I am not sure who I wrote this for....

As I write this, it is the 11th anniversary of 9/11.  11 years ago I am sure we all know where we were.  We made promises, wanted to change our ways, love better, be nicer, finally do that one thing we had put off.  We may be the lucky ones because although many of our fellow Americans had died, we were not rocked to the core like those who lost loved ones that day.  But we were still effected in some way.  Life became more precious and we weren't quite as safe as we thought we were.

I see "Never Forget" all over facebook today.  I hope this means that we will always remember.  Remember those loved ones that tragically lost their lives.  Remember that life is short, we never know when it is the 9th inning, 2 outs, bases loaded with a full count.  Remember that we are not in control of what happens in our lives.  We are not guaranteed even another second on this earth.

I hope to see memorials to those lost, those that didn't do anything wrong.  I don't want any press given to the ones that did this.  We must remember and we also must forgive.  We must extend mercy to those that wronged us.  Pray for them.  I know this sounds ridiculous if your loved one died in those towers, but this is what we are called to do if we consider ourselves followers of Jesus.  We are only asked to do the things that are done for us by our Heavenly Father.  He loves us unconditionally and we are to love others.

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version (NIV)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

No if, and or buts to this.  LOVE.  I know this is sometimes hard and it can only be done with the Holy Spirit in you.  Our human minds cannot understand this concept.  Without Jesus in our heart and  filled with the Holy Spirit we cannot do this one on our own.  Too many times we want to cut and paste the Word of God to create what we think we are able to do, and this is dangerous.  Especially when it comes to this.  Oh I can love this one, but oh that one, no way, too much hurt over there.

This week has been a crazy one for me and along with 9/11 and googling brain aneurysm as my brother-in-law lays in a hospital bed when just the day before he was fully functioning, I am reminded of how life can be cut short in an instant.  I am aware that this is not our home.  This referring to earth.  As a follower of Jesus, this earth is only a temporary stop on a spiritual journey for me.  This earth is satan's playground.  Suffering, tears, disappointment, bankruptcy, death, hatred, greed, divorce, sin, sexual abuse, murder all live here.

On a walk one morning I felt convicted on how I share my faith and that I needed to do more.  A friend recently wonderfully and quickly had to defend her faith and I wasn't sure I could do the same.  I am still growing spiritually.  Well I guess we all are right?  I feel like I have these revelations one day and am fired up for the Lord, and then in the next minute I get distracted (squirrel) and I am off after the latest shiny thing that gets my attention.  I crawl back to God and ask for another spiritual mulligan.  There are days when I don't want to read my bible. I would rather listen to a sermon.  I walk by God as he sits and waits patiently for me, same place, same time each day and I tell Him "Maybe later...".  I am ashamed that I keep making the wrong choices.  This adventure in the wilderness is tough.  There are days I am in the bushes tangled up and I can't find my way out.  Then there are days I come across beautiful streams with deer lapping up the cool water.  There are days that are so dark I can barely see my eyes in front of my face and I practically break my skull on a tree right in front of my face. But I keep going.  I ask for another mulligan.  And I am given one.  Every. Single. Time.

Now even though I am a missionary that doesn't mean that I am holy or better than anyone.  I will admit, I am far, far from that.  I am just a lost soul longing for my eternal home in heaven.  God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  Boy is this so true!  When God called me to ministry work I was shocked that He would want to use little ole me to His service.  But He did and He is equipping me with what I need to get His work done.

My greatest struggle has been that I haven't shared the Gospel with anyone.  Well, I don't think I have.  I have fallen back on the words of Francis of Assisi "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."  I have translated that to say live in such a way that it is obvious that you know the Gospel and your actions show it.  I fall short on this even at times, but I am not doing the first part....Preaching the Gospel at all.  I don't feel I am gifted to be a preacher, but I do need to spread the Good News and tell those about Jesus.  I do feel my gift is story telling and I share my faith through my testimony, experiences and stories, but that isn't the same as Preach the Gospel is it?  

If I had some medicine that could cure whatever illness you had, would you want me to give it to you?  I think that question would get a resounding YES!!  Well what if I know something, that I didn't always know, and I know it now, yet I don't share it?  Wow...pressure!!  That is what I feel like.

