February 15, 2009

Talking to God - Thank You, Bettie ...

A sweet lady in NC named Bettie brought me to the Lord several years ago, and since that time has become a very dear friend - my 'big sister'.




Bettie's daughter, Amy, is married to SSgt Jay Allen, USMC. Jay is currently stationed on Okinawa, Japan and Amy and their two toddlers, Haley and Emma, have accompanied him on this assignment.



Today I'd like to share an example of how Bettie continues to inspire me, from an email she sent a while back:

I was sitting here talking to the Lord about how I missed Amy/Jay/Haley/Emma phone call last night and seeing them on the webcam while I was at Church. Every day I look forward to hearing from them and hearing all about what is going on. I look forward to seeing them on the computer. I want to talk to them and see them every single day and hear what is going on in their lives. It is almost as if my day is not complete without talking to them and seeing them. I get so much pleasure and joy from their phone calls and seeing them on the computer.

That is the way our Lord is. Daily He waits for us to talk to Him. He gets so much pleasure when we call Him and talk to Him. He gets so much pleasure when we long to see Him. He wants a daily personal relationship with each one of us.


Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). (Amplified Version)


Jeremiah 33:3 - Ask Me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here. (Life Application Study Bible)


God assured Jeremiah that he had only to ask God and God would answer. God is ready to answer our prayers, but we must ask for His assistance. Surely God could take care of our needs without our asking. But when we ask, we are acknowledging that He alone is God and that we cannot accomplish in our own strength all that is His domain to do. When we ask, we must humble ourselves, lay aside our willingness and worry, and determine to obey Him.


Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Bettie recently had back surgery and Amy came home to help during her recovery, and is right now on a plane back to Okinawa to reunite with Jay and their girls. It will be a long, 24 hour journey. Both Bettie and Amy are having a tough time with the separation, and long for the day when the extended family can be together again.


I ask you to remember this family in your prayers - traveling mercies for Amy on this long trip - peace for Bettie, Larry, Amy, Jay and the girls until they can all be reunited again - for all of our men and women serving around the world and here at home. I ask for special prayers that God's purpose for Amy on Okinawa be revealed to her, that the people she encounters are touched by her witness.

God bless you, my friend ... Semper Fidelis

Update:

At the very time I was writing this, Amy was witnessing to a family at the airport while waiting for her flight. The husband/father is a soldier who was having a bit of difficulty dealing with recent changes in his career.

God didn't wait for her to get back to Okinawa, He used her on the very first leg of the journey!

1 comment:

Diane said...

How blessed you are to have a friend like Bettie in your life! She seems like such a precious lady of the Lord! I am praying for her and her family as they are separated. I know their hearts yearn to be together again. I pray for Bettie's continued healing and for Amy to find her purpose on Okinawa. May the Lord be with each of our service men and women, wherever they may be, and with their families here at home. May God keep them safe and return them to their families in His time and according to His will. Love you Marie Anne!

Diane