Pussy

This morning when I came out to my computer, our darling, little black and white cat, Lucy, was scatching to come in the back door. When I let her in she came immediately and jumped on my lap here.

Her little face looked up at mine and she would not budge from that position until I had looked back into her eyes and chatted a few minutes, scatching her chin and patting her pretty head. She just wanted me to look into her face and talk gently. Then she was fine to go check out her food dish.

I want to be like that with my heavenly Father. My morning tendency is to hop out of bed and do "just one quick errand" before getting myself satisfied with the Lord first.

One of George Mueller's secrets to his great life of faith was a similar activity to our Lucy's with me, her mistress. He made certain that he spent time in God's Word first thing upon rising, followed by prayer (not the reverse order) until he was "happy in the Lord."

Only then was he ready to enter his day and have the capacitiy to feed and clothe the many orphan children he took in. Only then was he able to become the man everyone now looks to as the one who never asked a penny of others.

Like the Levites of Israel, who were not given any Land as their inheritance, Mueller recognized that he had no real inheritance, not anywhere on this planet. That God was his Portion and God alone.

Foosball

January is a great month to purchase big post Christmas type items like 'foosball' tables, and I did. Surprised the guys by making them take the truck to pick it up at Academy Sports the other night.

They dismantled the parts to get it through the door and into the porch, and now it is set up there. It's cold still, being January, but is a fun thing to do even wearing jackets.

I did not know that a mother could get into such things, but this one has. If you really spin the handles hard you can stand a chance to win against your sons even if your aim isn't that great.

When Bob went for a short conference this week in Alabama, he grabbed several packs of powdered A.C.T., our new healthy energy drink to keep in his briefcase. He actually made up one for himself and chilled it to drink as he travels.

Every day on the way out the door, he takes one to put into his water bottle at lunch. He claims it gives him a nice lift after lunch when he usually has a bit of a slump. It is certainly better for him than Coke and makes him clear-headed and peppy in less than 10 minutes and ready to go all afternoon. No drop-off afterwards. He is fine when he gets home at 5:00.

This is a happy find. The only way I can order it is through our free, lifetime website. www.m2cglobal.com/shalpert. Anyone looking for free samples can get them through www.energizingdrink.com/SH1093 . It is a fun way of getting 'brown paper packages' in the mail.

"Quiet Times"

Things are so busy in the mornings, but I am absolutely determined that I will give my boys a tool for life in the midst of the rush. They may not want it, but they don't want to brush their teeth either or wear deodorant or do homework. They don't always WANT to sweep the back porch after the dog has brought in a big stick and chewed it to bits. They many not WANT to clean up the kitchen, or take vitamins.

I recall feeling pressured as a kid about this issue. But 50 years later I am still grateful that my folks instilled in me this good habit of quietude. Maybe it was the way they commanded it of me that made me rebel, maybe I did not sense any need for it because my happy little life was so good.... Or....maybe I didn't like it because of my stubborn little heart.

Anyway, I have sweated over this as a parent because I wanted it to be Real for my kids. I have fought with the thought, They are going to hate this. And no doubt my older kids did. Though my motives were right, I did a lot of things wrong.

But, poorly or well, I have persevered every day for the last couple years with our new boys and Rob. The big difference, though, has been that I have kept praying minute by minute in the mornings. I ask for God's sweet Spirit to land on us, while I lead the way and walk them through it. And He has come.

On some especially groggy days, I have had to quietly but firmly enforce the Be On Time, or Forfeit Your Allowance or Thursday Hot Lunch Money rule.

Until now. Now I think finally we have something that seems to be rolling on its own steam.

Finally this morning, without my saying anything, the boys each went to his own quiet corner in the family room. Peter the early bird, the first one out, stationed himself with earphones on, at the computer with an audio reading. James went to a corner of the couch with his new, daily devotional from Voice of the Martyrs, and Rob sitting straight and obedient, found his spot on the loveseat with a One Year Bible.

I think it going all right because James wanted the family to hear the Extreme Faith story from his book. Peter has an internal love for God and Mom which propells him forward in God. And today Rob challenged me regarding something he had read.

After reading Matthew 15 he laughed and told me Jesus said we don't have to wash our hands before eating!! I explained that it was a traditional ritual washing invented by rabbis and accompanied by special blessings, which Jesus was exempting His disciple from, not God's holy Law!

