True Treasures

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

We were blessed to spend some time with one of our younger grandbabies yesterday while out of town on business. Isaiah is two and a half years old and so full of life and curiosity! He is an open vessel which will take in any and everything around him — like an empty treasure chest. He’s parents and those that love him have the opportunity to fill him with all the treasures of the Lord. If we don’t fill it with good things now, he will later seek to fill his empty chest with the treasures of the world. But if we are faithful to fill his treasure chest with holiness, righteousness, joy, peace and all the good things of the Lord, he’ll not only be full but he will later know what is of real value in his life. This is our challenge as parents and grandparents.

As believers, we all share this challenge — to train and disciple the young –whether they are children, new believers in the Lord or those yet to know Him. They are each empty treasure chests, just waiting to be filled with God’s goodness, and we have a responsibility to help fill them. Just as the disciples in Jesus’ day left all that they had to go and make disciples of men, so should we make ourselves available to train up and teach those new open vessels God brings our way.

As I pondered this, it occurred to me we have the precious treasure of time measured out in daily increments. Each day we can add to or take away from our ‘bounty’ of time. There are the non-negotiable issues of caring for our family that require pieces of our treasured time. God addresses the caring of our families, our work, but how are we adding to or taking away from our personal treasure chest? Are we filling it with pursuits of personal gain, hobbies, sleep, sports, TV, or internet? Are we an open vessel in which God can pour more of His will, His desires for us or have we filled our chest with worldly pursuits of our own till there is no more room or time? We can even get so busy in doing ‘good’ things we forget to leave room for God’s ‘best’ things.  

But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Salvation and His righteousness are treasures indeed! They are not, however, treasures we keep tucked away in our personal treasure chest. They are treasures we are to share; treasures we are commissioned by Jesus to take to the ends of the earth. Treasures that multiply when shared.

As we step out in building a mission team, we often hear how people do not think they have the time to go and spread that treasure. This isn’t new, Jesus talked about it:

Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

I want to remain an open vessel with ample room for God to pour in all He wants me to have. I want my treasure of salvation and His righteousness to pour out on all in which I come in contact. I want to share my bounty and see it multiply. I need to de-clutter my time treasure chest of my earthly things and lift my eyes to the heavens in anticipation. I can not share what I do not possess.

Fear Not

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

I read a story about a woman who felt God called her to move to Israel some years ago for ministry. She struggled with fear and circumstances around her.

“Times were tough in Israel at the time and I lived in an area of Jerusalem where bomb threats, bomb squads and bus bombings were commonplace. I found myself constantly looking around, imagining that this person or that person was carrying a bomb and envisioning all the terrible things that could happen to me if they were. The fear was consuming and paralyzing”.

This is a tactic that the enemy just loves to use on those who are called according to God’s purposes. For the simple reason when we are afraid, we are distracted from the calling He has on our lives. Though she had a heart to share the good news of Messiah with her people, she was not available to be a blessing to the people around her because she was too busy worrying for her life.

She goes on to say “One day, I had a revelation about this fear. The Lord showed me that I was His child and that if I know He has called me to Israel to accomplish His purposes and I am actively seeking opportunities to accomplish them, even my death would be to His glory. I needed to fear for my physical well being no longer, I was in His hands. Instead, I needed to be concerned with the spiritual well being of the people God put in my path.”

God has called us of each to do great things for Him! Let’s not be distracted by the lies of the enemy which tell us we are not gifted enough, not able enough, not strong enough, not financially stable enough to go forth and do bold works for the Lord. I am familiar with these lies because I’ve heard them all when I’ve stepped out myself.

Each time we start to work on building a new mission team, as we are doing now, I see those same feelings crossing people’s faces. Many say they’ve always wanted to go on a mission trip but the fears fathered by the lies of satan start to grow and the list of ‘reasons’ they come up with for not going grows along side it. If satan has his way, no one would be taking the gospel to those in need and there will never be a ‘good’ time to go.

