Timothy – Ghana – The Welcome Home

It’s in the valleys we find joy

You know that… you know it’s a new day and whether you’ve faced it with dread or with joy, the truth is that today’s a new day.
Dear sister, dear friend, dear mama… today’s a new day and if you’re in the valley today, it’s been my prayer as I’ve prepared to write this note, that *you* will rest in the Lord today.

No matter how the devil hounds us, especially in the valleys, we must determine today to quit looking for a way out of the valley or a way we could have, should have, would have done something different… we must determine to stop thinking we can change our yesterdays.

I sit by the window and see the beauty of the day and determine to seek only that which is good. Today.

You have today. That’s all you’ve got: today. Maybe it’s someone you love, someone you ache over that has you in a valley today. Maybe your life’s filled with regrets over what you couldda, shouldda, wouldda done. You can’t see it today, maybe, but you will have joy through this storm. If you’ve got a prodigal today, do something today… pray, call, pray, seek to communicate, pray, quit doing the stupid in your life and live the rest of your days — by the grace of God — according to all that He has commanded you.

If you’ve botched friendships, schedules, plans, relationships — whatever — you cannot do a thing about the yesterdays — in terms of thinking they could be or could have been different — but, by God’s grace and His work in and through you — there can be a change in you today. Sure, things could have been different, but they weren’t. So… today. You have today.

May the Lord bless it and give you peace.

Two years ago today our dear son Timothy woke from a coma… I could not have known that day how many “new days” I would experience, how many disappointments I would face, how many misunderstandings, regrets, stupid things, problems, joys and sorrows, delights and losses I would face. But, one thing I have held in my heart and in the forefront of my thoughts is that God is only good all the time and whatever happens, it’s not in the troublefree, carefree, effortless times we grow… it’s in the valleys we grow. It’s in the valleys we learn to walk hand in Hand with the Saviour. It’s in the valleys we cement our faith in Him. It’s in the valleys that trust is imprinted on our hearts. It’s in the valleys we grow in grace.

It’s in the valleys we find joy.

another birthday…

Another birthday for one of our children. Another day to reflect on the many blessings, provisions and calling of the Lord on this son’s life — the golden child, the brothers and sisters call him. We all have a smile when someone says this or refers to him in this manner. They all know they are — each one to me — a golden child, though they’d insist he is the golden child. ~smile~

So another year, another birthday… another celebration that doesn’t look like one here tonight. We’ll make up for it when he returns from Africa in a couple of months — but for now, we have had a day of reflection, stories and melancholy, misty eyes. Well, maybe that was just me with the misty eyes most all day today. It’s not that I want him to stay around here — I really don’t — but he’s such a delightful person… just missing him especially much today as I’ve been reflecting on the many things that have been particular to him. I think back on his love for anything-pooh-bear to his love for a favourite blanket and the shiny blond hair of his younger years. In those days his hair was cut much longer than he’d ever wear it today — in a “bowl cut” — the same style of haircut I gave to each of the other boys before and after him in their younger years. Two brothers older and four younger than him. Funny to hear them talk now of how they all loved their hair that way — what they don’t know is that it was the only cut for young boys I knew how to do very well. I glanced at a pooh bear today… stopping for a moment to remember… and smiled.

One of the wonderful advantages of the passage of time is that we accumulate many stories and happy memories — these both bless us and bring us tears when a day such as this comes along. And while we all miss him for as many different reasons as there’ve been minutes in this day, we’re blessed by the knowledge that he’s right where he ought to be. And somehow, that makes everything perfect. Just as a cake & ice cream would be the perfect thing to serve were he to be here at home tonight.

I’ve been reflecting on God’s tender preparations for me for these years — and in different ways, He’s actually prepared all of us for these days. Showing Himself strong on our behalf, He’s orchestrated quite a mixture of joys and sorrows — gains and losses — working everything together for our good and His glory. I see this more and more clearly as the years pass.

