Cracked Light-Bearers

 ..."Light only gets in through the cracks." ~ Philip Yancey

When we are on furlough in the States, we get invited to speak often. And, by often I mean virtually every day. We try to keep a full schedule because our time is limited usually to only four months. Sometimes we speak in churches or places we've never been before. One Sunday we were speaking in a new church to us. We didn't know many people, in fact,  just one family, so I told Chuck I'd keep a tight rein on my funny side.

He said, "Just be yourself."

Good advice. Honestly, I don't know how to be anything else. My funny side just slips out when I least expect it––as it did that day.

After the service as we were shaking hands, a sweet lady turned to Chuck and said, "Is she always like this?"

He replied, "No, sometimes she's not so reserved." That brought laughs. He's a funny guy when I give him time to speak. :)

Don't we all have little cracks in our personalities? Okay, some of us more so than others. We know who we are. :) God made us the way we are. Our cracks can be used of Him to let His light shine through! So let's shine!

Jesus said, "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand––shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matt 5:14-16 (MSG)

Why Write?

~ Rabbit Smiles ~

While sitting at the dentist last week, I met these two little sweeties. I asked their names, and I was shocked when they began speaking in English. Their mother explained they were attending an English-speaking school in the city. By their appearance and their school, I knew they had advantages that the majority in Bolivia only dream of having. Even visiting a dentist is a privilege for most children in a developing country such as Bolivia.

When I began writing, I wrote for my grandchildren who live thousands of miles away from me. God enlarged my vision to write not only for my grandchildren but children everywhere. I know I am called to write for children. And, I am blessed to write for the privileged and underprivileged, and to those outside the borders of the United States and Bolivia. I thought my books could only be used of God in the Spanish language for Bolivian children. My vision was small, God's vision, however, is global and includes all languages.

Although children such as these––who speak English in a Spanish speaking country––are in the minority, they need to hear the gospel also. Every day God opens doors to minister to those waiting to hear of His love––whatever their age, whatever their circumstances, and wherever they live. We can speak and write words that will change lives––God's words.

Why write? For moments like these!

"People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:15-17 (NIV)

Now, through Worthy Words Press we are reaching children who speak Spanish only. No matter what language we speak, let's spread God's Word so all will hear the Easter story and believe.

Names––Want a good one?

The Tablet of Your Heart

Do you have a word for this year? I chose love for my word––mostly because I always pray that God would let me show His love through me. On the mission field, I encounter cultural things that annoy me. For instance, mañana (tomorrow) is a frustrating word for me. How many times do I hear this? "Tenga paciencia!" Have patience! That phrase has caused me to grow in patience and love over the past 30 some years. As a new missionary, I couldn't accept being told to have patience. After all, it wasn't my fault if things were not done on time. Why couldn't people be on time? And, why couldn't they have something ready when they promised it would be ready? That's what I thought about the whole mañana thing.

Then God began to show me that I had to change in order to show His love. Besides, was I always on time? Did I always deliver on time? I began to react as He would react in those frustrating situations. Oh, I'm not saying it was easy, or is even now, but I am saying that God can change hearts to be more like His. I began to see that my reaction to those situations was a way to show Christ through me. When I didn't, it was a pretty ugly scene, and I didn't want that impression of me––or Christ–-to be the image I projected. And, I wanted a good name. So the change began. The culture here hasn't changed much, but I've changed. Or should I say I'm changing, but still, it's an everyday challenge and process.

Proverbs 3:3-4 says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (NIV)

How do we win a good name? When we let love and faithfulness never leave us. When we write them on the tablet of our heart.

My writing goal this year–-and all years––writing love and faithfulness on the tablet of my heart.

New Release ~ Really Rare Rabbits Book 3

Flapping! And screeching! And, a terrifying shadow.

 There they were––giant geese--and very real!

Chi Chi watches as Fi Fi slides down Al Alpaca's fuzzy back. They bid farewell to the new friend they met on their adventure through Peppermint Pass. Now, the brother and sister head down the yellow dandelion trail to the Winding Wall where Grandfather Rabbit waits for them. But, first they must venture through the mysterious jungle of Selvaland.

They've heard a scary story about giant ghost geese who live in Selvaland. Chi Chi shrugs it off, but Fi Fi is frightened. He assures her it is just a story. After all, their friend Al wouldn't send them into Selvaland if danger lurked there. 

Chi Chi soon changes his mind when they meet Hotchie, a strange looking creature guarding the entrance of Selvaland. But, Hotchie is not the scariest creature they will meet along the way. When the rabbits stop to rest, their fears mount. Fi Fi trembles, but Chi Chi encourages her to believe God's Word that says, "Trust the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." Chi Chi doesn't know how much he and Fi Fi will need to trust the Lord all the way to the Winding Wall––and beyond!

Published by Pix-N-Pens Publishing
Available on Amazon at:  http://amzn.to/1fVD7Fc 
Also available by order at Barnes and Noble and local bookstores.
Really Rare Rabbits Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/OnIt6FyXuRE 

The "Lighthouse" on the Mountain

Rumi Rancho

Rumi Rancho sits at the bottom of a mountain where it guides those still in darkness to the Light of the world. It is a lighthouse for all those looking to find the Savior––born that Christmas morn long ago.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

"We are told to let our light shine, and if we do, we won't need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining––they just shine." D. L. Moody

Mud-Oven Bread Ministry

Thanksgiving 2013 is now a memory, and we look forward to Christmas. Stores in the United States are decorated, and shopping lists are made. Neighborhoods glisten with beautifully decorated trees twinkling in windows, and kitchens everywhere are filled with scents of freshly baked cookies. But the scene is different where I live.

