OUR EXALTED GOD AND GLORY

My first day of a month-long travel, Nebraska to Northwest and around and about. Today it was a total of approximately 630 miles.  I rejoiced when I was driving through the northwestern portion of Nebraska and saw this lake and the lovely clouds.  Couldn't NOT pull off the road and take some photos.  

I hope to share photos and the Word as often as possible during this trip.  Tomorrow my grandson and I will be going through Yellowstone.  We are in Casper, WY, which means it will be about 300 miles to the park.  Can hardly wait.  Been there several times, but think this will be a special one. Expect to take a hundred or so pictures... I've become addicted in that hobby.

[FYI, my computer has some sort of difficulty.  When it works, I'll toss something at you all.  When it isn't working, I'll write notes and do the best I can, any way I can -- using those of friends, libraries, etc.  When I get back home, my husband will repair it again and again.]

OUR REDEEMER...

AMEN!!

"LILACS...ROBINS" FROM GOD.

In April, 1985, while I was walking from my duplex to the bus stop, heading to work, this is what the Lord said to me.  I had no idea why, but knew it was definitely laid on me.  I'm a very lilac-loving person, and love birds, so it sure fit right into my heart.

A month later, May 19, Dave and I were suddenly, surprisingly, put together.  We married September 21st.  This stretch of time together has been a huge blessing in many ways.  Dave is not far below Jesus in my heart, and part of the reason is because, exactly a year earlier -- May, 1984 -- the Lord said to me, "I'm sending you my representative."  He did.

I'm leaving for about a month, pulling out of the driveway about 7 AM Sunday morning.  Driving to the Washington, Oregon area.  Seeing family, friends, and doing some spiritual warfare teaching to a few ladies.  Don't know what else is on my plate, but the Lord has already told me I will be there longer than has frequently occurred. [I've gone out nearly every year since 1990, sometimes alone, and sometimes Dave could come.  Job situations keep it from happening now.]

Anyhow, the reason I'm posting about this is because I'm already missing my husband and I haven't left home, yet.  We're dating this evening.  However, tomorrow he's working at church and repairing someone's home, and I'm extremely busy, too.

When I woke up this morning, this "word" from the Lord dropped in again, and I decided to send it out, to share it.

It truly was a TRUE word from my dear 

Heavenly Abba, Papa, Daddy, Father.

ANGEL WORSHIP... REV.22

MISSION SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL, CALIF., SUMMER, '94

Having been buried in Revelation for about 2 months, just finishing the 10th translation portion this morning, this angel stood out so many times.  He was showing John all around and about.  In verse 19:10, John fell at his feet and the angel said, basically, "NO!! Don't do that!  We're on the same side.  Worship God only!"  Then, right at the end of the Book, it happened again.  And the angel said, "NO!!! Don't do that!  We are fellow bondservants.  Worship GOD!"

For a number of times, I've wanted to post this, but it was only this morning that this photo was dropped in.  I am rejoicing that I have now done this.

When Dave and I were going to leave for Uganda at the end of summer, thinking we'd be there forever and ever... which didn't occur, of course ...in July, 1994, we drove to the NW to see my family, then to visit friends in California.  On the way down, we came past this Mission, and we walked through it.  And had been put in place in 1797.  It was truly filled with so much of the Lord; we truly enjoyed it.

[Oh, and the "dot' is b/c I had taken all the photos, and put a hole in them so I could chain them together.  Didn't know scanning would ever occur in life, of course, way.. back.. then.  Couldn't crop it  unless I took the angel's sword out.  Oh, well... can't be perfectionistic forever and ever. -- Need to share the Word of God  even it the photo isn't in perfect condition.]

JEANS.. AND GOD!!

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, 1998

This, obviously, is ME.. wearing jeans.  I LIVE in jeans and have since I was about 5 years old.  I've worn casual or formal dresses and skirts [some of the time], and capris, or nice slacks.  A variety of clothes of one kind or another.

