Which is Greater - Your Need or Your Faith?

We had a great service last night at New Life Pentecostal.  For the third year Pastor Robert Henson from Michigan has spent the month of February on the island, preaching and encouraging.  He always brings great faith with him and last night was no exception.

Before the preaching, Bro. Henson had a young lady testify.  Sister Sherena was born with only one full lung.  At age 27, she is active and can do anything.  In the past month she got sick and her lung capacity was down to 63%.  She was prayed for and went back to the doctor.  The doctor wanted to operate but she stalled him until her mother could come.  The next time she saw the doctor, her right lung was at 100% and her left lung was at 85%!  The doctor was astounded and could not figure out what had happened.  He tested her lungs again - right lung at 100%, left lung at 85%.  The doctor then sent her to California to see the number one specialist in the country.  When that doctor met her he said, "Are you the young lady who thinks God gave her a lung?"  She replied, "I'm the young lady who knows God gave her a lung!"  The California doctor did a series of test.  During their final meeting her told her that he wept when he saw the results.  He knew it was something only God could do!

Bro. Henson's message was "Which is Greater - Your Need or Your Faith?"  He told the story of the nobleman who came to Jesus in John chapter 4.  The nobleman's son was sick in Caperneum and the father traveled 22 miles to Cana to see Jesus.  Jesus' first response was, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."  Jesus pointed out the father's struggle with faith.  The father didn't even deny it, but still asked Jesus to come and heal his child.

John 4:50-53 says, "Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.  Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.  So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house."

Jesus met the nobleman's need and expanded his faith at the same time!

So many times we struggle with believing and the devil tries to tell us God is not going to answer if we don't have enough faith.  God doesn't work that way!  We don't have to have faith equal to our need.  Just that mustard seed of faith is all we need.  

At the end of the service, Bro. Henson asked for those who needed the Holy Ghost to come forward.  A sweet Samoan sister received the Holy Ghost in about 15 seconds!  There was also prayer for the sick and many claimed their healing last night.  God is still in the prayer answering business!

Aloha and Happy Valentine's Day!

We spent most of the day traveling, but just happy to be together!

Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast (Book Review)

I just finished a very interesting book.  Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast by Tim and Debbie Bishop.  Part of the description from Amazon:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to marry for the first time after your peers have already become grandparents? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to bicycle across America? As if each weren’t adventure enough, what if you combined the two? Some might consider this a recipe for disaster, but Tim and Debbie Bishop thought otherwise. At age 52, the couple finally found in each other that special someone they’d been searching for years to marry. In only ten weeks, they moved from marriage proposal and wedding, to Tim’s “retirement” and relocation, to embarking on their cycling adventure.

Les and his brother, Lance, have talked for years about cycling across America.  It's definitely on their bucket list, so I thought this would be an interesting read.  The fact that Tim and Debbie were Christians who at age 52 were getting married for the first time made the story even more interesting!

The first 3 of 11 chapters talks about Tim and Debbie's courtship.  They were both praying for a godly spouse and had been for many years.  They actually met through an internet dating site seven years before they were married.  They built a friendship that would eventually become something more. They were married on June 19, 2010 and on July 3rd started pedaling their way from Oregon to Maine!  They found a church to attend every Sunday while they were on the road and met new friends along the way.

I know some of my readers are singles who are waiting for God's timing.  Tim and Debbie's story will encourage you that waiting is right!  Yes, there were years of loneliness, there were other relationships and broken engagements, but when it all came together for them it was beautiful!  And if you like adventure, this is a great read to add to your list.

Can't Stop the Rain by Complaining

California has been in an extreme drought for several years.  One year ago 40% of the state was in exceptional drought - the worst possible drought condition.  Currently no part of the state is in exceptional drought and only 2% is in extreme drought.  Thank God for the rain!  We have needed it so desperately.

I got up for a run on Tuesday morning.  It had rained some during the night, but wasn't raining when I got up.  By the time I was dressed and downstairs the rain had started back up.  It didn't last long, so I decided to throw on a hat and take my chances.  Most of the time that I was out there was a light mist and some times a little more than that.

While I was running an old song came to mind.  I couldn't remember all the words so of course I looked them up when I got home:

Raindrops are falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet
Are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops are falling on my head
They keep falling.

So I just did me some talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Those raindrops are falling on my head
They keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me

It won't be long till happiness
Steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes
Will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me 'cause,
I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining,
Because I'm free nothing's worrying me.

The line that has always stood out to me is "I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining."  We can grumble all we want but that doesn't change a thing.  Rain falls on our lives and complaining won't change it.  So grab a hat, put on a smile and know that after the rain the land is going to be green again!

"Not the greatness of our troubles but the littleness of our spirit makes us complain."

~ Mom's Bible

#walktheworldwithECCO

I've always loved a good pair of shoes.  What woman doesn't?  I'll confess that since I started running marathons comfort beats style.  I really regretted my shoe choice on Sunday night - my feet were killing me by the time choir practice was over!

Ecco makes some really great shoes.  I bought a pair at the Ecco outlet that I wore all over Europe last year on our anniversary trip.  Les has several pairs - both casual and dress shoes.

Ecco has a contest going right now ~  #walktheworldwithECCO.  If you own a pair of Eccos, you can upload a picture (with your shoes) somewhere in the world - from exotic to your own backyard.  Then people can vote on your picture.  The 10 entries with the most votes will win a free pair of ECCO shoes up to $250.00!

Les and I have both entered a photo.  His is in Athens, on Mars Hill:

Mine is in Rome, at Saint Peter's Square:

We would love it if you would go to the site and vote for our photos!  Click RIGHT HERE!!  Voting ends on February 28th.  Of course if you own a pair, feel free to enter and compete against us!