Wisdom, Grandkids, Life

June 12, 2017
Monday

Dear Readers,

It's been wayyyy too long since we last sat down and had a chat. My fault...my heart has been weeping in a way that has made me struggle to stay on a positive bent. That's just being honest. My purpose is to encourage and when I can't do that, I am quiet. I am sure y'all have gone through seasons like that. THAT BEING SAID, I opened my eyes this morning and said, "Self, you've been wallering around in this mud hole long enough and it's time to climb out." (Even mud holes can start to feel pretty comfortable!)

I fixed some coffee and decided to enjoy some donuts. I like the glazed ones with chocolate on top. Probably not exactly healthy but, hey, I am celebrating today. Yum! Life is delicious!!

"Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up."
~Deuteronomy 6:7 

What's the "them?" The Bible says we are to impress the knowledge of God upon the hearts of our children and grandchildren. Our stories of survival and how the Lord moved in our lives is paramount to their knowing that they, too, will flourish under the care of the Living God. We must prepare them to cope in this world where, so often, suicide seems the only way out. To know (when no one seems to understand) there is a God who cares is like giving them a life preserver.

I wish my grandchildren were able to spend time with me as I walk through my days. They would see me rise early, grab my cup of coffee, and meditate on God's wisdom. They would see me struggle to put my socks and shoes on knowing that I never give up. They would see me head out to my gardens to create, cultivate, and exercise. They would see that working smart often times yields more than working hard. To learn is to grow ... to be kind is to serve ... to give is to receive. They would join me on Sunday as I make my way down the country roads to a Cowboy Church where my spirit is filled with fellowship, laughter, tears, music, compassion, kindness, and words of wisdom. They would see me on my knees praying for them and cheering them on in life from afar. They would know that their grandmother is a fighter, a warrior, a woman willing to stand up for herself. They would see my spirit, my soul, and my love for people. They would know me as a seeker of truth, a soft-hearted woman, who has battled for a place of respect in this all too often cold world.

My dear ones, in this world, we will know many joys and heartaches, and experience challenges and trials. This is life. We are born then we prepare to leave this earth. Accepting that means what we do in between those times is pretty darn important. Make your time on earth count. Choose your battles wisely and be careful who you listen to. The friends you keep determine the trouble you meet. Be proud to be an American and resolve to defend our freedom. Examine history for history repeats itself over and over. Be encouraged by the peace keepers and those who speak truth. Do what you can, when you can, and leave the rest to God. It is in the arms of the Father that you will find your safe place, your harbor of refuge, your strength.

Enjoy each day ... celebrate yourself and your uniqueness ... do something for someone besides yourself and learn to serve. Let not bitterness and unforgiveness keep you prisoner. Memorize the Ten Commandments and do your best to walk in the light. Sit at the feet of learned men and women who follow the ways of the Son. Seek out those who would tell you truth not just what you want to hear. 

"Above all else, guard your heart,

for it determines the course of your life."

~Proverbs 4:23

As a grandmother to my biological grandchildren and others, I pray this morning for the generation who will be moving into positions of power and influence. I pray for a Godly generation who will be able to truly know the meaning of respect, diligence, and integrity. I pray that they would have a voice proclaiming the goodness and mercy of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I pray for supernatural discernment as they go about their days. There are turbulent times ahead ~ the signs are already on the horizon. I pray for a revival of hearts soul'd out for Jesus. For parents and grandparents and great-grandparents, I pray for wisdom as to what we nurture and encourage in our charges. Amen!

Always in Christ's love,
Miss Dottie

PS "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." ~John Wooden 

Miss Dottie's Mini Blog 4/5/17

The Old Man is Dead sung by Del Ray

This truly is a beautiful day. As the sun came up and flooded the cottage with light, I smiled. I have one more day to live and do what stirs my soul.

As I pitter patted my way to my War Room, I realized that to pray for those who Christ puts before me in an honor and a privilege. As I enter that special place, I become a General in the Lord's Army leading a charge against the wiles of the Devil and lifting those in need of my Savior's help.