So, Timothy’s in Africa… adding another birthday to the number of birthdays he’s spent away from home. I’ll get used to this — perhaps, in a way, I already am. I think of the years he’s been in Mexico or in Africa and each time I recall, as I’ve done today, that there’s really no place I’d rather have him be. In the hand of the Lord, anywhere in the world, is the safest and best place to be. He’s there ministering to the saints, visiting different remote villages and participating in ministering and teaching in Bible seminars. The opportunities have been a great source of joy and blessing to him as he spends time with old friends and new. So you see how I could not wish for him to be here and miss all that.

Once again my heart is filled with thanksgiving — knowing I don’t deserve the great honour and privilege of all these years of motherhood. My thoughts linger here tonight… thankful for a son who’s in the gracious and merciful hand of the Lord. God’s been so very kind to Timothy.

May you always be blessed. ♥

One year ago…

Though in many ways it seems longer, it was a year ago today that the Lord gave us a great gift in the form of a miracle. We know it was by the grace of God that Timothy, who was deathly sick with cerebral malaria, awoke from a coma.

Our family had been at the Oregon Coast for a family reunion; Timothy had just returned from Ghana, West Africa. He was sick and getting worse by the day.

After several days and medication for what was thought to be Typhoid, his condition was grave, he was so thin and frail; hardly responsive at that point: we knew Timothy needed to get to a hospital right away. Clearly, the medication he was taking was not addressing his sickness. It was there after some initial treatment and many liters of fluids that Timothy was slipping into a coma and the doc in ER of Samaritan Hospital began the transfer plans to have Timothy airlifted to OHSU in Portland. I wrote the story of this whole miracle — you can read it here.

I don’t really know why I snapped the photo (below) with my cell phone that day… I guess it was perhaps a thought that it would be my last opportunity. I don’t know.

More from my journal that day: “I cannot be bitter should it be God’s plan to take Timothy.” I read a quote that afternoon inside Timothy’s Bible, “The sovereignty of God is a precious thing if you’re on the right side of it.”

Later, I wrote, “It’s the middle of the night… the waiting room looks strewn with sleeping bodies — all like me, waiting for news, waiting for the morning or maybe the mourning… It just struck me as the nurse told me to come back in 45 minutes, Timothy might not make it. We might leave here alone — without him. The thought leaves me unable to breathe.”

It’s a bright and sunny day… it’s now a year later. Timothy doesn’t remember much of that week, very little of the time in the hospital after he awoke and now, so much has transpired from that time to this.

Timothy has once again traveled to Mexico, to cities in the States for the gospel tent meetings and just returned from Ghana, West Africa. There is so much work to do, so many who need the gospel… the Lord is not yet finished with his servant, Timothy. I’m so thankful.

Timothy’s Miracle

teacuppamela I have written up the story of our son Timothy’s miracle and would like to share it with you. We continue to thank and praise the LORD for this marvelous gift. You can read the story here on our website.

And as an update: I’ll begin writing this blog again very soon ~ I’ve missed writing here and would like to return to sharing encouragement, ideas and what the LORD is doing in our lives. I’m continuing to reorganize and reprioritize my life and home. In order to live what I write and write what I live, I’ve had to carefully examine and continually refine these priorities. To God be the glory.

30 Favourite Things #22

There has been quite a variety of experiences or special things in this collection of “30 favourite things” — life changing or life-impacting things during my fiftieth year. When I first began writing these entries, I obviously didn’t have a specific plan or order of importance in the posting of these things. They’ve just sort of unfolded — not necessarily even in order of thought… I’ve just written about what’s come to mind on any given day.

To have our boy, Timothy, be called to be a missionary was not a surprise to me. I’ve known all his life that God had a work and a purpose for this boy’s life and therefore, it’s been a bittersweet thing to always know that he would be serving in places I’ll likely never see, experiencing things I never have nor will ever experience — and humbly I say, receiving a sort of blessing and joy I will never know. But I do know this — to be his mother is my great honour and to pray for him is my joy. And so, during this, still my fiftieth year, my sweet joy has been to think of, pray for and hear from our Timothy.

