I'm back!

I will have plenty to write about my first trip to Africa. But I really want to spend some time in prayer about it so that I choose the right words and fulfill God's purpose. 


First, though, I want to thank all of you for holding me in your prayers! I was VERY nervous about navigating the airports alone. My flight into London arrived an hour early. I laid on a bench and slept for three hours, waking up to find out my outgoing flight to Freetown was delayed by four hours! It was a long day in Heathrow, but God heard your prayers and found a few angels who looked after me. One man I met in Heathrow ended up in line in front of me at the very chaotic scene at the airport in Sierra Leone. He took my passport and told all the officials we were traveling together, moving me swiftly through the tight crowd. He had grown up in Freetown but moved away 20 years ago and was very comfortable with the circumstances that were quite foreign and intimidating to me at first glance. What a God-send he was! On the way back, I made the much tighter schedule of connecting flights so that I got home right on time to see my babies! I encountered absolutely no problems in the airports. Praise God! 


And the conditions at the Guest House were much better than I anticipated. And I ate locally prepared food in the villages, and did not get even the slightest bit sick. But best of all, I videotaped and photographed dozens of local people who were eager to share their stories about the impact Rick and Paula Miller's ministries are making in their lives. We were very fruitful in crossing every single "to-do" off of our list, even despite a few hiccups. Thank you so much for praying for me. Thank you, God! 


I'll post at least one image for now, with many more to come. This is a group of siblings in Brigette Village. The moms all carry babies slung tightly in fabric across their backs. Here, big sis is taking care of the baby just like a mom would. All the kids in the village look out for one another. 

I will be a hummingbird, God!

A friend and former co-worker of mine read my blog about how God had called me to go to Africa, and it reminded her of this song, "I Refuse." She is a missionary. A full-time medical worker who uses much of her paid personal time off to help children in Haiti. She goes more than once a year. I admire her, among so many others. 


Not everyone can go, it's true. But as I followed through with obedience on this call in my life right now, I was reminded by a speaker at a conference that the body of Christ is composed of many parts. I can be his eyes, but thanks to many financial supporters of my trip, I have feet to get me there. And with prayer support, I have hands. I may be physically going alone, but I'm accomplishing nothing alone. I initially tried to say NO to this trip because I didn't have the funds. That's not what God wanted. He pursued until I said yes, still without the finances. And then they came. I must humble myself to be reminded it's not about me; it's simply me letting God use me to accomplish his will in a much bigger story. He pulled at my heartstrings and showed me the cost of saying No. This week, I will be a hummingbird. Consider this video and the song lyrics to "I Refuse." 

I Refuse lyrics
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson

Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse

The curtain closes

Do you ever feel like God is painting you a beautiful work of art? One of my favorite things about biking and running is doing it outside among God's creations. Wherever I am, I often find myself pausing to look around me and enjoy that which I see: works of art that are a beautiful gift from my heavenly father who loves me. 

On my last day of work at the hospital in Lincoln, I felt like God closed the curtain with a stunning finale. And yes, I took photos while driving. But don't try this at home. I am a trained expert! (For the record, I could never text and drive. I rarely text even while not in motion. Heck, I'm pretty dangerous talking and driving, but we won't go there.) 

P.S. Does it look like a cross (on the left of the top photo) in the sky to you? It did to me. I think that's God signing his artwork. ;) 

Psalm 19: 1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

TTT

T.T.T.

Put up in a place
where it's easy to see
the cryptic admonishment
T.T.T.

When you feel how depressingly
slowly you climb,
it's well to remember that
Things Take Time. 

Piet Hein

Can I deliver happiness...like Puppet Bike?

Today, I want to write about someone I don't know. I am not even sure of his or her name. It's Puppet Bike. 


When I came across some photos last night of my daughter enjoying this street show in Chicago, I laughed and smiled. 

It was a wonderful memory, a precious moment, mostly because after the 10 minutes of scruffy puppets dancing she thanked me. She was grateful that we stopped and let her enjoy it. It made me wonder...do we stop often enough and enjoy what's right in front of us?


I'm still in this soul-searching mode -- trying to decide how I can earn an income and do something I love. Dave Ramsey has said when you do what you love, the money you make will be sufficient! Oh, Puppet Bike, you so get that! 


I did another search about Puppet Bike when I saw the photos again last night.  I found him/her here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/puppet-bike-chicago

Puppet Bike has 96 reviews and a five-star rating! People RAVE about Puppet Bike, and yet most people never know for sure...who is in that box! It doesn't matter. 


Here are a couple of reviews of Puppet Bike, which I couldn't stop reading on Yelp. Dan and I were cracking up! 


"as a jaded 20-something that is pretty much dead inside, i must say that the puppet bike made me smile like a maniac and probably made my entire day...nay...year.

i hope he never stops!"




"Wait, we get to review the Puppet Bike? We get to tell the internet about our favorite thing EVAR? 

If you speak ill of the Puppet Bike I will punch you in the side of the neck and spread scurrilous rumors that you hunt dolphins for sport. I hope the guys who run it make a billion dollars in tips.

