what I've been thinking about

Miracles big and small – Today Sarah was trying to get the corps ready for a big missions conference and she needed to find a lost key.  With about 40 keys between us, we went to the door and the very first key she tried worked! (I told her I would put it on my blog!)  All 6 of the new uniforms we ordered for the cadets fit and arrived 2 days before the welcome.  We still have happy cadets.  The SA Principles class theme for the last two weeks has been the International Salvation Army and SA Structures.  What could be more perfect than to have the High Council meeting during that time? We watched the web casts and talked about how it all fit together.  And the text book I’m using is “Who Are These Salvationists?” written by Shaw Clifton, our new General.  We spent some time figuring out how to say and spell his name in Latvian. OK, sometimes we get silly, especially over language.  Here it is: Šoa Kliftons


Things I take for granted – Having my own good Bible (or 10-12 of them) on Sunday I finally got around to giving my small group their Christmas gifts – a new youth Study Bible from the USA.  I wasn’t sure how they would feel about it, since it was in English and well, not all American kids would be happy to get a Bible for Christmas.  But, the first one opened hers and squealed (really) with delight.  Then one by one they opened them with eager faces and real delight when they saw what it was.  They weren’t trying to be nice or polite.  They really were very excited about it!  And that was my last time with the group as their leader.  Dace will lead them now.  It’s a good memory to end with.   Solitude Sarah preached about silence and solitude on Sunday.  I don’t always appreciate how much easier it is for me (as a single person) to find this.  Not that it isn’t work for me and there aren’t distraction and interruptions. But most of the demands on my time come from me.  I have to discipline myself and be diligent.  I am rich not in a worldly way, but in so many blessed ways.  I was reading Luke 6 one morning and on the same day I was showing our training center to Malcolm, a Riga pastor who is going to help us with some teaching.  He leads a church who owns no building.  So, at each turn he commented about what a nice and warm place we have. And I was able to tell him about so many different supporters who have helped us – my home territory and the Swedish Training College, especially.   I was reminded of this verse: Luke 6:24     "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. “ I took this not as a negative condemnation, but a gentle warning from the Lord not to take our lovely center for granted or get too comfortable with our setting.  We need to be thankful and to give in return (not sure what yet, but the day will come.)  Time for preparing and no need to hurry.  Everything about life in Latvia is slower than home, at least for me.  I admit that the first year I was here, I was often frustrated with too little to do and some boredom.  But, when I finally settled in, I found time for study, prayer, friendships and enjoying life here.  My early blogging reflects much of that.  Now that the pace has picked up I am so grateful that I had that time.  But, I also have discovered that I have really learned to slow down.  I don’t live life by the minute like I used to.  I’m using the drive time to work as Solitude time and I take the longer route, don’t try to be at the front of the line and let cars cut in front of me, with no rude words or stress over it.  Amazing!  I’m not working 24 hours a day, even though I probably could.  I do what I can and leave the rest for the next day.  Admittedly, that does sometimes cause me stress, but I am determined not to return to workaholic tendencies.  

And about the new General.  It has been a new experience for me to be so interested and in prayer about our leader.  During past High Councils, I have prayed and was curious.  But this time was different.  Why?  1.  I’m teaching cadets!  And for most of them this was something very new and an unknown process.  2. I’m in praying Latvia!  So, of course, we have been praying throughout this process.  I have several friends who were members, translators or would somehow be affected.  And, because my own prayer life has grown here, I also was praying more earnestly and specifically.   The night we heard the announcement, Graeme said something about all of the prayer directed to this decision and that it would be interesting to see why Shaw Clifton was the right man for this time.  I have heard him teach about ethical issues and was challenged and motivated in my own thinking.  There are some ethical issues about which we should be taking a bolder stand.  Also, his experience in Pakistan seems to me to be timely.  Then today he chose a woman to be the Chief of Staff.  I know nothing about her but this seems to be a good sign for the future.  (I know, there are many who would be more pleased if he had chosen a married woman.)  Let’s see how God chooses to use this man and the Army for this time.  And let’s continue to pray fervently that Jesus Christ will remain our true Leader.