pic of the final look, though.



It was a really fun trip and it was so great to get to know Jamie better. I love seeing how God works, how He connects people and brings them together to accomplish His purposes.

Divine Appointment

What is a 'Divine appointment'? It's when you cross paths with someone and you know, without a doubt, that God orchestrated it for a very specific purpose. Well, that's my definition and that's how I pray, that God will bring people across my path in ways I could not come up with, to achieve His plans in our lives.

Today's Divine appointment~ I've been borrowing a friends car, but she needed it this weekend. Church is too far away for me to walk, so I tried calling the cab company a few times, but never got through. I figured it would take awhile for me to get a cab on the street on a early Sunday morning, so I intended to get an early start. Well, if you know me, you know I am not a fast mover in the mornings, especially if I have not had enough coffee. So I finally got out the door and walked to the main street near my apartment. I looked up and down the street and no taxis were coming. Then I heard a honk and saw that a taxi was parked on the side of the road 'waiting' for me. (per God's agenda).

On the way to church, the driver asked me if The Moody Church has a lot of people (yes). He then asked if you have to wait in line to get a seat ( I explained no). He then asked me how I pray and what do I pray (so I briefly shared that because I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I talk to Him about everything, at any time).

By this point, I could tell he was interested and then I noticed that he had the Moody radio station turned on. So I asked him if he goes to church. Ajit* said that he used to go a lot, but then his wife stopped going and so he stopped going.

He said in all the 23 years of driving taxis, he has never had a woman in his cab going to church on Sunday mornings. (for REAL?) So now I was really interested and by this time, we had pulled up to the entrance, so we could really start talking.

Ajit is from India and is from a Muslim background. But a few years ago, one of his sons started attending a church in Chicago. One by one, all of his children, his wife, and then him started going to church and 'converted' from Islam. Ajit kept referring to his wife and I can tell the Lord has really used her in his life (ladies, don't give up!). I asked him if he reads the Bible and he said he cannot understand the 'thees', 'thous' and all that - Oh! So I wrote down that he should try out the New International Version and start in the book of John.

"When I am in church, I am a different person. When I am not in church, I am not happy." Ajit said.

So I encouraged him to bring his wife to Moody. I told him that all different nationalities and backgrounds are represented at Moody. I then asked him if I could pray for him and he responded enthusiastically!

Ajit said that he never stops and parks his cab, but for 'some reason' he did it this morning just before I crossed the street. :) I encouraged him that the Lord loves him so much and wanted to encourage him this morning.

I share this because I want to increase my faith - sharing God's work with others does that. I share this because Ajit needs prayer and I want to let you know about him. I share this because I want to encourage you to pray for Divine appointments - for God to use you in the lives of others as you go about your daily tasks. The more you pray for it, the more aware you are. The more aware you are, the more empowered you are to be used by God to accomplish His purposes!

God's plan for each life will be accomplished - with or without us. What a blessing that He wants to include you and me to reach out, to love, to be bold, to show compassion, to share Truth.

Let's keep inviting Him in to our days, our errands, our decisions.... and live in expectation to be used for His glory!

*not his real name

Favour's new life

Favour is 4 years old. She and her brother, Abraham, who is 9 years old, have endured things no child should. Their mother was a prostitute. When she would go to work, she would leave the children behind and tied Favour by her leg to the bedpost to keep her from leaving. Abraham was in charge of watching Favour each night. Last year, their mom suddenly died and a Nigerian woman from a local church took in the two orphans. However, her husband said that they could not care for Favour and Abraham, in addition to their own six children. The woman heard about City Ministries and in October 2008, Favour and Abraham moved into one of our Care Centers.

I just received news that Favour is doing really well and has just started preschool! Here are a few pictures taken on her first day of school.

Favour was rescued from a life of neglect, poverty and fear. She is now thriving in a safe, loving and Christ-centered environment. Favour now gets to go to school and play and laugh and eat three meals every day... the life that every child should have.