Month: October 2018

306 ~ Promise of Angelic Protection

306 – Promise of  Angelic Protection

July 29, 1988

Thank You, Lord. I take this for just what it says: in listening for Your voice and obeying You, we have Your blessing and protection.

Exodus 23:20-33 He is sending an angel ahead of us on our journey!

20 an angel will go ahead of us to guard us and bring us to the place God has prepared for us.

21 pay attention to him and listen to what he says: do not rebel against him! My presence is in him.

22 If we listen carefully and do what He says, God shall be an enemy to our enemies.

24 Do not bow down before other gods or worship them or follow their practices; demolish them.

25 WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND HIS BLESSING WILL BE UPON YOUR FOOD AND WATER.

     I WILL TAKE SICKNESS AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF YOU.

26 None will miscarry or be barren,

     I WILL GIVE YOU A FULL LIFE SPAN.

27 I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter.

     I will make your enemies turn their backs and run.

29 Little by little I will drive them out – until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.

33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against Me, because the worship of their gods will be a snare to you.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, NOT KNOWING where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

Just as we had ‘gone out now knowing’ on our trip from Reno to New York, and at other times in our Christian walk, this is what God was requiring/requesting at this juncture.

305 – It’s Coming Together

305 – It’s Coming Together

July 25, 1988

The Lord has provided the Pletcher’s house for us to stay in from the time we have to be out of our house for the entire two weeks until Dan is off his job at SouthCo! They are leaving on vacation August 17 and will be gone for two weeks! They have been our longest NY friends. The day after we arrived, Cheryl came by with treats for us and they quickly brought us into their family. They have been faithful and devoted friends.

My doctor turned a checkup about my ankle into a physical for the Elim Fellowship application. $136 – Praise God.

In my devotions today, God gave me a promise for our family’s health on our trip:

I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26

July 26, 1988

Insurance for the motor home is $271 for a year through a company in Lima. Thank YOU!

Another encouragement for the trip: The Lord delivered his people out of the enemy’s hand as they prayed and kept their trust in Him. Exodus chapter 17

The-Lord-is-my-banner! Exodus 17:15

Banner means: He is my hope and my refuge and my praise!

July 27, 1988

We are sending out a newsletter to our friends to advise them that we are leaving New York. Dan said to keep it short because we have so many gaps in THE PLAN!! Thank you that You know what we are undertaking better than we do and You will enlighten us as we go! I feel we are to concentrate on one step at a time.

A command: Do not be afraid! Exodus 20:20

July 28

Up at 3-4am to pray in tongues. God showed me I didn’t believe He was very reliable and why…I turned it over to Him, and I got release.

An uplifting reminder: The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Psalm 28:8

304 – The Exodus

304 – The Exodus

July 23-25, 1988

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:21-22

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13

These scriptures in my daily reading, just on the day when I need them, embolden me and invigorate my faith. We will be like the Israelites who had God’s loving support with a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to guide them. I believe He will guide us that carefully. AND we are not to be afraid in this faith journey, but to stay in FAITH in God and trust Him to take care of us!

We believe we are headed for California, but are contemplating visiting relatives who live in this part of the country before we head west. And a woman who works in a Japanese church is very interested in us joining her church to work in evangelizing the Japanese somewhere in Pennsylvania.

Dan is very interested in stopping along the way to preach the gospel in parks and on street corners.

I am resisting this. It seems like a distraction.

He suggested we go to church and be open as we worship God. The Lord touched me. He showed me Our God Reigns and that He considers the feet that take the gospel are beautiful. He brought to my mind the Jesus freak hippies on the beach in Hawaii. I count their reaching out to me as very significant in my coming to the Lord two months later!

Exodus means: a going out; a departure or emigration, usually of a large number of people. Six is a pretty large amount.

303 – Trying to Stay Positive

303 – Trying to Stay Positive

July 21, 1988

And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 4:30

Lord, the same thing is happening to me—the signs You do help me believe—the ones in the Bible and the ones in my daily life. Thank You for being practical. Thank You that you are concerned. I do not want to take You for granted. I hear you saying, worship.

We have been very concerned that as the time draws near for us to leave that we still do not have an agency lined up that will agree to take us on and eventually SEND US overseas to Japan. We have been praying a long time about this. And then hope came today. Costa Dier (from Elim) called about our house, wanting to inquire for his son who is in Scotland and returning soon. We told him it has been rented. He asked about our plans and encouraged us to go through Elim Fellowship as our sending agency—to make application and get tentative approval NOW before we leave the area.

