Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Simple Trust

"I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself. This sense of cooperation with God in little things is what so astanishes me, for I never have felt this way before. I need something, and turn round to find it waiting for me. I must work, to be sure, but there is God working along with me." Frank Laubach

I pray that I can live each day with this type of trust and connection with Jesus. Lord, let me know the freedom to trust YOU completely.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Simply Being

Yesterday I read something that really stuck with me and Jesus then challenged me with it.
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." Marian Wright Edelman

After reading this I went to have my usual "coffee with Jesus" at the local cafe. As usual the place was packed and finding a booth to ones self was nearly impossible. But after a short wait a got the much coveted booth. I had just settled in for a nice time "alone" with Jesus and my cafe latte and waffle with extra fruit when a woman asked to sit at my table. I admit my first thought was No! It's mine! Then I thought "No big deal I can always pretend I don't understand Polish". After a few minutes I found myself chatting with the woman who turnout to be from out of town. In the end she encouraged me and my improving Polish. Then she left.

Alone at last! Nope!
Another woman asked to sit at my table. And once again I said yes. To shorten this story a bit...by the end of our conversation the woman was asking for my number. She wanted to give it to her college daughter so that I might be an encouragement to her.
It is in the small but faithful things the people see the heart of God.

Oh...I eventually did get my time with Jesus. It was different than I had planned but I think he was in all that I did yesterday.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Life Hurts God Heals Bible Study

In January I started a "Life Hurts God Heals" Bible Study in Krakow. It is together with the College/Career group of another church in Krakow. I would like to share with you a testimony I recently recieved from one of the participants.

Beloved!!I'm truly blessed by Bible Study we're going through during the time of our small group. Some words spoken there, verses, has been working in me all week long, everyday. The ability of getting to know You better is a real privilege and pleasure to me. It also feels very good to see how we gradually open ourselves to one another. I still believe it's just a beginning!!Praise the Lord for only He has the power to connect right people in the right time.I thank You all, I thank Denise! We need this course, after starting it I discovered how much I needed it. In many fields of our lives healing is necessary. We're all young people, but we've all got some experiences, smaller or bigger wounds taken from relationships with our parents or relationships with girls/guys that turned out to be not right.Our God is Great, full of mercy and mightiness and He's only One who's got the power to turn them into His glory!!Greetings, see You all on Thursday:OlaP.S. These things touched me the most:1. Faithfullness in little things- then bigger will follow2. The fact we don't need to understand everything. Full understanding that this or that situation looks different way we expected it to look like is simply not our point. It would set us above God. How relieving truth it is:) Ola

Please pray for this group as we get deeper and they will have to face issues within themselves

Friday, March 14, 2008

When God shows His Faithfulness while changing a Flat

This last fall when I put the winter tires on the mechanic said that I should get new ones soon. Unfortunately, I didn't have money for new tires. But the Lord was so faithful that we have had a very mild winter and rather short. I have been driving what seems to be everywhere, lately. I went swimming in Slovakia at the hot spring water park with a good friend. We had a great time of fellowship that was continued on our 2.5 hour long cut when we missed the turn. Or my 2-3 trips to Krakow a week.

Tuesday on one such excursion to Krakow, I was enjoying the sunny weather on the way home. I had just exited the highway when I noticed that sound....that sound that says you better stop fast. And guess what! There was an empty driveway. The flat was on the passenger side away from the heavy traffic.

Sometimes it is so strange how you get those unexplainable feelings that your Heavenly Father is truly orchestrating all the details of your life.

My snow tires lasted just long enough to get through the winter. I didn't have to deal with inclament weather. I had a safe flat place to change the tire. The spare was in good shape and full of air. I had daylight.

I'm always surprised when my feelings of joy come when in the past I might be frustrated or even upset.

By the way I changed the tire in 10 minutes and made it home on time to teach my English lesson.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Times of Transition

The following link is a comical comparison between Italy and Europe. Many of the examples of life in Italy are influx in Poland at this time. I hope this puts a smile on your face as much as it did mine.

http://tcc.itc.it/people/rocchi/fun/europe.html

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

News Flash

UpDate Coming Soon

Including:
Life Hurts God Heals Bible Study News
Winter Retreat: Freedom
Transitions
Up Coming Travel

Foursquare Leadership Change:
As many of you know the Foursquare Mission Director, Mike Larkin is resigning in June. In that light Foursquare Missions is inviting all their missionaries to the National Convention in Houston this May. It will be a time to thank Mike and his wife Roxanne for their faithful service and to meet the new director.

This is short notice and of course such a trip was not in my budget for this year. Foursquare has generously offered to pay for my convention fee and hotel. I would really like to attend this convention to thank Mike and Roxanne. Without their personal help and support I would not have made it through the administrative challenges to be apart of the Foursquare Family. Also I have never met the new director and would appreciate this opportunity to get to know him.

I would ask that your would pray with me that the Lord would make away for me to be in Houston for the convention. At this moment a plane ticket to Houston costs $1800. I would also need money for food. I feel so strongly about going that I would fast for the week if I needed to.

Internet Phone:
Thanks to my favorite Techie, Travis, my internet phone is working again. That means that you can call my at
1-206-400-2999 and reach me here in Poland. Please remember that when it rings, the time here is 9 hours ahead of Pacific time. Also when calling this number you will be charged whatever it would cost you to call a 206 Seattle number and it costs me nothing.

If you would like to donate to my monthly support or for the trip to Houston there are 3 options:
Denise Johnson c/o Mission Dispatch, Inc.21911 76th Ave W., Suite 211Edmonds, WA 98026
By PayPal on my blog: www.journeyof heart.blogspot.com
If you are a Foursquare Church you can send your donation through FMI


Blog Subscription:
It is now possible to subscribe to my blog. Just go to www.journeyofheart.blogspot.com and complete the subscribe form.

Thanks so much for all your faithful prayers and support,
Denise