You guys. Seriously you guys. They're little hand-puppet animals who dance together and wave at you. If you need more, I don't know what to say to you."




"Is there anything in the world that can turn a person's frown upside down faster than the Puppet Bike?!  I don't think so.  

A true Chicago treasure!"




Some paint, cheap props, old-time music and the scruffiest puppets on the planet. Is it true that's all it takes for people of all ages to fall in love with something so...I don't know, so basic, so simple? 


OK, the puppets do interact with their audience, giving high-fives, stealing money from the tip box and taking photos of the crowd with a tiny plastic camera when someone whips out their smart phone to get a photo of them, too. 


I don't understand the severe hype personally. But that's the point. Don't think too deep; just enjoy it. (See more photos of my Abby and Puppet Bike at my Snapshots blog HERE.)


I realized then, I'm jealous of Puppet Bike! What an awesome feeling it must be to do EXACTLY what you love, what you want. And to have people adore you for it? There's no controversy, no complaining about clocking in to work, and if people don't like what you're doing, they simply walk by and you're unaffected by them. Puppet Bike and Dave Ramsey -- two people I never thought I'd mention in the same post!


But Puppet Bike has it figured out: the secret to a wonderful life! I NEED to apply this to my life -- this philosophy, this attitude, this way of being! I guess I'm a fan -- Go Puppet Bike! 

PEACE

And so it hits...the feeling of being overwhelmed. Lots to do. Things to cross off my list. Buy. Prepare. Appointments to schedule. Bills to pay. Groceries to stock up on. And the list rolls on and on. In my head. At 3 a.m. Monday. 


Typical -- at least for me -- is the anxiety that comes with the preparation for something big. In this case, it's leaving my family for nine days to travel -- alone -- to Sierra Leone. And for me, anxiety usually attacks at night. I had a big case of it on Sunday night. I could not fall asleep, and then I woke up in the same trap of mentally going over my list. 


Don't get me wrong. It's a big list. With important tasks. Yet I decided instead of tackling it Monday morning I would...leave my house. Leave town. Leave it behind. 


I packed my bike, my Bible and a small notebook into my Jeep along with my kids on Monday morning. I dropped the kids off at school and headed to a nearby bike path. 


Before I set off, I sat in the driver's seat and thought about what scripture I would read. I could pick up where our family last left off in our Bible reading plan. I really wanted to dig into some Proverbs. They're always so encouraging, and I could definitely use some wisdom and guidance. 


But my fingers gravitated elsewhere. They headed for Philippians, chapter four. I love Paul's letters, especially the short ones that are jam-packed with gospel truths, advice and encouragement. 


I rode five miles to a pond where I could settle in for some solitude, albeit to the sound of interstate traffic, and meditate on Paul's words. 


It was soul food for me at this moment. Because the anxiety I felt Sunday night didn't compare to the worry that overwhelmed me when I read my email after dropping off the kids at school. 


Let me back up. One of the necessities required for my upcoming travels is a Visa. To get that, I needed my travel itinerary and a yellow fever vaccine (I couldn't travel until 10 days after getting it). Once I had that, I began communicating with a travel agent. We picked some dates, and then I spent the next 3 days trying to reach my sister in Germany and change the date so I could spend a day with her and my brother-in-law who -- it turns out -- would be in London during my layover. It wasn't a long enough layover and they were leaving about the same time, but I figured the timing of this must be from God. So I went to business trying to rearrange the date of arrival in London. That killed several days. (And didn't work...the price was $600 more for 24 hours with my sister. Boo.)


I was waiting to apply for my Visa until I booked the flight. In my haste, it didn't occur to me that the arrival date in Sierra Leone wouldn't change, only London. By the time I finally contacted the Embassy of Sierra Leone, I discovered I would have to MAIL my passport to Washington D.C. It was now 10 days before my trip. This was the email I read right after I dropped off the kids Monday morning. A call to my husband didn't ease my worries. He seemed as freaked out as me, and so I decided that God definitely was sending me on this journey so I could "give it to him." 


As I settled down to find calm and comfort in Philippians, I came to one of my favorites, verse 6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God."


Wow. Don't be anxious about ANYTHING. Okay. I definitely didn't like the feeling that was overwhelming me this morning. My acid reflux was a reflection of how severe the toll of stress was! I wanted, no I craved this reassurance. Praise God for it!


But my mind also settled on the word THANKSGIVING. In all my worry, how quick I was to forget how easily God brought me to this very moment. Everything had come together. He had shown me, quite clearly, this was his will. Not that I had quickly accepted the call, but he had reassured me all during March and early April that I am to do this. The constant reassurance came in so many forms and through so many people, and yet I had not expressed my gratitude to God! I had a lot to be thankful for! 


Moving to verse 7, Paul says if we come to God with prayer, leaving anxiety behind, we get a reward: "And the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Further down in verse 9, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."


