Spring in Szeged....Part III

The above picture is a familiar sight in Szeged every spring, Yes, those are road signs, and yes, a road is running under all that water! Every spring, the Tisza River floods and the road running next to the river is closed for some months. How high the river gets depends on the speed of the melt in the northern part of the country, from the mountains. As I sat next to the river this afternoon, eating my first ice cream of the season, I had my discman blasting worship music, about a river...the river of God, flowing....Lord, overflow the banks of our lives and flood our hearts with Yourself and Your love, that we might overflow toward others!!!

Spring has sprung....Part II

I walked out of school on Monday and saw the typical small congregation of students in front of the school, smoking, talking laughing, etc. The true sign of spring, however, was a couple kissing, very intimately, completely oblivious to anyone around them. Welcome to spring in Szeged!!

God's abundant blessings

I was having "one of those days"; as I finished teaching one of my classes and I was walking back to the English staff room, I was praying, "Lord, you know where I am today; you know my heart; you know exactly what is going on...Lord, would you do a miracle for me today and let the package that my friend sent over 2 weeks ago arrive today? I know it is probably sitting in some post office room on some shelf, but you can get it off that shelf and have it delivered today. Would you please?"

I went to teach the next class, and as I finished and was returning the key to the staff room, one of my colleagues approached me, holding a big blue box, which I KNEW was my package!!!! I nearly screamed, then nearly cried...God is soooooooo good, and as I sit here worshiping with the CD that was enclosed in that box, I am experiencing a very BIG taste of just how much my Father delights in me, His daughter.

Spring has sprung...part I

There are definite signs that spring has sprung here in Szeged, Hungary. This is part I of a....well, I don't know how many part series.....discussing spring. Yesterday was GORGEOUS, the picturesque, story-book kind of spring day! You know it is spring in Szeged when:

1. There are tons of people on the walking street, Karasz utca (prounounced: Kah-rah-ss oot-sa);
2. There are tons of SMILING people walking on Karasz utca;
3. There are tons of smiling people, some of whom are EATING ICE CREAM on Karasz utca!

It's been a LOOOONGGGGG winter; grey days FAR outnumbered sunny days here in the "city of sunshine", so yesterday's outpouring of sunshine was a fantastic ushering in of spring, with all the tell-tale signs of "life" in this city.

Stay tuned for Part II........

Waiting........

Two friends of mine had an album entitled "Waiting"; anyone who has lived overseas knows what it means to have to wait. Remember the old saying "you can take the American out of America, but you can't take America out of the American"? (Or such related sayings...) Well, the American in me is screaming about not having received a package which was mailed from the U.s. over two weeks ago!!! I'm sure it left U.S. borders within two days of being mailed, and for some reason, it is slowly finding its way, by ground most likely even though it was designated "air mail", to its destination. I'm waiting. I was patient. I'm losing my patience, even though I know that losing my patience does NO harm to anyone except myself. I know my package is sitting in some room in the local post office, waiting to be delivered; however the "amount paid" in postage written on the package means nothing to the local post office; they will deliver it in their own sweet time. Waiting. Waiting.

I'm so impatient. I'm such a product of a society that says, "If I don't get it in the 'stated time', then I'm going to throw a fit, demand my rights, etc., etc.

Aren't we often like this in our relationships with God as well, sometimes? I want things to proceed in a timely manner in my relationship with Him; I want the 'programs' I've organized to go off without a hitch....note the operative pronoun in the above statements: "I". When life becomes "all about me", disappointment is the logical consequence; when God becomes the center, a deep and abiding peace resides, knowing AND experiencing that His timing is absolutely perfect...because He is perfect, and all He does is perfect.

So, in conclusion, I guess I need to show the Hungarian post a bit of grace...however, I sure hope my package shows up sometime in the next 8 weeks!!!

Model United Nations

I'm enjoying a couple of days in Budapest as the "sponsor"/"chaperone" of 5 high school students who are participating in a Model UN, put on by a bilingual high school. 4 of the 5 students and I came last year as well, and this year it is a roaring success. There are students from many different countries, all taking their "responsibilities" very seriously, and I am amazed at the level of English they are using to communicate United Nations' level resolutions.

I have very little responsibility...in fact, virtually none. So, this is a great time of R&R for me, and I'm getting lots of reading done. Maybe I should pay close attention to the debates; maybe I should go from room to room to support and encourage the kids; but really, no adults are "allowed" to be there....it's completely student-run.

These kids LOVE this!!! They are so into it, taking everything very seriously, and doing excellent work. These are the movers and shakers of this generation...and even they, when it is all over at the end of the day, head to the pub to enjoy socializing together. My "duties" here are a far cry from what I would be expected to do in the U.S., where I would have to watch their every move...here, these kids are considered adults, and I am simply the "safe-guard"....in emergency, call on me. So, I'm off to finish one book, and start another.

Packages

Anyone who has lived overseas, far from friends and family, knows that receiving a package in the mail is like a cold drink of water on a sweltering day.

I was expecting a package from a good friend today. The secretary in the school knew it, and when she came walking in the English staff room with a small package in hand, I nearly jumped out of my seat with joy!! Yet as I looked at the return address, my heart sank; it wasn't the package I was expecting. However, my joy returned immediately as I realized that THIS was a package I'd been waiting even longer for, and had nearly forgotten!!!

Of course I ripped it open and pulled out the book and two CDs I'd ordered a long time ago, thrilled, and feeling very loved that another good friend had taken the time to send these to me!

It's the little things that can be water to the soul, the small gestures, the kind word, the gentle touch, the long hug, and the time taken to send a friend far away a package to make her smile! (And I can still look forward to the other, much anticipated package!)

Every day, if we are willing to take the time, there are "packages" to be opened if we simply open God's Word. Some of those "packages" are much anticipated, and others are surprises, but ALL are nourishing to the whole person, body, mind, soul and spirit. Gotten any good packages lately?

House Cleaning

Today was the day. I grabbed the bucket and the sponge and gloves and tackled the two living room windows that face the busy street in front of my flat. After cleaning the screen and sills of one window, the water was BLACK. Of course it was black after the second as well. Then I decided to tackle the lounge chair pads on my balcony, which sat out all winter...I tossed the first one in the bathtub and started running the hot water...the water promptly turned BLACK. I washed and rinsed that thing 4 times, and finally, at the end of the 4th rinsing, the water was "relatively" clear. The second pad was the same.

Each time I watched the black water swirling down the drain in the tub, I thought, "I didn't think the windows or those pads were THAT dirty! They didn't 'look' that dirty or 'seem' that dirty."

How similar this is to our own lives and our own sin..."I'm not THAT bad! I don't 'look' that sinful or 'seem' that bad."

The Bible says that "there is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10).

Yet, there is hope and a TRUE promise: "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18)

As the clear, clean water poured out of the tap in the tub, I was reminded of how we are washed clean and pure by Jesus Himself, through the Holy Spirit, which He has poured out into the hearts of those who believe!!! It is His righteousness alone that can wash away my sin.

Pride

I can't help but be just a bit proud today. I just visited one of my former students' blogs and learned that his first book is coming out tomorrow! His name is J.R. Briggs, and the book is called "When God says Jump". I can't wait to read it! I'm proud because J.R. was in my 10th grade English class in Virginia, and slaved and slaved and slaved over every paper I made him write. He wanted to do it well, perfectly. Both he and I know he wasn't a strong writer then...however, his hard work and the Lord's blessings have paid off, obviously, in this fruit! Congratulations, J.R.!!!

SUNSHINE!!!!

The sun is shining, a bit, today! I'm going out to walk in the sunshine and drink it in, since we've had sooooooo little. I want to receive whatever I can from its rays.

This is also the message I received from the Lord this morning, through the prayers of two friends..."don't give; just receive."

For a do-er, a giver, a performance-oriented individual, this is a big challenge. Lord, help me to receive.

Ups and downs and wild rides

We awakened this morning to about 3 inches of wind blown snow and huge flakes falling, while being blown by strong winds. This continued all day. It's March. This is not very typical of March in Szeged...nevertheless, it was the perfect start to an up and down day! My ninth grade bilingual students are giving oral presentations on topics of their choice. Today, a young lady, who was found sprawled on the bathroom floor at school completely drunk last Tuesday, stood up to give her presentation on her favorite book: The DaVinci Code. "So, why do you like this book?" "I like it because of all the action." A conversation unfolded in the class about how this book and other "things" are "revealing" that the church has been wrong for centuries, "hiding" the truth from people, and finally, people are able to see the truth, specifically that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. I've never experienced an entire class so anti-Christianity in my 16 years of teaching.

Immediately following that class, I taught 4 senior girls and one of them said, completely unprompted, "Well, there aren't many children in the children's home where I grew up who believe in God, but I am a believer and have faith in Jesus!" This prompted a discussion about what it means to believe, how two of the four of them came to faith in Jesus, and how the other two "believe" but don't go to church. It was a pleasant, loving discussion in which we saw into each others' lives, and while at different places, still "loved" each other.