However, after I had been a Christian for a few years, the Lord told me occasionally that I could NOT wear jeans.  The reason wasn't because women aren't supposed to wear them, but because, when I was upset or ready for a "fight" or angry, I would definitely wear jeans, and I would walk like a "tough cookie."  When I was that angry, the Lord would lay it on me to not do that.  Sometimes I obeyed.  Sometimes I didn't.  And the Lord did not let me get away with that behavior.

One time, shortly after moving to Omaha from Redwood City, California, in May, 1974, a good friend thought I was over-reacting to this rule the Lord was laying on me.  That I must misunderstand. Then, frustrated and angry one day, I... wore... them.  And when he saw me working around his house and yard, and I was obviously filled with intensity, he came to me and nodded.  He said I needed to change clothes, that now he understood that it was absolutely true that when the Lord told me to NOT wear jeans, I should NOT wear jeans.

A short time later, after becoming more obedient to the Lord when He told me what to wear or NOT to wear, this ruling issue went away.

Now, I live in jeans.  And, very rarely, do I ever hear that it's not OK.  And the "not OK" isn't usually because of anger.  Simply because of where I'm going, what I'm doing.  The Lord knows and I might not.

I'm very grateful that the Lord prodded me to do what was necessary for my anger level to be reduced, and not allowing me to be bury my furiosity in my jeans -- and refuse to face spiritual reality, healing.   

And because of this my heart was healed.

I'm a grateful lady.

BIRDS,BLESSED; WE ARE MORE -- MATT. 6

ANOTHER DAY FILLED WITH 

HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!

MAGNIFY, EXALT ...PS. 34

YES, LET'S DO IT

 ... BIRDS, FLOWERS, ANIMALS, MOUNTAINS, LAKES, 

OCEANS, RIVERS, ROCKS ...

 AND PEOPLE!!!

MERCIFUL TO ME... LUKE 18

I was a horrific sinner then.  Had fallen into it very strongly just a year earlier, March, 1964, when alone in Seattle -- no family or friends -- and pulled into groups that were filled with sinful activities.  Didn't always like it,

 but didn't know how to get out.  

When visiting Susie that weekend, she didn't know all about it, just some.  And even with that small bit she knew, she was very concerned about me. As I've said, I lived in Seattle, but she in Portland, at this time.  The visit was just shy of two years after our high school graduation

 together in Klickitat, WA, in May, 1963.

In March, 1966, my Heavenly Father began to break into my life, break through my sinful walls, pull me out of depression and frequently-considered suicide.  A month later, I realized the Truth and repented and received salvation 

through Him ... His heart and His Blood.  

April 15, 1966, is my official spiritual birthday.

Today, this Word from Luke 18:13 was dropped into my heart, and this picture dropped in, too.

I'm very grateful that, through Him, life has changed.  I'm also very grateful for those God placed in my life 

to encourage me to step out of filth and addiction

 and into a cleansed and cleansing World.

HALLELUJAH!!

MY FAVORITE ROCK... AND GOD, TOO!

MILLION-PLUS SHILLINGS MISSING!! UGANDA STORY

This portion of the story is true. One of the scariest stretches of time in Soroti that I ever went through.  Still working on the story, on this chapter, but sharing it anyhow, before the editing is completed.  Hopefully touching hearts.

=============================================

Cary, panicking, picked up her phone about 9:30 Saturday morning in Soroti and and called James.  It was nine hours earlier, shortly after midnight, his time.  When he, just waking up, said "Hello", and she heard his voice, she burst into tears.

Immediately, he was urgently awake.“What’s wrong, Honey?”

“Somehow I have lost about one-and-a-half million shillings.  Maybe more.  I have looked through everything and checked everywhere and the money is gone.  What am I gonna do?”

“Cary, that doesn’t make any sense.  You and Jill are very careful.”

“I know.  She keeps the ‘millions’ in her bag, and I keep the ‘thousands’ in mine.  Some is gone now from both, and that just couldn’t happen.  But it did.”

