After the Heat, Comes the Rainbow

 

It’s hot here.

Yes, folks, it’s hotter than Florida. Doesn’t rain that much either. Just day after day of brutal sunshine from 5:00 in the morning until 9:30 at night.

Bob’s working this Saturday so to pass the time, I decide to walk up to the lake. School starts in about a month and hopefully I will start working again. All my paperwork is in to be a substitute teacher. But until then, I have some time on my hands.

 The Barenloch, which once resembled a cold, Celtic lake on some long-forgotten mountain now looks more like Daytona Beach. Mobs of people flocking down to the green, slimy water’s edge in their too-much-revealing bathing suits.  And most of these people are over fifty.

There is still a slight breeze blowing there which makes it bearable among the leafy branches.  I could go in the water, but I’m used to Florida where we never swam in a lake for fear of being eaten by a gator for lunch. Maybe I will someday. But it’s way too crowded today.

To stay in the shade, I decided to walk the long way up a mountain trail instead of right around the lake. There I saw a boy walking his dog. He was about 10 years old. I tried to give him a tract because I thought the Lord wanted me to. He said “neine” and refused it. He went one way and I the other. Of course, I got a couple of dirty looks like “Who is this religious fanatic?” from some of the half-naked adults walking around so I moved quickly on.

 As I made my way back to the road adoring the flowers, watching huge bumble bees, and smelling the pretty gardens, I noticed that the boy was there with his dog again up ahead of me. I followed him since that was the way home anyway. I zipped past the Catholic Church with its organ blasting the whole neighborhood with music that the Hunchback would have been proud of.  Then, I heard its noon bells ringing up a storm. I stopped and watched him check his mailbox and go into a door. So I left the German tract there in the mailbox; the one he refused earlier.

Like the old saying goes: it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

And then I fled home to the shelter of our apartment and aimed two fans on me and lowered the rolladens even more. A hot day in paradise I guess.

But now I can’t wait for some cool air to return.

However, the next day it rained and got cooler; an answer to prayer. Then God sent a rainbow. Yeah!

Good News from the Middle East

 

We hear a lot of negative news about Muslims and their impact on the world and society. What we are not hearing is how Christ is reaching into that world and changing hearts and lives. In the last 12 years, 65 movements to Christ have occurred throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is unprecedented in the history of the world!

For more information go to www.30daysprayer.com and click on the 8 minute video on the bottom of the page.

I received a 30 days of prayer booklet to pray for Muslins during July which is the month of Ramadan.

There is a story in there about a guy named Pramana. He felt like his life was in ruins. He went to his local imam and he told him to fast and pray. On the third day, a voice spoke to him saying: “Find Jesus, find the gospel.” Living in a very restrictive Muslin country, Pramana had never heard of Jesus. At this point, He didn’t know if Jesus might be a fruit, a rock or a tree. The voice continued to give him detailed instructions on how to find this Jesus. Pramana walked all night to a city he’d never been to, following the voice’s directions. Pramana’s journey led him to the home of one of the only three believers in his people group of 24 million people. This man shared the gospel with Pramana and he became a follower of Christ that very day.

Wow! I thought this was such a cool story, I wanted to share it with you! It just made my day when I read it and inspired me to give out some Chick tracts and renew my efforts to reach out in love to others! We just have to sow the seed and God does the rest.

God bless all of you and have a great day in Jesus!  Aren’t you glad you know who He is???

I thank Anna Chubb, the missionary to Togo, for sharing this information with me.

"All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive." (Mt 21:22)

A Fourth of July Abroad

I prepared the beans this morning and also some fried eggplant to bring to the church picnic. We got there about noon to a fairly large crowd. An awning was set up with folding chairs and tables under it but we preferred to sit out in the sun. It was a rare sunny day so we didn’t wait to take advantage of it.

We ate our hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill in our large lawn area that just a few months ago had been covered with snow and now was lush and green. It was the perfect day with perfect temperatures for sitting outside; sunny and not too hot nor cool.

 It also was the perfect day for discussing the storm clouds on the horizon that threaten to destroy what little American unity is left.  I had read an article that morning on how we were splitting into red and blue states with very little in common between them. The commentaries on the article showed people were very concerned and alarmed on the path our country is taking. But, like the Bible says: “If the foundations be removed, what can the righteous do?”  (Psalm 11:3)

What can the righteous do? All you can really do is be led by the Lord and trust him every day of your life…one day at a time. That’s all we are guaranteed anyway.

We watched the kids play games and talked until late into the afternoon. Then we left, ran by Aldi, grabbed some groceries and proceeded to our home around the corner in little Kindsbach. I made a light supper and then we called Tommy.

It was great to see him on Skype! He told us all about his plans to make a thriller based on the Everglades. I don’t want to tell you more or give away the plot. You’ll just have to see it when he’s done with it. Meanwhile, he filled our heads with his dreams and hopes to help us someday when he “makes it big” so we wouldn’t have to work any more.  It would be wonderful not to wonder how we would pay our bills each month.

After I got off the phone with Tommy, I went out to water the plants and heard the choir softly singing from the tiny church down the street.

“That’s right!” I thought to myself. “Its Thursday and they always practice on Thursday.”  I starred at the church a few minutes and watched as a nun made her way into the building with a large book under her arm. Was that her hymnal perhaps?

 I went back in to do my dishes piling up in the sink.

Next, I called my Mom. That was almost an hour on the phone hearing about all her struggles and problems. But she was in good spirits and so was I and we both swapped stories of our past week.

Finally, the sun went down around 10:00 and the fireworks began around 10:30 at the Base. You could just barely see them through the trees. I tried to take a picture of it but it didn’t turn out.

That’s it. Our first Fourth of July abroad. It felt different in another country. And I felt like I was celebrating what America USED to be.

The America of today doesn’t need celebrating as much as it needs our prayers!

Happy Independence Day!

My High Tower

Yesterday was rough.

I felt depressed. Why, I don’t know. Sometimes, I just get that way. I ran all over the place to get my paperwork done for substitute teaching in the Fall. It drained me, really, as I thought of the long summer. How would we make it?

Then I heard our house didn’t sell for the third time. The contract fell through.

Quickly, I began to pray and struggle with my emotions. I felt immediate comfort from the Lord so I felt better. But then, I thought about the defeat of DOMA the day before and my heart sunk again. I cried aloud like Jeremiah and read in my Bible: “Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” (Jeremiah 5:9)

Finally, it rained and I felt that God was crying. I felt like crying, too. The news seemed all bad as I scrolled around all the news websites.

I cried for all those who think abortion is okay. I cried for those unborn babies who will never get a chance at life. And I cried for those who have abortions with all the turmoil that having one must bring them.

But then, I opened the back door of my porch to water my plants. I heard a beautiful choir singing in the tiny church down the street. They sounded like angels. It was all in German, so I couldn’t understand it but I felt better. God was in control. He is carrying all our burdens for us.

 Of course, I always remember that when I hear the competing church bells ring up and down the street of the two neighborhood churches.

Well, today I did wake up with a migraine headache. That explained why I felt so depressed yesterday. I always feel that way before one.

So this afternoon, Bob and I took a walk through the woods. We passed by some cliffs (could those be those sandstone ones we were looking for last week?) and hiked higher and higher. We got to the crest of the hill continuing to climb up to the top of the Bismarck Tower.

This is the one they call “Hitler’s Tower” where he gave his speeches. In spite of the headache, I felt wonderfully refreshed. We looked out on all the towns and villages around us. How small it all seems this high up! And how small all our problems seem too!

God is still sovereign and His grace is sufficient for every need. He knows about DOMA, abortions and the state of our country; He knows about our trials and troubles before they ever occur. He strengthens us so we can stay faithful to Him and He loves us no matter what happens.

We have a “great, big wonderful” God who will see us through to the end… No matter what is going on in our own lives, our nation or in the world.

It reminded me of the verse that says:

 

 

 

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength and he in whom I trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.” (Ps 18:2)

 

 

 

Looking for the Sandstone Cliffs

It’s been about a week since my walk to Barenloch. Leah and her son, Anthony now invited me on a journey to look for the sandstone cliffs.  These cliffs, consisting of large white rocks, a friend of theirs, a nun, led them to them once a long time ago but they had always wanted to return. So we hiked up and down the hills around Landstuhl and Kindsbach on the trails looking for them.

We stopped at a plaza for lunch in Landstuhl to watch the fountains splashing in sequence. Then we wound back up the trail singing Christian hymns and enjoying nature. It was a little cool but just right with an occasional splash of sunlight to mark our way. I took picture of everything I could but it was dark in the woods so some of the pictures didn’t come out.

We never did get completely lost but we couldn’t find those mysterious cliffs. My both legs started to hurt after a while so I had to stop and rest a few times. However, I limped along and when one leg felt better, the other hurt. At least, they didn’t hurt at the same time.

 A few times we went the wrong way. We went in a circle and ended up back where we had started right by the hospital. We couldn’t believe that happened and we were very disappointed. Somehow, we had gone in a big circle.

Leah shook her head. “I guess we are not going to find those cliffs today. Do you want to head home?”

“Yes!” I replied. “I’m tired!”

Sometimes life seems that way; one big disappointment after another. Sometimes it feels like we are spinning our wheels or going in the wrong direction. But, if we pray for God’s help, He is right there to help us. He will lead and guide us and aim us in the right direction if we pray for it.

We finally came out of the woods by the traffic circle in Kindsbach and walked home a different way. We crossed the street and took the first lane to our right, but it was a dead end. When we walked around the corner however, we saw a little gate that was partially open.

 

“It’s the cemetery.” Anthony said. “I think we can go through there.”

 

We treaded softly through it. The cemetery was neat and filled with beautiful flowers and plants. Every grave was respectfully taken care of like a miniature garden. After we came out of there, we walked down another narrow path and past a miniature horse that was quite beautiful. I tried to take his picture, but he got right up in my face. Then he saw we had nothing for him to eat so he moved away and started grazing. I quickly took his picture then.

 

We finally came out on Hirtenpfad.  My legs wouldn’t hold up much longer so I was glad the trip was almost over. And I thanked the Lord for bringing me safely home.

 

A Walk to Barenloch

On a sunny afternoon, I decided to walk down to the lake. I had been there Saturday with the grandchildren and wanted to go again and explore it a little more.

I started at the “I Am Risen” fountain on the corner of our street and the main road in front of a little florist shop. (Yes, that was the name of the fountain!) Anyway, I strolled through the lovely streets decorated with bowers of flowers and ivy was growing everywhere. I soon got to the Barenloch and took some pictures of it.

 It was a peaceful scene. I need that because I felt turmoil within. Was I supposed to be a substitute teacher again? My head ached with a migraine and I rubbed my temples but I refused to slow down.  Please, Lord, I prayed, show me what to do.

Then, I heard children playing and I climbed up the hill along one of the hiking trails. When I got to where the children were, I realized they were speaking English so that was odd. I strolled back down the hill and by a guy naked from the waist up sitting in a field of daisies, drinking from a bottle with a towel on his head. I steered clear around him.

Then, I looked up and heard laughter again. I saw the children walking in a line with two women adults with them along the path. I waved and smiled and said hello to the last one. She responded In German and I said: “But I speak English.”

“Oh, I didn’t know! Hi!

“Hi! Are you and these kids on a camping trip?”

“No. I am a sub teacher and these are my students. We are just taking a hike.”

“Like a field trip”

“Yeah, like a field trip.”

As they continued to hike, I followed them around the lake.

“So, I want to be a sub teacher too.”

“Yeah, they need them. I am leaving after this year; getting shipped out to Poland actually.”

“That’s rough, isn’t it? To adjust to another country?”

“Actually, we are excited about it.”

“Wow. I like your attitude! And, what school did you say you are from?”

“Oh, Landstule Elementary. It’s an American military school.”

We rounded the corner and chatted a few more minutes about her and the school.

Then I asked: “Where are you going?”

“Back to the school. We’re hiking there and it may take another hour.”

I gracefully backed out at that point and turned back. Just then I turned around a bend and saw a large crucifix in a grotto and thanked Jesus for dying on the cross not only for the sins of the whole world, but for mine.

Also, I thank Him for giving me direction. I will go for the substitute teacher opening and pray He will make a way for me.

I made my way back down the mountain to the lake and from there headed on back.

Back through the bowers of flowers, the quaint, ivy-bestowed houses to the “I Am Risen” fountain in front of the floral shop.

He really IS risen!

Then I returned home thanking Him for the answer.

Trier Journey and American Cemetery

Bob and I planned to spend the day in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, and at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg for Memorial Day. We found out our pastor, his wife, some kids and young people from our church along with the youth pastor and a visiting pastor were all going to go too. So we all caravanned through wine country again. We strolled through the Porta Nigra or “black gate” that is the entrance to that city built by the Romans in the 2^nd Century BC.

We ate bratwursts on brochens(buns) for lunch and walked all over the place til I was very tired. I wolfed down a cup of coffee and Bob had a coffee ice cream cone made with Italian Ices – really good, (I took a lick or two.) After lunch, we visited a large park which had gardens and ruins of the Romans  after seeing the throne room of Constantine, Emperor of the Romans from 400 AD who also accepted Christianity. The Throne Room is now a church and the history of it is on the walls. I read a little of it before Bob wanted me to go.

Then we headed out to the American Cemetery in Luxemburg. I have posted some of these pictures for you to look at as well.  It was sobering moment to view all the crosses and Star of Davids and realize how many men gave their lives for our country. There are many of these cemeteries all over the world. Some are as far away as Manila in the Philippines. There are 5076 tombstones in this cemetery. There are over 10000 in the one in Manila so you can imagine how many gave their lives.

Many tombstones only said “Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God.”

I read in my Bible this morning: “He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” (Isaiah 57:2)

I wondered as I walked through the blooming azalea bushes if they indeed died in vain seeing the deteriorating moral state our country is in today. But then the Lord reminded me that all this world a will be wiped clean one day when He comes back to rule it. Then we will practice war no more and true peace will come to this troubled world.

Two tombstones had the Congressional Medal of Honor on them. I have a picture here of one of them. Some had gold lettering on them. Bob asked about that and they told him that it was sand rubbed into the stone when relatives requested it to get a picture of them at the tombstone. The sand was from the beaches of Normandy.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev 21:4)