227 -Something Was Not Right

227 – Something Was Not Right

November 3, 1986

Suddenly something was not right with our home group leader. This man had seemed normal and stable. He was well liked. He did well in his classes at the Bible school. Dan admired him. And then one day he seemed to have a break with reality. There was a terrifying episode at the school and it was a very sad event on campus when Jimmy had to be restrained and taken to the hospital. An expanse of prayers went out for both Jimmy and his wife Josie.

Jimmy and Josie shared the two-story Victorian house with us in the village of Livonia, twelve miles from the school. They lived in the smaller one-story parlor, to which had been added a bathroom and a very small kitchen. We shared a connecting door at the base of the stairs. The door was kept locked in order to keep the two residences completely separate and private. (And to keep little boys from running back and forth.) Jimmy and Josie were second- year students and we, of course, were first-year students. They were in their 40’s like Dan and I.

From my journal the next day: Josie came over early this morning to discuss with us her intention of committing Jimmy to an institution. Jimmy was not in agreement and was still not acting in his right mind. We could hear him yelling and objects crashing thunderously. I was crazily worried that he would come bursting through our adjoining door.

Dan had left for work hours before, and fear came over me big time. The boys helped me gather our school books and cheese and crackers and juice boxes we hurried up the stairs and locked ourselves in the boys’ bedroom! We did not get anything done. We huddled together and sent up some pleas to God to save us and to protect Josie.

Several hours later Josie let us know that the ambulance had taken Jimmy to a facility. We were all badly shaken. We comforted Josie as best we could. She drove over to the hospital to sign papers then went to the school to talk to the administrators. She ate dinner with us that evening.

I found out two days later that one of the Elim women who led a prayer group on campus, fully aware of Jimmy’s mania, but not aware of our plight that day, had felt strongly to pray for our protection on Monday morning. On Wednesday she came to our house to encourage me and showed me in her journal that her prayers for that day included our names!

Thank You, Jesus! I am so grateful. Joan’s prayers were probably the reason I was not wildly over-reacting to the distress I heard and the distress I felt! Thank You for putting our dilemma on Joan’s heart.

Thank you for delivering us.

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:14-15

The fervent prayer of a righteous (woman) accomplishes much! James 5:16b

226 -A Dream Inspiring Earnestness

226 – A Dream Inspiring Earnestness

November 3, 1986

I woke up with a thought-provoking dream: a young plain woman was straining, singing: LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THOUGH ME. She REALLY REALLY meant it.

And there was another part of the dream that also convicted me and made me want to be THAT given over to Jesus. Now Dan would say, “You are that given over, honey” but I don’t remember so earnestly praying a prayer just like that. I say “glorify Yourself through me,” but it seems casual compared to this girl’s earnestness.

Joyce Harper wrote about their prayer group being convicted of double-mindedness. Lord, I do not want to be double-minded. Saying one thing and in actuality doing another. Words are cheap. Thank You for this prompt to draw closer to You.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

225 – Dan Decrees Sundays are for Rest

November 2, 1986

Dan determined today that Sundays will be a day of rest and family time. No ministry—no one to dinner, no bills, no heavy things. Picnics, hikes, snowman-building, walking over to the school. Because every day is the same for us: up early, hit it hard all day, bed. No rest. We will have a day of rest!

Dan had classes at the Bible school most days of the week. And daily work to earn income. Elim had already had two big events in the two months we had been there: the weekend of prayer and the missionary convention. We were in a weekly Elim home group. We were expected to have groups of foreign students over for dinner each month, which we all really enjoyed. We also had our weekly homeschool group gatherings and outings. We loved it all and participated in everything.

But we were pooping out and it was only the third month of school. It was a good decree.

I want God’s priorities in my life, and Jesus’ attitude of full surrender and dependency on His Father. I thank God that Dan does also and that we are in agreement.

Can two walk together unless they are agreed? Amos 3:3

224 – A Friend’s Timely Advice

November 2, 1986

Jenny had been on my mind to call for advice about my crazy, roller-coastering hormones. I had become pregnant on the honeymoon. When we celebrated our 6^th anniversary, I had just turned 39 and our fourth son had been born 3 weeks earlier. I experienced only a few weeks in the 6 years where I was not pregnant or nursing. My hormones did not know how to act. I was trying to eat healthy, with no sugar or caffeine at all. I was trying to walk every day and keep my stress down.

As soon as we walked in the door from church and shopping, the phone rang. It was Pastor Dave in Reno – with Jenny! Neither had called us in New York before. Thank You, Jesus!

Jenny had had a wonderful experience after church that morning and she had been sharing it with the pastor. She had been counseling with two Japanese-speaking women and Dave knew who would really appreciate the story…the ones who hoped to go to Japan someday. We were very excited!

Three hours later Jenny called again to talk about my issue with my hormones. God, You are so faithful. It was such a help to have her understanding and support. She also had 4 children close together and wacky hormonal dips and dives. I have no one here who identifies with me on this, and Jenny was the only one in Reno who ‘got it.’ Validation that one is not c-r-a-z-y is very important.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:10

223 -Total Commitment

223 – Total Commitment

October 23, 1986

Acts4:31 – and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the word of God with freedom and boldness and courage. (Amplified)

My Bible note says that it was God’s grace that enabled the disciples to be bold and courageous, and generous. God was calling for total commitment and purity of heart and through them He did signs and wonders.

God healed, He killed (Ananias and Sapphira), He had an angel manifest to open a prison door. He had His disciples oppose the local authorites and take a stand and preach Christ. They took the risks. Because they were filled full of the Holy Spirit and could only obey God.