Timothy looking up

One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given this mother is to have a son
willing to, as Jim Elliot said, “give up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose.” Praise the Lord.

So Send I You

So send I you to labor unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing,
So send I you to toil for Me alone.So send I you to bind the bruised and broken,
O’er wand’ring souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world aweary-
So send I you to suffer for My sake.

So send I you – to loneliness and longing,
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known;
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one,
So send I you – to know My love alone.

So send I you – to leave your life’s ambitions,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long and love where men revile you,
So send I you – to lose your life in Mine.

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend, tho’ it be blood, to spend and spare not-
So send I you to taste of Calvary.

*After many years, Miss Clarkson added to the hymn, writing verses that reflected the trials, and the joys, of God’s call on the lives of his children. As she matured she recognized that she was sent out to minister to others, not in isolation, but in triumph.

So send I you – by grace made strong to triumph
O’er hosts of Hell, o’er darkness, death, and sin,
My name to bear, and in that name to conquer-
So send I you, My victory to win.

So send I you – to take to souls in bondage
The word or truth that sets the captive free,
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death’s fetters-
So send I you, to bring the lost to Me.

So send I you – My strength to know in weakness,
My joy in grief, My perfect peace in pain,
To prove My pow’r, My grace, My promised presence –
So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.

So send I you – to bear My Cross with patience
And then one day with joy to lay it down,
To hear My Voice, “Well done, My faithful servant –
Come share My throne, my kingdom and My crown.

“As the Father hath sent Me….. so send I you.”

E. Margaret Clarkson – words
John W. Peterson – music

30 Favourite Things #14

Another thing among thirty favourite things from my fiftieth year: Facebook! I love Facebook! And, this, from someone who was/is so adamantely opposed to MySpace. Adamantly opposed. As for Facebook “safeguards” — I have opted for the “no ads” on the sidebar and I don’t add many “applications” and don’t add people I don’t know — but it’s totally not an “anonymous” atmosphere. There’s no real anonymity on Facebook. A “safeguard” I have to personally adhere to is: I’ve got to be *very* careful to watch the clock and not spend too much time browsing Facebook! Warning: It. is. a. time. vacuum!

I first opened a Facebook account when Kathryn was in Uganda a couple of years ago. It was a very simple way for us to communicate as the internet connection wasn’t always reliable and leaving notes for her there was a quick and simple process for her to use when internet time was at a premium. We also benefitted as a family bcz we could see “her life” and feel like we were in close touch.

Well, such has been the case over the last year for Timothy in Ghana and for when Kathryn went back to Uganda. In addition to writing notes to them (and our other children), which I try to do each day, I’m able to see photos they post or comments from others that are soooo encouraging to me. It’s such a blessing to my heart to see the many who are praying right alongside me in many places. It’s been sweet to read the notes and see all the loving encouragement — I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the tremendous support our children have or have had! How lavish the Lord has been to give us a glimpse of His care — and to show us, often in photographs, what He’s doing in remote places! We sure see it — and, more importantly, Timothy sees it — the encouragement Kathryn saw before, during and after her mission’s trips.

Another unforeseen benefit has been the great blessing of reuniting with old — and I do mean old!! ;o) — friends. I wonder if I would have ever sought out some of the old friends I have been able to reconnect with. Interestingly, it’s like the Lord is answering questions for me… or giving me answers to questions I never thought to ask — sort of showing me (as Paul Harvey might say) the reeeeeeest. of. the. story.

It’s been refreshing, encouraging, and instructive to me on so many levels. There are downsides — yes, there are downsides to Facebook. Just like there are downsides to the whole Internet — and I’m not even referring to the obvious potentials for internet sewage to be pumped into homes across the world. I’m referring simply to the downsides of too much time reading “good things” and other downsides to websites… our website… to blogs… to this blog. But there is good — there’s potential for a whole lotta good — when discretion is applied.

So, especially during my fiftieth year… it’s sure been fun to see old faces. The reflection in the mirror is not alone. :o)

Facebook. Don’t say I recommended you ought to get an account. I’m just sayin.

