Trials and tribulations.....Fruitfulness from seeming failures.

Burnt brush

Burnt brush with new grasses growing

Last weekend as we took a two hour hike in the bush, we saw acre upon acre as far as the eye could see of burnt ground. With a closer look, there were little green sprouts of new growth beginning. When I asked the guide about this I was told that the brush is purposefully burned to allow new grasses and vegetation for the animals to eat. Also the burnt grasses may be used by poachers to expose animals. I was reminded of some important spiritual lessons.

#1.  Beauty may come from ashes
#2. New growth may only come after a painful burning away of the old things
#3. The Evil one is seeking to destroy


And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.  Isaiah 61:3

See, I have refined you, though not as silver, I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

This adventure with Beit CURE Zambia has been quite an experience.....

• joys and sorrows
• tears and laughter
• life and death
• work and rest
• teaching and learning
• loneliness and fellowship.... 
• all part of the refining process......to God be the glory, great things He has done!

 

Summer Prayertimes

This summer around 8 women faithfully prayed on Tuesday nights in our living room. It was spiritual warfare and each of us who prayed have tough stuff going on in our lives. Things that one cannot share on FaceBook or a blog post or even out loud to your best friends. Work, family, marriage, ministry, financial issues that do not resolve in the the way or time we expect.  It has been a sweet journey of personal transformation as we learned to bring God to our problems rather than our problems to God. We all learned the mighty power, passion and personal love God has for each one of our situations.  These precious prayer times have been joyful to our little band of prayer warriors!

Each one of us came with praise, thanksgiving, confessions and requests for our Heavenly Father. We didn't discuss, announce or rehash the requests. Instead, we began with singing hymns, praising God....it was a stretch for some of us to learn 'new to us'-old hymns. Then we knelt, stood, or sat to pray! Wow! It was a very powerful and transforming time for each of us. Our God is real, alive and full of grace and mercy. His ways and timing are perfect. Did all our requests get answered with YES? No! Did we get unexpected answers? YES?  Each one of us grew in our trust of our loving God who cares for each detail of our lives. God is so good!!
Thank you Summer 2016 praying sisters. Those who attended and those who could not come....thank you for joining your heartfelt prayers with the group.

In a few days, I will be leaving for Zambia. It will be my 7th or 8th overseas trip this year. The LORD has sustained me through these travels and I praise Him for His care, provision and grace.
Hope to be a better blogger on this journey. Perhaps I may even be able to tell you about the faith journey that the LORD has me traveling on these days!

Silence?

Monday at CURE Niger

Monday morning drive to work was cool (for Niger) and dusty. We zipped along the new road that follows the power lines.

This young fellow had a cart with bottles of petrol  (I think for the motorcycles).

My little buddy Leon was heading to school as we were heading to the hospital. Everyone likes to cuddle something.

Coloring the picture of the GOOD SHEPHERD!

Yellow is nice!

Monday was a great start to my brief one week visit here at the children's hospital. There is always a warm welcome from the patients and staff. I feel very much at home here.  This week my theme is: Who is Jesus Christ?  The first Bible story was the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is our guide, the one who cares for us, finds us and more than that Jesus gave His life for His sheep.....His people. The Shepherd is also the lamb of sacrifice.  How strange, yet such wonderful news that there is a way to have one's sins forgiven by God....by the Good Shepherd and Lamb of God...one in the same. It boggles the mind yet brings great hope for those who are lost, lonely,  looking for hope. Jesus Christ, God incarnate loves me so much that He died in my place to pay for my sins....and yours. Have you received this great gift?

I am the good shepherd. 

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Sunday Fellowship in Niamey

Sunday morning view, driving to Banga Bana Church

Another view from the bridge

Look at all those glorious pumpkins.....it is the season for fresh veggies and salads!

Evodie and me.....she is such a sweet sister in the LORD. She is studying to be a teacher. She is teaching French at the Sahel Academy....I need to be in Evodie's class!

This is the decoration for the Christmas and New Year at Banga Bana Church.  The Christmas tree branches describe the wonderful characteristics of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ! What a great idea! This church is one of the many who were burned last January. The amazing thing is that it is now better than before. God is so good!

This dear sister Lucia is seated on the right. She invited me to visit Dorcas House for a meeting on Sunday afternoon. Sweet fellowship  was enjoyed by all.

A beautiful sister in the LORD Soula is a huge encourager to the widows. She gave us a wonderful Bible study on prayer. Thank you, Soula...you are so loved and respected!

Julie Korn and me by the river for after NEWS (church service) dinner. Thank you Josh, Julie and Leon for a fun, festive and wonderful evening!

Whisper a prayer in the morning......

Whisper  a prayer in the morning

Whisper a prayer at noon

Whisper a prayer in the evening to keep your heart in tune!

God answers prayer in the morning

God answers prayer at noon

God answers prayer in the evening so keep your heart in tune!

This little Sunday School chorus is one I remember well. It holds profound truths:

• Pray regularly
• Pray often
• Pray without ceasing
• Praying regularly throughout the day will keep us focused on the LORD
• God hears our deepest thoughts and requests....no need to shout at the LORD!
• God answers throughout the day...at any time
• God's answers should keep our ears listening to His ways and will.

All of this brings me to the point of this little blog....I find that people say very easily, 'I'll pray for you' or 'I am praying about this or that'. As I journey to a place where prayer is a 5 times a day habit for most of the people, it makes me think carefully about prayer.  It is not just the content of my prayers but who I am praying to.  What great joy to pray to the one true God, Savior, Redeemer, Lover of my soul, Living Bread, Living Water, Good Shepherd, Resurrection, Way, Truth, Life...the more I know and understand about God from the Bible, the greater confidence and joy in my prayers. I know Him personally!
As I embark on this next journey to Niger...I am told this is my 12th or so.....please join me in whispering a prayer for this to count for eternal purposes, for kingdom proclamation, for eternal fruit, for the LORD's will be fulfilled...all for God's glory!

-->

Prayer Requests for Maureen Sloan-CURE Niger January 8-18^th 2016

C- Children and their Caregivers

• Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
• Please pray that the children’s and caregivers’ hearts will be open to the gospel of Jesus Christ as Bible stories are shared
• May the scripture memorization program produce much eternal fruit (Psalm 119:11)

U-Understanding

• Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5&6
• Please pray for clarity and understanding of the needs of the nursing department while we search for a new nurse manager.
• Understanding what steps are needed to provide more excellent nursing care

R-Refreshing and Rejoicing

• A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
• Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14
• Niamey, Niger is a desert city. Yet a river flows through it sustaining life. May this beautiful refreshing promise become a reality in the lives of those we are called to serve.
• Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
• It is always a great time of rejoicing to be with my CURE Niger family
• I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10
• Pray for many souls to be saved by the power of cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and new life received by the power of the Holy Spirit

E-Encouraging

• Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Pray that I may have many opportunities to encourage the missionaries who labor so faithfully proclaiming the Good News

Thank you for praying! It is such a great joy to have prayer warriors while heading overseas. May the LORD bless you for your faithfulness in praying.