Answers

Answers

Our first year in Bible study with a group of Asians at a Chinese professor's home, was attended by one American student who was invaluable in acclimating the students to an American university, having fun with them long after we'd gone to bed, developing relationships.  As a result, when she shared her faith as we studied together, insights  and experiences she'd had in her walk with Jesus, they listened.  She was a contemporary. We were the parents and  grandparents which thankfully Asians hold in high regard but....old nonetheless!

Alas, she left.  Graduated and moved on, as they all do.  And we were without for a year.  

We began to pray again this summer, for another American student.  There's a big difference though,  in praying and walking off and praying and consciously waiting for the phone to ring, for the letter to come in the mail.  

Last week, we got out of the car at our leader's house just as an SUV drove up.  Four kids got out, three Asians and one long, lanky American "golden retriever puppy."  He came right over to shake our hands..."Hey!!  I'm John!"  

"Well, hey John!"  

"I live in the same apartments as Alan who just moved here a couple of days ago from Asia!  They said they were coming to Bible study tonight and invited me to come too!"  He was kind of like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.  

Okaaaaay. 

Comes inside, meets everyone...all smiles.  Chats comfortably with everyone.  We sit and study together.  He occasionally makes comments...short, to the point, not too long or windy, good answers, on target biblically.

I'd been given the name of a girl  to email and ask if she knew anyone who might possibly be interested in a commitment like this.  I hadn't written yet because she was still overseas.  God completely bypassed that idea and just sent someone to us.  All by Himself.

 Lately this has been happening so much, I can hardly wait for the request to get out of my mouth, I'm so excited to see what He'll do.  I'm finally doing like David did in Psalm 5...."every morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly."

But there are times...when nothing happens.  I can see no change.  

Recently, I received  a letter from  Alliance Defending Freedom (an organization of Christian attorneys organized several years ago by men like Bill Bright, James Dobson, D. James Kennedy etc...to defend religious liberties.)  

The beginning of the letter read, "Since the Obama administration came to power, we are facing wave after wave of attacks against our religious freedom...far beyond anything the ACLU previously managed to mount on its own."

About seven months ago, seven women started praying verses that I'd read during my daily readings (from a Daily Bible) and put together in an email once a week.  Each week, a new focus would emerge as the verses kind of came together on a page. 

We're praying now for things like...repentance in the Congress and Obama administration.  That God would reveal Himself to these men and women.  That each time they hear the Word, the Holy Spirit would penetrate their hearts.  That a leader who knows God would emerge in Congress....that he would be a powerful influence on what is done there.  Great Big prayers.

It seemed that as the weeks went by though, the longer we prayed, God just got bigger.  And bigger.  None of this seemed really far fetched any more as God Almighty grew in stature in our minds and hearts.

Last week President Obama vacationed at Martha's Vineyard....by the sea.  I didn't realize that til I heard the news on Thursday evening.  And God brought to mind one of the "random" verses we'd been praying that week....

"The voice of The Lord echoes above the sea.  The God of glory thunders.  The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.  The voice of The Lord is powerful; the voice of The Lord is full of majesty."  Psm 29:3-4  

God gave us that verse on Monday as President Obama headed to the beach for a week....and it was not only for him, it was for us....seven women who are praying that The God of Glory will reveal himself to this president so that the trickle down effect on our government and on the American people will be unprecedented.  It was our God's  "attaboy"....His divine "amen."  

What incredible encouragement to a bunch of women whom He called to pray,  when the final  outcome may be way down the road.