For Every Thing There is a Season

1. I have thought all week about what I might like to write in what will likely be my final post of the summer from the Saipan location. I thought about telling you about the last couple of days we spent with the newly appointed Micronesia District Superintendent who visited our church to start the process of becoming acquainted with the churches he will be overseeing. He is from South Korea, a place unlike Saipan yet somewhat similar to Davenport climate-wise, but unlike both in mannerisms and customs. Sharing our various stories with him as a church the past couple of days is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
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3. Monday night we all ate together as a church, and around the table five different heart languages were represented as we conversed in our only common language, English. We ate grilled brats and hotdogs, spaghetti and mac-n-cheese bites with forks and spoons --- and cupcakes for dessert.
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5. The next night three of us went with him to a Korean restaurant where we enjoyed a king's dinner with chopsticks. Everyone was highly competent with chopsticks, except me. I reminded myself of my 20-month-old granddaughter in her high chair. Food falling off with every stab into the plate, long noodles having to be slurped because I could neither twirl them into tidy nests nor cut them with the chopsticks. I went through a lot of napkins last night, and fortunately, everyone was too polite to stare! 
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See the cramp in my hand? HA! Actually I didn't cramp up. I couldn't get a tight enough grip to cramp up. Such good food though! 

I could share much about those few days, but my mind also is thinking about what I will be preaching on this Sunday for my final talk. Strangely, as the week is progressing, the subject has been morphing. Not exactly sure where it will finally end up. 

I've been preaching a sermon series from a foundation of Luke 4:18-21, although nobody but me knows that. It is the Isaiah passage that Jesus read in the synagogue to begin his ministry that would end at the Cross. I've been studying it all summer in light of my own call to ministry. What should it look like? It should look something like Jesus' call.  Each sermon this summer was a story from Luke to illustrate the principle God was teaching me, phrase by phrase, in the passage. Like this:

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2. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: I preached about Mary's Song. When she said yes to being the mother of the Savior, at great cost to herself and those she loved, and her yes to God resulted in a song of praise. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth verbalizes. 

2. For he has anointed me: I preached about Zachaeus who humbled himself to see Jesus said yes when Jesus invited himself into his house.

3. To bring good news to the poor: I preached about Simon Peter who said yes to Jesus and despite what common sense dictated, threw his net out for another cast into the water. His yes led to his call, "I will make you a fisher of men."

4. He has sent me to proclaim: I preached what Jesus spoke about what Jesus meant by "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" in terms of good trees bearing fruit, and acting on Jesus' words is like building your house on a rock, from Luke 6.

5. Captives will be released: I preached the story of the widow of Nain and how Jesus overcoming death and our salvation are being pointed to in the story. 

6. That the blind will see: I preached about John the Baptist's question to Jesus from inside the prison where he was awaiting death. Jesus told the messengers to tell John their story of what they had seen Jesus do. We similarly encourage one another to continue believing when we tell our stories of how Jesus has worked in our lives.

Coming this week 7. That the oppressed will be set free and that the time of the Lord's favor has come: I intend to preach on the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:40-56. The crowd was crushing Jesus, but none were healed except the person who touched him with the hand of faith. At least, that has been my plan to preach from that passage. But my mind has this week been considering an alternate message, so we will see what comes out of my mouth when the time comes. 

Having written all that, neither of these things is what is really on my heart today. I am consumed with thoughts about God's leadership and protection. I can sum it up in two pictures. God sometimes shelters us through the storms of life by covering us with his protection.

See the man sitting in the shade under the rock? This summer in Saipan has been for me an extended time with the Lord, a respite and retreat, to think and pray about my future. 

Sometimes, however, protection is found in a time of trusting God while in motion. Many days this summer I sense God's presence guiding me from within the shelter of an agitated lagoon while watching the giant waves in the deep water beyond the reef, hoping they don't crash over the barrier and get me. Protection meant taking my eyes off the waves and putting them back on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

Neither of those are what I want to dwell on. Today, I went alone to the beach for likely the last time for some while, perhaps forever here in Saipan. I had my Bible open on my knees as I watched the waves intermittently reading the passage in Ecclesiastes that talks about there being a time for everything. (You can find it at the start of Ecclesiastes 3.) I'd read then pray.  Common sense tells me old women should retire, not go into ministry. God is clearly is telling me that is not true. Not in my case.  

"Go!"  

I keep hearing that word. "Go!" 

I've been preaching all summer on how to hear God's voice and say YES when he calls. I'e been preaching all summer on giving God your fears. Say it with me, I have invited to others. "When I am afraid I will trust is God. Psalm 56:3." They say it. I say it too. I believe it and have proved it to be true in my own life. I have many, many stories of God's provision in my life as I have obeyed him in the past. I can trust him to place me where he wants me. Even if common sense disagrees. 

This week I learned from my new Korean friend that a preacher-friend told him once that no person should become a pastor until after the age of 50. His words encourage me to continue to believe that the season is right for me to go into ministry. For every thing there is a season. I had the season of home, husband, and family. Now is the season of ministry. Unconventional as it is from a western standpoint, from an Asian standpoint, I am at the right age. 

I believe it today more strongly than ever. 

I'd better get to bed. It's been a long day. Sorry if there are typos. I will try to catch and correct them tomorrow, if there are any. Have a great couple of weeks. My next post will likely be a picture of the flowers I planted in Davenport before I left, spots of beauty I will enjoy as I wait for word on what comes next in my life. Thank you, dear ones, for your prayers this summer.  I could write a book about everything I have learned, it's been that wonderful!

To be continued...

Amy