30 Favourite Things #12

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord
and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armour of God

that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;
Ephesians 6.10-17

These verses have been a blessing to me in this past year as our son, Timothy – a missionary in Ghana, has been facing many oppositions from the enemy. Learning to trust God in adversity has been a blessing throughout my adult life and certainly I have come to see that had it not been the Lord who was *on my side* I would have been swallowed up in discouragement, fear and doubt. But God. But God has been merciful and of great comfort and strength for the day.

I know I can trust the Lord for whatever comes and that assurance is fortified each time we face a trial or a testing or sickness or loss or whatever. God is only good, only faithful. Learning more and more to trust the Lord with anything that concerns me has been such a blessing and has carried me through. So, that’s why I add — testings of faith — to the list of thirty things I am thankful for in my fiftieth year. (And I will write about some specific testings of faith in a bit)

Because of the faithful, merciful and perfect will of the Lord, I can truly and honestly say that I would rather have my boy in the Hand of the Lord anywhere in the world — than nearby wandering or outside the will of the Lord.

Safety is in the Hand of the Lord.

Today is Timothy’s Birthday – Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

The Epitome of Gratefulness

and I suppose if I could choose any photo… it would be this:

timothy baptizin' dora

or this.

Timothy baptizin' sam

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
–John 8.31b,32,36

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose.”
–Jim Elliot

God gives more grace

I was thinking this morning that God’s grace is sufficient for the day… and then considered: how much grace does God have? How much mercy? The Word says He is plenteous in mercy and that He gives liberally. Can I exhaust the grace of God? Can I ask Him too often for mercy – for grace – for wisdom? Is His ear far from my cry? No… to all of these things, no… His arm is not shortened that it cannot save, His mercy knows no end and there is no accounting of His grace and wisdom – for if the grace of God is sufficient, then whatever He does, is, gives or says will be or is sufficient for me. Always.

I’ve been missing my boy… we passed the half year point since he left for Africa. I’m glad he’s there. Truly, I am glad. But I miss him – I miss his exuberance and enthusiasm for work and play. I miss his quirky characteristics – never giving a straight face or simple smile for a photo – quick wit – ready to help – zealous for the Truth – reading and reading and reading and then sharing what he gleaned. I miss his projects and inventions… seeing him in his reading chair or looking at articles, clips or notes on the computer.

I miss seeing him standing at the kitchen sink eating potato rolls with raspberry jam dripping down his arms.

I miss that he loved, loved, loved Poor Bear and everything Pooh Bear… and volleyball and running. I miss that I cannot see him ministering and preaching the gospel. I miss his eyes… his laugh… his Timothyism’s. I miss his observations of things I missed in places, people and photos.

I know many, many mothers have been or are where I am today. I used to think of that while I was labouring before birth… but that knowledge didn’t really help me then and somehow doesn’t really lift me now, either. But one thing it does is give me more compassion – more compassion for those who have gone before me and more compassion for mothers who are facing loss, disappointment, regret or hurting hearts today.

But I still miss my boy. a. lot.

God gives more grace. Praise His name. And I sing:

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Annie Johnson Flint

Timothy Baptizing Clem

God has given me everything I hoped for………………..

Timothy’s pages

The Universal Language: Soccer

The contents of Timothy’s bags was pretty minimal when he left for Ghana six months ago. There were few necessities and few luxuries and I suppose that were he to have had to dump his possessions or to make a choice what to take and what to leave behind, the soccer balls would not have been in the ‘left behind’ grouping. There were few items on the priority list, but topping that list was soccer balls, for Timothy knows that wherever he goes, soccer is the universal language — it’s the great equalizer — anywhere.

Timothy had an opportunity to go with his Ghanaian friend, Clem, to visit Clem’s home village. A treat was to go to the beach. and. play. soccer.

timothy soccer on the beach june 2008

Then… “small friends in Tacrodi”

timothy's small friends in tacrodi