I know that there was a man named Jesus Christ.  God is His father and sent Him to earth to save us sinners.  He died on a cross, was buried and three days later He rose from the dead.  I believe that this is true and He died for me and my sins so I can have everlasting life in heaven.  I know that I can't do anything to earn this salvation.  It is His free gift to me.  Once I accept His free gift of grace and believe Jesus is my Savior, I can have a relationship with Him. I am a new creation. At this time and afterwards, whenever I repent of my sins, He forgives them.  All that came before is gone.  I am washed clean.  I have a new beginning.  I am born again.  When God looks at me he sees not my personal righteousness but rather He sees Christ's righteousness instead. Instead of my feeble attempts at goodness He see's Christ's perfection on my behalf.    

That is the Gospel according to my simple little mind.  But I said the prayer, I went up for the alter call, tears streamed down my face thinking am I worthy of such love?  Who is this Jesus?  The God I knew was the disciplinarian, not this loving person I am hearing about.  Why has it taken me so long to get it?  Because I don't think that once I had it, that I knew what to do with it.  Why almost 10 years later am I coming across the sticky note that says "Hey, this is Jesus, and I need a relationship with you"?

I found this this below here, and I think it sums it up nicely....

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Most people believe in God, even Satan does. But to receive salvation, we must turn to God, form a personal relationship, turn away from our sins, and follow Him. We must trust in Jesus with everything we have and everything we do. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference" (Romans 3:22). The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Notice that it says:

1. Turn to God
2. Form a personal relationship
3. Turn away from your sins
4. Follow Him

Go to Him even before you are perfect (which you will never be).  Before you have your act together.  Don't wait until you finish this, or finish that, or do this, or do that.  Now.  If you turn to Him and have that personal relationship He will reveal your sins.  Sometimes you may not have even thought you were sinning.  Through prayer He will reveal them and with the power of the Holy Spirit you won't want to act the same way again.  You will begin to act differently.  You will be convicted to be more Christlike.

That day at the Women's Convention in Cumming, GA the sanctification process began.  By definition sanctification is the process of allowing the holy character of God to be manifested in the behavior of regenerated men.  Joyce Meyer explains it to be much like a pregnancy.  There is a seed planted the day that you commit to Jesus.  No one may even know that you have made this decision.  But the seed is there and it grows.  Just like a real pregnancy there comes a time that you must deliver the baby, or in the life of a believer, share what you know.  Spread the Good News.  Tell your story, give your testimony, share the Gospel, tell others why you have the hope that you do, why you love the unlovable, why you forgive the unforgivable, why are you so different than the others.  Notice I said different...not better?

Only within the last year have I really known about the importance of a personal, intimate relationship with God.  Without this I do not think we can truly be a Christ follower.  If we just go to church and try to be a good person we will still feel empty and unfulfilled.  But without quiet time in discussion with the Lord and reading the Word of God it just doesn't happen.  I didn't get this.  Days that I don't start my day with the Lord I see how I can slowly slip back into my old life.  Slowly, without even noticing, the enemy tries to claim me back.  I will admit, that old life was easier.  I even have purposely tried to avoid the spiritual attacks that happen to me only when I am right with God and seem to disappear when I am far away.  I forget that I may suffer for the Lord. The enemy will try to ruin my day.  Little by little I will become the most ungodly person I know.  Small things will bother me and I will exhibit behavior that I am ashamed of and must confess over and over and over.  I can't do it alone.  I may wake up in the morning and say "Today I am only going to speak sweetness to my spouse and children".  But without first starting my day in prayer, repentance, thanksgiving and communion with the Lord I am sure to fail.  I can't do it alone, and as soon as I speak that "I" am going to try, I will fail.  I must invite the Holy Spirit to fill me, and with the Holy Spirit in me, I can use His words in speaking sweetness to everyone.

Question: "Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?" from this website, says it better than I can....

Answer: "I'm basically a good person, so I'll go to heaven." "OK, so I do some bad things, but I do more good things, so I'll go to heaven." "God won't send me to hell just because I don't live by the Bible. Times have changed!" "Only really bad people like child molesters and murderers go to hell."

These are all common rationalizations, but the truth is that they are all lies. Satan, the ruler of the world, plants these thoughts in our heads. He, and anyone who follows his ways, is an enemy of God (1Peter 5:8). Satan is a deceiver and often disguises himself as someone good (2 Corinthians 11:14), but he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

We are either following God or we are attached to satan's puppet strings.  We are either on Team Jesus or we are on Team satan.  By not making a decision you are by allowing satan to control your mind.  He will deceive you.  He will make you believe that success, money, a big house, a beautiful car...these are things that are important.  As it says above but he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God.

