The Lord sits enthroned!!!

I can’t sleep.....thinking so much about my family and friends who have braved Frankenstorm Sandy.  (that was my favorite term discovered while we were diligently following what was happening on our side of the pond)

Several thoughts have been swimming through my mind all day.....

“Jesus PLEASE keep my loved ones safe”

“OH FUDGE IS HOBOKEN REALLY UNDER WATER????”

“Wow, that crane is dangling over A LOT of heads right now”

Just to name a few.....

People have lost SO MUCH in the past couple of days....whole houses have been washed away, lively hoods dashed to bits.  I can’t even begin to wrap my brain around the amount of suffering that is going on right now and what life is going to look like for people a week, a month, a year from now.  

But here is the deal you guys.....the only way forward is to turn our eyes on Jesus.  We cannot rely on our efforts and our plans.  Who knows when they will be washed away.  Do we plan for the future?  Yes, as best we can, but we hold onto it with an open hand. Our times are in the hands of a merciful, just, holy, righteous God.  

If you don’t know Jesus Christ, I urge you, fall on your face before Him!  Cry out to Him!  Open your heart and your pain and your doubts to Him.  Lay it all out and see if He won’t prove Himself to you to be faithful, just and true!  He has to me....on several occasions. 

I have been angry, I have been cruel, I have doubted, I have sought vengeance, 

YET CHRIST HAS NEVER ONCE TURNED HIS BACK ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!  How can I turn mine on Him?

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

where do we go from here?

Since January we have been walking Joe Chibanza through his salvation adventure.  You all have come along with us as we have watched God transform him and mold him.  It has been a sight to behold.  Just this morning I was sharing with Luis how it has been so surreal, humbling, and exhilarating all at once.  We have just been along for the ride, and what a ride it has been!  

A couple of weeks ago Luis had the privilege, in front of our church here, to baptize Joe into the faith.  What a holy humbling moment!!!  It has NOTHING to do with us, but GOSH it has been fun to watch and be a part of!!!  As Luis was praying for Joe before he dunked him, I felt God whisper to my heart....”Aren’t you glad you didn’t pack it in a year ago?”  BOY AM I EVER!!!!  All of heaven rejoiced with us next to our green slimy pool!  

Two Thursdays ago I packed a bag for Joe and Luis drove him to the Teen Challenge based outside of Lusaka.....yes thats right......let that sink it.....A TEEN CHALLENGE!!!!!!    HOW COOL IS THAT!?

 I felt like I was sending one of my own kids away to school.  While packing odds and ends for him, I felt such a peace that God is going to see him through this year and he is going to come out on the other side of it strong in the Lord and ready to share his faith.  Would you pray Joe through this year?  Pray that Joe doesn’t grow weary and run away....pray that in his year he understands the beauty of family!  Pray that the word of God burrows down way deep into his heart! 

I don’t need to tell you that all hell has broken loose on our lives since that fateful Thursday.  I will spare you the gory details.....we don’t want to give the devil more air time than necessary.....but I will say this....please pray for us!!!   

Also, Luis and I have been praying about where to go from here.  We know that God has put it on our hearts to have a store front, but that is proving WAY more challenging that we thought.  Pray that we have the grace to push through and wait on God.  PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!!!

1. Pray for safety!!!

2. Pray for a new car!!!  Ours is in its death throws.  

3. Pray that Amira, Hannah and Brooklyn are protected from the backlash.  They keep getting sick. 

4. Pray that God brings us a new interpreter.  Ours is now snuggled away nicely in a Teen Challenge.

5. Pray that God shows us the right place to rent for a store front church / feeding program and for the provision...it takes money to do these things....why can’t we just trade chocolate bars and shells for services and goods? 

If God is laying it on your heart to donate financially .... go to

 tscnyc.org / give / contribute to a missions trip / morales family zambia

Or you can mail a check or money order to 

Morales Family 

Times Square Church 

Missions department 

1657 Broadway FL 4

NYC, NY 10019

earmarked Morales family / zambia

October n Zambia and forgivness

Yesterday I was confronted by our good friend and pastor about a heart issue that I have been struggling with for far to long.

   FORGIVENESS

DUN....DUN...DUUUUUUNNNNNNN

The process in this particular situation has been slow and extremely painful.  I bury it down way deep and believe that I have actually found the freedom of forgiveness then

WHAMO

when I least expect it, it is in my face....I am left clammy handed, anxiety riddles, feeling immensely intimidated.....in short, a royal mess.  Then it all gets pushed down again.  I put on my happy Myranda face and thus begins the process all over again.  

So, out of nowhere Manie confronted me, left me a wreck and frankly a tad pissed (sorry Manie)

THEN.....I went to my weekly bible study.  Can anyone venture a guess on what we discussed?  

Not actually the subject of forgiveness per say,but it got to the heart of the matter non the less.

This is the question that was posed....

"what is the free will offering that you struggle to give to God?"

With stunning clarity only the holy spirit gives a heart it slammed me in the face FORGIVENESS

THe pain and rejection my experiences has caused has become a security blanket.  If I let go does it legitimize or excuse what was done?  NO!  But that has been my fear for longer Than I care to admit.  

Check this out...

Forgiveness doesn't make the hurt ok, it makes my heart ok!!!!  (Beth Moore)

Try this one on for size ....

Unforgiveness is a cancer that, if left untreated, will intimately effect the lives of my children!!!!! 

OUCH!  

I think I will leave you on that note......Let me know your thoughts.