Day 5 of 21 and Island Girl stories!

Day 5 of the 21 day challenge-

I am 5 days into it and have prayed sincerely over my prayer list daily-

I am a list person. This drives me crazy. I wish I was not a list person but I have to be to remember. I don’t want to forget any tiny important thing that HE wants me to pray over…

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I have too many random thoughts in my head-

Thought like- what if I loose my memory of being six and living in a guest house in Nevis – where I got spanked for throwing ginups (fruit) seeds on people’s heads off the second floor balcony onto the parade below.

What if I forget to tell my kids about when my friends and I were content to spend the afternoon cleaning up cow patties in the church yard to get ready for the IYC trip – when I was seven. How my favorite place to play in St. Martin was an old broken down VW Bug- that I would sit in and play for hours.

How I got in trouble from my parents for running in and reading the test the my Mom had just written for the Bible School students- after they bribed me with sweets- if I would “help” them out.

How my friends and I that summer also thought we would help by passing out tracks (again I was 7) My friend said that he would tell my parents (working on the church building) and he did not. So it was dark- my parents could not find me and I was miles down the countryside- the only white girl giving out tracts inviting people to church.

How I used to dig out used tampon applicators from the trash with my friends in Nevis and we would use them as cars- until my Mom caught us all. (I didn’t know what they were).

How again when I was seven- I was spanked for playing “Mommy” with my friends as I nursed them. (don’t ask)

How my job was to sit on the side of the rode and wait for the ice man to drive up in his cart to buy ice for the day for 2 EC dollars and he would chip of a tiny piece for me personally- that I relished all the way back to the guest house.

How we lived in a one room guest house in St. Martin and all four of us fit unto one motorcycle.

How I would be at church Sunday Am/PM- Mon/Tues/Wed/Thur. and never thought anything of it.

How I would love the one day a week we were allowed to go out to eat.

How I remember when McDonalds first came to our island- and Ronald McDonald was mobbed by the kids and they had to put him on the roof.

How those first hamburgers tasted like heaven- and they were served in brown papers bags.

How we would not leave service until 1:00 to 1:30 in the afternoon – after several would receive the Holy Ghost-

How during the middle of my Dad’s preaching a Rasta came in and grabbed my dad up (he is 5”7) by the neck tie and threatened his life- and the ushers (one a former bar bouncer) threw him out literally.

How my list of toys for one summer in St. Kitts was a white VW match box car- My brother had a blue convertible. That and dirt kept us entertained all summer.

And the list goes on and on and on. I don’t want to forget these things. I want my children to be raised in the simple knowledge that God, your faith, family, and church are enough. That living your life fully for him- is what it is about. I am afraid that somehow- after 39 years the fresh vivid memories of so much of my life will fade.

I want my girls to do more for Him that I ever thought of.

To reach more of their world than I could ever of mine.

To teach more people than I could have in one setting.

To be sensitive to His presence

To reach out

To love

To really care

To be more than girls- To be ministers of light

And you know what?

They will!

Take off your sneakers....

When you read anything in the Bible about Paul- Paul Prayed for the church daily- How about you? Are you praying for your church? Your leaders? Your Pastor?

I notice also that the early church seemed to be plagued with problems even as we are- but yet he never prayed for the people’s problems to go away.

He prayed for them to know the Love of God, for them to know the Power of God, for them to be tempered correctly in their trials.

God has equipped you to face whatever it is that you are facing today. YOU have the power of God- the Holy Ghost inside of you- YOU are POWER-FILLED. Not a wimp. Have you ever notice that when you put on the whole armor of God there is not a whole lot on the back side of it? That is because HE wants us to face our enemies head on. DON”T BE A RUNNER. Face it. Moses ran- and the Lord still sent him back FORTY YEARS LATER- to face the same thing- EGYPT.

You can handle it. He has put HIS SPIRIT inside of you, equipped you, called you, anointed you- and IT IS YOUR DAY!!!

Ephesians 1:19

You are child of God- you have HIS DNA in you- you are a victor

You have authority in CHRIST over everything that comes against you today!

TAKE OFF THE SNEAKERS ALREADY-

Final thought- if you stay on the attack you won’t be under attack all of the time!!

This is your day!

Day 1 of 21 day challenge

Sow a thought, reap an action.