So, that medicine I was talking about....it is a relationship with Jesus.  It is more than being a fan, it is about being a follower. It is about digging into the Word of God for yourself.  These are just my thoughts, and you must find your own way.  But I suggest the following based on wishing I knew this back then....read, read and read the Bible some more.  Study. Rely on the Word of God above everything else!  Be careful of starting out with your friend's recommendation of their latest favorite Christian book.  Your favorite on-line pastor may even have it wrong.  Your parents may have it wrong.  Your wife may have it wrong.  Once you read the Word yourself, you can distinguish what is Truth and what is NOT.  Rely on the whispers from God while you are praying and worshiping and reading His Holy Word.  That day, I think I can call the day I was saved, I didn't know what to do with it.  I didn't have anyone to disciple me.  So I did nothing and that is dangerous.  I regularly went to church on Sundays and I tried to be a nice person.  I did find it difficult to read the Bible at first.  First mistake was that I opened to page one and started to read.  Not always the best way.  I think it is good to start with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  I used a great website or app called You Version, you can find a link here.  They have many reading plans and versions of the Bible.  I had a hard time understanding the Bible at first.  I would read and start daydreaming, suddenly remembering things I needed to do, (squirrel....shiny thing) and I would read pages, and then not even know what I read.  Then I heard about The Message version of the Bible.  My husband gave me a dual Bible with The Message on one side of the page and the NIV version on the other side.   Buy the book or the app Jesus Calling.  It is a quick daily devotional that will help you understand how much Jesus loves you.  I bought my Son The Action Bible and it is great for even us adults who think we got the story the first time.  Start reading with your kids and you can learn right along side them!  Even if you can quote 743 bible verses and have read the Bible 249 times, it is still the relationship that is the most important thing.  We can be a fan and know everything there is to know, but there is still nothing like the intimate time in the Word and in prayer and this is where the relationship builds.

Matthew 7:21-23 warns us....

 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

"I never knew you"

Ouch!

Please, make sure He knows who you are.  Please.

He won't know you unless you spend intimate time in His Word and prayer.  I read a book that was helpful called Confession of a Prayer Slacker, this may be the best $2.99 I have ever spent!!

I once spent about 7 days around a young man who I am still amazed at.  It wasn't until after his death at just 16 years old did I really get to know about him and his walk with the Lord.  His name is Holt Rowland and he makes me want to be a better follower.  Here is an earlier post with more info if you want to read more.  Here is a video I made for his family on the one year anniversary of his trip to heaven.  If you have about 12 minutes, you can see what I was talking about above in action.

I would love to hear from you, if you want to send me a message you can do so at jodilynne21@gmail.com.

In His Grip,

Jodi

My new friend

So in the back of my neighborhood there is a home.  It is not your typical home.  It is not a building.  It is kind of like a fort.  You can't see it good from the road.  It is made out of the bushes.  There is a little path.  The way I knew it was a home was from the smoke coming from the small cooking fire.  From the clothes that were hung off the bush.

Since we have lived here since January, I wondered who lived there.  I didn't see anyone, but it was evident that someone did live there.  So the other day I saw him working in a garden near by.  I said good morning to him and he responded back with a big smile, hello and a wave.  I walked back home and found a Jesus loves you backpack, some snacks, a couple of lifesaver candies and a Messenger (audio bible with New Testament and Charles Stanley messages) in Spanish.  I just handed him the backpack and told him I had a gift for him.  He thanked me profusely over and over and over again.  I don't think anyone pays much attention to him.  Ever.

We wave to each other and say hi each morning.  He is up early working in his garden.  In the hot, hot sun.  He chops away with his machete.  Every morning.

Today I walked up to him.

Asked his name.

He said his name Licien.

He is my new friend.

I love him.

In his grip,

Jodi

Popcorn Theory

"You can't help everyone. 

But you can try to help the hot ones who pop right up in front of your face."

~ Lee Ann and Sean Tuohy from In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving

I guess I am falling prey to the whispers, not from my almighty God who hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors and the sinners, but from the evil one.  Yesterday if you read my post, some friends and I met some special orphans on the beach.  Immediately I went into "how can I help, what can I do" mode.  As I am rushing around with my mind constantly scheming on ways to help these boys, I hear a critical voice say "How can you really help, there are so many of them, they are all a bunch of thieves, you are going to get ripped off or hurt, who are you anyway, why are you so special, why do you think what you do is important or can make a difference".  I am reminded that in life, and especially in ministry, or even just as a Christ follower, we should be wired to help "the orphans and widows".  How often to we turn another cheek and get distracted with the busyness of the world?  My friend sent me the quote above this morning, which I love!  It was just the remedy I needed for my negative thinking.  A divine message from God that I am on track with loving His people well.  I also love what Katie Davis , who is a missionary in Africa and author of Kisses from Katie, writes about in her book "During the first few months I lived in Ugands, in fall of 2007, I wrote "Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper".  How can one drop out of an ocean of water make a difference?  Well when that dropper full represents a person, a human life, it can be a big difference!  It only takes one person, believing in another person to change a life!  I can't be hung up on what I can do, but faithful that God can do much more through me to fulfill HIS purpose.  Katie goes on to say later in that chapter "And if one person sees the love of Christ in me, it is worth every minute.  In fact, it is worth spending my life for."  Here is a link to Katie's blog and her book.

