Inexpressible Joy!

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. Matthew 19:14 NLT


Joy has been said to be different then happiness. Not something that is caused by ones circumstances, but from a deep contentment.  I believe this only comes from knowing the creator. ELOHIM. 


Ann Spangler writes in her book, Praying the Names of God   "we should praise God for His unchanging nature- no matter what happens to us or to the world around us, God remains the same."


Watching the children in Guatemala was like looking into the face of Jesus. Loving brown eyes, soft tender smiles and outstretched arms. They had joy despite their lack of resources and circumstances. 


I believe that when we know the One who created us we can be filled with overflowing with joy. 

He is our joy when;

our bank account is overdrawn

we are filled with grief and sorrow

friends have let us down

a marriage has crumbled

a job has been taken away

nothing else makes sense.

Putting your trust in the one that created you and understands your hurts and disappointments is worth the risk. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, I Peter 1:8

Father, I am putting my trust in you.  Elohim, the maker of heaven and earth, the creator of all things.  I crave your joy in the midst of times that are not always easy. Remind me that your joy is constant, never changing always enough,  Jann

Take a look...

Take a look, a long good look. What do you see? 

A man, someones son, brother, father, friend. Standing on the street with everything he possesses. Existing, Breathing, Wondering, "Is this all there is?" 


What would you say to him? How do you respond? 


Looking through the back of the van, watching this beautiful creation of God, all I could think to do is offer him some food. Unfortunately, all I had was a Cliff bar and a granola bar. He graciously accepted the gift and then curiously looked at the packaging, quickly adding it to his belongings.

Lord, guide this man, direct him, whisper your deep love for him, restore him and give back to him what has been taken, I pray silently. 

This man reminded me that every person is created by God, loved by God and matters to God. It felt good to reach out to him.

Earlier in the week while walking through the streets of Panajachel, in Guatemala we were approached by Mayan women who were insistent that we buy their blankets, bracelets, key chains and more. 


I would like to say that I

• had a deep meaningful conversations with these women.
• prayed with these women.
• was moved with compassion. 

Unfortunately this was not the case. All week we had worked to build relationships and share the love of Christ with people and in an instant I had reverted back to deciding who I would be kind to. 


Examine your heart and actions today.Who can you reach out to? The clerk at the store, your neighbor, the gas station attendant, someone at the homeless shelter?

 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; Psalm 24;1

Father, forgive me for picking and choosing. Thank you for reminding me that the Earth is yours and everything in it. Jesus thank you for dying for everyone. Change my heart one, Mayan woman at a time.  Jann

Prison Coffee and Pan Dulce

Prison. Just the sound of it makes me nervous. "those people who have done bad things", I think to myself when I hear the word. What does it make you think of? 

While in Guatemala we spent a day at a Women's prison. Women from the ages of 19-90 were living within this gated community. A good majority of the women were sentenced for drug trafficking and money laundering. Others were incarcerated for murder, theft or extortion. There are also those who are innocent of the crimes brought against them.

On this day we would be visiting with the women and listening to their stories. One by one they shared with us candidly about their sentencing, their crimes and their innocence. I was moved by their painful plea's that we pray for their families. Most had left children behind. It was a sad and sobering time. I had a question;

"Lord how do I share about your hope, joy and peace in what seems as a "hopeless place"?

The joy came as we prayed for each woman that we met. Only Jesus can give us hope, joy and peace! It was an honor to share with many of the women that "El Roi" the God who sees me, sees them and knows their name.

A group of woman invited us to have coffee and pan dulce (sweet breads) with them. It was a wonderful time of sitting around a table, laughing and talking with friends. 

If it wasn't for the security gates, the bars and the prison guards, this coffee klatch could have been happening in any town in America. Those precious moments with sisters made me forget that I was locked inside a prison. 


Sharing the love of Jesus in this instance, was providing the normalcy of laughing, talking, having coffee with sisters and feeling accepted. I think that this is what Jesus did when he ate with sinners. He brought the good news to them and sat in their midst. 

The answer to my question was answered in coffee and pan dulce. 

Who can you share the good news of Christ with?  
Who needs to know that they are accepted and loved?  

Father, forgive me for prejudging these women in prison. Thank you for opening my eyes to their cries for understanding a deep desire for love and acceptance. Thank you for modelling this for us in how you have lavished your grace and love on us.  Jann

La Limonada, Guatemala

Years ago the area of La Limonada was a beautiful location, a natural ravine, with a river running through it and lot's of trees. At one time Guatemalans from rural villages fled to Guatemala City, and began squatting in the narrow valley to escape the violence of the civil war. Today this area is home to more than 60,000 people. La Limonada, which was once an escape from violence has now become notorious for violence.  

The ghetto has been known for violence, gangs and drugs. Bullet holes can be seen in the walls and alleys. No wonder that it has the 4th highest murder rate in the world! Gangs have controlled a great majority of this area. Many have died because they walked into the wrong zone of the ghetto. The drug of choice, mostly because of its affordable price and easy availability is glue sniffing. The little yellow glue tubes can be seen all over the ground.  


Residents have difficulty getting hired for jobs when employers find out where they live. If they do find a job, they are paid very little for their efforts. Some make as little as $3.00 a day.


