Tag Archives: Latvia

when your surprise doesn't look like you expected

When your surprise doesn’t look like you expected

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“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see.” ~Corrie ten Boom

When we were living and working in the country of Latvia, The Sweetheart went on a prayer walk by himself one day. Most everyone he would meet on the street spoke either Latvian or Russian, unless they were 30 years or younger, then they were taught English as the international business language in school. So there was not much interaction, but plenty of time for praying, as you walked.

Coming upon a little park area, he noticed a man slumped over, shirtless and likely inebriated. He felt led to talk to the man and at least see if he could help in some small way so he started over towards the park bench when all of a sudden, the naked-from-the-waist-up man sat up and The Sweetheart shockingly discovered he was not a he but a she! Surprise! Likely in her late 60’s, heavy set and definitely not cared for, this poor soul was so drunk she had left the house without any upper clothing.

None. Nada. Zilch. Naked.

Lord! Why would you lead me to talk to someone like this? She won’t speak English, she isn’t half there and how could I be of help to her when I can’t even look at her? Arguing with himself and with God, he decides to go into the little market and get some meat, bread and water to at least have something to offer her if he must go through with this mission.

Coming out of the market, he sees Latvian policija have approached the poor soul and were helping her back to her apartment. A sense of relief and confusion came over him as he wondered what it all meant.

Did he miss the opportunity because he hesitated?

when your surprise doesn't look like you expected

 

Sad and sorrowful, thinking he had totally messed up a chance to share the Gospel, or at least be the hands and feet of Jesus, he stood there wondering what to do next when he saw him.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV.

Digging in the trash in the park was another older man, who was really a man, with all of his clothes on. Obviously, he had not eaten a good meal, or a fresh meal, in a long time and truly looked destitute. The Sweetheart approached him, and in his limited Russian, offered him his little lunch. Surprised and thankful the elderly man uttered, “Spasiba! Spasiba!” thanking him over and over for his generosity.

He wasn’t able to share the Good News that Jesus saves but he was able to bless him and give him strength for his physical body. Was that what it was all about? Was the Lord just wanting to see, like Abraham with Isaac, whether this American, out of place in Eastern Europe, would be willing to approach a lost soul, any soul, and trust God to take care of the rest?

I think so. The Sweetheart discovered much about himself that day and discovered much about others as well. We are all lost like the woman on the park bench or the man digging in the trash. We might even be wealthy and think we have need of nothing but in reality, stripped bare, we are all the same: lost and undone if we do not have Jesus Christ.

How many people do we pass on a daily basis that are hungry, physically or spiritually, that are just waiting for someone to stop and share either their lunch or the bread of life? Are we too busy? Are we too embarrassed to be seen with some of them?

Will we let God surprise us in the big and little ways and allow ourselves to be a tool in the hand of the Creator?

God will use us for great things if we make ourselves available in the little. Some of the situations might surprise us and some might cause a giggle or two (I like to think even God was smiling while watching The Sweetheart in his dilemma). But the surprise might really be when we stand before the throne and discover that one that we reached for, shared with, or just offered a cup of water to, might be standing beside us.

Remember, one plants, another waters but God gives the surprise, the increase.

 

The Path

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#FiveMinuteFriday and the word prompt is

The Path

When we lived in the country of Latvia a few years ago we had visitors from home! Our niece, Dacia, and her husband, Jordan, flew in to visit the Baltics and to see St. Petersburg and Moscow. We also planned a road trip. To Poland! About a ten hour drive from the capital of Riga, the four of us headed out as if we were driving from Indiana to Florida. Yeah, they’re the same.

We didn’t do much sight-seeing in Lithuania except for a stop at a cemetery. They are amazing, btw, and I was captivated by the decorations (tons of candles) and the giant monuments. Sounds creepy but it was very educational.

On to Warsaw where we met up with the missionaries there and had a most wonderful time seeing the city. Heading back to our hotel one evening, we were relying on our GPS to get us everywhere. The Sweetheart was having a little bit of a hard time finding his way, it is especially difficult when the road signs are in a foreign language. Our nephew, Jordan, was navigating the best he could and the women were giving advice from the back seat. It’s what we do.

