The Joy of the Lord is my Strength!

The Lord is our Joy and Strength!

     My mom suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for many years.  She would often recall that in her younger days of hectic pace her mother, my grandmother, would comment; "The Lord is going to slow you down."  The MS did slow her down some, but she was an amazing example of what determination and perseverance can do with the Lord's enabling.  Well the Lord recently slowed me down. Many responsibilities and activities were planned for the week of May 6-13.  But instead, everything was cancelled, and I had to spend several days in the hospital.  Somehow I contracted the Rota virus.  I've decided it's not even worth the effort of trying to figure where or how.  There are too many possibilities!  As a person who thrives or gains strength from solitude and quiet, I do look at these times as the Lord giving me extra quiet and time for reflection.  First, I thank God for good hospitals and doctors--for I.V.'s that quickly replenished my dehydrated body and sent the medicine directly to the bloodstream.  I realize afresh that there are many not so blessed with these things.  Then I am also mindful, in such times, of many blessings--many things so undeserved.  I am blessed by my wonderful husband--who tries to keep me on a reasonable pace.  This summer we will celebrate 40 years of marriage.  How I praise God for His faithfulness to us!  We've been a team from the beginning and continue to enjoy doing ministry together.  I am further blessed by two wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws and, of course, by 3 wonderful grandchildren and other loving family as well.

Ezra "reading" with Grandma's glasses!

What a delight to be with this little guy!

     But also, I had time to reflect: what is the source of my joy in this life?  The joy of the Lord is my strength as Nehemiah tells us in the book that bears his name--8:10.   When we turn to the Lord to lead and direct us, He will empower us--strengthen us for the tasks he has called us to do.  Nehemiah was not an official religious leader.  Ezra was.  Nehemiah was a layman, not a member of the religious establishment or a prophet.  But he was a man of prayer and God used him to motivate the people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah was motivated by his relationship with God, and he devoted his life to doing God's will in a secular world.  This is increasingly important for us today.  "Don't be discouraged," Nehemiah said to the people as they mourned over how far they had strayed from God's laws.  "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

     We were greatly inspired and refreshed once again by attending our international church conference (Missional International Church Network) in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The theme this year was "Love your city, disciple the nations."  There, we interacted with and met people doing the same kind of ministry as us.  We were challenged by main speakers, heard inspiring stories of God's work and attended informative seminars on various topics.  The best part was traveling with and attending the conference with our good friends, the pastor and wife of the German church here.

We recognize that "people from the ends of the earth are coming to international churches where they can be equipped and unleashed into their world."  We are excited and challenged to be part of such a ministry here in Chiang Mai.
     We've had several baptisms lately--so thrilling to witness in the public pool of the hotel where our church meets.  In the midst of people swimming and relaxing around the pool, our baptism candidates giving "public" testimony of their faith in Christ.

     In thinking of joy--the spiritual joy that we have in Christ, I am also reminded of the Apostle Paul writing the book of Philippians overflowing with joy from prison.  Paul's joy was a delight that came from knowing and serving God.  No matter what chaos or suffering surrounded Paul, these realities were constant: the Gospel was being spread, Jesus was Lord, and Paul knew Him.  This eternal perspective was essential to Paul's peace and joy--and ours too.  Joy in suffering is possible Paul teaches us (and Nehemiah too)--it does not discredit grief and pain, but gives hope in an ultimate destiny and glory.  This joy is rooted in the faithfulness of God, who ultimately does everything for His glory and our good.
     I had an opportunity to help a friend from our church make some grammatical corrections on her doctrinal thesis in nursing.  She has been here four years accomplishing this goal--step-by-step.  I am humbled and amazed by her stamina and perseverance.  The scholarship money is gone because it has taken longer than planned.  She is the first person in her village in Mongolia to accomplish this goal--in her second (or is it her third) language.  Please pray for her as she completes this process.
     If you are on social networks, you know of the amazing praise at Faithful Heart Foundation that Matthew and Audrey are a part of.  All of us here are praising God for this huge answer to prayer!  We are thanking and praising God for a  new kidney for Benjamin!   This has been a two-year prayer concern that God has answered at this time.  It was the subject of much prayer, concern and discussion at the annual retreat in April.  Praise God for His faithfulness!  Benjamin is doing well.  Please continue to pray for restoration and renewed strength.

We continue to covet your prayers for us.  We thank you for your faithfulness in praying.  Please pray for:

• Strength and health to continue to minister here in Chiang Mai--strength to do the tasks that God has called us to do
• Us to love the people of this very transient body for Jesus sake and encourage and challenge them to grow in their walk with Christ
• That we will be salt and light with all the people with whom we come in contact
• Opportunities to share a reason for the hope we have in Christ
• Refreshment and significant time with family and friends when we return home in June-July
• Wisdom and discernment always
• Value and treasure this experience and the opportunities to be with Matthew, Audrey and Ezra 
• New baby for Matthew and Audrey
• Our dear ones that we miss in the states--2 precious granddaughters