The day has been a whirlwind of last minute errands, packing and finishing arrangements for the kids. It is a beautiful autumn day and Daniel took one last long bike ride through the countryside.
One great tool Daniel thought of to pack as well as possible is the bags with the valve so you can put clothing in and then vacuum out all of the air. We were able to get our luggage down to two instead of three check-in bags, including a huge variety of hats, slippers and sweaters made by two elderly ladies in Grand Rapids. What a blessing those will be as winter sets in over in Ukraine.
A few days ago, I had a strong impression on my mind that in the middle of all this busyness, I need to be sure I am paying attention to the needs of others. We could easily be so caught up in our to do list that we miss being a help or encouragement to someone else who really needs it right now. I'm not sure I'm passing the test, but let me pass on two things.
First, praise God for His blessing on my dad as he went through surgery on October 28. Things went pretty good. It appeared that the cancer had not spread at all although they took two nodes for analysis just to be sure. Dad was able to go home yesterday, the 30th. He has several weeks of recovery ahead and some pain issues, but I'm sure it will be a boost just to be back home.
Second, please pray pray pray for my sister-in-law, Carolanne. She is thirty-three and has a hubby and two little ones (3 1/2 and 8 months). She is very sick and each doctor she has seen over the last year has had a different opinion. Frankly, she is having a hard time with digestion from one end to the other, is in a lot of pain, and deeply discouraged. She is down to 112 pounds. She is in need of God's divine intervention NOW. I believe in the power of prayer. If you do too, and will pray WITHOUT DOUBTING, please do. God inhabits the prayer of His people and the prayers of the righteous are like sweet incense to Him. Please lift Carolanne up.
Life goes on around us as we get ready to fly out on Sunday. These things can be very stressful but I am trying to hang on to the FACT the God is Sovereign, and He has not forgotten anyone or anything.
These are lyrics from a song I wrote about a year and a half ago.
There was a woman
Bleeding twelve years
She came up behind Him
And touched the edge of His robe
Saying "As I do this I'll be healed"
Feeling power go out from Him
He said "Who has touched me?"
The disciples said "Who can know,
For the crowd is pressing in"
He looked around Him,
Wanting to see
So trembling with fear,
And confessing,
She fell at His feet
Saying "It was me."
He said "Take heart daughter.
Your faith has not faltered.
Go in peace. Your have been healed.
By your faith, you have been healed.
He is able, He is able
He is able
There is nothing too hard or far from His hand
Set all your fear aside
In His perfect hands abide
Go in peace. You have been healed.
By your faith, you have been healed.
*******************************************
May we be counted among the righteous so our fervent prayers will "avail much."
May we pray without doubt. No anxiety. Just pouring everything out to Him "by prayer and petition, with thankgiving." (Phil. 4:6-8)
Blessings to you all. Shabbat Shalom
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Preparing
As we get ready to leave on Sunday (I'm still pinching myself), you may wonder what we're doing to prepare. Well, we've been cleaning (I can't stand leaving on a trip with a messy house; I love to come back to order). I have to write out the kids lesson plans for the time we are gone since the relatives they'll stay with will need some kind of framework with which to monitor homework.
We have also been shopping for various things we didn't yet have for Maxim, such as a good winter coat. All of the carpet will be professionally cleaned on Wednesday. I regularly vacuum and spot clean but want an especially good job done before we leave because since Maxim cannot walk due to his club feet, a bit of time will be spent on the floor when not in his wheelchair.
I've also been considering the upcoming elections in a different way because we will not be in the United States on November 4. It's the first time I have qualified for an absentee ballot.
With this in mind, bear with me as I reprint an article I wrote in December of 2007. Just know my heart to obey the command we have as believers to spur each other on to good works; to righteousness. Consider it a loving challenge.
What Do We Do Now?
Here in the United States of America, in just a matter of days, we will enter a Presidential election year. The pressure is already on between those individuals hoping to become their parties’ candidates. People across the country are contemplating how to “choose the right person” when the final voting day arrives in November. Some are considering whether or not it is even appropriate to participate in the process.
For the purpose of this article, I will address some scriptural principles and precedents set by God in the matter of who may have power over a nation and what effect the people, specifically professing believers in Christ the Messiah, may have on who their leaders are.
For the purpose of this article, I must also state that what God did with the Israelites is the precedent for how He deals with the Body of Christ today. Everything that happens affecting the Body of Christ today is modeled after, and simply a continuing extension of, His work with the Israelites. If we are in Christ, we are of Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promises (Galatians 3:26-29; I John 5:1). We are subjects, as was Abraham. This is important for us to recognize as believers, during this time of transition in the leadership of our nation.