So we press onward. I tell them someday God will holdtheir mother accountable for whether she gave them the tools to live by. Later if they depart from it, that is their and God's business, but while they are under my roof, I will teach them "the way they should go." If they don't want to go to church, then when they get their license they can find a different church. But they must go. So far it is working.

This is a very hard thing. Parenting is a very hard thing. But then Jesus never promised us a rose garden. He just said, "Come unto me all who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from ME for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Oh, hope in the Lord, for He gives such joy and rewards.

Prayin' Ourselves Happy!

I sat waiting in the parking lot to hear what God would say for me to do. Should I go downtown for the Bible Study? I was already an hour late, but somehow I felt He was saying to go anyway.

I let the car pull slowly into the turning lane and began driving in that direction, but then the thought came, "Call Fawn and ask if she could come too." I should go and pick her up. I had not seen Fawn in a couple weeks and said, "But Lord, she is at work and that is in the opposite direction."

"She is at home," He answered.

I picked up my cell phone as I drove along, but realized, "Lord, I do not have her phone number. What now?"

Suddenly my phone rang. It was Fawn!

"Ms. Sivia! she said, her voice as usual way loud and strong on the end of the line. "I quit my job and now i am at home! My boss kept praying to Buddah about me and making voodoo against me. She was getting so mean because I love my Jesus. Finally I quit. I just came home. Can you get me and we go to Bible Study?"

"Of course, Darlin', I am already on my way because God told me to get you. Isn't He good?"

Oh, Ms. Sivia, He always good. He always good. He is my Lord Jesus. He is my best Friend and Savior. He save me from that evil woman and now he say I am finished wid that job. She going to be sorry because I cheerful and joyful. I bring in her customers, because God's grace in on me and the customers like me. God put His favor upon me and make His face shine on me because I His child. That evil lady gonna be sorry she treat God's chil' like that!"

"Ok, Fawn, let's remember God loves your Buddist boss and Jesus died for her just like He died for you and me. We are sinners too."

"Oh, yes, Ms. Sivia. You are right! He Looove my boss! We pray for ou-er enemies. We bless those who persecute us for righteousness sake. We pray for dose who despitfully use us. We pray God, You will save my boss! Turn her from her evil way. She and her chidren go to hell unless you SAVE her, Oh Jesus! Save my boss!"

She and I prayed and praised God loudly as I drove the long treck into Jackson to get her, past the abandoned houses where folks live without light and heat and water, past the warehouses that are collapsing, past the good and the bad neighborhoods, the kids in their schools, the people going shopping and the little storefront churches and outreach centers.

By the time I got to Fawns apartment, Ah had prayed mahsef happy!

We went to the Bible Study, and again Fawn burst forth in a prayer that rose in a crescendo, had all of us cryin' and Amenin'. She prayed up and down the women there, our families, the President, the Nation, the continent and then she started on the other continents.

This is the little, abused, war baby from Vietnam, who came by herself to America at 15 years of age, who lived in shelters and on patios, who was a outcast, sick, and mistreated, but to whom God has revealed Himself, and who loves and depends on and cherishes and praises Him day and night.

Someday soon she and I will write the story of her life to glorify God some more.

Feeling the Prayers

Sometimes you just have to say that the air is so clear and the relationships are so velvety that somebody HAS to be praying for you. And they are!

It was like that today. It was rainy out and the boys and Bob were off and began working on their science fair projects. We had so many experiments going on around here it was very wild and fun.

Peter was testing airplane wings by whirling them around in circles over our heads, Rob was constructing a spinner to calculate the chances of 2 people having birthdays on the same day, and James was organizing 10 little pots to grow beans.

Then James and Rob took turns blindfolding each other and fumbling around the house. They also put a jacket on the dog. Lots of laughs there too. Bob took us all out to Wendy's for lunch.

The other fun and curious thing was that instead of job lists, I gave the boys a blank paper and asked them to write out their goals for today. They each started out with things like Play with the cat, Brush the dog, until I reminded them to do some things that would contribute to the family and our home.

So here is James list. It really blessed me!!

Put laundry away.
Homework.
Sharpen all pencils,
Vacuum hall, kitchen,
Empty garbage,
Set and Serve,
Vacuum family room
Vac my room,
Vac dining room,
Shake kitchen mats

When he finished that, he and Rob made chocolate chips cookies using the new Kitchen Aid mixer. They even used half Stevia in place of sugar!!

Taste? questionable. Pride and smiles? irreplaceable!

Wasn't that the sweetest thing?

Energy Plus!!

Maggie has experienced a new drink in Brazil made from a seed that the Indians used to put under their tongues for stamina on long treks. It is called Guarana. I found Guarana in Wikipedia online encyclopedia. It is a natural antibiotic and antioxident in addition to being a happy-focused stimulant.

Here's the God-incident.... It "just so happens" that a week before she left for Brazil she tested a sample of a new health-building energy drink, A.C.T., which a friend had given us... Lo and behold, A.C.T. contains Guarana!

A.C.T. claims to be the first all natural, very low sugar, energy drink in the world (4 grams of sugar and stevia... NO ASTPARTAME!) Plus it repairs the body using guarana to hurry amino acids to the cells.

She loved the drink so much, because it helped her brain focus and in about 5 minutes it gave her energy with her preschoolers. Not only that it took away a long-standing sinus headache. All on the first glass!

So she asked me fast to get some for her to take to Brazil. In about two minutes I enrolled myself for the free website and became a dealer so I could order some for the family! www.m2cglobal.com/shalpert : )

Yesterday she emailed that she LOVES her A.C.T. and is sharing her box of 30 two-serving packs with a friend who also loves it. Of course I had to go onto my website and get us some more because Bob has been taking it every day at noon to keep his energy and focus up until home time! It is quite amazing stuff. All natural and builds cells too.

Everyone I talk to wants some so I have begun carrying samples in my purse and a water bottle to pour and shake and serve. Fun!

If you want to try it, go to my cool new site www.m2cglobal.com/shalpert and press Enroll Now for your own free site. Then you to can order it. If you don't like it, there is a 90 day refund policy. But you will like it, and setting up is totally free.

There, how did I do with my first testimonial? : )

Mag's Adventures

This afternoon I read the boys a chapter from Heidi and Rolland Baker's book, Always Enough. Heidi and Rolland established the school Maggie is attending. Everyone needs to read this book. Get it at:
http://www.amazon.com/Always-Enough-Miraculous-Provision-Children/dp/0800793617

We love hearing about God's great kindness to those in distress, and the faith of the neediest to receive miracles from Him. Today's chapter was about how God raised a woman from the dead and about terrible flooding in Mozambique.

Curiously, when I came here to the computer there was a letter from Trina, one of the teachers who soon will come to Maggie's school in Sao Paulo, but lives near Rio de Janeiro several hours away.

Trina is asking for prayer because they are having terrible flooding in Rio. A woman from their church has just arrived at Trina's house, because a mudslide down their hill took away her house. We can pray from the lady and Trina today.

Regarding Maggie, she is fine in Sao Paulo, and her blog tells about how their school just prayed and a child raised from the dead, and how Maggie broke up a street fight between two drug dealers. We can pray for Maggie today too. www.maginafrica.blogspot.com

Dangerous Work

This morning while my friend was doing his usual sidewalk counselling outside the one remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, a man exited the building. The other counsellor he was with stepped up to him to confront the man with what he had just been party too.

The guys will generally disappear from a girl's life if she does not go through with an abortion, but neither does going through with one guarantee they will stay. The girls do it, do Anything to get what they perceive to be love from a man. Last week the "doctor/butcher" in there told one girl to abstain for a week after the abortion, and her boyfriend couldn't wait around and left her in three days.

This morning Bruce watched as his partner approached this particular man and noticed that the man's face darkened and took on a spirit of murder. He then told Bruce's friend he'd kill him.

Bruce quickly stepped between the two men, and as his friend ran for his life, Bruce looked into the guy's face and said, "You can kill me instead." The man's mouth dropped, he said some not very complimentary things to Bruce, and turned and strode to his car.

Bruce told me he had never been so frightened in all his life. But then now he is scared in another way because tomorrow he will be on a local talk show telling about how he plans to camp outside that clinic for two weeks and pray and read scripture. That God will close the place down.

Out of all 2000 churches in Jackson, Bruce may be alone in his vigil. Hopefully his being on the radio tomorrow afternoon will generate some support and prayer. God loves Bruce for laying down his life every day for the babies and women.

It is winter in Mississippi and it is cold. Bruce will have to dress warmly. He loves those babies and moms, but he loves God more and is just going to obey Him. God bless him.

Ashey

Last time I went through Ashley's check-out at Wal-Mart, she told me how she was really depending on her mind power to get her through life.

Her grandparents had brought her up because Mom and Dad had gone. Dad was rarely there for her as a child. When he was, it was fun, but then something happened and he turned to drink.