Sow an action, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

- John Stott

21

So ....again.... The Lord has been dealing with me
Why do I share these things?
I have no clue

But he is challenging me
To give of myself more fully
I am growing my prayer time
I have to admit to you I was an intercessor
Well I am an intercessor

That has been on vacation

A vacation that I took on purpose
Because I feel like I failed
I hear from him on so many things
for so many people
but could not hear for myself
How could I not know I was carrying a baby without a heart- beat? That is the question my 8 year old asked
That is the question I have asked.

Why could my prayers not keep my mother-in-law on earth longer?
All of these things, these questions, these pauses in my life
Have caused me to take an intercession vacation

Not called by HIM But by me.
So He intently has not let me rest on my “vacation”
So I am going back
Back to the closet
I am on a 21 day seek him challenge
Issued by Cylinda to Cylinda
After those 21 days I will come out stronger
I will hit it- and increase my value in HIM
They say 21 days makes a habit
So….. I am challenging myself
to a higher level of Discipline
In praying
Reading His Word
Listening
Loving
Being healthy
physically
emotionally, and spiritually
21
Twenty One
Veinte Uno

Sometimes it is just clear...

I think we all have a fear of "Missing It"- Not hearing right- Not knowing which path to take. Usually you know in the pit of your stomach what to do- but even if you don't- and you are swirling with confusion- he already has given you his promise....

21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 (New International Version)

The scanner, The counter, The "Stroke"

Just so you can feel bad for John

So the other day I am sitting in the living room -thinking that I need to get up and scan some papers for MK Ministries to send to our web developer. I said to John- John does our scanner work? Wait Oh my lord John- I think I am having a stroke- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I count out loud- then say the letters from A to Z.

He looks at me like I have grown a third head.

He said why do you think you are having a stroke?

Because I said the scanner- when - that is the word for the radio that the police listen to- He was like- STOP CYLINDA that word is used for both things.

Oh- I stop- I guess it is?

He was like you have been reading to many warning emails

So now you can all pray for John because he has to live with Cylinda AND Emma

He's Picture Perfect!!

So for Christmas- I got a Cannon Rebel XT from John. I have not taken the time to really use it- study it- put it in my hands. I want to this weekend.

HE IS THE GREATEST EVER!! (well besides Jesus and stuff)

Hey I don't speak your language!

On Tuesday I was running behind (really?) and got to work right at 8:28. I had two minutes to get logged in. I also only had one diet coke for the morning. When I walked up the stairs to my building. This guy is like two feet away from me and loudly starts yelling at me in some oriental tongue. (he also had his jacket draped around his shoulders like a shawl- weird much?)so....

I looked at him held my hand up and said loudly - Hey I don't speak your language. He looks and me- and looks past me - I turn around to see a 80-ish year man right behind me that he was speaking too



I slunk to my office very quietly--

I told me co-worker and we laughed until we cried at this. HE was probably thinking crazy American- I don't know what your problem is

Multiplied!

Lather, Rinse, Repeat
Cereal Boxes
Toothpaste tubes

It doesn't matter what - I love to read
So Since I like to read-
Why am I not caught up on the 5 books that I have been dabbling in?

I have not been able to settle down to read

I know that sounds strange- I can't explain it either-
I just have this thing- I think nervous moving energy lately.

Last night-
The Lord was compelling me to read His Word.
I was thinking Hello-I have already read my Daily Bible Reading on line today (thank you computer)
He was like read-

So I open up my daily Bible by the bed
and read the passage for March 3rd

It is the story of the feeding of the 5000-
It has always been one of my favs- but you know that last night
I saw something new in it (not new to you I am sure)

For there to be a multiplication- There had to be a brokenness
The bread was broken- then multiplied

The Lord allows times of brokeness to multiply your ministry-
You were limited before in reaching one or two but with your brokenness it is unlimited-

We need to trust his hands-
His shaping
His forming in our lives

Then I thought of Hannah and all that she went through with Penninah and it was through Hannah's brokenness she was able to have Samuel- which the Lord later gave her several children!

I just about wanted to dance on my bed in rejoicing!
But that required too much energy (after my 3 mile walk last night)
So I just hugged my Bible and thanked the Lord.

Broken?
Trying to pick up your pieces?
Feeling Shattered?

Hold on- you are getting ready to be multiplied!