God loves our total commitment, everything brought before Him continually, and He gives great favor in exchange.

I see us in total commitment:

-taking the risk to leave all and come to Bible School

-receiving favor to homeschool

-the generosity of our church friends and our family

-phone calls, letters, love from friends—and prayers

-my parents devotion to us

-getting in to Dr. Ness’s medical group at the last minute

-favor with landlord

Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.

222 -Believe and Be Saved

222 – Believe and Be Saved

October 22, 1986

I have been reading my Bible and praying, more than writing in my journal. Praise God, it has been GOOD.

I have seen God taking over in me and in the circumstances!

Swindoll’s book, Improving Your Serve: When God is in control of the servant’s mind…life’s greatest joy is to give His love away. (paraphrased)

Fill me up today, Lord, moment by moment, so I can give Your love away.

Help me see the pitfalls that await me and remind me to call on You to get me up and over them and on the other side!!

And thank You for the invention of the telephone—we heard from Danny P, Auntie Bev, and my parents. So much love flowing our way…

Tim and Daniel stayed at the Pletcher’s while Dan and I took Steve and Mark to the Billy Graham movie, Cry From the Mountain. Both boys went forward when the invitation was given! Halleljuah!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31

221 – Exhorted to Live in His Presence

October 15, 1986

I see that the only way we can be gracious and go with the flow is to have come through our experiences and stressful times being in continual companionship with Jesus.

I got to go to early morning chapel on campus yesterday. It was wonderful and God was present and moving.

Brother Edwards spoke of seeing the Lord’s presence manifested and His manifest presence. I forget which is which.

But as I read in Acts 2 this morning:

22 Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst.

25 “For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.”

26 ‘THEREFORE [being in His Presence] MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;

28 ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’

O Lord, My God. In your presence I will not be shaken. In Your presence my heart is glad and I have hope. In Your presence we fellowship and I am full of gladness. I love gladness!

220 – Official End of Pity Party

October 14, 1986

Father – I’m supposed to ‘forget not His benefits’ (Psalm 103:2) AND I DID FORGET! And I stayed in self pity longer than I should have. When I see it I need to jump right out into counting my blessings and His benefits.

I’m remembering that on SATURDAY all four boys played nicely with David in the morning and he stayed for lunch. Then after he went home and Daniel napped, I got to read Open Heart, Open Home, by Karen Mains for two hours. The other boys played so well together …Oh what a blessing!

On SUNDAY, we had a wonderful morning of worship and teaching at Elim and then a wonderful picnic and fellowship time with the Tarpins and McAloons. Thank You.

On MONDAY, Tracey Belcastro came over and we did her washing. I was able to give her some food and we talked and prayed uninterruptedly for almost 2 hours. Two boys went to Chris Pletcher’s and two boys napped.

MONDAY night Skiffs came to dinner. Sue helped me get it together while Dave (a barber in his former life before he became a student) cut the boys hair!! Praise God.

LET ME FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE PLEASE! LET ME PRAY THROUGH EVERYTHING AND REARRANGE WHAT I CAN IN THE TIGHT SPOTS!!

One thing I see is that the first hours of the day all the boys want to be together with me. Perhaps we could have a really loving and friendly time, playing games, reading our books, till 10 when we have snack. Then try for math and then reading after lunch when Daniel’s in bed.

The book, Open Heart, Open Home is having a wonderful affect on me. I walked all of the kids to the library on Tuesday and let Leah and Nicole stay for lunch (usually I am too stingy to share our food, rationalizing that our income is meager and we need it for ourselves). ALL the neighborhood kids were here ALL afternoon. I let them inside for drinks, mediated their squabbles, played with them a bit, checked on them, talked to them—God is working through this book! Praise Jesus!

AND to top it all off, Janet and Jackie called from Reno! And Pastor Dave called also!

I call an official end to the Pity Party.

*Open Heart, Open Home, by Karen Mains, 1976.

219 – Pity Party

October 14, 1986 -early Tuesday morning, day off school

All I see is their faults and mine – noisy gongs and clanging symbols.

What will God do to revive our love??

I see that I am closed to accepting help. In many ways I am trying to do it all myself.

Relax, Georgann, let loose. Let the Body of Believers, work.

I cannot see God as Big Enough to orchestrate my kids going with other kids (although no one has asked but Leslie, who invited them to a worldly movie (groan)).

And so I carry this burden of bringing up four boys alone day after day.

My desire is that Dan be more available.

But do I just need to let go and let God get more involved? — and ask for some relief?

Actually—Vivian (new neighbor who moved into Josie’s part of our house) babysits every Tuesday night and Angela babysits every Friday night.

Chris Pletcher, age 13, comes over and plays GI Joes and runs around with them outside with them once a week and Nicole comes and helps with Daniel once in a while, too.

It’s just a pity party… giant groan….

218 – Putting My Faith in Christ

218 Putting My Faith in Christ

October 12, 1986

Meeting my fears and anxieties and inadequacies through the Word of God….

Which – I told Julie yesterday—I base my life on.

It is no longer I who live now, but Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20

Faithful is he who calls you who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Ye are dead and your life is hidden in Christ with God. Colossians 3:3

A dead man is free of worry and introspection!

I put my faith in Christ in me.

Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

I turn from ME to YOU, Jesus. You live in me and I believe right now that You will live out this day through me. I will keep praising YOU, I will keep believing in Your faithfulness. I believe Your power will empower me to be kind and gracious. Thank You!!