Now Grandpa was sick. Her will power and determination were not quite working with this one, I guess.

Today I saw her again and stopped to say Hi. I asked about her grandpa and her dad's health. She told me how now her father was being better to her and gave her money sometimes, but when she is with him, she does not like it because he drinks so much.

She is only about 19 years old but she struggles with not drinking and following in his footsteps. I asked her how she planned to do that, and she replied that it had to have will-power, but that it was very hard.

We talked about how alcohol, people, things or habits can control us, and the only real way to succeed in not allowing them to is to give control over to Jesus Christ. I gave her a lovely little booklet I carry origiinally written for children, but excellent. It is entitled "The Way to God."

Please Holy Spirit speak to her through it, let her release her life out of her own hands and into His, and then watch in amazement what He will do with it.

Maggie Un-update

Still no more emails from Maggie. Since she is situated at the Brazil Holy Given School with Iris Missions in a favala or slum of 120,000 people and will be living among the poor, likely she does not have access to the internet. So I tell myself.

If I want to feel close to her I go here. http://www.irismin.com/holy_given_schools_brazil.cfm You can too or wander around all the other Iris Ministry sites. They are now in 25 countries.

Just sing.

Today at school chapel a man from Voice of the Martyrs addressed the students. Our guys were touched by the Spirit of God through the stories from around the world, and James and Peter were motivated enough to use their own cash to purchase a DVD of William Tyndale the martyr, plus a daily devotional.

This was an answer to prayer and fasting today 'just because,' but also becasue last night Peter was hollering that James was beating up on him (boys will be boys). I was distressed because James would not say Sorry.

This evening they had their arms around each other's shoulders and were laughing together and hanging over the couch watching their new DVD. Only God can do stuff like that... Then at supper, with extraordinary clarity, Peter told the story of how Tyndale translated the scripture.

Peter is a bright boy and wants to work with his hands and repair or invent things when he grows up. The lady from the Aviation School of Maintennce in Atlanta is going to send information to this little boy who wrote away for it.

Life will be all right because God says so. He answers prayers and in fact, as two different friends showed me the same day, II Chronicles 20 tells how God said to Jehoshophat, "You won't even have to fight this battle. Stand still and see what God will do. You just sing."

So I sang and shouted alone here in the house. Pretty easy battle.

Why do I ever worry?

Can an addict love the Lord?

Isaac and Tony and Pooh Bear were truly sober, so it was fun fielding their questions last evening. Isaac's was: "Here's one I have wondered about for years. Who is Melchizedek?

Tony wanted to know how Jesus could pray to His Father if he was God, and was he God? Then, if John the Baptist was not greater than Jesus, why did he baptise Jesus? Why did he leap in his mother's womb?

The most important question was Tony's. He needed to know, "I know the Lord loves me. But my quetion is, If I am a drug addict, which I am, can I be a Christian at the same time? Can a Christian be a drug addict?"

We tossed that one around a few minutes and decided that God would be the one to decide the question. On the other hand, if you cannot even agree to the first commandment, to have no other gods before God, then how could you call yourself a Christian.

A Christian is a Christ one, a follower of the Rabbi from Nazareth, and He honored and loved the Lord His God with ALL His heart and soul and mind and strength. He did not model addictions of any type to His followers. And... if Tony wanted, Jesus could remove the desire for drugs from him and he could become a true lover and follower of Jesus Christ.

However, if Tony just wanted to pause a while in his asking questions and asking questions, and get to the root of the problem with drug addiction, then he just plain needed to get born again....The man is close to the Kingdom. Question is will he step in?

Can an addict truly claim to love Jesus when Jesus said, "If anyone loves father, mother, sister or brother more than me, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. What about cocaine?"

Pretty clear message. The gate seems narrower every day. You can't get through with your stuff in tow.

"If you love me obey my commandments."

"What will you do?"

No new word from Maggie, but I am trusting she is deep into her work and that no news is good news.

She would have enjoyed the downtown Bible Study last night. We covered our chapter in Acts and as usual found great applications to our lives as followers of Jesus or prospective believers. Then the street guys piped up with their questions. They are so polite and respectful and consider Mrs. Amy an angel of mercy, love the soup, and warm house. But they do have their questions.

Tony always is full of insights and has a piercing prophetic mentality. He was the one who asked me how often I repent. It was important to him whether I was a hypocrite or not. Last night he cornered me after the meeting and asked, "Where is your daughter?"