So here is an update from yesterday.... A bunch of us went to the beach to find the boys again.  Whitney and I walked the beach looking for them.  We had told them we would be back around noon, but it was around 2 when we finally got there.  We walked and were harassed by every restaurant owner who wanted us to sit in their chairs and drink their best pina coladas (which they offered both with or without alcohol).  Looking back now I see a firestorm of spiritual warfare trying to keep us away from those boys.  We kept firm, saying no thank you and continuing to walk.  When we were walking back we found Elvis, Samuel and a new friend sitting at one of the restaurants sharing a dish of noodles and rice and a Coke.  They passed the plate around the table sharing the food.  The sweet things even offered us some of their food.  We had a bag full of more food.  We had a hot meal of lentils, rice, protein and vitamins from SERVE International's feeding program (you may remember the million meals that came to the DR a few month's back), a few bananas and guayabas (a common Dominican fruit) that we planned on giving them.  They asked for some of the food and each took a banana.  Elvis talked about how hungry he was during the recent storm Isaac.  There weren't many people on the beach so he couldn't beg for pesos as usual.  He usually gets about 100 pesos a day (about $2.50 US) and can buy some food.  After they finished eating we went to join Whitney's husband, his cousin Austin and our other Dominican young friends who were playing ball in the ocean.

I took a quick dip in the hot water of the ocean that was usually cool and refreshing and then I had to leave to get my kids from school.  Everyone else stayed and played then later Whitney and Dave went down the beach to find a man they had met the day they originally met these boys.  He owns a restaurant and he allows some of the orphans to sleep on the floor of his restaurant at night.  Whitney, Dave and I discussed about asking him if he wouldn't mind cooking up the feeding program food (you just need a big pot and water) and feeding the boys.  The boys we had already met and any other boys that happened to show up.  I had my doubts if he would even want to.  I hoped he would.  In ministry it is always better to be able to equip and supply the locals with things to help each other than it is to have an American swoop in and save the day with our resources.  We have the food, we can get it to the restaurant owner and he then can help his own.  I haven't met him so I am not sure if he is Dominican or Haitian.  I don't know if he is a Christian or not.  He is at least a man who cares for these boys.  These lost boys.  These forgotten children.

So we were so excited last night that we found one way to help these boys.  God had placed the right people in our paths.  Food is great, but that is not all they need.  It was great to see them climb all over Austin in the ocean.  Typical boys they wanted to be physical.  Really physical.  There were times we thought we had to rescue Austin.  I yelled out "Just say 'No mas por favor' if you want them to stop" which means "No more please" but he said, "Don't worry I almost have them".  Boys will be boys I guess!

I had reached out earlier in the day to some friends here in the DR that run a boy's home in San Pedro.  I was thinking this could be perfect for these boys we can find a place safer for them to live.  Immediately I wondered if they would even want to go live in a place like this.  This place I speak about is 4 homes with 8 boys in each home with a set of house parents.  It is different than an orphanage.  Although they don't have parents or a house to sleep in, they have each other and it is what they know.  I knew there was one house that already had 8 boys.  Our friends who are the directors had been looking for a set of  house parents, but I wasn't sure if they had their prayer answered yet.  There was a lot that was unknown but I needed some answers.  Well I heard back and the one house is indeed full.  There are new house parents (thank you God) but they aren't taking any new boys during the transition of the new house parents (which is totally understandable.  Now the big bummer, they only take boys that are 4-8 years old, MAYBE 10 if they feel it is the right thing.  Our boys are much older...they are 13.  Sigh.  Frown.  Bummer!  

Please pray for another opportunity.  Please pray for guidance from the Lord as to our next step.  Pray for Elvis and Samuel and Jooney (I think that was his name, Whitney is much better with names than me).  Pray for all the lost boys in Boca Chica.  To be continued.....

Thank you!

