Prayer for Christine

Dear Christine, I do not recall reading anything from you until this. I am always extremely busy and also three-fourths of a century plus 3 years, but when I read the correspondece from you and Judi just now, I felt a need to write you–as briefly as I can. Lots of Food prepration going on during these special days. —-You read in Today’s Word, and other times, etc. the THE GREATEST OF GOD–, and have experienced & recognized some of it already.– In our limited views, time frames, we often misjudge God’s leadings in our lives. Notice I said, OFTEN, not always–but in my years, my husband of 58 years and an octogenarian have done. All people that I know have, too.
–May, I give you an excellent example of one similar to yours. We lived in a third world country for a year with the United States Educational Foundation– Lecturer with a Fulbright Grant. We had a young children with us, and I taught in the English Speaking School in a large city.– We had many experiences, good and bad, and did not continue after the year, but always wanted to go back without young children, and live there again. So it happened after about thirty years we had both retired , and we had good friends that had, too, and were then with the Wycliff Translators–he had been with Exxon for his career, and set up communications even for the Alaskan Pipe Line. He was doing that for Wycliff World wide, and they were loving it, and could not see us sitting in Houston not doing something bigger. Short story– we applied– for openings, interviewed by denominations that were surpporting the organization— and I was appointed to be the principal of a newly organized English speaking elementary school in the same country where we had lived, but this time in a New Capital City. My husband this go around was to be my help.–a new twist–.– We owned a home where we had lived 26 years in Houston, that had to be “taken care of”– we wanted to lease it with furnishings— on & on , got our passports renewed, visas ready, air line tickets to be leaving in Oct. ( that was as soon as we thought we could arrive). BUT IN SEPT. oNE OF MY ELDERLY PARENTS BECAME ILL– THEY LIVED 12 HOURS FROM US. WE DROVE UP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND AFTER A FEW DAYS, WE SAW WE COULD NOT LEAVE THEM. MY SISTER WAS 16 YEARS YOUNGER AND STILL TEACHING WITH CHILDREN AT HOME.—GOD’S command to care for your family took precedent to what we wanted to do ( their resources were very meager).— With heavy hearts we wrote our group to say we could not come, put our home on the market in Houston, and moved to the “back side of the desert” in the Top of TX.– Where we lived six and half years caring for my parents.—We did not understand WHY we had made all the preparations– and totally were
– Before we left Houston, and were praying and seeking wisdom on going to a Third World Contry again –one day I was alone outside and was talking to God. And as clear as day -in my Spirit, He said, “LaVaye, are you ready to die for me? I WAS STUNNED– When you live in third world countries that is a very real possiblity. And after a few minutes— I said with tears, ” Yes, Lord, I think I am. Our children were grown and on their own.
After my parents both died, we moved to Central TX, closer to some of our children, and one day as I was listening to World News, we heard that school where we would have been, had people gunned down, several of those there, & nearby, and they were killed.—–
We have been given all these extra years— ministering each day, one on one, as the Lord opens the doors– and some of those may go and be and do far greater things for the kingdom that we would have. No One knows, but that is the peace I have.
THE LORD HAS THE FULL VIEW–AS WE WALK WITH HIM IN HIS WORD, SPIRIT– HE IS THERE and as you said, IT IS ONE DAY AT A TIME.—LIVE THAT DAY, AND give the “enemy” NO credit, for anything. Yes, he is a roaring lion, trying to devour us, but we do not dwell on that. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU and Rejoice with you however it turns out.— SINCERELY, LaVaye Billings

Hello LaVaye

Thank you for your kind reply and interesting story……I hope I will write as well when I am 80 plus!

You have not seen me on this site before as I only came upon it recently.

I just turned 60 last month. I am single – divorced 7 years ago, have no dependants and had a very unusual life….much travelling, many careers, degree in International Politics and later Ceramics and Glass…..worked all over the world, father was pilot and died at 46 in motorbike accident, mother died of cancer at my age, so many ups and downs but clung to God through it all… and so forth and so forth….

I wait to see how God is going to resolve this as I dont have any choice but to sell my house and its most urgent from a financial prospective. However during this sudden change and delay He brought back some friends with whom relations had suffered and after 4 and half years they came to my door and all has been restored….how faithfull is our God. So now I just wait and keep rowing my canoe…..looking towards Him who guides as I have my back to where I am going (i loved that example of Skip’s in one of the Mathew series).

You might like to go the the UTube web link below to see a short film I made about my students in Addis.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to write to me…I so appreciate it. May you and your husband be truly blessed.

Christine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQwmjjKPcGs