Zipline faith

This morning as I was having my quiet time, I was asking God what his plan was for my future. You see, I've been out of work for almost a year now and that's been very difficult for me. I started working when I was 15 years old and for the last 40 years I have spent every single day working. When you've had a set routine like that for many years and then all of a sudden you wake up and everything has changed it's very challenging. With the economy like it is, it has been very difficult to find a new job. So over the past year I have spent much time in prayer drawing closer to God and seeking his will for my life during this time in my journey.

I'm a very visual person and God knows this because he created me! So usually in my prayer time he gives me little visions to help me understand the answers to my prayers. This morning, God gave me a vision that is so unique that I thought it might bless others and so I am sharing it with you here today. He took me back to a time in my childhood when I was outdoors. Our next door neighbors had installed a zip line between two trees in their backyard. Now it wasn't anything like the zip lines that we have today, but it was very similar. It was "kid sized" if you know what I mean...it was about 10 feet off the ground at the highest point and about 4 feet off the ground at the lowest point. It ran about 50 yards long and to an 8 year old, that seems pretty severe! We'd start out on the zip line scared to death and then by the middle of the journey, we'd be squealing with glee because we were having so much fun! With the wind in our hair as we'd go zooming past our friends, we'd be laughing and having a blast!

As I was remembering the fun we used to have on that zip line and how I was so scared to try it for the very first time, He gave me a vision of a very different zip line but you have to understand on this one, I couldn't see the beginning or the end of His zip line. All I could see was the middle. I could see a large hand fastening a carabiner onto the zip line. Now if you're not familiar with zip lines, let me explain a little. Zip lines today are very high up and in fact, most of them go over tree tops! There's usually a platform that you have to climb up to get to the zip line and then when you're up there, you're suited up with a helmet and a type of harness. You are attached to the zip line with a cable and a carabiner type clip to help you slide along the line toward your destination which is usually another platform much further away...even miles away!

God gave me the understanding that the zip line I was seeing represented my journey in life. I couldn't see the beginning and I surely couldn't see the end but He could.  The carabiner represented  faith so when I trust God, I allow myself through faith to travel along the zip line of my life not knowing where it will go or where a will end.

The journey may be slow at first and then pick up speed, it may be superfast and then slow down, only God knows. There may be times along the journey that I just get to look out and enjoy the beautiful view or there may be times when I am sad and discouraged because of what I see. There may be times when the journey takes twists and turns that I did not expect. There may be pleasant surprises or scary situations. There may be times when I unhook my carabiner of faith and disembark from the zip line, these are times when I choose my own path instead of following the path God has  chosen for me. But as long as I stay clipped in and hold on tightly to my faith, I can trust that God will take me where he wants me to go. I can trust that he will allow the good things and the not so good things for my benefit and my growth.

God also reminded me of the verse in Jeremiah 29: 11 "for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a future and I hope." Since I know that God has a specific plan for me and that he loves me; I can choose to trust him completely. Even though I have no idea where my path will go; I know that God will always be with me because He says in His word, "I will never, no never, no never, leave you or forsake you."

Traveling through life on a zip line of faith doesn't need to be something that frightens us! Instead, it can be a beautiful adventure if we only choose to put our trust in the one who loves us more than  anyone else. I am thankful that God gave me the vision of zip line faith this morning. I know God has a marvelous plan for my life and for your life too. Even though we can't see the next part of our journey, God already has it planned out completely.  He gives us just enough faith for the next part of the journey and when we have completed that leg, he gives us more faith for the next part.

Don't be afraid to clip on your carabiner of faith, step off the platform, and take the ride of your life with God! He's right there with you and He has a marvelous journey that He's planned specifically for you. He'll never leave you...He'll be right there with you...so go ahead, now's the time...take the leap of faith and zoom into your future!

When God Chastises

I remember as a child how devastated I was whenever my father punished me. Often times, I would feel the hardness of his hand across my cheek as tears stung my eyes. He never came to me afterwards to explain his anger or disappointment in me. I learned quickly to associate punishment with rejection. Whenever I would hear him raise his voice, I would cower fearing a physical assault. But I soon learned that a father's chastisement isn't always painful.

As I've grown in my walk with the Lord, I have come to realize that as I trust Him more and more every day; I have to accept his correction along with his love. The Bible says "For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:12 and also "because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Hebrews 12:6. I had always had a hard time understanding this concept. If someone loves you, how could they punish and hurt you. But recently, God used something simple to teach me how he corrects us in love.

I've always been a purpose driven person. My husband tells me constantly that I don't know how to rest. Every day of the week, I am busy from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. There is always so much to do and so little time. A few weeks ago, I was busy working on laundry on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. My husband had tried several times to get me to come and sit down and just rest. Wanting to accomplish my goal, I continued sorting and washing clothes. 

As I stood in the laundry room working away, I heard a still, small voice in my spirit. The voice said "why are you rebelling against me?" I almost turned around to see who had said that but before I had a chance to turn, I felt God speaking to my heart again..."this is the day I set aside for your rest. You are being disobedient and rebelling against me by refusing to accept my rest for you." Wow! Talk about correction! I never realized that refusing to rest on Sunday was having a rebellious spirit toward God. 