The Open Range Band plays the song, The Old Man is Dead and every time I hear it, I tear up. All the pain of my life melts away and I know that I  am raised to a newness of life.

As Easter approaches, we can rest knowing that our old nature was buried at the cross. Our new man began at the resurrection. All you need to do is accept the hand that is before you.

I want to encourage you today to do something special for yourself. That may sound selfish, but, it's not. Celebrate who you are and the purpose you were created for. I promise you, if you do that, your light will shine in a way that will draw others to you.

"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do His work through me." ~Hudson Taylor

Have a blessed day!!

Oh shoot....

December 26, 2016
Monday

Dear Readers,

Come on in to my little niche I've carved out as my own little heaven on Earth. This space is where I spend most of my time writing, creating, reading, and entertaining guests that need some one on one attention. It's dog friendly and accidents mop up easily. As a furmoy senior Poms who need to "go" often, it is their restful safe place with a wee wee pad close by.

I haven't written a blog since the end of October and, here it is, the very end of December. Oops! Believe me I am no different than most people and life sometimes gets in the way and needs tending. I am SO READY to put 2016 in the history file! Talk about one little challenge after another. As the Norwegians would say, "Uff da."

All that aside, I am really looking forward to 2017. I have two projects in mind ... redoing the cottage and planting a Texas garden. I am needing to simplify so will be doing more shrubs than flowers and reducing the amount of annuals. At least, I say that now. For now, I sure have a lot of perennials that need cutting back and dead annuals that need to be "gone." All in good time.

The cottage has been my outlet for my creative bent. It's been basically the same for almost 5 years and it's time to rethink how I use it. I've been doing research on several different color schemes and vacillate between Country French and Country English Cottage Style. I am gravitating towards the shades of white, cream, and browns yet I love the colors of Provence too. At any rate, I will be taking everything out then playing with some color boards of fabrics. Will be time to borrow a sewing machine and go to town... So excited ~ will need to do some serious curb and dumpster diving!! At any rate, I want to bring the freshness of my gardens inside.

It's been a great year to cultivate new friendships and renew old ones. It's been a great year to learn more about the Bible and apply it to my life today. My church (that sounds so good, "my" church) has been a springboard to walking in a newness of life. I cannot fully express the extent of the goodness of the people I hug each Sunday and pray for. The Cowboy Culture is a simple one ~ love the Lord and do right by your neighbor. All are welcome, no one is judged. I like simple ... I like real ... I like stomping my foot to some great gospel music ... and, most of all, I like sharing my life with my brothers and sisters in Christ aiming to give more than I take. Pretty dern awesome, wouldn't you say?

Miss Dottie loves everyday adventures and I've been amiss in sharing them with you. That needs to change in 2017. Maybe Sarah and Rick and Susie and Terry would share their lives with me on their ranches. Yeee Haw! And, there are lots of nooks and crannies to explore and taste savory dishes. You need to know about them. People open their hearts and doors wide open when I say, "Pleeeezzzeee."'

This morning, it hit me in the face that the time to do something about my back is NOW. I've been on the phone leaving messages for my back and pain doctors today.  (When I decide to do something, I want to do it right NOW .... never mind that it's the day after Christmas and most doctors' offices are closed.) When I spend more time down than up and running I know it's not just going away with physical therapy, medication, and rest. (Sigh)

The good news is that 2017 is just around the corner. We have a new President Elect, Donald Trump, and new pages on which we will write history personally and as a nation. I know some folks are pretty angry about the election outcome but our electoral system has given us a fair way of electing a President. If we just went by popular vote, New York and California would have their way and much of the country wouldn't be represented. As for me, if Hillary Clinton would have won. I would have prayed for her and wished her the best. That's God's way and I trust He knows what He's doing. (I mention the election only because my blog is a history for my children, grandchildren, and their children to come. What happens in my world needs to be noted.)