Stark contrast to the contentious atmosphere in my 9th grade class.

I walked out of school to my snow-covered car, thankful for the blanket of white, remembering that Jesus' blood was shed for every one of those kids, even those currently deceived, and washed them whiter than the snow blanketing the ground around me. It's His work, not mine...may He reveal His Truth to each one of them in His perfect way and perfect time.

More on weather fronts

Yesterday, I did my usual "go to the market and then to the DM", which is just like a Walgreens...anyway, if you have been reading my blogs, and you read about "feeling fronts", this is a follow-up to that. I was looking for vitamins and for health tea in the DM when I saw a box that said, in English, "Front Medicine". I picked it up, and sure enough, it is medicine one can take when one suffers from headaches as a result of cold or warm fronts coming through!!! I didn't buy any as Advil seems to work pretty well for me, but this was yet another piece in the "weather puzzle" I found fascinating.

Socialized Medicine

Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate the socialized medicine in Hungary. I have had to have 4 MRIs since I've lived here, and one major surgery, plus a plethora of doctors' visits for various illnesses, and it has all been FREE!!!

However, today was a case in point why some people don't really care for socialized medicine. I was sent to the neurological department at the "New Clinic" by my family physician...you have certain hours that you can go there, so I went after teaching this morning, arriving about 11:45 a.m. I knew I was in trouble the second I turned the corner into the waiting area of this department. There were probably 15 people sitting there waiting to be seen. I handed my paperwork to the nurse on duty, and she said, "You are not going to get in today. There are four serious cases inside already and all these people waiting...you'll have to come back next week; the best day would be Wednesday or Thursday."

Now, I don't have a serious problem...but what if I did? This is a definite drawback in socialized medicine...you get seen in the order you arrive...the early bird gets the worm, so to say; or you snooze you lose.

Sometimes I wonder how all these people get all this time off from work in order to sit in line to see the doctor....

Foggy vs. Clear goggles

It's still COLD here in Szeged, so trips to the swimming pool are not very fun just yet. However, I dragged myself there again yesterday, and once again, the Lord graciously chose to teach me something. Even though it took me 200 meters to get rid of the goose bumps, I'm thankful for the lesson about foggy vs. clear goggles.

I've blogged about this before...being able to see clearly...but yesterday, the Lord gave me a new chapter in the goggle lesson book. At about 400 meters, my goggles are getting quite foggy, and I notice that I begin to swim with more caution; I'm not so sure about "where I am or where I'm going"; gotta look for the wire above so I don't slam into the wall as I do back stroke, etc.

As soon as I stopped and cleaned my goggles, a renewed sense of confidence, power, and swimming ability fell over me!!! I can see clearly now and I want to swim hard, fast, and well! When the goggles are foggy, I swim with hesitancy, caution and definitely at a slower pace.

What dawned on me yesterday is what a picture this is of a life in Christ. How many believers in Jesus are living lives with foggy goggles..."swimming" along, able to "see pretty well", able to "be in the pool" and "do the strokes", but cautious, still a bit fearful, wondering if they're going to "slam their hand into the wall" because it's "just not clear" what the Lord is up to?

On the flip side, how many believers in Jesus have stopped, taken off the foggy goggles, allowed God to clean them, and now "swim" with renewed confidence, strength, hope, joy, peace, boldness, and faith because it is very clear WHO the Lord is and that He is always up to His good work in our lives and in this world? www.ceokids.org

On friends and friendship

I was driving home from Kiskoros, a small town about 1 1/2 hours from Szeged, on Sunday, and was blessed with the company of one of my Bible study girls riding with me. Dora and I have not gotten a lot of one on one time together this year, so this car ride back to Szeged was a true blessing. While Dora is 18 years my junior, the Lord has knit our hearts deeply and we are able to love and encourage each other, despite the "generation gap," so to say.

When we were about 30 km. from Szeged, we got to talking about friends and friendship, and she shared with me that God has totally blessed her with such a deep, deep, Jonathan and David friendship with another girl in our study, M. Their initial "meeting" 3 years ago was a miracle in itself, as M., extremely shy, approached Dora boldly and began talking with her, and they found themselves 30 min. later walking down the main street of the city, talking as though they'd known each other for years and years!!! It's such a deep friendship in the Spirit, just as Jonathan loved David deeply in the Lord.