“Did you both have your purses or backpacks with you all the time?”

“Oh, YES! And we locked them in the office or our room very carefully.  And even if someone could have broken in and done it then, we would have figured it out quickly, because every day we did an accounting to make sure our figures were correct.  With everything that happened, for myself, all I can think is that when I was in the van giving money to the Pastor Josephs for the burial materials and coffin, that some might have fallen out of my purse or someone could have quietly stolen it... that happens so often around here.  But it wouldn’t have been the million; I spent a couple hundred thousand for the cloth, coffin, and the concrete that was placed over the grave.  I had a few hundred thousand shillings left, in case anything else was needed for the funeral.  And Jill never let her purse with the millions out of sight. And we weren't in the same place when this was going on.”

“Who do you have to tell about this?”

“Oh, James, the leaders from the UK and US and Uganda that were putting this ministry in place are the ones that provided the funding, and now I have to tell them.  How can I convince them that I wasn’t just being foolish or pocketing it for myself?  If they fuss about it, you and I have to give them US  equivalent of about $750 to cover this... and we can’t afford it, Honey.  I know that.... “

and she began crying again.

James stayed on the phone quietly and let her calm down.  Then he said,  “Cary, God is bigger... you say that all the time.  Don’t let this break your heart.  Money is money is money; relationships are much more important.  We will trust God to bring this to a close.  I know you have folks over there praying with and for you — and you have piles of folks over here who have you on their hearts.  I will email a few of them before I go back to sleep and will call others in the morning before I head to work.  Keep me posted.  Call me when you can, when you know more.  And, remember Honey, that I am always on your side."

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, James.  My heart is calming already.”

“I love you dearly, dear Cary.”

“You, too, Honey.”

They sweetly said “Good-bye” at the same moment.

Cary's tears disappeared.  Trusting God, trusting James, trusting that truth would come to the surface, she slept.

PHIL. 2:13 --- MY "SALVATION" VERSE

When I think of all the things the Lord dropped into my life after my salvation, when I was heading to 21,  ... significant cleansing [leaving alcoholism and a sinful lifestyle, filth poured out of my heart and brain] ... He opened some doors of serving and praying with/for others, teaching/preaching.  Gradually, over time, the blessings increased over and over again... as did His requirement that I serve and obey Him FIRST.

This photo always stands out to me as a time that I was in the "right place, right time".  In 2003, God had sent me to Soroti, Uganda, to help some people when the Joseph Kony, LRA, had invaded their area.  One of my dear Soroti pastors, Joseph, popped into my office one day and said, "Come!"  No option to do anything but go with him, wherever that would be.

He took me to a church ground that had piles of people on the verandas, just living there since escaping from the rebels.  He took me directly to this "porch".  On the way, he had told me they needed blankets, charcoal, basic foods.  Wanted me to provide for them.  They had been there for more than 2 months and had almost nothing.

This family was not much different than others.  BUT what WAS different is that the mother was dying.  She was a Christian.  Her husband and two of her boys had been killed during the rebel fighting.  Her abdomen was filled with water and tumors.  The hospital had drained her previously, but it came back.

Joseph introduced me, grabbed my camera, and said, "Pray for her."  What could I possibly say?  What DID I say?  Don't know.  I just sat on the porch, held her hand, and prayed the Love of God over her, so far as I know.  

When Joseph and I went shopping afterwards, getting piles of food and
blankets and charcoal, we went back and unloaded his car and rushed out so we wouldn't be grabbed by the others.  

Couldn't do it for everyone.  Wanted to, of course.

Do I know the consequences?  Only one.  She died two months later.  Her children have been on my heart ever since, even though I knew no names.  I DID see the anger in their eyes.  You can, too.  So, our prayer included ... from hearts, not our mouths... that the hatred being planted in them would decrease to love.

As sad as it was to see the sorrow, the anger, the almost certain-sure consequence that her death was coming, and her children left behind, spread to other relatives, most likely... I was truly blessed to be used by the Lord for that short time, holding her hand.   I am looking forward to seeing her in heaven.

Now, when glancing through a variety of verses today, this one jumped in.  The reason?  I'm prepping to leave home on June 30th.  Driving from Omaha to the Northwest. A fun time at Yellowstone with a grandson who is going to be with me on the way out. Then visiting family, friends, and meeting new ones, too.  I originally PLANNED to be there until around July 18th, then hitting the road to come back home... because I desperately miss my husband after a couple weeks.  The Lord has said, over and over again, that I am to stay out there several days longer.  Hasn't told me exactly where I will be.  He has people He wants me to meet, some I can see for the first time in many years since going to high school [graduated 50 years ago], sharing His Word.  So, I won't be home until very near the end of July.

So the verse again, laid on me Friday, April 15, 1966 at 6:30 PM, was exactly that:  God is at work within you, helping you want to obey Him, and then helping you do what He wants.

Not much else counts... forever and ever.

Oh, and a truly fun thing that will happen when I'm out there... my 68th birthday is July 9th.  The day before with family in Seattle, and the birthday riding around the Columbia River with family, hanging out at Multnomah Falls, going to Klickitat, etc., and then having a birthday party at in Clatskanie.  It's been 19 years since I've been out at that exact time.  The only sad part?  My dear husband will be here, not there.

PSALM 3 ... SALVATION

AND, AT THE INTERNATIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE, SO MANY NATIONS REPRESENTED, AND GLORIFYING OUR LORD, 

AND WORSHIPING IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

 WHILE WATCHING THEM, MY HEART WAS FILLED JOY.  

I EXPECT IT FILLED THE LORD'S HEART WITH JOY, TOO.  

OF COURSE!!!

 [EVEN MUCH MORE THAN MINE, DONCHA THINK?]


 

PSALM 139 -- PATH, STOP, REST

HE BLESSES ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN...

TELLS ME WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO REST.

I CAN THOROUGHLY TRUST HIM WHEN I'M "TRIPPING"!

REVELATION 22 ... FREE WATER

CAN HARDLY WAIT!

PSALM 57 -- EXALTED GOD, GLORY!

WHAT I DESIRE ...

SECOND-BY-SECOND,

MOMENT-BY-MOMENT,

INSTANT-BY-INSTANT.

FRED AND EMMANUEL REALITY -- UGANDA STORY

Cary always enjoyed the ride between Kampala and Jinja.  As they were driving past the Mabira forest Cary perked up.  “Sam, did you ever talk about the forest with Fred Mukasa?”

“No.  Usually we just talk business when we are together.”

“Last time we visited, he told me that during the Amin times and the Obote civil war, hundreds and hundreds, or thousands, of bodies were dumped in this forest.  Off and on over the years since then, when driving down this highway, people have seen a woman walking across the road, usually in the middle of the night, and they’ve slammed on brakes, causing accidents, or driven off the road to avoid her – and then she had disappeared. 

 A ghost. 

Fred said he actually saw that not long ago.  He wasn’t the driver, was dozing, the driver hollered and started slamming the brakes and swerving the car, and they nearly rolled.  Fred saw this woman, too.  And he saw her disappear right before his eyes.  I trust Fred; have known him since our first visit here in ‘91.  For him — a very intense Christian, as you know —  to tell that story, lets me know that what people are seeing is the truth... but in a spirit realm that we rarely enter.”

Sam said, “I’ve heard those stories many times, of course.  With all the murders attached to those years, and all the witchcraft, and the rituals done to bring people part way back to life, I can see how it would happen.  Especially here.”

“I followed the news sometimes and the number of accidents – and frequent deaths as a result – is mind blowing.”