It is established in scripture that no one has power over anything or anyone unless God allows it. If someone becomes the leader of a nation, it is because God has allowed that to happen. Understand, however, that this does not mean God’s will has necessarily always been for that particular person to be in power. This is where we as believers, fit in. You may be surprised to find out the most critical way you fit into the process.
God is both firm and loving, the divine hand of both discipline and mercy. In fact, His discipline is a component of His mercy (Hebrews 12:6). In Torah (first five books of the Bible), He clearly expressed His commandments and statutes to the people. They are our roadmap to this day. Along with the list of “thou shall’s” and “thou shalt not’s”, He gives a clear outline of the blessings or cursings which result from our choices to obey or disobey.
As the Israelites were prepared by God to enter the promised land, He explained to them what a place of abundance and blessing and peace it would be for them, once they had carried out His instructions as they entered Canaan. He explained to them explicitly that this would be their home as long as they remained faithful to obey Him and live according to His ways. In addition, God stated that if they were not faithful to His commands, they would find themselves in bondage to pagan and/or harsh rulers once again, inside or outside the land.
God was making an undeniable connection between the obedience of the people to all of the principles He had laid out for them, and who would have the position of physical leadership over them.
Nothing has changed. As Americans, including many professing Christians, we have become very good, in general, at blaming anyone but ourselves for what is happening around us, and even off in Washington D.C. However, each of us, as professing believers, has to do some personal reckoning. The way we are living our lives, as individuals and as households and as congregations and as a religious community, has a profound but almost completely ignored affect on this next Presidential election. Not because God is our personal magician to do our bidding, but because He has made certain “fixed in stone” promises which are conditional upon our doing His bidding. We as believers have tremendous responsibility placed on us in this process, not because God is ignoring the pagans and unbelievers and their choices have no affect, but because we have been exposed to the truth of His ways and “to whom much is given, much is required.” (Luke 12:48) When the Israelites were disciplined by God, it was always because of their actions or responses to the actions of pagans in the land, not directly because of choices made by the pagans.
Brothers and sisters, we must not blame our ills as a nation solely on the activities of unbelievers among us, or on political parties and leaders. Their ways, and the continued downward spiral of our nation in so many aspects, are simply a reflection of what we have refused to fully address as believers. Prayer was not just suddenly removed from the schools. Something I do not pretend to fully understand happened among believers, over a period of time, before that court decision, and the Body of Christ was not prepared or willing to respond to the issue. Abortion did not just suddenly become legal. Again, believers were “asleep at the wheel” for a period of time beforehand, and then surprised by (or even supportive of) the court’s decision.
As we approach the elections, both primary and final, let us prayerfully examine ourselves, on our knees before the throne of God. May we eagerly ask Him to show us what we need to address as individuals, fathers, mothers, households, congregations and communities, in order to be in line with His ways. Look at His promise in II Chronicles 7:14. Meditate on areas of scripture such as Deuteronomy 6, Psalms 105 and 112, Proverbs 31 and others where we see clear pictures of what a righteous life looks like and God’s promises to the righteous. We must humbly ask Him to reveal the ways we have grieved Him, so that we can repent, turn around, and then press forward in joyful obedience.
That is the most important way that you can participate in this Presidential election, along with being in regular prayer for our current and future leaders. Whether or not you, personally, choose to go to the voting booth is something to also prayerfully and seriously consider. There is a time to speak up (Ecclesiastes 3:7 and Proverbs 31:8,9) and make the most of our freedom of speech and expression and we should not waste that. Voting is one way this may be fulfilled. However, what goes on those ballots on November 4, and who sits in the White House come January 2009, will be determined ahead of time by something much deeper than the name any of us settled on in our own mind. That person’s establishment as our next president rests, perhaps fully, on the condition of the Body of Christ in this nation. God is faithful to the faithful. He is equally consistent in His response to the wicked. He does not forget His promises regarding either. His mercy endures forever. Praise God.
We have also been shopping for various things we didn't yet have for Maxim, such as a good winter coat. All of the carpet will be professionally cleaned on Wednesday. I regularly vacuum and spot clean but want an especially good job done before we leave because since Maxim cannot walk due to his club feet, a bit of time will be spent on the floor when not in his wheelchair.
I've also been considering the upcoming elections in a different way because we will not be in the United States on November 4. It's the first time I have qualified for an absentee ballot.