These friendships are rare, and sometimes never come in our lifetime. Of course we have close friends, and we truly love those God blesses us with, but to have that Holy Spirit connection with someone, where after just a few minutes, there is a knitting of hearts so deep that nothing can tear it apart. It's a friendship that is so healthy because it is 100% from God...there was no "work" put into it...no working through the "initial awkward moments"; instead, there is instant spiritual connection, that ONLY God can do.

These friends are not afraid to rebuke or correct, and are quick to love, even quicker to pray; conversations are never forced; there is a mutual understanding in the Lord that is almost unexplainable outside of simply saying "God did it." I too have one such friend that God dropped in my life. I cannot understand the depth of connection in the Holy Spirit, but as God continues to grow each of us in Himself, He's given us this "Jonathan and David" friendship for His glory and purposes.

I could totally relate to Dora, and this was such an encouragement to her, because she's never known anyone else to have such a "J-D" spiritual friendship. Again, God blessing the body with mutual encouragement!!!

Cultural difference #652

During my Hungarian lesson today, we were talking about the weather and weather forecasts/reports, etc. In my text book, there is a "weather report" in which it says the following, (rough translation): "A strong warm front will be coming and those who get headaches or 'feel' these fronts, you will feel this one strongly. Drivers, take care when driving because of these people who "feel" these fronts."

I had to smile and I asked my teacher if it is because someone might be driving and suddenly get a horrific headache and cause a crash? She said, "Yes, or if someone is walking on the street and "falls ill" because of the weather front, then drivers should be aware of these pedestrians."

I was trying to think if anything like this would ever be included in a weather report in the U.S. The closest comparison would be that an ice storm is coming so: "Drivers, be careful on the roads because they will be slippery!"

I can attest to the fact that indeed, when weather fronts come through here, I feel them in my body!!! So there is some logic to all of this!

A Birthday Blog

Today is my birthday! Most people don't go around "announcing" things like this, and I'm usually in the category of "most people". But for some reason, this year, I'm excited about my birthday. I'm a very new person this year. In the past one and a half years, and especially in the last 10 months (to the DAY), God has done radical things in my life, and probably for the very first time, I am realizing what a blessing a birthday is. God, in His amazing love and sovereignty, KNEW me before the foundation of the world, He saw me, He placed me in my mother's womb, He formed me, He breathed life into me, He delighted in me before ANYONE else could ever delight in me...in other words, the Author of Life gave me life on this day, in His perfect timing, for His perfect purposes, one of which is simply to be His precious daughter. Birthdays are taking on a whole new meaning for me because if the God of the Universe planned that I would be born and have life, then celebrating His amazing gift of life is the least I can do, and is an exciting event! Jesus sets us free, and as He continues to bring freedom, the freedom to celebrate every day as His gift, and birthdays as HUGE gifts, is so much more fun! Be blessed today!!!!

Swimming.........surprised???

I arrived at the pool today and nearly every lane was FREE!!! I stood in shock and hurridly took off my robe, hopped under the shower, put on my goggles and got in an empty lane!!! You may not understand, but on a typical day, there are a minimum of 3-4 people in each lane, so to have a lane to oneself is truly a gift not to be missed! Each time I made the turn, I looked to see if someone had jumped in my lane to start swimming, but I was able to go a full 800 meters before, finally, a very slow woman began swimming in my lane. I must admit, a feeling of frustration set in because there were other empty lanes...why couldn't she go to those lanes? And on my last 50 meters, I had to "pass" her, thus interrupting the swimming "flow" I'd gotten in during my 1000 meter journey.

Do we GRAB the gifts the Lord gives us? Do we relish them with everything within us? And when something comes in to "disturb" that gift or the "working out of that gift", how do we respond? ...And the greatest of these is love....

Drastic Change..........

Yesterday, it was cloudy, very cold, and began snowing late in the afternoon and into the night. We awakened this morning to a fresh 2 inches of snow on the ground, and partly cloudy skies! By 8 a.m., it was blindingly sunny, and the snow was melting quickly. Sunglasses are needed today, and there's not a cloud in the sky.

This radical change in the weather, in such a short time can be analagous to what God sometimes does in us, if we allow Him. He is constantly wanting us to draw closer to Himself, to "see Him with the eyes of our spirits", and to grow. One day it is cloudy and snowy in our souls, and the next, because of a mighty work of His Holy Spirit, the Son is shining amazingly, like never before. It's fun to see and even more fun to experience these drastic changes, especially when intimacy with the King of Kings is the result!

Some will say, "but just 'yesterday' you were like this...and today, you are 'different'." Yep, isn't that how God works sometimes?