I don't know about you but I pray when I wake up, before I sleep, and many times in between. I pray for you, my Readers, because I care. I know about your challenges and triumphs ~ your worries and joys. Today, I lift you up in prayer bowls made of heavenly gold. I petition the one who died for your sins and mine to watch over you and yours. I pray especially for the family and friends of my friend, Patsy who went to be with the Lord the day before Christmas. I pray for my friend, Beverly, who faced this Christmas without her beloved Danny. Oh, Father, where there has been great love there is also this deep sadness for the hole in the lives of those left behind. For Dee, I pray for a peace as she battles bleeding in her brain and strength for her family as they stand by her bedside. For all those with cancer, I pray for stamina and healing. Sprinkle that extra measure of hope in those who are battling that dreaded disease. For those who are worried about family and friends struggling with addiction, I pray for clarity in what is helping and what is enabling. I pray for those facing hard decisions and for those who are kneeling with tears running down their cheeks. Remove the scales from our eyes as we face each day welcoming truth and knowledge of Your will for our lives. I pray for our nation ~ let there be a coming together of our people as Americans. For those in office and authority over us, I pray for clarity and wisdom. They are privy to so much that we, the people, aren't. Come dear Jesus as we open our hearts to you. Convict us where we are wrong and forgive us as we forgive others. Move mightily in all our lives. I pray in the name of Jesus as your servant,

Miss Dottie

PS  Renewal is rooted in faith, not in resolutions! They are made for New Year's and forgotten on an average of thirteen days later, say the surveys. Faith is the result of a decision about Christ. I cannot make a new me or a new you, but Christ can make you new and me new, as well, if we decide for Him.  ~Frank Harrington

A country without Christ

Fernando Ortega ~ Give Me Jesus

October 31, 2016
Monday

Dear Readers,

Ever watched the TV channel Decades? Well yesterday they had a Dark Shadows marathon. I was hooked way back when it aired (1966) and one more time, I sat feasting (little pun there) on the story line. I gave up the ghost wayyy after midnight so my peepers are barely open. My furry kids were up at their usual 6:30am time ~ bright eyed & bushy tailed. Thank you Jesus for coffee!

Yesterday, The Open Range Band played the song, Give Me Jesus. I woke myself up several times last night singing that song. In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus... I know that IF I have Him, THEN, every thing's gonna be okay. Sermon in a few words. Right? Right.

Three of my favorite subjects in college were Philosophy, Anthropology, and Sociology. It was fascinating to me to study different cultures and the behavior of people. I would have loved to be an anthropologist traveling about the world on various teams. I love people and deep conversations and get these thoughts that pester me ~ like, "What would our country be without Christ??"

Where my journey began

My journey of life has taken me to explore different churches and theologies (I have moved around the country many times!). Having been baptized as an infant and reared as a Lutheran, I had opinions based on that doctrine. My first husband was a Presbyterian and we attended that church. I went to the Methodist Church and had a wonderful experience on A Walk to Emmaus. With a knock on my door in Plano, TX, I joined a young pastor who was establishing a Lutheran Church and became a founding member. From there, I attended a non-denominational church where worship was much more expressive. My biggest influence came from a Baptist-based church. It was there where I received believer's baptism, attended classes, and taught studies in the Women's Ministry. It was there I received the gift of Intercessory Prayer. When I married Michael in 2003, I wandered in the desert for many years seeking but not finding. I was invited to attend the Baptist-based Open Range Cowboy Church and the moment I stepped in the door, I was overcome with the Holy Spirit. I am where I am supposed to be. Yee Haw!

Why am I telling you this? Well, we have a tendency to believe what we've been taught from childhood. The people around us as well as our situations mold us and shape us.

As an adult in the Word and Witness Program, we talked about the different types of Christians. I recognized myself as a "carnal" Christian ~ I trusted in Jesus for salvation yet still thought, acted, and reacted like the world. I wasn't new to Christianity but I hadn't allowed the Holy Spirit free access to every area of my heart and mind. I lived the Christian life on my own strength while still being heavily influenced by the world's way of thinking. My faith was compromised by so many distractions.  I have to admit, the persuasive viewpoints of others swayed my opinions on many things, including abortion, capital punishment, minorities, and where I lived.