Let’s ask God for wisdom, the grace and the freedom to be in the right places at the right times and the boldness to speak up for Him! There is no more fulfilling place we can be than this.

We're Back!!

We’re home and back to our normal activities, work and loving on the hounds. The Costa Rica mission trip was rewarding in so many ways. New friends were made, old relationships refreshed and talk of Jesus resounded in the hills, churches and streets. All in all, it was a good trip to work with U.A. Amen Ministry.

I’d like to thank a few people that helped make it possible. Our Aunt Elaine Gilbert gave us a bed and ride to and from the airport in Houston. Alyson Peterson gave us peace of mind about leaving the hounds behind with her daily care and hands-on tending of both our dogs and the feral cats we feed. Life goes on whether you’re home or not, so must the feeding and tending of the four-legged critters. Mandy and Gary Ripps covered the kids in Papa John’s class at church and Carolyn Ripps covered my middle school kids…thank you for your support and  the willingness to jump in. Then there are all of you that covered us in prayer for the duration of the trip. Missionaries without prayer covering are called targets!! All sorts of spiritual issues come up against you when you step out to do the Lord’s work and prayer warriors are a vital part of our ministry work. Thank you all for your faithfulness and prayer coverage!

God fanned the fire in our bellies for mission work to a new high. Life necessitated a hiatus in mission work in other countries for several years. It was a heart-ache to step away from and this trip to help minister to the people of Grecia, Costa Rica, brought back the familiar longing to take the news of Jesus Christ to all who have not heard of His love for them. We are praying and seeking His guidance for us. We ask that you pray for us and Truth in Love Ministries. A new year and new vision for Truth in Love is upon us. We need your continued prayer support. We need people to come along side us as partners and encouragers as we step out this year where ever the Lord leads us. Already opportunities are popping up!

Meanwhile, Papa John is back at work. I am back in my office with a refreshed determination to get Book One, Redeeming Grace, ready for submittal to a publisher; then get back to working on Book Two of the series. The blogs are calling and I’m excited to get back to writing. Our respective classes with the kids at church can only benefit from the enthusiasm we brought back from Costa Rica. We love our life, our little home, our friends and family. It’s good to be alive and serving the Lord as He directs! See you tomorrow!

Costa Rica Bound!

December 27, 2010 is upon us and we are in post Christmas mode. I have to say this has been the most stress-free, relaxing holiday ever for us. Now, we look forward to the new year, which we are kicking off on a mission trip to Costa Rica. Something about starting the year doing God's work appeals to us! Anyway, please keep us in prayer.

We are heading out this week, so this will be my last post until we return. I've tossed the idea of taking the laptop with us back & forth, and I think we will leave it home. If we take it, I'll be tempted to work on the book and blogs. I think we need to spend this time focused on what God has planned for us there. The beauty of the location is distracting enough without taking electronic distractions! 


Papa John and I have been to this location before with a mission team we led and just loved the friendly people. It will be great to see familiar faces among the new. We are thrilled to see the work the various team have completed since we were there. A simple church has been planted and built in the countryside. We will be a part of a team made up of several small teams from all over. There will be the three of us with our ministry Truth in Love - Papa John, our friend Nancy Yantis, and me. We will join people coming from Canada, Houston, Austin and somewhere in west Texas I can't remember right this minute. The construction of a second building at the church to house a bathroom, two classrooms and a kitchenette is in progress on the concrete block walls. We will be involved in VBS twice a day for the local kids, street evangelism and attending services at night in little Christian churches in the neighboring towns to encourage the brethren.

You have no idea how excited I am for the food, too! The fruit is huge and glorious and you just cannot beat Costa Rican black beans and rice! God created a masterpiece when He sculpted that part of the world, the vistas are beautiful. It is an honor to serve God anywhere and quite a perk to do it in such a beautiful place!

I'll see you back here when we return. Meanwhile, may all your days be Jesus-filled!!