​Day 14 - Earlier this year, I decided I’m getting tired of tiptoeing around about my heart for Jesus. Not so much with like-minded people, but with those who know only a portion of me but have decided to wall themselves off from that most important part.
First, I will confess that, when I first realized Jesus could be a friend to me rather than some mystical being that lives no closer than the clouds, I was so excited that I was obnoxious to others who had never seen him that way. I was overbearing, not my usual introverted self, and I guess they didn’t know how to relate with me anymore. I came to see this as, what I call, my Baby Christianitis.
Many people love watching babies discover new things…their toes, Mommy’s earrings, Daddy’s 5 0’clock shadow, Grandpa’s nose. It’s fun to see their eyes widen, or their concentration, or their tiny fingers grasp a bigger finger. These babies are discovering a life the observers already know, and they can watch in delight, or move to protect them from falls, burned fingers, or trying to eat something they shouldn’t.
But what about baby Christians? Some see them as naively venturing into a world unfamiliar to many of their friends, colleagues, and/or families. Scripture says, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”[1] At this point, I found this statement to be very true. Many were looking at my outside, but few were looking at my inside.
I would say that humans, as a rule, don’t like being judged negatively by others by what they see on your outside. In our day, there is the obvious: race, gender, sexual orientation, politics, where one lives, works, or plays.
My first emotional response to asking the Lord into my heart was the feeling that I was “home”. How many people who knew me at the time ever knew that? How many ever asked? Many people judged me looking through their own tinted glasses. I also looked at others through my own tinted glasses. I wondered why no one ever told me about this before. Why didn’t they let me know about this feeling of closeness we could have with Jesus?  Honestly, I was confused, and a bit put off by this perceived gap in my upbringing.
But I was also so happy, that I sang aloud new songs that I had learned to express my joy in this amazing discovery. Now, I don’t have a terrible singing voice, but this apparently irritated those within hearing. There was no real delight in watching me, no smiles at my new concentration, no warmth showing as I grasped a bigger Being with my immature knowledge. You see, I was 21, so I was not a baby on the exterior. In fact, I had recently returned home from living in Haight-Ashbury. I had been on drugs and was still secretly smoking marijuana, I had lied to my parents and had broken their trust, and I was back living with them to go back to jr. college. I finally wanted to make something of my life. So, when I was introduced to Jesus in this new way, I found the hope that I had given up on.
(to be continued)


[1] 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

It's been a long time since I've posted here. Since the last post, my husband has had a stroke, got out of the hospital in 4 days with no lasting effects, spent the summer recovering by sleeping and eating and got back to his usual self by fall. The prayers of our friends around the world sustained both of us in peace and his total healing! Then, the Lord opened the door for him to fulfill 2 lifelong dreams in one. He ended up in Papua New Guinea on a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) medical ship, serving coastal communities on New Britain. Ever since he was a little boy, he wanted to serve as a medical person in the South Pacific Islands. Also, his dad served in Papua New Guinea during WWII and he always wanted to visit there. So, in June 2015, the doors slammed open, and he found himself on the Pacific Link, fulfilling his dreams. He'll tell you more on our new Facebook site:
 https://www.facebook.com/supportministriesinternational/?modal=admin_todo_tour

​Speaking of which, we will be able to post more photos to keep you up-to-date with our missionary activities on the facebook page from now on. Though, I still plan to be more diligent with this blog.

I need to apologize to those who have sent us comments over the past few years that haven't gotten answers. I will do my best to stop that from happening again. ​I just discovered there were over 15 comments sent that I never knew about. These comments were suppose to be forwarded to our email, but failed. My sincere apologies, especially if unanswered messages caused you disappointment or inconvenience. Please feel free to email us at:             smi.usa.2013@gmail.com.

Blessings,

​Kris​

As Christians, we all resist God's direction...some more than others. Admit it. But what do we use for an excuse?
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1 – God, was that really your direction? We think that if we respond this way, it gives us a reason to delay acting on it...indefinitely. Big mistake! Remember those famous words, “Hath God said?” Remember who said them? Yes, the serpent (Lucifer) in the garden of Eden said them to Eve when tempting her (Genesis 3). Then he proceeded to use her doubt to fill her ears and heart with his part-truths. Often, you will not be sure if it’s really God until you act on it in faith. As long as it’s not stepping beyond scriptural truths, it’s worth a try. If you goof up, accept it in humility as a learning experience…and keep going.

2 – That’s not my ministry/calling. That may be true, but, remember, you’re a servant of the Father. He knows your ministry, because he made you and gave you your skills, experiences, and passions, and his definition of how he’s going to use you may not fit your ideas of what you can and cannot do for his glory. His glory. Not your glory. I once heard a very wise man say, regarding praying for healing for someone, “I don’t take the glory, and I don’t take the blame.” It all belongs to our Father. It’s up to us to simply do our best to be obedient.

3 – What do I have to offer?! Also known as, who am I to think God can use me? It’s easy to say, “I’m a nobody. I’m not talented in that area. There are others much more talented, skilled, attractive, well-connected than I am.” But, be advised that God actually used a donkey and spoke through him to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-35). When in China, I fully realized that, if God can use a donkey, he can use me. I have to tell myself this when I’m nervous, or embarrassed, or fearful, or intimidated about doing something that has the potential to extend God’s blessing in a situation. “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

4 - ____________________________ (fill in the blank) – add your own excuse here. Then search scripture to see what God says about it. Send it to me in the comment section and it may be added to the list.

Obedience is very important to our Father. This is how he uses us to be his ambassadors to those dwelling on earth. That doesn’t mean we run around telling people, “God told me to do/say this!” If it’s truly God telling us, they’ll know. We don’t have to announce it. When we do it, or speak it, the results will tell. Then again, we may not even see the results. I have heard that it was Billy Graham who said, “It takes 40 people to bring a person to Christ. The first one thinks he did nothing, and the last one thinks he did everything.”

There are books and sermons on hearing God’s voice, but a good start is to silence your own thoughts, agenda, wishes, and requests, and just listen to him. Read his word. Be receptive. And in the midst of your activities during the day, stop to ask, “Is this your nudging?” Try it, and you just may find that life is full of adventure!
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To obey is better than sacrifice…1 Samuel 15:22

So, I've come to find out that some things I think are common and well-known...aren't. Maybe it's because I've had a few more years of experiencing failures than many others? 

Like, no one really, I mean *really*, cares about listening to the lecture until they're smack dab in the middle of lab and things aren't going well, right? Then they're scrabbling for their neighbor's notes!

I think that's why our pastor signed us up for Bible classes every Saturday from the minute we stumbled into the church and Jesus found us. We were a bunch of hippies, or military men, or kids off the street and were living our life's lab, desperately in need of what she called the Manual. Thank you Pastor Violet Kiteley!

Don't worry, this isn't going to be all about Bible lectures. I just hope it will become a little piece of "living word" for whoever's out there. 

Here's a sample:

Single girls (who are looking for that one guy): Look for someone who loves Jesus more than he loves you....guys do all kinds of crazy things in the name of love that you want no part of. But God can penetrate their thinking with truth when you can't. You can take that one to the bank!

Married gals: No, he can't read your mind. You have to tell him! Otherwise, don't expect a birthday card! 

Guys: You don't have to fix everything, you don't even have to understand it all to show you care.

One other thought...God is full of surprises. He won't live in our little boxes or confine himself to formulas. So we need to understand his love letter, the Bible. Also, Jesus didn't leave us high and dry. He gave us a gift....John 14:16-17; 25-26. It's the Holy Spirit. Ask for it, you'll need it!