My first thoughts about Christmas are not of sugarplums or decorations, not even of cookies or candy. My first thought is bread. Not just any bread, but bread baked in a mud oven. If you've never had a fresh, warm bun out of a mud oven you are missing out on a delicacy. The aroma rising from the oven, the crackling fire, and of course, the first bite as your teeth seem to smile as that bread glides over your taste buds. Bread is truly a Christmas blessing to many where I live in Bolivia, South America.

The world seems to put more emphasis on gifts, food, and decorations at Christmas than on the birth of our Savior. But Christians focus on the birth of Christ, and why He was born. Many take part in children's ministries in the U. S. and around the world at this time. They give of their resources so those less fortunate will be blessed with gifts at Christmas and, most importantly, hear about the One who was born on Christmas morn. As for me, Christmas does mean the giving of gifts and food, and yes, even bread. I am blessed to have a small part of a ministry for children who never get gifts. And with the gift giving comes an opening to share the Christmas Story, and the greatest Gift, with the people and children of the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. Most of them have never heard about Jesus or how He was born in a stable and died on a cross.

Every Christmas, we travel with our Bolivian church members to remote mountain regions. We take gifts and food to people and children living without even the basic needs. There are no twinkle lights or Christmas trees in their small, mud homes because there is no electricity, not even firewood. We buy toys for the children. Little trucks and baby dolls make their eyes pop with joy. We wash feet, cut nails, wash hair and remove lice from little children's heads. The little girls' eyes widen, and their lips curl upward when we tie bows and ribbons in their clean hair. Then the fun part comes. We reach into big burlap bags filled with mountains of bread and pull out the most wanted gift that everyone has come to receive. Bread. Shouts of joy and lines of fidgeting feet wait for their bread.

Can you imagine asking a child if he wants more bread or just candy, and he answers, "Just bread, please"?

One Christmas, little Paco met us coming into his village. He was wearing sandals made of old truck tires and had no sweater for the cold weather. We gave him a sweater to keep him warm and food for his tummy. His eyes lit up when he saw the gifts and candy, but what he wanted most was the bread––a real treat in the high mountains above the tree line where there is no firewood to bake bread. He was just five years old when he heard the story of Jesus for the first time. He accepted the gift of salvation joyfully and without hesitation. We not only gave him bread for his growling tummy but also Bread for his soul.

Last Christmas, our four year old grandson, Baden rushed downstairs on Christmas morning and shouted to his older brother, "Ben, come down and see your foot." His "foot" was stuffed with good things. I imagined those beautiful "feet" hanging from the mantel. I thought about the beautiful feet that are taking the Good News to the mountain people of Bolivia––Bolivians reaching their own people for Christ. They are enduring hardships to go to dangerous and hard to reach places so their own people can come to know Jesus and live with them in heaven forever. Beautiful "feet" (stockings) hanging on a mantel stuffed with good things for children of our country, while  thousands of miles away children received good gifts also from beautiful feet––feet that climbed the mountain to take them the best gift of all––the Bread of Life. "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry," John 6:35 (NIV)

Paco is just a little guy, but with a story that points to heaven; trust the Father, believe in Jesus and enter the kingdom with childlike faith. Paco may only have bread when we visit, but he will always have the Bread of Life. What a joy and privilege to give Christmas gifts to children who have nothing and are elated to receive a piece of bread. But, better yet, is the joy of seeing them receive the Bread of Life and become a child of God. They come to receive bread for their stomachs and walk away with Bread for their souls. For me, Christmas is giving bread from a mud oven and the Bread from heaven.

Bring on the Butter

I can hear your comments soaring through the heavens and shouting out through my computer. "Butter has more fat than margarine." "Butter has more calories than margarine." "Butter isn't good for your heart."

First, allow me to remind you that butter is real. To which you reply, "So will the fat on my hips be real if I eat more butter." So let's talk Godly butter to fatten up the soul––not the hips. Let's talk about buttering up our brothers and sisters in Christ––no calories involved, but tons of blessings to gain.

More than a decade ago, I went to a clinic in Miami for allergy treatments. I learned about natural things compared to artificial things regarding foods. As far as allergies go, real is always better than artificial. Of course, one must be wise to be moderate in all things––including butter. But what about Godly buttering up?

When it comes to relationships, maybe it would be wise to be piling on the butter. "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it," Proverbs 3:27 (NIV). How many times do we pass up an opportunity to encourage someone? A missed opportunity to butter someone up. No, not in an artificial way, but in a real and Godly way. God tells us to do it. We often withhold those good words or good deeds that will make someone smile and let them know we love them and care about them. We all need encouragement. If we hold back, we are withholding good from that person.

Of course, encouragement is more than words only––it's action too. It's coming along side when a friend needs a babysitter or a meal––maybe even an e-mail. There are endless ways to encourage one another. Let's not hold back.

Wouldn't you like to hear something encouraging today? Of course, you would! So tell that sister or brother, "Hey, little Johnny was an angel in church today." "Your new haircut is stunning." "That card you sent me brought sunshine into my heart." And you ask, "What if that person thinks I am just trying to butter them up?" Perhaps they need some Godly buttering up. Let's be God's butter.

Bring on the butter and watch your relationships fatten up––promise, no calories or extra pounds, just tons of blessings to gain!