I have mentioned before that I took the class The Mind of Christ. It was then that my thinking changed. I really did want to be like Christ and began to question my every thought and action. It's taken years for me to see things the way God does. In doing that, the less I agreed with the world's way. I have been transformed by the Word of God and am a new creature in Him.

A country without Christ, I cannot imagine yet when I turn on the TV or look around me, I know it's true.

Hollywood has now decided they are experts in deciding what the law of the land should be. If "it" feels good, do it. We don't need laws; we don't need moral constraints; we don't need boundaries; and, we certainly don't want anyone to be offended (unless they are a Christian). Riots, murders, decline of the inner city, and people who have no empathy for others abound. Our flag? Stomp on it, burn it, outlaw it. Our Supreme Court? Not in tune with modern values ~ needs to be done away with as we know it now. Money? He with the most toys wins. Love the children but, if you want, get rid of the babies if they come at inconvenient times. Former President, John F Kennedy, said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Well, that's a joke in 2016.

If you think we are growing and flourishing as individuals and as a country, think again. We are being dumbed down and spoon fed Sodom and Gomorrah one day at a time. What was so awful 50 years ago is now condoned and even encouraged. My friends Stephanie & Branden are in Las Vegas with their boys and often they have to cover those boys faces because of the (ahem) sights.

Each day, I stand in the gap, praying for our nation and it's people. I have prayed for a leader to rise up and "drain the swamp." It is only when the darkness is pierced by the light of Christ will our country flourish once again.

Hope? I am surrounded by family and friends who are good people. I choose to follow the Bible and speak truth. I offend some people and am chastised for my beliefs. That's perfectly okay with me. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. One thing is for sure, we are born, we live, and we die. I know where I am going and that gives me serenity!

Love y'all,

Miss Dottie

PS "The world is a busy place filled with many businesses, both the Godly and the ungodly. It means before you go on to accept any activity or event that comes into the world, you must weigh its values, examine the virtues, listen to the views, and then you give your verdict. Satan is not wise; he is just crafty!" ~Israelmore Ayivor

It's dark in here...

Monday
October 24, 2016

Dear Readers,

Hey, it's me saying hello from my perch on the back porch. I love it when temperatures start to fall and those horrible pesky mosquitoes die off. They woo me and take nips at my flesh. I spray them, swat at them, and let go with a few gosh darns. You'd think they'd get the hint but nooooo.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and every October I take a few moments to remember how grateful I am to have come so far from where I once was. If you've followed my blogs since 2010 you know my story.

"It's dark in here. I am cuddling a soft teddy bear and listening to unfamiliar sounds. I am at Hope's Door. I am numb. I stare blankly into the night wondering what's to become of me. I am so alone and frightened. This must be a bad dream yet I know it's not. Bad dreams have an ending and this nightmare has gone on since I was a small child. Where is there to go when there seems to be nowhere? What will tomorrow bring?" ~Miss Dottie's Journal, October 2, 2002 

I am a 2 time domestic violence survivor. My story made the front page of the newspaper and a poem I had written was entitled Jane's Story by editors. God has used my story and these seasons of my life for his glory. How?

Well, shortly after the newspaper article was published, the pastor of my church approached me about several things. First of all, he asked if I would be willing to sit on the Board of Directors of a group establishing the first women's shelter in Collin County; and. secondly, he told me about a program called Stephen's Ministry and asked if I was interested in the year long training. He was also bringing together a group called Word and Witness which would be a 2 year commitment. I agreed to all three.

Being a part of the establishing the women's shelter was so amazing. I was placed on the Speaker's Forum and traveled to various churches and associations. My first talk was to a men's group in Frisco, TX. They had so many questions (I found it interesting that the men often times had more questions than the women). My daughter accompanied me and they asked her questions as well. Being on the Speaker's Forum became a family affair.

Being a commissioned Stephen's Minister prepared me for a lifetime of service to my fellow travelers in life. "Supply the caring ~ let God supply the cure" became second nature for me.

