I learned of this story a few weeks ago, but our friend, Peb, is back in Kenya and learned the story first-hand. He relates it briefly here... Many of you know that a man gave Onesmus a very nice car last November. It is a Subaru Forrester. The details of this gift are as follows. There is a man in Nairobi who worked 25 years as an engineer in Germany and he made much money. He contracted throat cancer and his wife got cervical cancer. They moved back to Kenya to die. However another woman who had been healed by the ministry in Machakos told this couple of Onemsus and they came. They were not believers. Both were terminal. The man could not talk and could only swallow small amount of liquids due to the mass. Onesmus prayed for both of them for hours. The lady had a fungating mass protruding from her body. As they prayed, a black mucous came out of the man's mouth and black masses of necrotic tissue came out of the lady. They both went unconscious and remained so for a time. Onesmus reminded the Lord that if they died, it would be a shame to the Gospel. They revived. They continued to anoint one another and pray for the next year. Within one year, both were cancer free. In gratitude, they gave Onesmus the car since he had never requested money for the ministry.
I don't know what Onesmus' new vehicle looks like exactly, but I had to look one up to see for myself, because I'm visual like that. :) I am so happy for him! Please pray for Peb as he is there ministering and also continuing lifting up Onesmus, Esther, their sweet family and all of the ministry team as they continue to lift up Jesus to the hurting, broken and enslaved in Kenya.
(This is a Lego heart made for me last year for Mother's Day. :) )
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16 AMP
I enjoy comparing several different versions...
Because he loves me, I will rescue him;
because he knows my name, I will protect him.
He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble. I will extricate him and bring him honor.
I will satisfy him with long life and show him my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16 CJB
If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!
Psalm 91:14-16 MSG
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16 NLT
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16 NRSV
I have been meditating on Psalm 91 for months now. I love these verses and the visual of "setting my love upon Him". The Hebrew for the phrase in verse 15 means to be attached to, long for, desire, set his affection, set his love. What does that look like exactly?
Sometimes I envision the Father on the throne and I am presenting to Him a beautiful, perfectly wrapped package. Other times I am at His feet, desperate for Him, barely able to stretch my arms up to Him, weighed down with life but still desiring to show Him how much I adore Him. And then there are times when I am just quietly sitting before Him singing a song of praise, over and over. There are so many ways I can "set my love upon Him". And I want to do so over and over again. I want to continue learning what this means. I am asking Him to show me more.
What does that look like to you? Or if you've never thought of "setting your love upon Him", what does the first commandment [Jesus replied:“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38] look like for you?
It's something I am pondering.
In the meantime, this is a perfect love song...
And another...
(There is a newer version of this one on Christy's Into the Glorious album, but strangely, I couldn't find it on YouTube.)
I have been hearing about Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae's new book Desperate: Hope For The Mom Who Needs To Breathe for a little while now. I have not read it yet, but you can bet that it is on my Amazon Wishlist! Sally has been a wonderful and godly influence on my parenting over the years. Her books are some of my very favourites and those of you younger moms who have ever asked any parenting advice from me have probably heard Sally's name more than once. She is full of wisdom and beauty.
And get this...she and Sarah Mae are hosting an amazing giveaway today for a year of FREE housecleaning! Wow! Is that brilliant or what?
To 2012, that is. I've been reading back through the journals that we keep during our prayer and worship times. WOW. I am blown away at the memories of what the Father has done in our lives in 2012. It's probably been one of the hardest years of my life. Missing Canada has been hard. Starting a new life here has been very challenging. It's also been a year that has brought incredible change and growth in me and in our family, along with the pain and tears. I am going to be reading more of the journals tomorrow and may have more thoughts to share or thanksgiving to offer for what we've experienced. We'll see. I did notice some interesting themes in our dreams, visions, prophetic words and prayers. One thing I am thankful for is this beautiful home and the fact that the Father sent us TWENTY overnight guests (not to mention friends who just came for an hour or two or eight). What an honour it was to have each and every friend, old and new, or family member in our home. We have some beautiful memories with you guys. And we are looking forward to finding out who He will bring to us in this next year! Tonight, as I wait on my oldest to get off work, I have been working on my brand new 2013 calendar!
{If you missed it back in October, I posted a review of the Polestar Family Calendar. You can read it HERE.} I so love having all these clean, white blocks that are just waiting for new, colourful ink to adorn them. I am praying through our few extracurricular commitments and asking for wisdom to know when to say "yes" and when to say "no" this year. I am praying for all of the yet-unknown names of individuals and families that we will have the honour of inviting for dinners or coffees or play dates. I am praying over the trips that we will take. The schoolwork we will accomplish. The birthdays we will celebrate. The time we will spend in worship and prayer. The overnight guests we will host. The moments we will take reading God's Word, being refreshed and strengthen and enlightened by it. The milestones we will mark. The games we will play. The books we will devour. The movies we will enjoy. The laughter. The tears. The joy. The adventure. There's a new day and a new year dawning. Happy 2013! May the Father bless you immensely and be your Hope!
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
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