New goggles...adjustments...moving forward

I swam with my new goggles today. First, I had to adjust the nosepiece so they would fit better. When I put them on, they felt a bit tight, but good...I'd gotten used to my "old" goggles needing to be tight on my face. Well, when I finished swimming and removed the goggles, I had deep, red round marks around both eyes...got some really funny looks from people. I realized I should have loosened them so that they didn't squeeze my face and leave marks. They need further adjustment before they will work as they are intended.
Taking time to adjust things...taking time...being patient...making appropriate adjustments...waiting...this reminds me that God is never in a hurry...I was "in a hurry" to get in the pool and do my laps, and I "suffered" the consequences.
Moving forward often means leaving things behind...old goggles...old ways of doing things; sometimes it's painful to adjust and move forward, but oh so necessary in order to move into what God has for us. The old goggles "fit" a certain way...but the new goggles "fit" in a different way, and if I try to use them in the "old" way, I'll be in pain and I'll be left with deep, red marks on my face.
God wants us to move forward into His way of doing things, and His mercies are new every morning. The blood of Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever; God is the same yesterday, today and forever; but have we even begun to plunge the depths of who God really is? That may take some adjusting and shifting and letting go of some of our "old" ways of thinking as He leads us into knowing Himself, giving us HIS goggles to see from His perspective.

On friends and friendship

Creflo Dollar was so right on in his teaching today. He has spent the last two days talking about choosing the right friends. He has made many good points, but the best was today. "We need friends in our lives who are going to CELEBRATE us, not tolerate us, and whom we can CELEBRATE! I don't want people around me who are just tolerating me; I want people who are celebrating me and I can likewise celebrate!"

Amen and amen!

Thermal baths and chess?

Yep, that's me on the left and my friend, Joanna Foley, playing chess in the middle of a round, thermal bath in Szeged, Hungary! Sadly for me, Joanna won the game...

One of the great blessings, among many, of living here in Szeged are these wonderful baths and saunas we can enjoy. A full-access ticket costs about $9 now, but it is worth every penny as you can enjoy all saunas and baths for as long as you want to stay that particular day!

The country of Hungary sits on top of many thermal waters and the nation has become known around the world as a wonderful "spa" nation. Various thermal waters around the country help with different "ailments", from rheumatism to arthritis, etc. I believe every major city and many smaller towns have these thermal baths where relaxation and rest is the goal! And my friends and I did just that this past Saturday! Personally, my favorite baths are located in Debrecen, where you can sit outside, even in winter, in a hot thermal bath!

ICF....

We started out on Friday with our smallest group yet...but people trickled in throughout the evening, and by the end, we were up to our average number of folks! That's not the important thing...the important this is to ask, was God glorified? I believe a resounding YES can be declared!

Sorry, but our DV/PT (designated video/picture taker) was far too into worship and completely forgot to take pictures! I'm thrilled she was caught up with the Lord!

Edith gave a wonderful message from John 5 and a clear presentation of the Gospel. We had friends Lea and Joanna visiting from Budpest, which was another treat!

I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store after the exam period is over and second semester at the university begins!

fun site

My friend pointed me to a fun website: www.travbuddy.com If you go there and click on "travel widgets", you can "map" how many countries and states you have visited. Then it calculates the percentage of the nations of the world you have visited! I was quite shocked to discover that I've been to 15% of the nations of the world! Go check for yourself and let me know your percentage!

Road trip

This past Sunday morning, Erin and I got up relatively early and took a road trip to Arad, Romania. Neither of us had ever been there, she was curious, and I decided that I should probably go to say "been there, done that", and so we hopped in my cool Honda Jazz and drove 2 hours to Arad. When we arrived, we found the McDonald's (wc stop) and then found the Best Western where we picked up a map of the city to scope out where to go and what to see.

Unfortunately, Arad is not like many European cities which typically have a very cool "walking street" in the heart of downtown...the "city center" in Arad is situated on either side of the main road in and out of town toward either Szeged or Budapest. But we made our way to the Maros River bank and walked along there for a spell, then made our way back toward the "center" of the city. We stumbled upon this small WWI memorial park...see picture above, where the pigeons would periodically do a "fly around", in unison, and as Erin commented, "They even look kind of pretty!"

Erin captured this picture of the statue, the Romanian flags and the pigeons and I think it is a really neat picture of what Paul talks about when he says, "Forgetting the past and pressing on toward what lies ahead." Yes, there is a statue dedicated to the past, but its cold, hardness depicts what can happen in our hearts if we try to hang on to the difficult memories of the past...we can become cold and hard and even unable to move. People may be able to look at us, but there is no life in the heart of an unforgiving person.

We found it interesting that the birds would take off and start flying away, but then would circle around and come back to where they started and settle down again. How often are we like those birds...we taste that freedom and we take off, testing our wings, but "peer pressure" or "fear of the unknown" or other things cause us to circle around and come back to the "familiar"? Funny that this tangible picture in this square shows these pigeons coming back to the foot of this statue...almost clinging to the past when the freedom promised in the skies above beckons with great promise for the future.

Friday at 7 - ICF - Szeged

Erik Ottosson leading worship, me accompanying, and Tanya Person on the flute.

Erik Ottosson and Jennifer Person...we're pretty casual and relaxed at ICF!

Jim Person teaching on John 5, the healing at the pool of Bethsaida.

Left to right, Zsuzsa from Kecskemet (a high school English teacher), Mary Jill from Debrecen, Iren from Hodmezovasarhely (a retired high school English teacher) Erin from Budapest, and Gorgy, Iren's husband.

We had a good meeting on Friday for ICF! Small numbers again as students have left after finishing semester exams and will return at the beginning of February. However, we had 6 new people show up...thank you to those of you who prayed for MEN to come...3 of the 6 new people were men! Go visit Erin's u-tube video...it will give you a small taste of worship time.

Wise counsel

I'm learning much these days about seeking God and God's counsel. Indeed, He is THE best counselor, teacher, friend, companion, healer, etc. He should be our very first resort in all situations and circumstances. He should be sought above all, desired above all, loved above all, trusted in above all and hoped in above all. In fact, Scripture teaches that to trust in men (or women) is foolishness. Yet, Scripture also teaches that there is wisdom in seeking wise, godly counsel.

What I am learning is that there are various kinds of people: there are those who will jump at any chance to give counsel (not my kind of people to seek out); there are those who will pray about giving counsel, and then give it IF God gives them the go-ahead (more my kind of people); and then there are those who refuse to give counsel because they believe that only God should be sought for counsel.

My conclusion is this: I must first seek God's counsel; second, I must ask Him if I need to seek the counsel of others; IF He says 'yes', then I must ask Him to direct me to those from whom I should seek counsel. I used to think it was obvious from whom I should seek counsel---those who are running hard after God and know me well---- but now I realize that in each "counsel-seeking" situation, one must ask for God's direction as to whom one must ask for counsel.

Musings on snow-melt

The snow has melted here in Szeged, and in my back yard, its disappearance has left a huge "mud-hole". Interesting to see in the "natural" what can happen in the "spiritual" as well...something beautiful can deteriorate into something messy, quite ugly and something you want to avoid. Yet, in just a couple of months, once the temperatures rise and the sun shines more frequently, that "muddy-mess" will be transformed into a thing of beauty: lush, green grass! Many things can lead to the deterioration of something beautiful in the spiritual realm: sin, disobedience, the enemy getting a foot-hold, or simply neglect. The only thing that can restore, though, is the blood of Jesus, His grace, mercy, and willing hearts that will walk by faith, trusting in Him alone to turn a muddy mess into a thing of beauty!

Out with the old and In with the new!

Last summer when I was in the U.S., I bought a new pair of swim goggles. I didn't really need them at the time, but they were on sale, and the way I swim and use goggles, I figured I'd need them soon enough. My old goggles were still working ok, fogging up some, but not too bad, and no leaks.

Well, today proved to be the day when the "old" goggles had their last wearing. As I started swimming my first 50 meters, my left goggle promptly let in enough water so that when I flipped over to do backstroke, my eye got "flooded" with water. I had to pause in the middle of my lap, tread water and empty the goggle so I could go on. I thought it was just a fluke, that I had not "correctly" put them on, but then when I started on my second 50 meters, once again, the left goggle filled 1/4 of the way with water, causing great discomfort and forcing me to concentrate more on my eye than on swimming.

I had to stop at the end of 100 meters and completely remove and readjust the goggles. However, even with readjustment, water was still seeping in, forcing me to realize that the time had finally come when I would need to throw out these goggles and bring in the new goggles. Otherwise, they would be a distraction.

As I meditated on this while swimming...as you know I love to do....it struck me what a clear picture of life this is sometimes. There are things from our past, "old" things, that we need to get rid of. They are causing discomfort, even pain, slowing us down, and causing us to concentrate on things we shouldn't be concentrating on, instead of that which is most important. Are we willing to come before our God and ask Him to show us what needs to be "pitched"...it might even be something REALLY old.... and then ask what new thing He wants to bring in so that we can go on, unhindered, unencumbered, following hard after Him into that which He is calling us to? Sometimes it's really hard, even heart-breaking to let go of the old and allow the new to enter in, even if we know that it is necessary and, in the long run, much better for us and everyone around us. The Apostle Paul put it well: "forgetting what is behind and striving toward what is ahead." By God's grace alone each one of us can do this...are you willing?

Chambers.....again....and again....

His solitude with us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship---when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.

ICF reflections

Any of you who have been following my blog for any length of time know that in October, God started an international Christian fellowship here in Szeged. We meet weekly on Fridays from 7-9...thus the name "Friday at 7"! As we begin this new year, pray for us, that Jesus will be lifted up and glorified, many will come to know Him personally, and we would be open to whatever God wants to do in and through this fellowship. Above is a great picture Mary Jill just put on her blog and I am borrowing for my blog. Erik and Sara are medical students from Sweden attending the university here in Szeged and on the leadership team for ICF. Precious friends and wonderful children of God!

Excerpt from Oswald Chambers

Peter, "...came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. there was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. '...He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'' (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives. All of our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit"---the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ."

This has never been more true in my life than now. Shattered, broken, and at the end of myself...what a wonderful place to be! By God's grace, He will keep me here.

Good book

I picked up a book yesterday which I bought this summer while in the U.S. "The Way of the Heart" by Henri Nouwen. I started it last night, finished it this afternoon, and immediately restarted it again. Here are some quotes for your own pondering:

"Solitude is the furnace in which the false, compulsive self is transformed into the new self of Jesus Christ, and from this new self, real ministry flows."

"'Compulsive' is indeed the best adjective for the false self. It points to the need for ongoing and increasing affirmation."

"Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Jesus Himself entered into this furnace. There he was tempted with the three compulsions of the world: to be relevant (turn stones into loaves), to be spectacular (throw yourself down), and to be powerful (I will give you all these kingdoms). There he affirmed God as the only source of his identity (You must worship the Lord your God and serve him alone). Solitude is the place of the great struggle and the great encounter---the struggle against the compulsions of the false self, and the encounter with the loving God who offers himself as the substance of the new self."

Watching fireworks...a truly "rotic" evening for me!

My friends Erik and Sara had a "romantic" new year's eve...I had a "rotic" new year's eve. Do you know the difference? Gotta love the expression as we watched fireworks from my balcony, in the snow, at midnight!

Some fun Christmas time pictures

Sybil and Ed Courtney with taco dinner preparations!!!

Edith Bond thought Erik was only taking a picture of me!

Hey Mary Jill..did you realize your outfit matches the piece of artwork behind you?

Tanya and Jim Person came on the 26th with their kids and we enjoyed a day of hanging out, planning for ICF 2008, and praising, worshipping and praying! If you click on the picture, there is a cool sort of "angel-like" reflection in the window of the fireplace right between them!!!

Erik downloaded some pictures onto my computer...these are from our Christmas in Debrecen!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

New Year's Eve day was filled to the brim! I got to meet with a dear friend, Adri, and enjoy a cup of tea and conversation with her and her 2 year old daughter, Luca!

Later in the afternoon, my 30 somethings Bible study women and their families (plus another family) had a party (disco ball to boot!) which ended with a great tradition: walking down the street together with kids blowing horns to ring in the new year...a few hours early! Precious times together at the end of 2007!

I came home and baked cookies and prepared for a small gathering of internationals at my flat to ring in the new year! What fun 6 of us from 4 different nations had here at my flat last night ringing in the new year! We watched "Evan Almighty", enjoyed lots of good food and snacks, talked, praised and worshiped God, and prayed in 2008!!! Sadly, I have no pictures, yet, because my camera bit the dust at Christmas time.

This morning, I awakened to a wonderful, beautiful blanket of snow, with the snow still falling! As I lay in bed watching the winter wonderland outside my window and taking in the peacefulness of this first day of the new year, God dropped this into my heart: "Just as you see the pure white snow blanketing everything, so you, my daughter, have been made pure by the blood of Jesus! The last year is gone, finished...all the joys and blessings are in the past; all the struggles, hurts and trials are in the past; today, this snow, in the physical, is a picture of what 2008 is for you---a fresh new start, covered in my grace and mercy! Walk forth in the freshness of new life in Me!" He's so very good!

May we all experience in the spiritual what God has given us here in Szeged in the natural---a beautiful blanketing of purity, grace and mercy---His love!