Paraphrasing verses 11 through 13, Paul says he's learned to be content, that he's actually learned the SECRET to contentment in ALL circumstances, whether "well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want," which is "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." I used to visualize Jesus giving me strength in sickness or difficult days of mommyhood, but after attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference and listening to a Christian NFL quarterback whose name escapes me at the moment (Dan would be disgusted! LOL!), I have  new perspective. He said Paul's secret to contentment came when he realized that if everything he treasured in life was stripped away, having Christ would still be enough. Because the only thing with absolute certainty is Jesus. We WILL face trials and challenges. Everyone's will be different. The question is, do we worship those things and people that could be taken from us so much so that if they are, when they are, we will be bitter, angry at God and discontent? Or will Jesus be enough in all our circumstances? The secret to being content, to being at peace, is to know that Jesus is always sufficient. Easy to say; harder to put into practice! (Makes me think of "It is Well with My Soul" hymn-writer Horatio Spafford, who exemplifies this much like Job!)


As I wrapped up this precious time alone with God, I wrote down one more verse from chapter four, verse 19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." 


These are Paul's words after scribbling notes of thanks for all the gifts his supporters had sent him. That resonated with me, as a big portion of my trip is already funded because of those people around me who wanted to support this both in prayer and financially, and I treasure them as I do Paul's promise that my God will come through. 


Then I wrote in all capital letters: PEACE and CONTENTMENT. It was really what I needed in this moment, in this day. I needed it as an ailment for my anxiety but also as a secret weapon for what's to come. Without it, I would have been a wreck later that day as the well-meaning postal worker rattled off all the reasons I shouldn't go to Sierra Leone and that I had left myself a tight time frame to get my Visa with the wiggle room of...one day! I pray it also comes in handy to help me find rest and revival on my flights and calm confidence during the nerve-wracking airport navigation portions of my trip. 


Actually, I know it will. Because of God's promise. And he reassured me once again as I encountered these words: 

From my morning devotion: May the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will. HEBREWS 13:20-21, NIV 

And as I opened Dan's bible to look up a scripture this morning and found a highlighter tucked between the pages where he had very recently marked this verse: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58. 

That Visa WILL come. I WILL go to Sierra Leone. But I WILL still need (and love to have) your prayers! And no matter what...I WILL have peace and contentment. 

Thanks for sharing in this journey!

{Much love}

Amy

Honoring Good Friday

I started to title this "Happy Good Friday," but it seemed contradictory. Good Friday is a reminder of our sin and shame. The cross, a symbol of death and suffering -- all because we are sinners. But it is happy in the sense that Jesus gave it all so that we don't have to. Beaten. Mocked. Flogged, Paraded through city streets with a cross on his back. Skin, muscle and bone shattered as nails pierced him to the cross. Stabbed. Slowly bled to an unfortunate death.


All for us. All for you. In place of us. He. Hung. On. That. Cross. He experienced pain and misery. That's why he understands yours. He loves you. Immensely. 


To follow him, to truly follow him, we must pick up our own figurative crosses. He asks us to give up something, sacrifice, serve....a small price to pay to follow him. Today, as he's slowly dying on the cross, I'm thinking about my cross. Is it enough? Am I doing enough? Am I a follower of Christ or a fan? What about you? 

Our family rules

I created this canvas gallery wrap -- rooted in the word (photography in my studio with a pink light, finished up in photoshop) list of family values to hang 16x30 on our living room wall. I want my kids to have a constant reminder of what we think is important, not that we don't say it, but you know in the communications business we have a motto: "Seven times in seven different ways." I don't want my kids to ever doubt what is important. What do you think? 

I did a craft...and survived!

So I saw this adorable wreath several times on Pinterest. It keep popping up, and I loved it. And I need a wreath and something spring-like to lift my mood. Plus, I had everything needed to make it. It turned out pretty good. See! 

I had to dig to find instructions, so I'm posting them in case you want to try it. Because believe me, I'm not very crafty and I was able to do this, so it MUST be easy! Sorry about the red comforter I did this craft on. It's a bit distracting! 

Supplies: metal hanger, scissors, ribbon, material scraps or old rags. I had a couple blue shirts -- one mine and one Abby's that were ripped. I found some other blue fabric scraps and this wide white ribbon. Here's my fabric: 

Step one: Cut into strips of about 1x6 inches. 

Take a metal hanger and "undo" it. 

Then shape into a circle and secure it at the top using pliers or your sheer strength (the latter for me). 

Tie strips around the circle. 

Tie a ribbon onto the top and hang. I also wrapped the dark blue ribbon around the loop of metal hanger so it would look nice. 

I liked how the ripped up fabric, imperfect and all, gives it texture. I like how it looks on my door! And....best of all, I crafted and lived to tell about it. Should I add a new category on my blog? Awwww....probably not. I'm sure this is a fluke! 

A few inspirational quotes

One of many things I'll miss about Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is the daily email from Baptist Leadership Group for healthcare leaders. I don't actually read the emails, but the quotes that accompany them are fantastic. Tonight, I'll share a few. These are really good, so take a few moments to reflect on them, and may your week be bathed in blessings!


"The time is always right to do what is right."
Martin Luther, Jr. King




"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire."
Reggie Leach




"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success."
Napolean Hill




"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."
Japanese Proverb