Sometimes when I've been down in the trenches, I've wondered why God allows us to be beaten down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Then, I remember that:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

 ~Romans 8:28

Without my walking through the valleys of darkness, I would not be able to relate to the women going through trials of their own. I am able to share my story and offer ways to not only survive but thrive. I am able to give them tools and a knowledge of how Christ worked in my life. (Back then, I could talk freely about Jesus without fear of reprisal)

In 2002, I was a resident in the very shelter that I helped establish. I was living in a huge house filled with stuff and I worried about my stuff. If I left the relationship, where would I put my stuff?? The Good Lord moved me out of that situation and house in the dark of night leaving all my stuff behind. He stripped me down to nothing in order to build me up again in Him. When I went back to the house 30 days later, I told my children to bring moving vans and fill them. I kept only enough stuff to fill a tiny one bedroom apartment. What was leftover, I asked my friends to come and take what they wanted. A couple friends purchased my den furniture and kitchen furniture. My stuff no longer defined me and still doesn't

When the house was bare, I looked around me and had tears. My little granddaughter gathered friends and family in the den and we all sang the Tooty Ta Song.

Madison had us laughing and focusing on what was important. Often times it takes a child for us to see that. There was joy! I closed the door, locked it, and moved on...

God has always been my protector and provider. Time and time again, I have been molded through trial and fire to be more like Him. He has taken away bitterness, anger, and pain leaving me stronger and forgiving (my counselors have told me that I am proof that God still performs miracles!)

I am able to give the love I always wanted without strings. He has filled me and blessed me in ways I could never have imagined.

Today, I pray for the women, children, and men who are being abused. I pray that You, Father, would protect and show them a better way of life. It is so easy to judge people for their past and I pray that we would offer compassion and forgiveness. Hate the sin ~ love the sinner. I pray that as we go about our day today, that You would open our eyes to our fellowman. So many times we are too busy and too much in a hurry to "see" what is going on around us. Lord God, as I opened my eyes this morning, I heard the words, "pray for Aleppo." As I closed my eyes I had a vision of fire and people running ... faces of those facing the atrocities of war came before me and I prayed for each one. Be with them Jesus as they fight to survive. Thank you for reminding me that You are God Almighty. I pray in the name of Jesus as your servant...

Miss Dottie

PS "When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless." ~Chris Colfer

One Day At A Time

Monday
September 26, 2016

Dear Readers,

Oh boy, oh boy! Temperatures have dropped and the air cool and crisp. I wanted so badly to get a fire going this morning. That first fire of the Fall is so wonderful. The trees haven't started turning yet but the big old tree in the center of my garden is shedding leaves like crazy. Can't beat natural mulch.

Life for Miss Dottie has been fraught with busyness and I love it. I made the decision to get back into the women's group at church (WOW) and am thoroughly enjoying the study on THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE written by Rick Warren. I continually ask myself, "what on earth am I here for" and, as a Christian, this has been a constant change as life's seasons pass.

Another BIG change was my decision to get back into the Al-anon program. I had first joined the program in 1978 at Mary Mother of the Church in Burnsville, MN. Happily, I can say that in my quest for wellness, the 12 Step Program has boosted my confidence and given me freedom to be myself. I have a natural bent towards being an enabler and a control freak. "If it is to be, it is up to me." Gotta stop all that nonsense!!

Wayyyy back in 1978, I got this little book called ONE DAY AT A TIME. I was paging through it today. I have this habit of writing about what's going on in my life in my Bible and books that I keep so it was like doing a dance through the years...

Today, I decided to meditate on what I had written on the inside cover of the book. Why? Because I am at a new starting point and as I read and reread these words, I felt such a release of stress and tension in my body.

"I accept and claim the divine solution to this situation now...."

Then:

"As children bring their broken toys, with tears for us to mend...I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend. But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, 'How can you be so slow?' 'My child, He said, 'What could I do? You never did let go.'"

I don't know who wrote this but it hit home way back in 1978 and now in 2016. There are some things I really need to let go of ... not even really need to, I HAVE TO let go of. I'll bet some of my Readers can relate.