I immediately stopped what I was doing and began to cry. I asked God for forgiveness for rebelling against him. I thanked him for lovingly and gently correcting me. No, I did not feel physical pain at his correction but I did feel the shame of rebellion in my heart. I am thankful that God loves me enough to correct me when I am in the wrong. I am also thankful that His love and mercy flow into the forgiveness he offers when we accept his correction for our disobedience. 


Is there some area of your life that you need to correct? Has God shown you an area of disobedience or rebellion? If he has, why don't you confess it to him now and accept his love and forgiveness? He is a loving father who only wants the best for us.

Conduit

Vanity plates or prestige tags...If you're willing to pay the extra money, you can put just about anything you'd like to say on your license plate as long as it's not obscene and it doesn't contain any profanity . Driving around in Georgia, you see some pretty strange ones like "2 B Rich" or "1 Crash". Today, as I was driving home from church, I saw one that really made me stop and think. The car in front of us had "conduit" on it's tag. Now that's a funny word and if you don't know what it means, I'm sure you're curious by now. Conduit is a pipe or channel through which something flows. Electricians use conduit to feed electric wiring through. Plumbers use conduit to provide a way for water to flow. As I was thinking about conduit, it dawned on me that I am conduit, and let me explain why I say that.

Conduit doesn't possess any power in and of itself. It is merely a channel through which the power flows. As a Christian, I have the awesome responsibility to be a vessel through which the love of Christ flows out to others. I am a conduit for His love, grace, and mercy. If I am operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, the channel flows freely. All that God wishes to do in and through me will be accomplished according to His will. But, if my conduit, my channel, is blocked by selfish ambition or pride, then His love, grace, and mercy can't flow freely into the lives of others.

John 15:5 gives a good example of how my life should be as a conduit for Christ. "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in my and I in you, you will bear much fruit for without me you can do nothing." For me to be able to pass on Christ's love, I have to be drawing my power and energy from Him. He is my power source! The only way I can do that is to stay connected to the vine. The vine has all of the sap and nutrients the branch needs to stay alive and to survive, but if you cut the branch off from the vine, it will slowly wither and die. When I am abiding in Christ, I am able to receive all Christ. Christ expects me to pass that on to someone else. He doesn't expect me to dam that up and hoard it for myself...therefore, I am a conduit.

The driver of the car in front of me never knew how much his car tag impacted me today. I'm sure he had some other reason for putting that word on his car tag and I'm sure I'll never know his reason. I do know that I want my channel, my conduit for Christ to be unobstructed so His love can flow from Him through me to others. My hope is that they will experience love, kindness, acceptance, mercy, and grace. In order for me to keep my conduit open, I have to daily choose to put aside pride, self ambition, and a self seeking nature. A conduit for Christ...I like the sound of that. How about you?

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."
— Mother Teresa

ARRIVAL IN BEIJING

Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know that the team arrived safely in Beijing. I received a call from my mom about 7 am our time. She said they would have a 3-hour layover before they boarded the plane to their last destination. Mom said that there was a good bit of turbulence on the 'airbus' they were flying on. But they are all fine and ready to be done flying already. LOL Please continue to pray as they make their trip and pray that when they arrive they will be able to sleep. Also pray for peace for them as they are in a foreign country. Mom also told me that it is very hot in Beijing so pray that physically they will all be ok. I will update more soon.

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”- Jeremiah 32:17

Arrival in SAN FRANCISCO

Hey everyone!

This is Jamie, Bonnie's daughter and I will be updating her blog as much as I can. First off, as you can tell by the title of this post, the team arrived safely in San Francisco! They now have a 2-hour layover and after that will be heading to Beijing! The flight from Atlanta to San Francisco was 2,057 miles. They arrived at 1:26 pm Atlanta time. There was a little turbulence but everybody felt the prayers that have been showered upon them. Please continue to pray as they make this long journey. The next flight will be a long one and lets pray not only for safety but also for peace on each member. Hopefully they will be able to get some sleep while they're on the flight. My mom will be calling me to give me her flight number to Beijing and I will make sure to let everyone know as soon as they arrive safely in China!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

-Ephesians 6:18

One more day!!

I can't even begin to describe how I'm feeling today as I make final preparations for my trip to China. It's exhilarating, scary, peaceful and surreal all at once. You might wonder how I could include the word "peaceful" among all th eother adjectives I used in the last sentence and the only thing I can tell you is that God has given me an indescribable peace that I know has come directly as a result of all the prayer partners who are lifting me up right now. What an awesome thing to know that I have many people praying for me! I am so honored.

Pray for China

Currently, China is experiencing riots and flooding both in various parts of the country. The flooding is very near where we'll be staying, so please, lift up our team even before we leave. We know God is in control and this was not a surprise to Him even if it is a surprise to us. He is the God of all creation! He can calm storms and quiet seas at the mere command of His voice. Pray that the Chinese people will look to Him during this time of unrest and confusion.

Proverbs3:4-6 tells us "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

I choose to trust Christ even though circumstances around going to China seem scary. With all the quarantines, the riots, the flooding...if I look with my fleshly eyes, I don't want to go because of the possible danger...but I choose to look through my spiritual eyes and trust that everything is under control and everything is going according to God's perfect plan. He is all knowing and I am not. I am only to be obedient to His call for me to go to China. I only have a small glimpse of what lies ahead, but I know He's there ahead of us even now.