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My City-My Valley

Can You Wait For Answers?

New Home for Church 212

Wow! I had a totally awesome God sighting this weekend! When I pray for something for years and get to see a totally unexpected answer to those prayers, I get overly excited.

This adventure started back in 2004, when my husband and I were praying for a friend, who was constructing an office building on the corner of Cook Street and Gerald Ford in Palm Desert, CA. We prayed that the area would be used as a hub to reach the world.

Then, in 2008, I met Pastor Mike Harrison. He had just planted Church 212 in the Coachella Valley. We began working together on coordinating the Prayer Team for a Christian Festival that was held at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens in 2010. We started praying for his church to find a permanent church home. At the time they were meeting in a public-school gym.

Why Church 212

Over the years, the church had to move to other sites. We kept praying for the perfect site for the church. It is now 2018, and this past Sunday, October 7th, my husband and I had the privilege of attending the first Sunday Morning Worship in their new building. A building designed just for them, where they have a designated children’s area, offices, and a worship center where they don’t have to tear-down and set-up chairs and sound systems each week ¬- they even have an onsite coffee bar. Yes, this was an answer to a lot of prayers.

But there is more… for me was I awestruck that the building is on the corner of Cook and Gerald Ford. Looking back to 2004, California State University San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus (which is across the street from the church) only had one building and there wasn’t much else in the area. Today, it is rapidly becoming a University Community, with University of California Riverside also having a Campus just up the street and there are several affordable restaurants in the area that would appeal to college students. In other words, I can see Church 212 being a significant influencer in this university community and, in turn, the world will be influenced by those students.

I won’t stop praying for my friend or Church 212, but right now I’m praising God for what I’ve seen already. I am filled with hope, once again, for all the other prayers I’ve prayed over the years. It blows my mind to think of the multitude of ways that God can answer them and reminds me to always keep my eyes open! I hope you, too, will keep praying and looking for the answers.

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Personal Musings

A Dream to Share

Light grey dove perched on the edge of an infinity pool casting a dark shadow on the surface of the water.
Perched on the Edge of Life

It was just another Wednesday Night Dinner and Bible Study for the LIVE180 group. In the summer these are hot and sweaty experiences that I only attend because I am so curious to see what God will do. This particular night, I got an extra dose of God moving in mysterious ways. One of the men (who we thought was dead, because the last time we saw him he looked so bad and he had been gone for over two months) showed-up. He still didn’t look all that great. In fact, he was overly emaciated, with big eyes, a weak smile, and an IV port attached to his arm with a hospital wristband dangling from his wrist, but he was alive.
In a raspy voice he says, “Oh my – I’m so glad to see you. I had a dream about you that I just have to tell you. I checked myself out of the hospital, so I could make it here tonight.”
First, I gingerly hugged him and said how happy I was to see him alive.
Then he proceeded to slowly and painstakingly tell me this amazing dream amidst deep breaths and groans of pain:
We were in Rome – not at the Vatican but in a large conference size place. There were thousands of people there. There was singing and speakers. It seemed like, Billy Graham was there.
Then one of the speakers said, “We need to pray for people. There are a lot of people that need healing, emotionally and physically.” At that point that man turns to you and calls you out. He wanted you to come up front so he could pray for you.
You asked, “Why me?”
He said, “These people need help and God wants to use you. He wants to anoint you for that purpose. You are going to pray for them – the women – and they are going to be healed and set free.”
MIND BLOWN – About 25 years ago I had a similar vision – only God could repeat something that amazing.
Then he proceeded, looking me in the eye and saying, “You need to know you are gifted. It doesn’t matter that people think you are intimidating. It doesn’t matter that you are quiet and that people don’t understand you. You are gifted and God uses you. I’ve known that from the first day I met you.”
MIND BLOWN again – He was using words that have played over and over in my head for years. Here I was sitting with a guy who is physically and emotionally a mess and God was using him to touch my heart and remind me how much I am loved.
God is no respecter of persons – He uses the willing, even when they don’t look very able. This man is back in the hospital – I don’t know the number of his days, but I am thankful for that night, and for his conviction that he needed to talk to me. I went to dinner and Bible study with the idea that I was going to be a blessing to someone – and instead, I was the one who got blessed. It reminded me not to be proud, to walk in humility, and always keep my eyes and ears open for what God is doing, because you just never know when and how He will move.

