February 23, 2010
J. Update
Thank you to so many of you who have asked about J. and prayed for her. A week after the accident, she is much better. She still complains of pain in her top gums and her bottom lip still has an open sore, but she is almost back to normal. She has been taking advantage of the opportunity to ask for all types of soft food, including ice cream, marshmallows, mangoes, and her favorite meal of rice and yogurt!
Provision
God has looked after our needs for the 6 years that we have been at Portantorchas. Through the generosity of many different people, we have received gifts of faithful financial support, frequent flyer miles, speech therapy evaluations, dental consults and eye exams, and used clothes and books. We firmly believe that God knows our needs, that He is our Provider, and that He has provided!
I think of how God provided food for the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, and a jar of oil to a widow that didn’t run dry, and how from the very beginning He planned to send a Savior (see Genesis 3:15). He still meets our needs. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
We have students in this stage right now, who are trying to figure out what their next step is, and how they will pay for it. I feel confident to tell them that God truly will provide when they are walking in His will!
I recently saw a sparrow feeding on some crumbs that my girls had dropped outside, and I remembered God’s tender reminder, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store a way in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”(Matt. 6:25, 26) We were excited to see how God used the girls to fulfill His promise to the birds.
God provides for us. That is a blessing to us. And when we are used by God to provide for someone else's needs, that is a blessing to us and to others.
I think of how God provided food for the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, and a jar of oil to a widow that didn’t run dry, and how from the very beginning He planned to send a Savior (see Genesis 3:15). He still meets our needs. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
We have students in this stage right now, who are trying to figure out what their next step is, and how they will pay for it. I feel confident to tell them that God truly will provide when they are walking in His will!
I recently saw a sparrow feeding on some crumbs that my girls had dropped outside, and I remembered God’s tender reminder, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store a way in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”(Matt. 6:25, 26) We were excited to see how God used the girls to fulfill His promise to the birds.
God provides for us. That is a blessing to us. And when we are used by God to provide for someone else's needs, that is a blessing to us and to others.
February 22, 2010
Changes
Some of you are already aware of what has been happening lately at Portantorchas. Tom was named the Director at the end of January. He will actually maintain most of his duties as Principal also until they can be divided among staff. For those of you ex-students and staff who know Portantorchas, Marco Jr. has resigned from his position as Director.
We have been aware of these changes for a few months and have had time to digest what this change entails. Tom received a wonderful vote of confidence from the Board of Directors, and we have heard many encouraging words from staff members and former students. Nonetheless, it is a big responsibility that will require lots of prayer and all the Lord’s equipping.
I have been reading a book about the gift of the Holy Spirit. One central message of the book is that God equips us to do His work AFTER we say, “Here I am.” When God has our attention, and our commitment, He can proceed to open doors and equip us. He doesn’t want to tell us what our task is and have us back out. And, He isn’t going to equip us for a job we don’t want to do. That would be a waste!
The Christian life is exciting. God gives us surprises. If you are at a place where you are wondering, “What’s next?” then come before God, and tell Him you are available and willing. As you wait to know His will, He will open the doors when you are ready!
We won’t always know what the work will be, or how God will equip us, but isn’t it enough to know that it’s what He has perfectly planned for us?!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. (Jer. 29:11)
We have been aware of these changes for a few months and have had time to digest what this change entails. Tom received a wonderful vote of confidence from the Board of Directors, and we have heard many encouraging words from staff members and former students. Nonetheless, it is a big responsibility that will require lots of prayer and all the Lord’s equipping.
I have been reading a book about the gift of the Holy Spirit. One central message of the book is that God equips us to do His work AFTER we say, “Here I am.” When God has our attention, and our commitment, He can proceed to open doors and equip us. He doesn’t want to tell us what our task is and have us back out. And, He isn’t going to equip us for a job we don’t want to do. That would be a waste!
The Christian life is exciting. God gives us surprises. If you are at a place where you are wondering, “What’s next?” then come before God, and tell Him you are available and willing. As you wait to know His will, He will open the doors when you are ready!
We won’t always know what the work will be, or how God will equip us, but isn’t it enough to know that it’s what He has perfectly planned for us?!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. (Jer. 29:11)
February 16, 2010
Trauma
Our little J. slipped in the bathroom yesterday and bit some big holes in her bottom lip including one little bite that went all the way through her chin. There was a lot of blood and we are still unsure about what will happen with her two top front teeth. The gums are very bruised and we aren’t sure if she damaged the roots at all. Time will tell.
However, she has been so brave! She’s a good little girl, her Daddy says. Today she was as active as ever, singing as much as she always does, and she rode about ½ a mile on her little trike! I think that we, her parents, are more traumatized than she is.
I have to believe that God was preparing me for this event. That morning I really felt a burden to pray for peace, and I was lucky to have a nice, long prayer time (J. was still sleeping and her sisters were off to school). I wrote out a prayer card with a few verses and requests. One of the verses I wrote was John 10:4 “He goes on ahead of them…”. Underneath I had written, “Jesus sees the way that’s coming and will lead me through it.”
It’s amazing to think that as I wrote those words, God knew what was going to happen. And in fact, God did give me the peace I prayed for; when I found J. in the bathroom with a mouth full of blood, I let out only one cry before suddenly I felt peace! And, I still feel it. It has been so comforting to see Him work on my behalf.
“He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.” From the old hymn, ‘In Heavenly Love Abiding’.
However, she has been so brave! She’s a good little girl, her Daddy says. Today she was as active as ever, singing as much as she always does, and she rode about ½ a mile on her little trike! I think that we, her parents, are more traumatized than she is.
I have to believe that God was preparing me for this event. That morning I really felt a burden to pray for peace, and I was lucky to have a nice, long prayer time (J. was still sleeping and her sisters were off to school). I wrote out a prayer card with a few verses and requests. One of the verses I wrote was John 10:4 “He goes on ahead of them…”. Underneath I had written, “Jesus sees the way that’s coming and will lead me through it.”
It’s amazing to think that as I wrote those words, God knew what was going to happen. And in fact, God did give me the peace I prayed for; when I found J. in the bathroom with a mouth full of blood, I let out only one cry before suddenly I felt peace! And, I still feel it. It has been so comforting to see Him work on my behalf.
“He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.” From the old hymn, ‘In Heavenly Love Abiding’.
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