With this in mind, bear with me as I reprint an article I wrote in December of 2007. Just know my heart to obey the command we have as believers to spur each other on to good works; to righteousness. Consider it a loving challenge.
What Do We Do Now?
Here in the United States of America, in just a matter of days, we will enter a Presidential election year. The pressure is already on between those individuals hoping to become their parties’ candidates. People across the country are contemplating how to “choose the right person” when the final voting day arrives in November. Some are considering whether or not it is even appropriate to participate in the process.
For the purpose of this article, I will address some scriptural principles and precedents set by God in the matter of who may have power over a nation and what effect the people, specifically professing believers in Christ the Messiah, may have on who their leaders are.
For the purpose of this article, I must also state that what God did with the Israelites is the precedent for how He deals with the Body of Christ today. Everything that happens affecting the Body of Christ today is modeled after, and simply a continuing extension of, His work with the Israelites. If we are in Christ, we are of Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promises (Galatians 3:26-29; I John 5:1). We are subjects, as was Abraham. This is important for us to recognize as believers, during this time of transition in the leadership of our nation.
It is established in scripture that no one has power over anything or anyone unless God allows it. If someone becomes the leader of a nation, it is because God has allowed that to happen. Understand, however, that this does not mean God’s will has necessarily always been for that particular person to be in power. This is where we as believers, fit in. You may be surprised to find out the most critical way you fit into the process.
God is both firm and loving, the divine hand of both discipline and mercy. In fact, His discipline is a component of His mercy (Hebrews 12:6). In Torah (first five books of the Bible), He clearly expressed His commandments and statutes to the people. They are our roadmap to this day. Along with the list of “thou shall’s” and “thou shalt not’s”, He gives a clear outline of the blessings or cursings which result from our choices to obey or disobey.
As the Israelites were prepared by God to enter the promised land, He explained to them what a place of abundance and blessing and peace it would be for them, once they had carried out His instructions as they entered Canaan. He explained to them explicitly that this would be their home as long as they remained faithful to obey Him and live according to His ways. In addition, God stated that if they were not faithful to His commands, they would find themselves in bondage to pagan and/or harsh rulers once again, inside or outside the land.
God was making an undeniable connection between the obedience of the people to all of the principles He had laid out for them, and who would have the position of physical leadership over them.
Nothing has changed. As Americans, including many professing Christians, we have become very good, in general, at blaming anyone but ourselves for what is happening around us, and even off in Washington D.C. However, each of us, as professing believers, has to do some personal reckoning. The way we are living our lives, as individuals and as households and as congregations and as a religious community, has a profound but almost completely ignored affect on this next Presidential election. Not because God is our personal magician to do our bidding, but because He has made certain “fixed in stone” promises which are conditional upon our doing His bidding. We as believers have tremendous responsibility placed on us in this process, not because God is ignoring the pagans and unbelievers and their choices have no affect, but because we have been exposed to the truth of His ways and “to whom much is given, much is required.” (Luke 12:48) When the Israelites were disciplined by God, it was always because of their actions or responses to the actions of pagans in the land, not directly because of choices made by the pagans.
Brothers and sisters, we must not blame our ills as a nation solely on the activities of unbelievers among us, or on political parties and leaders. Their ways, and the continued downward spiral of our nation in so many aspects, are simply a reflection of what we have refused to fully address as believers. Prayer was not just suddenly removed from the schools. Something I do not pretend to fully understand happened among believers, over a period of time, before that court decision, and the Body of Christ was not prepared or willing to respond to the issue. Abortion did not just suddenly become legal. Again, believers were “asleep at the wheel” for a period of time beforehand, and then surprised by (or even supportive of) the court’s decision.
As we approach the elections, both primary and final, let us prayerfully examine ourselves, on our knees before the throne of God. May we eagerly ask Him to show us what we need to address as individuals, fathers, mothers, households, congregations and communities, in order to be in line with His ways. Look at His promise in II Chronicles 7:14. Meditate on areas of scripture such as Deuteronomy 6, Psalms 105 and 112, Proverbs 31 and others where we see clear pictures of what a righteous life looks like and God’s promises to the righteous. We must humbly ask Him to reveal the ways we have grieved Him, so that we can repent, turn around, and then press forward in joyful obedience.