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Personal Musings

Friendships Renewed

Turkeys Can Be Friends Too

I am rereading Psalms, again. I love King David and how he talks about his enemies – the people around him that are waiting to harm him. Then King David turns everything around and starts rejoicing that God is good and that is the reason to tell everyone about Him.
There have been several instances in my working career when I’ve felt like my enemies were working right next to me. It is difficult to get past the feelings of hurt and betrayal and to remind myself they are human too and need love. At those moments, I would love to toss out the parts of the Bible where I’m encouraged to love my enemies, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. However, I have experimented with these comments in the Bible to amazing results.
I determined to pray blessings on the people who I felt have hurt me in some way. I won’t say that it was easy to start, but it becomes easier and easier as time passes. God softens my heart and reduces the effect of the supposed offense in my life. It is amazing.
In a few instances, I have even had moments of real reconciliation with these people. For example: I had a person come to me recently who fell in this category of offenders and ask to get together for a chat. Full of angst, I agreed to the meeting, wondering what would happen. To my utter amazement God brought peace and hope to the relationship. We ended up sitting for several hours talking and laughing. Instead of being awkward, we were both set at ease and it became a time of catching up with an old friend – totally fun!
I feel like King David – God did rescue both of us and I want to tell everyone how great He is! I know that some relationships will never be fully reconciled because it is unsafe or unhealthy for me to engage with them face to face. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t rejoice in how God changes my perception, granting me peace and joy. This gives me the strength to pray that God will bless them with His love and mercy.
Although my story may sound like it was fixed quickly for me, this was almost three years in the making. In other words, persevere…allowing God to do the work He needs to do in your heart and the other person’s heart. Allow Him to set the pace.
Is there anyone you are feeling hurt or offended by? Experiment with doing what the Bible asks us to do – love them, do good, bless them, and pray for them – and see what happens.

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Personal Musings

Identity Crisis

Does Anybody Notice Me

This past week I had an identity crisis. I went to apply for a TSA Pre-Check certificate. I’m sensitive to other people’s stress and shuffling through the TSA screening lines for over an hour is really hard for me. Therefore, we were willing to stretch our budget to get the TSA Pre-check, knowing that over the next several years trips to Seattle will increase, as my Mom and Uncle get older, which carries its own kind of stress.

This seemed like a simple process: fill out an online form; then drive to the nearest TSA approved fingerprinting office (a little over an hour away from our house); present my driver’s license, birth certificate and marriage certificate to verify who I was; give them the money; and it would be done. However, when my husband and I arrived at the office, I was informed that my marriage certificate would not work as Identification because it was issued by a church and didn’t have a State Seal on it. They then asked for a passport. Mine expired several years ago; so, no, I didn’t have one of those either. In other words, they didn’t believe I was who I said I was because almost 35 years ago I changed my name when I got married. It was the first time in all the years I’ve been married that I thought back to the agonizing decision to change my name. Though my husband, even back then, was willing to let me do whatever I wanted; I felt societal pressure to make the change, especially since he planned to go into ministry.

Right there in that office I had an identity crisis – I felt helpless and insecure, which in turn made me mad. No, I didn’t yell and scream. I did what I do – got busy solving the problem. As soon as I got home, I ordered a Marriage Certificate with a State Seal on it. I got out my expired passport and went to the nearest full-service facility to apply for a new passport – a Post Office outlet in Desert Hot Springs another 20 minutes away from my house. In case you are wondering, Passports aren’t cheap, but I never want to have that lost, insecure and helpless feeling again because someone says I’m not who I say I am.

By the time I got home, I was having buyer’s remorse. I knew we really didn’t have enough funds to pay for a Passport, but I did it anyway. So, when my husband asked about it – I brashly said, “Well, it is done, and we are just going to have to figure out a way to pay for it.” We dropped the conversation.

I went to prepare for a paying job I had the next day. I have been mentoring a short-term mission team, who will be leaving for Kenya on August 9th, in spiritual gifting, releasing words of hope in people’s lives, spiritual warfare and prayer for various things. The next morning, I was still out of sorts – and I was not functioning at my peak during the session. However, they still paid me the promised amount. But, at the end of the session, one of the members blessed me with a surprise cash gift. Between what had been paid and the extra gift, my passport and both my husband’s and my TSA pre-checks were covered. I cried.