“People are praying all over this area of Kampala, Jinja, and other towns and villages seeking God’s forgiveness for these hundreds of crimes that were committed and asking Him to restore and redeem the communities and families that were damaged, even totally destroyed.  We’re gradually seeing positive results.”  He paused.  “And, even though that demonic spirit is seen along this highway, I can only hope that, with the prayer, the day will come when the Holy Spirit cleanses this area and none of that danger will be part of our lives.”

Cary patted Sam’s arm.  “I agree.  I know the Lord is the only answer.  It’s true in so many circumstances in all of our lives.  I can hardly wait to see Uganda restored.”

They stopped chatting after that for another stretch of time.  The light was increasing, as was the traffic.  Suddenly they were crossing the bridge in Jinja by Owens Dam at the beginning of the Nile.  Cary shook her head.  “Did I tell you the story about the guy we met in Jinja during our first time here?  When we were visiting the church in Jinja?”

Sam shook his head.  “I don’t think so.  What was it about?”

“Emmanuel was a godly man, but he had a very bad

experience during the civil war.  Bodies piled up at the base of the dam and the army moved them and usually just buried them in a huge pit -- or sent them down the Nile. The rule was that the folks walking across the bridge to get from the cotton factory on the west side to the Jinja side could not look over the side of the dam. 

One day Emmanuel broke that rule.  He looked.  The soldiers beat him, nearly killed him, and his mind has never been healed.  He worships the Lord and has a true heart for God.  But he has some serious physical and mental problems.”  Cary chuckled.  “I know he was badly damaged and it shouldn’t be funny, but he did do something funny with me.  When he met James and I at his church, and I was the preacher, he offered to give me a monkey.  He didn’t have it with him, but would give it to me and I could take it home in my suitcase.  I told him that it couldn’t work that way, because I couldn’t make it through customs, and also told him that if he wanted to give me a carved monkey, that would be OK, but a real one wouldn’t be.  He finally seemed to understand. 

Anyhow, I didn’t come home with either a real or a carved monkey.  But I have Emmanuel’s name in my Bible.  Proverbs 22:3.”  Cary turned around and dug through her back pack for her Bible.  “Here’s the verse.  ‘A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished (with suffering).’  After I reached home and was reading the Word, that jumped out at me about Emmanuel and his life.”

Sam just shook his head, a very serious look on his face.  “So many incidents took place like that during the wars and fights.  We all lost so many family and friends.  And most of the time we never knew what happened.  They just disappeared.  It’s a miracle that Emmanuel lived.  So many didn’t.”

DANIEL 2:28 ... CLOUDY ARM AND FINGER

 

This is more or less what Linda indicated when we looked east and saw the cloud.  She said, basically,

 "He's just pointing and saying, 'Get going.'"

I jumped out of the car then, right before leaving Susie's driveway, and took a photo.  When reading the Word this morning, THIS jumped out, too.

  Worth a chuckle.

Oh, and the trip to dropping Linda off for her car nearly 100 miles away so she could head out on I-94 to the NW

and I could head south on I-29 to Omaha...

that was a weekend truly filled with specialness.

PSALM 36 -- SKIES AND CLOUDS

Just as I was leaving Susan's to head home this morning, I popped out of the car to take photos.  Couldn't NOT share them and blend them into the Word of God.

It was a truly blessed weekend at Susan's.  Truly blessed.

PHILIPPIANS 4:19 -- IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

PHILIPPIANS 1:23 ... AND COLUMBIA RIVER

AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO STAYING HERE, 

GOING AROUND AND ABOUT, 

SEEING MUCH, MUCH OF HIS CREATED WORLD,

AND SPENDING JOYFUL TIME 

WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS .

BTW, took this photo when traveling to the NW with my husband 20 years ago, above the cliff area near Multnomah Falls.  What could be much more gorgeous?  -- But I AM looking forward to Heaven!!

EZEKIEL 36:25 ... CLEAN WATER

YOUR FILTHINESS

 WILL BE WASHED AWAY.

 [ANOTHER REJOICING DAY, ANOTHER REJOICING WAY.]

