theTREIFactor

It's been just over six months since I last posted a blog.  I was (maybe still am) in a funk of sorts--spiritual and otherwise.  I didn't feel I had anything to offer and I was struggling to find my "missionary" self.  When Mike and I first talked about moving to Venezuela over two years ago, I thought the transition would be easy.  After all, there was no question in my mind that God was the one leading us.  So there shouldn't be any problems, right?  Not so. I felt language school would be somewhat of a comfort.  A good place to get my missionary role on.  It was an academic environment and I have always thrived in academic environments (with the exception of one Vectors Calculus class that is).  But, when I got to Costa Rica, I quickly discovered it was nothing like I expected.  For me, I found it to be more of a spiritual boot-camp.  And I felt I was failing miserably.  So I did what I always do when I feel I'm failing--I pull back and stop trying.  Tha

WARNING:  The following story may contain some graphic details that might make it difficult for the reader. Sunday morning Mike and I took the bus to church with our friend and fellow student Josh LaFever.  I took the opportunity to flip through my bible to find a passage of scripture for class devotional Monday morning.  We attend a very small church (Cuidad Belén) just outside San José.  It takes about 10 minutes by taxi - a little more by bus.  The area is known as Calle Blancho (White Road) and it's in a pretty rough part of town.  I had just picked the passage in Judges 6 about Gideon when our bus came upon somewhat of a traffic jam.  A very narrow two lane road with cars parked on both sides--only one lane of traffic getting through.  The bus driver allowed some on coming traffic to go then proceeded forward.  Well, another vehicle realized that it was in the way and had no where to go.  The driver put the car in reverse and backed up--rapidly--then turned (still in reverse

     As I start this blog, I am bedside next to my mother-in-law, Eileen.  Doctors diagnosed her two years ago with double lung cancer and gave her a 15% chance of making it through 6 months of chemotherapy.  A little over two weeks ago, Mike and I flew back from Costa Rica because it didn't look like she would make it through the weekend.  While her condition is all over the board, and we were prepared to "let her go" without seeing her again, I am not sorry we're here.  There have been some very precious moments spent with her and she still manages to make us laugh through the tears.  She has been a formidable lady over the years and such an example to me.  I am so thankful God brought me into this family.      I met Eileen more than 14 years ago, and what struck me most is how she welcomed me as one of her own.  And that's how she was with everybody it seems.  Eileen didn't have "casual friends".  There were people she worked with from years ago

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I used to question God's existence by pointing to all the "bad" situations in the world.  "How could God allow... ?"  "What good comes from... ?"  Fill in your blank.  It was extremely difficult for me to believe in a loving caring God who would permit any  harm to come to his children.  To me. And it made me bitter.  Much like the Israelites when they escaped Egypt. The story in Exodus plays out--God wants Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave and go to "the promised land."  Pharaoh is stubborn and refuses (he doesn´t want to lose his labor force), so God sent ten plagues (pretty nasty stuff too) to help him change his mind.  When the Israelites left, God parted the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land.   They watched God perform Miracle after miracle.  They were singing and dancing and all out praising God for His deliverance...                               Who is like you among t

Another characteristic of God is His sovereignty.  He is the ruler of the universe--Daniel 4:34(b)-35 read, "For His dominion is an everlasting dominion.  As his kingdom is from generation to generation.  All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.  NO ONE CAN RESTRAIN HIS HAND OR SAY TO HIM, 'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?'" This is a tough one for people to grasp (to be honest, sometimes it's still hard for me).  No matter what happens here, there is a story being played out in the heavens and God's purpose is being fulfilled at this very moment.  Even though millions of unborn babies are being aborted; hundreds of thousands of women and children are slaves to sex trafficking; and countless other tragic situations (physical and sexual abuse in families, alcohol and drug addictions, starvation, infertility...) GOD REIGNS!  Whether you act like it or not.  Whether y

In the Old Testament, Israelites would use different names to describe God's character.  Most of the time, it was as a result of the Lord meeting a need.  One of His many names is Jehova-jireh and it means God will provide.  The first place you find it used is in the story of Abraham being told by God to go sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22).  At the very last second, God provided an animal for Abraham to substitute instead.  The story is a great illustration of how God responds to a faithful servant. This past year God has proven himself "Provider" over and over again.  Even in the little things.  When He showed himself in such ways, at times I was completely amazed by what He had done!  I literally would smile at just how awesome He was and what He accomplished...  Mike would laugh and say, "Why are you so amazed?  You should expect it!"  And he's right--I should have expected it.  Sometimes, it takes me a while to learn. There are some who believe in r