Happy Thanksgiving!!!! from joy

   Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Yes, in just a few hours it will be Thanksgiving Day here (for the Americans... aftit is an American Holiday, not a local holiday).  It took some doing, but the family I hang with here managed to search all over our area and Hong Kong and came up with all the fixin's.  It will be a great Thanksgiving Dinner.
   Back in 2006 or 2007, I had a vision.  This vision was of a peninsula-type area of land.  On the land was a lighthouse.  They sky, grey and dark, filled with a dark, cloudy, windy, storm.  The storm was so strong, it was as if it were night.  The waves of the sea were high.  The lighthouse beamed a stream of light out into this sea.  As the light beam canvased the area, I could see dark figures (shadow-like, not actually flesh) walking up out of the dark stormy sea towards the lighthouse beam.  As the beam hit them, they became figures of light rather than darkness.  They were coming in from sea by the millions....  They were everywhere....some were even coming out of the storm by land.
      I realized this had to do with my calling.  I am very thankful this Thanksgiving to be a part this move of God in this country.  It is amazing to see as more people come to know Christ than we can keep up.  They are so hungry for Him.  It is truly an amazing thing to be a part of.  I am thankful for you who have contributed with finances, prayer, etc....who have been right here on the frontlines with me because of your involvement.  Thank you.....----joy

Good morning...

Good morning!  "This is the day the Lord has made, and I WILL rejoice in it!"  This is not automatic just because the Word says so, and you quote it.  This is a decision that must be made and adhered to even when things look very differently.

Everything here is going great.  Weekly we are seeing people coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is truly amazing.  

Great Expectations!!!

It's been a busy few weeks.  I have not had time to post lately.  Sorry.  I spent some time in Hong Kong, visiting a doctor there, twice this last month dealing with bronchitis and pneumonia.  All healed and well now! :-) .  Just in time for several big events this month.  I can't wait. The expectation is very high.  I am soooo grateful to be a part of this.  Each day never ceases to amaze me.  He is just soooo good, and His hand reaches soooo far.  "We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 Jn 4:19

Fellowship....

We had an amazing day of fellowship yesterday.  Rather than normal, we had a big party that lasted all day.  There were lots of friends, family, Chinese and American food, music, singing, Word, good fellowship.  The fellowship time was a great change of pace, but more importantly, a safer alternative for this particular week.  It is fun to watch as this local family has formed over the past three and a half months.  They really have moved towards becoming a family.  "Greater is He is in us, than he that is of this world".  I am glad I am on the side of the "Greater One", and everyday, I have the privilege of seeing so many eagerly pursuing the same.

On the job training :-) ,

Hi,
Today, I discovered that I am going to hlep coordinate a "seminar" for 750 (with.....uh-um....only one month until d-day).  I have also learned that there are more details than I could have ever imagined that goes into this, especially here.  So, if anyone has any suggestion or tips, feel free to send me an email.  One thing I have learned over the past few years here, is to always expect the unexpected, and that I am what I need to be, when I need to be it.  This next month will be an interesting ride, but will be worth it.  I can't wait to see the fruit of such an impact.

Eyes on Me?

While working with two young women yesterday with their English skills, (and they were helping me work on my Mandarin), one of the girls spent most of the afternoon mimicking everything I said, as I said it.  I was trying to read Eph. 1:17-23 in English to the other girl, and the other girl repeated everything I said, as I was saying it.  It was hard to focus on the reading with her right there, repeating everything.  She did not even wait for me to finish a sentence before she began.  She just continued.  It made me think of a child trying to get on someone's nerves by repeating their words.  At least the child usually waits for the person speaking to take a breath before he begins the repetitions.

It took me a bit, but after a while I managed to tune her out and continue the language lesson out of Ephesians.  I have realized,over time, that our sphere of influence (the people around us:  on our jobs, at school, neighbors, etc) is our greatest witnessing tool for spreading the gospel.  As we live our daily lives, (becoming more Christlike) we have a great opportunity to teach others about Him without ever having to even open our mouths. People watch others very closely, especially when they notice something different in that persons life.  They begin to see God's favor, they may not know what it is, but they see it.  They begin to see His Grace, and faith that brings into manifestation the image (and power) of Jesus within us.

People take notice when you always seem to come out on top life's daily situations.  People take notice when they see a family working, rather than falling apart.  People take notice when they see commitment (faithfulness) to a life of Christ.  People take notice when they see others overcome and walk in victory.
It is our daily walk, every step, that creates a testimony unto God.  I ask myself, what do people see when they see me?