I didn’t have to work hard to find God in this story. He reminded me that regardless of who anybody else says I am – I am His child first and foremost. My name is written in His book and He never gets me confused with anyone else. He knows my needs before I know them and has a plan for providing for them. I also recognize that pursuing my identity in Christ is more important than my frantic pursuit to prove who I was to a Government Agency. In Him: I am found and grounded, I am completely secure and have strength and peace that surpasses all understanding. I am thankful for my stressful weekend. Sometimes I need a little reminder of how really fortunate I am to live where I live and have a heavenly Daddy who loves me unconditionally!
Where do you find your identity?

Categories
Personal Musings

Blessed to Bless

Karen, Chad, Elaine, Brandy, Alena & Taya

Though my husband and I run a non-profit that helps people with faith issues, most of my work is behind the scenes. Most of the people we are interacting with are working on basic faith issues – what do they believe in and how does that impact their lives. Sometimes I miss working with people who have been walking in faith for years and want to go deeper or dig into some of the “crazy” things in the Bible like in Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Or in Matthew 10:7-8 “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” *
So, when a group from the church we frequently attend offered to pay me to help them prepare for the short-term mission trip they were planning to Kenya, I jumped at the chance. Really…to get paid to do something that fits your gifting, talents and passions is the ultimate joy. In fact, I sort of feel guilty for getting paid to do something I love so much – but I also thank God for providing for me anyway!
When I walk into a group like I can feel the weight of what God will be doing. Yes, I have knowledge to impart; but, there is also a deep sense of responsibility to release them into their destiny, which is much bigger than my little part of their lives. I love the “already, not yet” aspect of this kind of interaction. I love to see them grow and flourish and this group has not been an exception. Over the past few months I’ve watch a bunch of individuals turn into a team. They have gone from questioning if they really should go on this trip, to seeing themselves as capable and strong in the Lord. I’ve listened to them talk about how they are already applying the principles that we have discussed in their lives. They’ve learned to pray together, value each other’s gifting, love through the things that are irritating, and walk in the expectation that God will use them to show His love and make a difference. They tell me they are blessed by what they have learned.
This makes me smile – not because they are giving me accolades, but because God knew that I needed them much more than they needed me. I needed to be pushed to think the deeper thoughts again, to dig into the “crazy things” in the Bible, to remind myself that there is more. God wants me to participate in this more and I hunger to go there with Him.
I hope that you lean into your passions, using your gifting and talents to share the Kingdom of God with the people in your sphere of influence.

*Scripture verses from:
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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My City-My Valley

Brushfire Prayer

Look for the yellow arrow that marks where my random thought occurred.

About a week and a half ago, David and I were out driving around Palm Springs. Our journey took us back to the Indian Canyons entrance. This is a place we often drive to in the evening when it is quiet. The view from there is breathtaking, with a quiet peacefulness that permeates right into your being. That particular night, as our car coasted back out of the area, I had a random thought pass through my head as I looked out at all the dry brush – “It would be really bad if this caught on fire.” Though I didn’t say a formal prayer, when a random thought like that goes through my head, I generally ask God to intervene.
Three days later, when it was 119 degrees out, the scent of smoke started pouring through our air conditioning system. At first, I thought it was someone barbecuing, since it had that nice Mesquite smell, but I quickly realized that it was a brush fire. Our house is about 5 minutes from the spot where I had that random thought and it was now on fire. This time, God got my full attention and I prayed for the people fighting the fire, the people who live in the area, and that the fire would not spread.
Over the next three days, the wind kicked up and included a haboob (a major dust storm). Then an unusually high humidity level settled in, holding the dust and smoke close to the ground, and decreasing the normal 20+ miles of visibility down to less than a mile, as the fire burned on. Based on what I am describing, you might think that this fire would be completely out of control and burning through acres of land; however, that is not the case. The damage was limited to approximately 80 acres, one fire fighter with minor heat exhaustion and three “out-buildings” on the Andreas Ranch. (Yep, I have a special affinity to that land – just one apostrophe short of me owning it.) Though I know of and appreciate all the fire fighters, from all of the different governmental agencies that were involved in the effort to squelch this fire, both from land and air, I have to think that God did intervene. Even in bad situations, you can find God working if you are hunting for Him.