Knowing all of this, we entered into the ghetto prayerfully and trusted the relationships that our guides Ashley and Emily from Hope Renewed International had built with many who lived here. 

People have asked me if I was afraid going into this area. Honestly, I felt the protection of the Lord as we walked through the rock paved alleys, children playing in the alleys, past men drinking in door stoops and the hundreds of people we greeted. Knowing that I had been sent with a purpose and in the name of the Lord gave me strength as we ministered in this area. 


Let me introduce you to two people that impacted me. I am purposely removing their names.


Man#1 
In the morning, I met #1 while we were working on mixing and applying stucco to a house. We had a pleasant conversation and he was helpful with the work. Our friend Emily had been sharing with this young man about God's plan for him and her hope that he would be able to stop drinking.  He was confident of this and
seemed excited about it. After lunch we returned to the work site and so did man #1. Unfortunately he had drank his lunch and now was stumbling and slurring his words. My heart sank as we talked with him.  I even said to him, "it's hard to understand you when you sound like this ........." . Fortunately he found humor in my frankness. I began to pray as I stood there mixing cement, trying to back away from his horrible beer breath. "Lord, what do you want me to do? How can I show your love to this man?"  I honestly wanted to just walk away!  

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

I was reminded of this verse and stayed talking, feeling inadequate and unprepared to minister to this man. Just when I felt like I had nothing else to offer, God reminded me that he had prepared me in the morning for just this situation. 

I reached into my bible and pulled out a 3x5 card and began to read the verses that I had written in Spanish that morning. "My word will not come back void" I heard God whisper as I kept reading to this man. 

Man #2 
Seven of us met him in the alley and at once realized that there was something special about this young man. He responded slowly to our questions, the consequences from years of glue sniffing. When asked if we could pray for him he asked us to join him in his home. Inside the dimly lit, dirty house we asked what he would like prayer for. He began to share with us his addiction to glue and his desire to be free of it. Hesitantly, he also shared that he was not ready to go into a rehab program. After several of us shared scripture with him and prayed for him I was reminded that God wants to heal us but we must be ready to accept His healing and restoration in our lives.

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.' Jeremiah 30:17

The ghetto has been known for violence, gangs and drugs, Yet I found it to be a place filled with people who are hungry for love, acceptance and restoration. May God richly bless those like Ashley and Emily and their teams to be the hands and feet of Jesus, making a difference 1 person at a time.

Where is your "la Limonada?  How does God want you to minister there?

Father, I pray for this beautiful area of La Limonada.  I ask that you would use the light of Christ and His deep forgiving love to change this place. To make beauty from Ashes. Restore what has been taken from these people and increase your presence by casting out the darkness!  Jann

How will you receive it?

Trash, trash and more trash! Mounds of it sorted into different types to be recycled. Muddy ground that many people have trudged through and corrugated tin roof houses lining the pathways that make up “the Dump”.  


This community is unique in that it has order to it. The houses are numbered and people often can be seen sweeping the dirt to remove the human waste into the gutters.

Getting out of the van and entering this dump world was overwhelming for me. My eyes could barely take in the sights when my nose was overtaken by the smell of rotting trash.

Children immediately sense your presence and eagerly greet you.  It’s amazing how quickly a child can put an anxious heart to ease. Walking down the muddy corridors, holding the dirty hand of a giggling, smiling, child changed my nervous, questioning heart into one that was filled with great anticipation of what was to come.

 The people who live here are poor, really poor. If they have a job they may make about $150.00 a month. Each of the homes has a type of outer door that works as security for their property and then once inside the courtyard, the homes have a door covered with fabric. Generally the inside is made up of one room. Tenants at the dump have electricity, beds, TV’s, small, table top burners or small stoves but do not have;  indoor plumbing,bathroom, oven,windows or insulation.

Often the dust from the dirt covered walkways blows into their homes blanketing their belongings and making it difficult to breathe. Sickness and disease is rampant and many do not receive medical attention.


In the midst of these hardships we encountered people that loved their families and worked hard to make the best of what they had. 

Armed with quilts that were made by women and children from our church we ventured out to share these as a representations of God’s love. “Buenos Tardes” we each say as we enter their humble home and sit on their bed. We make introductions, kiss the women on the cheek, offer them a quilt and them ask if we can pray for them.

Interestingly, there were several reactions to the gifts that were offered. Here are the ways in which they received the gifts;

•   Some were overwhelmed.
•   Some wanted a different one.
•   Some wanted us to share the gifts with their friends.
•  Some cried and praised God.

Often we also fit into one of these categories! God has given us so much, His gifts to us are never ending.  

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

How we receive what He has offered to us has an impact on us.

• We can respond by being overwhelmed with joy at His mercy and love.
• We can be disappointed,  because we wanted something else.
• We can question why we were given the gift.
•  We can share it with friends.
•  We can praise God for what He has provided for us.

How will you receive what God has for you?

Guatemala

I am writing today to ask for your prayers.  A team of 14 is flying to Guatemala today.  While we are in this beautiful country we are asking that you pray for boldness in our faith, a deep love for the people and for safety.  If you want to keep up with our travels check out the Guatemala blog. http://gmt2011.blogspot.com/