Saturday, I went to Denton to watch my grandsons play baseball. It was so nice to sit back and just enjoy the game. I didn't worry about "if" they were going excel or win their games ~ it was just so freeing to cheer them on and love them unconditionally. I smiled for 4 hours straight and basked in the sunshine of the moment. I didn't worry about who was going to win the presidential election ... I didn't worry about the shootings taking place around the country ... I didn't worry about how my hair looked ... I just flat out soaked in the joy that I was experiencing.

I have a new granddog, Cabela. My son and family adopted her from a shelter in Plano. I got to meet her and, again, I just feasted on her beauty, how precious she was, and how fortunate she was to be in her new furever home. Again, I stayed in the moment not worrying about my own dogs at home.

Yesterday, I went to church. One more time, I was able to leave the crazy world outside and concentrate on my church family and worshiping my Redeemer, I laughed, I had tears, I learned more about what was written in Acts.

Do you know how freeing it is to live and enjoy the moment? As time marches on those moments are a part of the past never to be relived except in my memory. All I have been able to do for months is worry about tomorrow. My brain has been going in ten different directions at any given time. The stress of worry was beginning to ruin my days and I hated that. Depression and the inability to manage all the balls that were in the air, was depleting my joy and I began to hibernate.

One night, all I could manage for my nightly prayer was, "Help me." I fell asleep and had nightmares. Those nightmares continued to plague me and I bottomed out. Know something? It was at that moment that God began to work. He put people in my life that said things that I know only could come from God. He opened doors and I walked through. The twinges of hope began to come back and I didn't walk, I ran towards the light of truth.

My life's journey has taken me through many peaks, valleys, twists, and turns. Even in the darkest of times, God's given me the flashlight of strength, courage, and wisdom. Instead of just feeling my way around in the dark, there has been that glimmer that has drawn me forward.

Are you so focused on the past or future you aren't able to appreciate today? Do you focus so much on what you've lost that you can't appreciate the now?

I am blessed beyond blessed in so many ways. I could not ask for a better church family; I could not ask for closer friends than those I have; my garden is in it's 6th year and takes less tending; the Sensational Six make each day special; I love my family; although my body has a tough go sometimes, I am still able to do most of what I want to do physically and mentally; and, most of all my faith has deep roots. I wish some things were different but don't we all?

Today, I pray for the knowledge of God's will for me. I rest in the arms of my Savior and I know I am worthy in His eyes. I pray for my Readers who need encouragement and direction at times when they feel so defeated and alone. I pray for today's moments to be cherished and valued for what they are ... gifts and lessons and stepping stones to tomorrow. I pray for our nation and the debate to be held this evening. May there be truth and respect shown to all concerned.  I pray in the name of the one who claimed me as your servant...

Miss Dottie

PS  "The whole idea is you can't sit around and do nothing. You have to get up and start living one day at a time. That's what I did my entire career. You can't sit around and say, 'Oh poor me. Nobody likes me. Nobody is giving me a job.' You have to get up and go. If you sit at home and do nothing, that is what is going to happen." ~Darlene Love  

The Mission Field

Tuesday
September 20, 2016

Dear Readers,

It's Miss Dottie reporting from North Central Texas. I have gotten a couple of notes from people wondering if I have stopped writing. Truth be known, I've had to stop and regroup mentally, physically, and emotionally. Enough on that...here I am.

God has been so good to put amazing people in my life. I may not be wealthy in dollars but I am a billionaire when it comes to friends.

Several weeks ago, I reconnected with Ruth, a friend from the past, and have been stirred by her messages. I asked Ruth's permission to share her messages and she agreed. This is the first message I received.