THIS WAS VERY VERY ENCOURAGING.

Of course, I was very concerned about the hours needed to complete the application and the time and money needed for the physicals for Dan and me. Our lives are on the clicking and clattering, diving and dipping roller coaster ride again.

Sig and Joy and Jeremy and Nadine have been with us for over a week, delightful people. Our kids love having more kids around—like when Paulette and Bob stay here with their children. They are also itinerating for their Africa vision. Sig said itinerating doesn’t always bring results—try to be with people who have a real vision for missions. Joy said to pray the specifics of what you need, but guard yourself from being overly disappointed. It sounds like a lot of hard work, Lord. Bless them!!!

They also said to keep a detailed list of the contacts we make of people who sound interested in our plan and then to send newsletters if we can afford stamps. Also, to never drop any names from the list because the person may be reading them and not just tossing them– and they may get a nudge from the Lord to pray or send support money.

When I shared the overload of our lives with Cheryl, she said, Georgann, God waits until the situation gets totally impossible and then He moves—and He is glorified!

302 – Our Shepherd Will Provide

302 – Our Shepherd Will Provide

July 10, 1988

We drove to Buffalo to hear Pastor Paul Yonggi Cho who pastors the largest church in the world, which is in South Korea. I always take notes and I summarized his message:

Pastor Cho taught on Psalm 23. It brought release from the pressure to have everything lined out and pre-planned before we leave Livonia. HE WILL PROVIDE. He is our Shepherd.

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on….But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you…. Matthew 6:25

In other words: don’t worry or strive.

Pastor Cho suggested praying 1 hour a day so that my soul will be restored.

He prays three hours a day—so his soul is restored and so that he is bold in the spirit.

He said to look to God instead of looking at what the enemy is doing. Even tragedy is turned to blessing when we are trusting God. Even in bitter experiences, God’s mercy is there.

Since Jehovah is my God, I have nothing to be negative about.

Everything is good with Jesus, whether there is sun or storm.

Lord Jesus, it’s all about faith in You, trusting you, not being afraid, keeping the faith going,

301 – Rhema Words for Me

301 – Rhema Words for Me

There are two primary Greek words that describe Scripture which are translated word in the New Testament. The first is logos and it refers principally to the total inspired Word of God and to Jesus, who is the living Logos.

A rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction. https://atii.org/

 Our Reno Pastor, Dave Fritsche, taught us about receiving rhema words at our church in Reno, Nevada. These were impactful rhemas that I found in my journal:

February 9, 1988

Awake, awake!

Put on your strength, O Zion [O GEORGANN]! Put on your beautiful garments….Shake yourself from the dust, ARISE!….Loose Yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion! Psalm 52:1-2

 

I HEAR: Wake up! NOW! Get strong! Put on your true identity! Throw off the heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, Georgann!!

April 9, 1988

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a STRAIGHT way to a CITY where they could SETTLE. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love, and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:6-7

 

I hear: Jesus is going to lead us to a place we can put down some roots!!!

Just pray, ask, listen, follow, go, drive, and you will be there—the place I want you to be.

 

June 11, 1988

…He works all things according to the council of His will… Ephesians 1:11

He made us in Christ to do good works that He has already prepared for us…Ephesians 2:10

I hear: regarding our moving from NY and regarding my concerns– which were finding a Japanese Christian church where we can work, getting accepted by a missions’ sending agency, getting free of three law suits against us, paying our bills—Jesus has figured it out. Rest in Him.

300 – All We Have is a Vision

300 – All We Have is a Vision

July 6, 1988

Lord, I have more time for the word today and I am receiving encouraging scriptures about Your miraculous power.

And then the Lord said to Abraham …Is anything too hard for the Lord? Gen 18:13a,14a

Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 32:18b-19

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Genesis 18:19

I hear: Nothing is too difficult for God, who is great and mighty and has great purposes for His people. We are chosen and God can have us move on and protect us, and even give us land and provision. He is on our side and we are safe. (He even took care of Lot and his family, sending angels to lead them.)

When Carol and I were talking and I said, “All we have is a vision for this moving venture.”

She said,

….without a vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18

*The vision begins the Reality!

*Keep responding.

*Be obedient in the smallest thing.

*God is patient and wants ends tied up and us really ready.

*Don’t just fill your calendar, ask Him what He wants you to do each day.  