REVELATION 14:7

WORSHIPING HIM WHO HAS MADE...

AND

AND THE

HOW COULD I NOT REJOICE TODAY 

WITH THIS WORD IN MY HEART?

KIDDINESS -- FUNNY, BOTH SIDES..

 
Cary dug out her sun glasses and a ball cap.  She could hardly wait to hit the streets from the YWAM compound, having just reached Soroti a couple hours earlier.

As Jill had said, YWAM was right next to a large IDP camp.  As Cary and Jill walked past, people smiled and children ran out to look closely at them.  The children usually stopped right at the edge of the pathway, hesitant to get any nearer to these “strangers.”  Women nursing their infants sat under the few scrawny trees, with a tiny bit of shade, a slightly cooler place.  Under the veranda on the nearby building, people were resting on woven mats, surrounded by piles of belongings, nothing fancy, but obviously “treasures” for these who had grabbed some small bit from their house or yard as they ran to escape the rebels.

Cary nudged Jill gently.  “This is a first for me.  I’ve seen it on TV, of course, for years in many places, but never have I seen such in-your-face sorrow.”

Jill nodded.  “This week, while walking through here, I’ve been overwhelmed day by day, wishing I could somehow turn everything around, simply because my heart desires to do so.”

After cutting through the camp, they headed across the park, that, until recently, obviously had been flowerful and colorful, and well-cared-for.  Now, cattle wandered around, grazing and leaving manure piles here and there.  Kids, young and old, played soccer, using a ball made from black plastic bags rolled together and tied over with chunks of bamboo “rope”, possibly a rock inside to add some real structure.  

Cary chuckled when she saw some kids using plastic bags to “sled” down a dirt pile.  Another laugh popped out of her mouth while watching a young boy laying on the branch of a small tree, hands and legs clasped around it, while other kids bounced it up and down, giving him a ride.  When she laughed, loudly, it caught their attention and they dropped the branch and ran towards her, the little one slipping off last and rushing to catch up.

Just like the kids in the IDP camp, they suddenly froze in place about 20 feet away from Cary and Jill.  Cary and Jill smiled at them, and Cary turned to Jill and said, “Let’s walk away, and I’ll show you what I used to do sometimes near our house in Kampala.”  Jill raised her eyebrows, shrugged and turned and they walked for a few yards, and they could hear footsteps behind them, some rushing forward and then slowing and all kinds of whispering going on. 

Suddenly, Cary jumped around and hollered “BOO!!”  And they all screamed and ran, and while she stood there laughing, they started coming closer, laughing, too, and began to reach out their hands to her.  She held her hand out, and stretched out her arm towards them, and they slid next to her and Jill and began touching their white skin and then giggling and jumping backwards.  

And this went on and on for a couple minutes.  Cary asked Jill, “How do we say ‘hi’ in their language?”  Jill said, “It’s the only word I’ve managed to learn.  It’s ‘yoga’, the emphasis on that second syllable.”  They both said, “YoGA” and the kids said it back and then threw in lots of other words, and the kids just stood there and laughed while Jill and Cary shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders and waved ‘no’ with their hands.  

The two of them finally indicated through hand-motioning that they had to leave, and started walking away rather rapidly to get the point across.  They knew some of the kids, from that time on, would always be watching for them.

As Jill and Cary were walking away, Cary dug into her skirt pocket.  “I’m glad I grabbed this on the way out.  It was good to be able to touch, and be touched by, those children, but now, as our pastor friends on Entebbe Road would say, it’s time to wash off the ‘Praise the Lord’.”  Cary covered her hands and rubbed her arms up to the elbow with the sanitizer and passed it over to Jill, both happy from their time with the kids.  

Yes, the kids were mostly dressed in rags, or hardly anything at all, and they had green-gunk noses, and filthy bodies, but they were funny and seemingly enjoying the life they were being forced to live --- 

a joyfulness Cary could never have imagined.