Being a Turkey in Turkey
outside the ampitheater where paul’s friends went when the riot broke out against him (Acts 16)
Sorry for the hiatus in blogging. I am sure that you were wondering what happened to me. Well I went to turkey ! 🙂 It’s not very often that you find yourself saying that. God opened a door for me to go to Turkey and minister to missionaries and it was INCREDIBLE. I cannot wait to post more about it. I had soo many coming alive moments. But the number one was seeing God use experiences in my past of serving that Lord in Nepal combined with my degree in Christian counseling + my spiritual gift of encouragement+ The other ways He has gifted me in a perfect combination. It felt soo right .. it felt amazing.. humbling.. it felt like worship.
If you don’t know about the Christian hospitality network, it is group that provides a retreat getaway for missionaries at no cost to them. This particular getaway in Turkey we ministered to about 250 missionaries serving all over Asia, the middle east and europe…in some of the most difficult places. I went to serve as one of the counselors. Wow.. what an experience that was sooo overwhelming to me.
I had some fears going. What if no one signs up to see me for counseling. What if I don’t know what to say.. what it if makes me feel like a failure again for not being a missionary.
Well when we got to Izmir we spend some time as a team before the missionaries got there (there was 32 of us with all kinds of gifts from doctors, to chiropractors, to people who just wanted to love behind the scenes)
We went to visit Ephasus which was one of the best experiences of my life. How cool to walk the same streets and see the same things Paul did. I have to share some photos with you And I felt like Jesus whispered to me in those moments that all I had to do was walk out Ephesians 2:10.. believing that I am God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which HE PREPARED BEFOREHAND.. Amazing to read that and then walk the streets of Ephasus.
When the Missionaries got there they had a lady booking appointments for the missionaries to meet with me for counseling. Before I knew it God had filled my appointment book with Just the right people I was supposed to minister to. Those moments were such God filled moments for me. :I had to push me aside.. and listen with the ears of God, and listen for God to give me words for them. It felt like worship. It felt like the presence of God came, removed me, and moved.. and it was my joy to watch. I loved feeling like the experiences God had placed in my life were used.. and that I learned from those I was meeting with also. it was awesome also to be able to have my counseling “office” be by a window overlooking the gorgeous meditteranean sea.. and sometimes outside on the patio with that on the background.
I will share more as this week goes on and I am not in a jet lag haze. I just had to share that GLORY! i will share more pictures also.
Thanks for praying for me.
I would love to hear in your coments where you experinced a time of service to God that became worship as you realized only HE could do it and you stepped into what He had prepared for you in advance!
So happy things went so well! Love the pics! How Special! I need to talk to you when you can.
Wow!! Sounds like an awesome trip! I know of 2 missionaries, single young folks, in Turkey. I wonder if they were there? I did feel alive! Not just alive in Christ, but aware of being alive in all ways! I found a gift for a friend unexpectedly, and was able to get it in the mail. Huge for me! Also mailed 2 birthday gifts for a 4 year old nephew and 5 year old niece, and a gift for a friend that had surgery in May.I had my first experience with Chiropractic medicine. What a blessing! I have had 5 adjustments in 7 days. I found myself able to walk down steps they way I used to be able to do – walk with my knees pointed forward instead of compensating and turning my entire body to the left. It just happened after the 3rd adjustment. I also had energy. Energy. The way this entire chiropractic journey happened was one of those "God" things! Only God could have brought this together. Awesome!My older cousin is coming to visit and help me get some control of my house. Haven't seen her in over 9 years. We are starting a Cousin Reunion to include an "orphan train" visit to the place where our Mother's grew up. A genealogical trip!It's been a long time since I have felt so alive! My life verses for the last half of my life have become Isaiah 30:15 – 26. Verses 20 -26 being the highlight. I continue to hear a voice behind me telling me "this is the way, walk in it! Then you will defile your overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold;you will throw them away like an impure thing and say to them, "Away with you!"Grace,Lisa