299 – A Friend’s Letter

299 – A Friend’s Letter

1988

Greg and Cheryl became very good friends of ours, and we stayed in touch with them for years. They came to Elim after we had been there one year. They were on the missions track and shared classes with Dan. They were in our age group and had quit their lucrative jobs to follow God’s leading. Their desired destination was China. 

During our shared school experience they had no children. Cheryl loved to come to our house and do dishes and putter around and organize things for me. I remember she would throw the dish-drying towel over one shoulder as she moved around the large kitchen. She loved our sons and our houseful of children. Greg was a true and mature friend for Dan. Later they had 3 children close together and also adopted a baby that was the same ages as their newborn. They did eventually take their family to China for a year.

Cheryl wrote us a letter in which she took on God’s voice and God’s heart for us. Here are some excerpts:

Dear Dan and Georgann, I love you. I shed my own blood for you to make you clean. You are NEW, so believe it’s true. You are lovely in my eyes and I created you to be just as you are. Do not criticize yourself or get down for not being perfect in your own eyes. This leads only to frustration. I want you to TRUST ME ONE STEP, ONE DAY, AT A TIME. Dwell in my power and love. And be free, Dan and Georgann, be yourselves! Do not allow other people to run you. I will guide you if you let me. Be aware of my presence IN EVERYTHING. I give you patience, love, joy, peace. Look to me for answers. I am Your Shepherd and I will lead you. FOLLOW ME ONLY! Take your eyes off yourselves. Look only to me. Let me have the joy of making you like Christ. Let me love you! Do not struggle, but relax in my love. I know what is best and I will do it in you. How I want the freedom to love you freely! Stop trying to be and let me make you what I want. My will is perfect. My love is sufficient. I WILL supply all your needs. Look to me, Dan and Georgann.  I love you, Your heavenly Father

298 -Overwhelmed with a Gift

298 – Overwhelmed with a Gift

July 8, 1988

I love the way the Lord speaks to me through my daily devotions:

The Lord…will send His angel with you and make your journey a success. Genesis 24:40

Lord this is exactly what we need to hear as we prepare for leaving for unknown places without any real vision or plans yet!

 

I was sharing with Sue (Elim student) about our thoughts regarding moving and that we were praying about getting a motor home. She said, “Oh, I’ve seen God work quickly –in a few days and even in a few hours!”

Later that day,

         …..Greg and Cheryl, our very good friends, came to the house with a missionary friend. He had just finished itinerating (traveling around the country raising money to support their missionary assignment). He and his wife had a little motor home, which he brought for us to look at. They were selling it, and of course we were interested, but we had absolutely no money to offer for it.

BUT what was really happening —

was that Greg and Cheryl had already bought it from the missionary and were giving it to us!

YES, GIVING IT TO US!!

I began to object—“you can’t do this…we can’t possibly accept this…” and the missionary said, “You have to learn when people are giving you something to just say, “Thank You, Jesus, and praise the Lord!”

This gift changed everything and put our plans into high gear.

Our friends had brought the missionary so that he could tell us everything we needed to know about driving the motor home and living in it.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your Name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

297 – Timmy Stayed Bonded

297 – Timmy Stayed Bonded

July 6, 1988

Yesterday Dan asked Timmy if he would like to move, even though he could not go to school at Livonia Primary. Tim said a hearty “yes!”

A few days ago when Dan had asked the same question, Tim had said “no.”

The McNeals have been staying with us, in between the first question and this one, and I believe that their visit has been a GODSEND. Tim and Clancey (age 10) have spent a lot of time together, and Clancey really liked itinerating and being on the road. Thanks, Clancey!!

When we leave here, we will be uprooted, and Timmy would be back in homeschool.

July 7

Steve’s 8th birthday. We decorated with crepe paper and balloons, Dan made a super birthday poster, and we had his friends over for cake and ice cream.

Eva Leissups told a story about two sisters who wanted to go to China but God sent them to the Chinese in New York City to learn the culture and the language. I don’t know if they ever left the US. [This proved to be directive and prophetic for us.]

Genesis 22 Was our sending Timmy to public school for one year (because our authority expected it) like Abraham laying Isaac on the altar? Was it a test from God to test our faith in Him, and to prove our commitment to Him? v 11 “Now I (angel of the Lord) know that you fear God because you have not withheld from Me your son.” Lord, I feel encouraged that I passed a test, and that Dan did too, and that You covered Tim.

I also felt relieved that our bond with Tim had survived the 9 month school year separation. Oh, how I fretted about that.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23