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Personal Musings

God’s Drawing

The Image Implanted on My Heart and Mind

Do you ever have a day when you think, “What am I doing here?” I had one of those recently. In fact, I was kind of whiny about it. “Why, God? Why me? Why this city? What is the purpose of it all?” Fortunately, it was a day when I was meeting with my Breakfast and Bible Study group, which meant I didn’t have too much time to wallow. Let’s just say, I was distracted enough to be looking out the window when – WHAM – God hit me over the head with the answer. I had been looking at it for over a year, but never really perceiving it. There before my eyes was the image I had been drawing all my life – mountains with a river-like cut down the center of them that leads to an oasis of color – sometimes water and sometimes field of green. I also realized that the drawings were always drawn from the perspective of an eagle looking out at the horizon from a lofty place. On this day, I realized I was looking at the picture from that exact angle. It felt like God was showing me that He had prepared this place and this time for me from early childhood. This was not an accident or something I just wanted to have happen – it was planned way in advance, so that I could have a reminder that I was in the middle of God’s plan for my life. That doesn’t mean that I won’t still have “What am I doing here?” days, but I now have a deep conviction that I am in the right place, even if I have not yet perceived all the details. I’m confident that, at the right time, God will reveal the next step in what I am doing here! How about you? Are you seeing, but not perceiving, God’s answers right in front of you?

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Personal Musings

THAT WAS QUICK

I was struggling with what God wanted me to do next with my life. Well, to be honest I was being a Gideon and wanted God to confirm what I thought I was being prompted to do. So, I asked God, “What do you want me to do?” During my quiet time with God the very next day I read Isaiah 30:8 (NASB) 

“Now go, write it on a tablet before them
And inscribe it on a scroll,
That it may serve in the time to come
As a witness forever.”

It made me laugh – God really can answer prayers very directly and specifically. This led me start this blog. It also came at just the right moment, so that I could participate in a free Memoir Writing and a Self-Publishing class at my local library. As I work on writing my memoir, I am thankful for God’s clarity that day, otherwise I would probably give up. Writing a memoir is not for the faint of heart. Try asking God direct questions.  You never know what might happen.

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My City-My Valley

House On The Hill

Praying From There

The ability to look out over the Valley is an answer to one of my impossible prayers. You know, the crazy “I don’t think it will really happen” kind of prayers. On a scorching summer night back in the early 2000’s, my husband and I were out driving through the Tennis Club area of Palm Springs, when God grabbed our attention. We came to a T-intersection and had to decide which way to turn. As we sat there the lights came on in one of the houses perched on the mountain side in front of us. At that point it occurred to me to pray that God’s light and love would shine from that house across the Coachella Valley.

In 2014, we were invited up to that house to meet the owners. They had moved in a few years earlier and had recently started attending our church. As we sat on their patio, they told us an amazing story of acquiring the house out of foreclosure and that the previous owner had shown them unusual favor. It was a profound moment for me as I sat looking at the very spot we had prayed. Little did we know, that three years later, this couple would decide they wanted to throw open their doors to a weekly Breakfast and Bible Study. This has proven to be a place of amazing spiritual growth for me and the other people who attend. It has indeed become a beacon of light for Christ’s love. Standing out on that patio now we often pray over the Coachella Valley – asking God to move in the hearts of people that they might experience His amazing love. If one crazy prayer can be answered – why can’t God do this one too?

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Creative Prayer Coach My City-My Valley

A BONUS FROM GOD

A Blooming Friendship

In following 1 Timothy 2 – I felt compelled to pray for one leader for over 10 years. It was an interesting God assignment. Periodically, my husband and I would drive around this person’s business and church praying for favor and influence in the community. In all of that time I never had a conversation with this person that was more substantial than “Hi! Nice to see you.” This week I was invited to a meeting to discuss a project that is in the works. It was one of those amazing moments when you realize that God had prepared both of us for years for this moment. The Lord had me praying so that when this moment came He would be in the middle of all that was said and shared. The affinity that we had for each other could only be ordained by God. It was like talking to a best friend – someone who I had shared life with for years – with similar thinking and attitudes. We joked about it being a “blest fest.” Who got more blest, me or you? It is so much fun to do what God prompts you to do, with no personal gain expected and then get to experience a gift like this. Why wouldn’t you want to partner with God? Why wouldn’t you want to go on little adventures with Him? I’m still riding the God high pondering what other prayers God will answer in strange and wonderful ways…