Photos, Photos, Photos!

Hi there! It's Lori this time. I just thought I would include some of the scenes that we see on a daily basis around here. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our lives.

Scenes from the city... The ones they want you to see

Reality scenes from the city...

This photo is inadequate to describe what the traffic can be like here.

Yes this is a man riding on the bucket! It was taken looking out over our balcony!

It takes a lot of these to power up the world's fastest growing city!

Double-dog dare: Love one another

On my recent personal retreat, I was caught off guard as I listened to an old familiar hymn, "Be Thou My Vision." I was overwhelmed with the love of my Heavenly Father for me.

I found myself resting in this Love. The by-product was peace. This displaced any anxious thought I had about the future. "Perfect love casts out fear". 1 John 4:18

My former pastor in San Antonio, Dr. David Walker, used to say all the time, "The essence of a kingdom is the presence of a king." No king. No kingdom. I've found this to be true. When King Jesus is ruling and reigning my life, His Kingdom (righteousness, peace, joy, power) is ushered in and manifested in me and through me.

Now, stay with me as I shift gears on this subject of love.

Love is defined many ways in 1 Cor. 13. One way is this: "Love does not take into account a wrong suffered." I can think of no greater "joy-robber" and "peace-stopper" in my life than when I focus on the imperfect actions or attitudes of others. In other words, love lets go.

Although I don't agree at all with the substance and "theology" of the old Beatles song, there is at least wisdom found in the title: "Let it be"!

If just to maintain our own well-being, that should be reason enough for us to "let go" and love. But there is so much more at stake - especially when the people who have wronged us or have disappointed us are brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Jesus said, "All men will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35. And again, Jesus prays to His Father in John 17:23, "I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You did send me, and did love them, even as You did love me."

So go ahead. Let go. Love. I double-dog dare you. Love God by yielding to King Jesus and obeying His "new" command: "Love one another."

Not only will the presence of the King's reign usher in His Kingdom (peace and joy) in your life, a watching world will know that you are a follower of Jesus and, most importantly, will be drawn to Him.

How is your soul?

Today at church we had a visiting pastor from Arizona speak on the soul. When Jesus said the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength", what exactly did He mean by "your soul"?

David, the shepherd, said of Jesus His Good Shepherd, "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside quiet waters; He restores my soul." Our visiting pastor indicated that the fact David's soul needed restoring implies that his soul was depleted!

All of our souls tend to get depleted from time to time. The busyness of life is a constant drain on the soul.

He went on to share how God uses solitude to retore us, refine us, and strengthen us. Look how God used solitude in the lives of Moses, David, and Paul to prepare them to be used by Him. Even Jesus Himself had a rhythm to His ministry - engagement and retreat; engagement and retreat.

He challenged us to develop this discipline of solitude even in our daily, weekly, monthly, annual schedules. What a confirmation it was to me on what I have been sensing my soul needs. In fact, just yesterday I submitted a request for some time off to get away for a 3 day personal retreat next week. I'm going to head to the mountains to reflect on God's faithfulness, rest in His love, and receive any marching orders He might have for me.

Speaking of retreat, Lori is at a 3 day women's conference this weekend here in Dubai. Ann Graham-Lotz is the keynote speaker and nearly 600 women are attending. Lori is on the praise team and is, I trust, even as I type this post, enjoying using her talents of singing to help lead in praise and worship of our great God. He alone is worthy!

So, how is your soul? "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations." Psalm 46:10