"Oh," I answered, "She is at a mission school in Brazil."

"What will she do after that? Will she come home?"

"Yes, for a while" I responded.

"What will you do if she goes away to Africa and doesn't come back?" He was at it again, testing me.

I said, "I will be so glad is she is giving her life away for Jesus Christ. "

"What if she never comes back? " He repeated.

"As I said, I will be sad and miss her, but I will be glad she is serving the Lord. I want all my children to serve the Lord in various ways."

He nodded seriously. I guess I passed the test. It was a scary one.

Maggie's Arrived!

Just got a note from our girl. Please remember her in prayer. Thank you! ..........

Hey Mom! I am safe and sound in Brazil. My phone is supposed to be able to reach you guys but I can´t seem to get it to work. I wasn´t able to get an international calling card though.

Look, I can make different letters with this keyboard... ç amazing eh? Okey dokey. Pray that I will be able to learn Portuguese really, really fast! No one speaks english very well here. I got spoiled in Africa. Tell Dad and the boys I love them!

xoxoxoxo Muito amor!
Maggie

Not to us, O LORD, not to us,but to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness,
Because of Your truth.
Psalms 115:1

Family Friend

I was chuckling to myself as I thought of our family friend, Jimmy Carwash. He came to Sunday night Bible Study and sat next to me. He had on a nice pair of loafers and clean cords, his usual red and navy scarf wrapped around his neck, the same plaid shirt, and bandana around his head topped with the camo hat that identifies him in a crowd.

Considering someone at the mission stole his bag containing his deodorant and change of clothes, he smelled pretty good. He praised God that something had told him to stash his Bible in a pick-up truck somewhere, so it is safe, but that is it for his worldly possessions.

That, except for a warm blanket. "Ah'm gonna be warm tonight, even though the mission is closed," he said, but he just laughed when the boys and I asked where he hid that. "Not tellin," he said.

When we pulled up to his special place behind the Conaco station to drop him off, he asked for prayer for his friend Dave, who we could see was already bedded down for the night on a warehouse loading platform. "He is stubborn and won't listen to me talking about the Lord," said Jimmy, "but I'm gonna keep talkin'."

So we prayed right then for Dave and another friend Neil, who Jimmy Carwash witnesses to. And for his daughters, Faith who is 14 and another who is 16. His wife won't let him see them often. And we prayed for Jimmy to resist alcohol this week, read his Bible, and for God to provide some employment.

Would you mind praying for him too? I really think he is one of those "chosen vessels" of God, we love him and are eager to see him free so his witness will be credible in the eyes of his buddies Dave and Neil.

Chipping away at the darkness in Jackson. God can do it. All praise to His Name.

"My Mamma"

Sunday night at the downtown Bible study two of the guys got to talkin' about their mammas.

Darrell declared, "Now, y'all, I had it hard. My mother was a prostitute, and all mah brothers had different daddies. Two of my brothers were half white and the other was black."

Pooh Bear chimed in, "Noowww, unlike the rest o' you here, Ah had a strong mother. She taught me how to survive. She said ,'You need to survive in dis world, and I'm a gonna teach you how, an' she did."

I was thinking how I had a strong mamma too. She'd say, "Sylvia, darling, just lift your heart to the Lord and ask His help."

To me that's the best kinda Mamma one needs to survive.

Good Questions

May I ask a couple questions?

I begin the new year by honoring the Roman god, Janus and his heavenly hosts, right? That is where we get the name January. But maybe, if not outloud, at least in my heart I can find a name that is more holy for this month. After all, God commanded His people not to honor or worship the planets, stars and zodiac signs.

Maybe doing that would be awkward or impossible, but here's my other question:

Is the name Janus in any way related to the name Jannes? As I write January on my checks, could I also be aligning myself with the likes of an Egyptian with a similar name, 'Jannes'?

The Apostle Paul in II Timothy 3:7-9 picked on Jannes and his fellow wizard, Jambres. These were the two sorcerers who 'withstood Moses', the man of God, and tried but failed to discredit him. Paul compares the two of them to men who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, ... men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men...”

It’s not smart to withstand Moses, I am thinking. But whether the two names are related or not I don't know. But I do know this, that I felt kind of out of place as I watched a million people in red hats dance last evening in Times Square as a ball dropped.

Maybe I am not of this world. And maybe God has a better way for me to view the month of January, or the whole year…or life.