That is the most important way that you can participate in this Presidential election, along with being in regular prayer for our current and future leaders. Whether or not you, personally, choose to go to the voting booth is something to also prayerfully and seriously consider. There is a time to speak up (Ecclesiastes 3:7 and Proverbs 31:8,9) and make the most of our freedom of speech and expression and we should not waste that. Voting is one way this may be fulfilled. However, what goes on those ballots on November 4, and who sits in the White House come January 2009, will be determined ahead of time by something much deeper than the name any of us settled on in our own mind. That person’s establishment as our next president rests, perhaps fully, on the condition of the Body of Christ in this nation. God is faithful to the faithful. He is equally consistent in His response to the wicked. He does not forget His promises regarding either. His mercy endures forever. Praise God.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Hit the Deck Running
Well, we made it back to Michigan this afternoon. Bittersweet as we had to say goodbye to my parents who left Nashville for Seattle this morning. Dad was doing a little better, had a little better appetite but still sooooo tired. Leaving friends from all over the country behind too as the celebration of Sukkot came to a close last night. But sweet sweet sweet to be back home now and able to really focus on preparations for Kiev.
I love knowing that Maxim is finding out now that somebody is coming for him. What a mixed bundle of feelings he must have right now.
We would treasure hearing more from those of you who have already been to Ukraine to adopt and can share what you took with you that was invaluable, what you wish you had taken, who it's appropriate to give gifts to as far as those helping us, etc.
For those of you who traveled in the colder months, how was your eating experience. We always pictures being able to go to farmers market type places to get fresh produce and such but it's sinking in that this is not realistic for this time of year. Any suggestions?
I love knowing that Maxim is finding out now that somebody is coming for him. What a mixed bundle of feelings he must have right now.
We would treasure hearing more from those of you who have already been to Ukraine to adopt and can share what you took with you that was invaluable, what you wish you had taken, who it's appropriate to give gifts to as far as those helping us, etc.
For those of you who traveled in the colder months, how was your eating experience. We always pictures being able to go to farmers market type places to get fresh produce and such but it's sinking in that this is not realistic for this time of year. Any suggestions?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
DUE DATE
Praise God. We received the call yesterday morning. We have just two weeks from today to get ready. We are to fly to Kiev on November 2 with a projected homecoming around December 13. Here is the twist: We are here in Tennesee celebrating Sukkot until the 22nd and so will have about eight days to set everything in place after we get home. We are soooooo excited and also wondering how God is going to unfold all of this for us. We will truly be running on the power of His spirit and one ton of adrenaline.
Please continue to pray for my dad. He has been here in Tennessee with us and that has been such a deep blessing. He and my mom flew into Nashville and then drove up to the state park here at Paris Landing to celebrate. Daniel's parents and brother and sister-in-law are also here so it is wonderful family time. But as a result of the prostate cancer, my dad's bladder has been obstructed and infection set in after they arrived, messing up his kidneys. On top of that, the doctor he saw here said he has pre-pneumonia so he is on antibiotics and we are all praying that he will have enough energy for their scheduled flight home Seattle on Wednesday. Please lift him up in prayer and my mom too, that she be blessed and equipped in every way she needs.
If you're curious about our celebration here in Tennessee, we are just one of many gatherings around the country; Christians and Jews together studying and worshipping and praising Christ together; fully accepting and celebrating Christ as our Rock and Redeemer with the study of Torah as a blue print for living as believers. If you'd like to check out the celebration the rest of the week, you can go to www.sooj.org or www.sooj.com
I wish you could hear the whooping and hollering in our hearts. Little Maxim Matthew Campau, here we come.
Please continue to pray for my dad. He has been here in Tennessee with us and that has been such a deep blessing. He and my mom flew into Nashville and then drove up to the state park here at Paris Landing to celebrate. Daniel's parents and brother and sister-in-law are also here so it is wonderful family time. But as a result of the prostate cancer, my dad's bladder has been obstructed and infection set in after they arrived, messing up his kidneys. On top of that, the doctor he saw here said he has pre-pneumonia so he is on antibiotics and we are all praying that he will have enough energy for their scheduled flight home Seattle on Wednesday. Please lift him up in prayer and my mom too, that she be blessed and equipped in every way she needs.
If you're curious about our celebration here in Tennessee, we are just one of many gatherings around the country; Christians and Jews together studying and worshipping and praising Christ together; fully accepting and celebrating Christ as our Rock and Redeemer with the study of Torah as a blue print for living as believers. If you'd like to check out the celebration the rest of the week, you can go to www.sooj.org or www.sooj.com
I wish you could hear the whooping and hollering in our hearts. Little Maxim Matthew Campau, here we come.
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