Strangely, we began to notice that people were staring at us as we drove down one beautiful street. The trees were perfectly lined up, the street was very, very narrow, one way and most walkers were families with small children and strollers that we were passing by. Confused, but enjoying the view, I turned around as we neared the end of the street and saw a sign with two words on it, in Polish, so I use my trusty Google to look it up and what do you think it said?

Park Miejski

We had just driven through a city park that was strictly for walkers! Our GPS was set on WALK instead of DRIVE and had taken us right down the path of Mommy’s and Daddy’s pushing their little darlings through the beautiful and quiet park. No wonder everyone had turned to stare!

Thankful that we hadn’t been arrested, we hurried on our way to a more vehicle-populated street.

paths

Have you ever been down the wrong path? Found your way without clear direction and wondering what to do next? Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path.”

When God is first, when He is your go-to, your GPS so to speak, He will never lead you astray! When you put Him first and ask Him to guide and protect your life, ask Him for direction and seek His will in all things, you can be assured that He will do just that. You never have to wonder if you are in His will, just keep doing what you know to do and if He wants you to do something different then He will open a door or make your path clear and straight.

If you have gotten off of the right path, have neglected your walk with God or just not been as close to Him as you would like to be, don’t put it off another day. Make plans to spend time with the Creator of the Universe who will never leave you nor forsake you but will be your Guide in all things.

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

For the Kingdom

Loyal

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It’s everyone’s favorite day of the week and my favorite time to write. The #FiveMinuteFriday word prompt today is loyal. Write for five minutes (I try real hard!) with no editing (that is usually noticeable). All for the love of the written word. You can read some of my friends’ posts here!

217,431. Want to guess what that number represents? It’s definitely NOT our bank account, thankfully it is NOT our debt either. And, no, it isn’t the number of friends I have on social media.

This number represents the number of miles we have traveled for Revival By Design in the last 4 1/2 years and the dial that turns on our 2005 Nissan Altima every single day.

We bought this car right before we went to Latvia in 2010, shortly after we had sold our home and nearly all of our possessions. It was the first time we were a one-car couple EVER. We were thrilled to find it, a 2005 with only 30,000 miles on it, I am positive no one had ever sat in the passenger seat or the back at all and we were convinced that the single, older lady that owned it only drove it to church on Sunday’s. It was exactly what we needed and exactly what we could afford.

Fast forward to 2016. We didn’t dream we would still have this loyal friend with us. Of course we would love to have a newer car; who wouldn’t! But if she has been anything, she has been faithful. That is what I think of when I think of the word loyal. Always there, always dependable, never questioning when we hop in for long trips to Milwaukee from Tennessee or heading off to Louisiana, Alabama or Arkansas for the umpteenth time.

Not one time have we been stranded along a highway. Not one time have we had to call a wrecker or someone to fix the car. Aside from a battery, ONE battery, and new tires and oil changes, we have not had to have any serious work performed on our loyal friend. We are forever grateful.

loyalty

I think know the Lord picked that car for us that day. He knew the miles we would be traveling for the Kingdom, He knew what our finances would be like for the next several years and He alone could provide such an instrument of blessing where we wouldn’t have to worry about transportation when going from church to church.

As simple as this post sounds today, this is our God.

In the seemingly little, everyday things, to the cancers, job losses, divorces and other tragedies that cause our knees to buckle, He is faithful. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!'” Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV

Every day I can count on that car to start right up because God provided it for me. And one day when it doesn’t? He will make a way for our ministry to afford another! And every morning, when I rise, I can count on my loyal friend, Jesus, to be waiting for me. He meets me where I am, comforts me, encourages me through His Word and gives me the strength I need for each new day.

And one day when I get up and my world has fallen apart? His Word declares that He will STILL be loyal, still be faithful because He is God and I am His child. He will be the One to make a way of escape.

“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 3:18

For the Kingdom

Sharing with Grace and Truth