In His Grip,
Jodi

Sweet Elvis

This is Elvis (far right) with his friend Samuel and my beautiful, sweet friend Whitney (even though we had just walked and she would say she is hot and sweaty) this morning on the beach in Boca Chica.  This little boy was in my mind last night.  I had never met him until this morning.  This morning as he awoke, eyes still sleepy.  His arm tucked in his shirt for warmth and protection from the mosquitos.  His dark, beautiful skin covered in a light layer of beach sand.  He peeked out from atop a stack of blue beach chairs.  On the beach.  This is where he sleeps.  Today he didn't have his blanket that he hides during the day while he shines shoes.  Today he had a bucket and some white paint on him.  I figure he does what he needs to do to make it another day.  By himself.

Yesterday Whitney had told me about him over lunch.  She and her hubby Dave met him when they were walking the beach right before the storm Isaac hit the DR.  He told them his story, that he was Haitian orphan who sometimes lived with his Grandmother, but would rather sleep on the beach in order to avoid her abusiveness.  One of the restaurant owners told Dave and Whitney that this boy is not like the other orphans that are just tigres (thieves).  This boy is different, he is special.

I laid awake last night because I knew about this boy and could only imagine what it must be like to be that young and not have a home, parents, possessions, or love.  What could I do?  How could I know and not do something.  It breaks my heart.  I know he is not the only boy like this.  There are children all over the world, even the USA that have similar stories.  But I didn't know their stories.  I only had heard about a little boy named Elvis.  Now I have looked into his sweet innocent eyes and I can't help but want to run back to that beach and bring him home for a shower, a hot meal, some fresh, clean clothes, and a hug.  I would want to tell him that it is all going to be OK.  God loves him and has a plan for his life.  I can't get him out of my mind.

If you have some time today, can you please pray for Elvis?  Please pray that God will reveal what we can do for this boy.  My mind has already started thinking, scheming of a plan to help this boy.

In His Grip,
Jodi (with a pile of tears gathering on my chest as I write)

It wasn't what I wanted, but I got what I needed

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss the Lord’s blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

This story makes me sad.  Not because this boy never got his car, but because his father gave him the gift of everlasting life, a story that would preserve his life so he could live forever in eternity,   but selfishly all he wanted was the car.  He missed that his father loved him enough to give him something that would be worth more than any car.  

I may just be jaded from watching the political conventions.  I am sickened by all the talk about prosperity, becoming rich, deserving things, being entitled, and all the negative bashing political talk going on so close to the election.  Obviously my life has been flipped totally around since moving to a 3rd world country about a year ago.  I see people each day working their little tails off to just make about $15 US a day.  They do back breaking labor like mixing concrete by hand and lifting it by hand with a rope to a rooftop.  They don't complain, they don't feel entitled and they go home to their humble little house exhausted and call it a day.

I don't know if I can ever live in the US again.  It makes me so disheartened to see the greed, the waste, the spoiledness of the people.  3 trips to Starbucks is more than the people make here in the DR per day.  A good salary per year is about $5,000/year (US).  There are 10 million people who live on this island and there are not opportunities for them to make much more money.  What I do see is people who live within their means, live humbly in small homes with no wasted space, with rooms they use every day.  They aren't in debt.  The didn't finance their house, they built what they could afford.  And it is enough.  They make it work. 

Now if I were to ask any of them "Would you like to go to the US and live the American Dream?"  I am sure 100% of them would say yes.  This dream is really an oasis.  It only looks good, but when you get up close, there is nothing there.  It is over spent, financed and losing value quick.  From the outside, how cool do Americans look?  Driving fancy cars, eating out at nice restaurants, designer clothes, mansions with 4 car garages.  But you hear of millionaires going bankrupt all the time.  It isn't real.  Too many are keeping up with the Jones'.  Many American's are a mila-second away from bankruptcy as they have financed their life away in hope that tomorrow will pay for yesterday.  All for the oasis, all in the name of "I have worked hard and I deserve it".

Back to the boy with the Bible holding a key.  Now this is something that you can bet your life on.  A relationship with God, a surrendering, confession of your sins, and belief that He is the only way.  What is that sports car going to do for you long term?  Material things only bring temporary fills.  They distract from what is really important.  Planet earth is satan's playground, and he loves when we lust after material things.  What Jesus did for us on the cross...now that is something worth investing in.  Too much time and energy is spent on material things and not enough on eternal things.  Investing time, intimate time spent with God is the real key.  The key to an everlasting life.

In His Grip,

Jodi