Ruth's Message:

"Today is the 15th anniversary of 911. Most of us will remember where we were that day when we heard the news or watched the awful events on TV. Neil and I were at a border crossing in western Montana coming back from a ministry conference in Calgary. The border guard was in such a state of shock, he didn't even ask for our passports. I walked him through his spiel, and he took our passports back into his shed in a daze. When he came back out he said, 'You haven't had your radio on?' Then he told us what just happened. When we pulled up, he had just seen on TV the plane hit the first tower. When he went back into the shed he watched the second plane hit. Moments after we were cleared to return to the US and we were back on the Montana side we heard on the news that we now had tuned in, that all border crossings were closed, and all planes were grounded. It was eerie driving home with no planes in the air that day.

In 2002, we had a ministry friend from Germany, John MacFarlane, speak to our church planters and missionary trainees in our missions organization. We taped his 4 messages, and I just figured out how to get them loaded to YouTube. In the first message he tells his life story. I think it is his second message that he tells of a prophecy God gave him about 9-11. The first time he gave the prophecy was in the 1990's. The second time was in the US on September 9, 2001. John didn't know how the prophecy would come about until after 9-11 when we were all aware of the events that awful day.

John was mentored by Corrie ten Boom in Holland. Corrie wrote THE HIDING PLACE, and several other books. THE HIDING PLACE is her most famous, and was made into a movie by the Billy Graham Association about the time she and her family spent in prison in Nazi Germany.  Corrie was released from prison at the age of 55 and spent the rest of her life traveling the world speaking to groups and churches about forgiving our enemies. She held teachings in Holland and John met her in those meetings where they became very good friends.

Through those meetings John met Brother Andrew who wrote the book GOD'S SMUGGLER about his work of bringing Bibles into the Soviet Union and the Eastern Block country under Communism. John MacFarlane is mentioned in that book as Brother John, the eager young Bible courier who had a woman in the church sew pockets to hide New Testaments in Russian into his shirt, vest coat, and even in his long underwear. John worked with Brother Andrew for 10 years. One of our Glenwood High School grads, David Gandrud also was a Bible courier with Brother Andrew smuggling Bibles into Russia for 10 years.

John met us through a mutual friend in ministry who was a missionary to the Czech Republic. Our friend encouraged Neil and other pastors to help teach in the Nehemiah Team ministry schools in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries after Communism fell. Neil began leading schools for John in 1996 and led a school bringing in teachers for the schools and helping teach in them until Neil began organizing our own ministry schools. John set up all the arrangements and we taught in the schools in Central and Eastern Siberia, the Ukraine, the Republic of Georgia, and Mongolia. Neil still travels to Siberia to visit churches his students began after going through the 4 to 6 weeks of minimal training.

If you would like to get a glimpse into what the Thielkes were up to, John's story is a richer, fuller version. When he traveled, Communism was in effect. The Secret Service Police were not as evident when we were there, but they were in our meetings and knew what we were doing and where we were. We were still assigned 'tails' by the authorities. We heard about some of those after being there, but we had no troubles in our travels. Challenges by the score, but no troubles.

For those who might be interested, John's messages are now on www.youtube.com. If you search for the following, they are listed in order.

John MacFarlane 1.1
John MacFarlane 2.1
John MacFarlane 2.2
John MacFarlane 2.3

Only watch if you are interested. Each message is about an hour long. We watch them with friends in our home groups, and we have used them when mentoring students one on one. The stories are exciting, but more than that, they help people understand how God still speaks to us today."

Evangelism has not been one of my gifts although I think my blog is a way of reaching readers across the globe. My gift has been sharing my story and encouraging others with the voice of compassion. As members of my own church head out to a country where sharing God's word cannot be done openly, I am remembering my position on prayer teams covering every moment of dangerous missions and am happy to be praying for this new mission.

Father God, I thank you for the brave men and women who risk their lives to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. I pray that all of us would be mindful in praying for the safety, direction, and words that are passed on from your warriors to the lost and hungry. In Matthew 28:18-20, you say to us: "...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." As we go out this day, help us all to be living examples of your love. Give us eyes to be aware and wisdom to know when to step in. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus as your servant...

Miss Dottie

PS "This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see." ~Corrie ten Boom, THE HIDING PLACE

I have learned that there are no coincidences in life. Enjoy every moment of every single day!  AND...

Always remember that you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!