Greetings! In late August of 2000, our family of six moved from Northern California to Southern California - from the San Francisco Bay Area to a small beach town about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente. We had been there five weeks when Danny had kidney failure and we almost lost him—not quite 2 and ½ years old. That was a time I would not wish on my worst enemy, but then again I would not trade it away either. I learned firsthand that God is still in the miracle working business. What the doctors could not do, God did. ‘I do not know why we were so blessed that you healed Danny, Lord,' but in response, I will say ‘yes’ wherever you lead me, whatever doors you open.’ There are so many yes’s I could tell you about, but I will just tell a few, and then I will tell you why I could say ‘yes’. Yes, I will go and pray for that woman who has Stage 4 breast cancer (because after all, we had just experienced the miraculous healing of Danny. Then God healed her! If you met her today, you would never know Lisa had cancer! Yes, I will learn how to defend my faith. And so I studied and studied some more learning that indeed scripture is backed by history, extra-biblical sources, archaeology, science . . . that Jesus was a historical figure...our faith is true. Yes, I will start a mother’s Bible study in my home Yes, I will serve on church staff . . . Yes, Lord, now I will resign - right after I had led a women’s conference with 11 different churches involved. Wait, Lord… what? That one I did not understand until I got a phonecall some eight days later. ‘We want our business to count for more than just the bottom line, we want it to count for the Kingdom. Could you help us?’ Yes, Lord, I will write Bible study for them and email it. 14 plus years later, I am still a corporate pastor to that international company Yes, Lord, I will go and serve the homeless in Long Beach, including Bloods, Crips, convicts, the addicted, the mentally ill Yes, Lord, I will lead Fellowship of Christian Athletes until they find another The biggest personal stretch of all of them. (about 4 yrs. til another came) Then in 2016 I went to Israel to walk in the footsteps of Jesus for the first time… 'talk about inform my mind and see the pages of Scripture literally come alive! In 2018 a group called CUFI (Christians United for Israel) included me on another Israel trip with 26 Presbyterian ministers from around the U.S., taking us on military bases, hearing from generals, the head of the Greek Orthodox church and so on. Because CUFI sponsored that trip, we were asked to take people back to Israel ourselves if we had any influence. "Wait, what…me?" But I signed that I would try. And I did. Yes, Lord I will do that. So in 2019 I took my first two groups to Israel. And in February of 2023, I will take another. Do you want to go??? Whenever God opened a door, I prayed and said ‘yes’, (usually in that order), then I prayed for the vision and went for it. The Christian life is the greatest life of all! It is a life of adventure, a life of great joy . . . and in the trials--the hope and strength and presence of God. BUT STILL….How could I say ‘yes’ to some of these things? How could I possibly ‘be ready’ when my two year old was dying? How could I believe I was likely going to die, as my car was about to run over me, and say ‘okay, Lord’? Because of what the Lord started in me 27 and a half years ago. At that time, I became intentional about spending time alone with God every single morning--initially making a 15-min a day commitment. I learned to study God's Word for myself and became more effective and less distracted in my prayer time. This has built a foundation of relational trust in God. You might say 'it made me battle ready". Time in the Word revealed God's character to me and all these years later, I see how right and good is my God. But come on--think of it. . . being personal with God is how things were meant to be! We read in Genesis chapter 3 that the Lord God came down to the Garden of Eden to walk and talk face to face with Adam and Eve. In the beginning, that is what God had intended for our relationship with him. But then, sin and separation. Yet still, I think of "Be still and know I am God." Psalm 46.10. And then I think of how Jesus often sought solitude to be alone and talk to his Father. If Jesus needed that, I definitely know I need it! The psalmist says that someone who meditates on Scripture "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1.3 Why? Because our roots go down deep into the truths of Scripture. So yeah - getting to know God personally myself - then experiencing the miraculous in my life made me want to say 'yes' to what he has asked of me, even when the task seemed beyond my capabilities, even when the call scared me. Saying 'yes' to God sets you on a daily course of adventure and meaning. Nothing else compares. Wonderful Life - by Matthew West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjbOPBAiENQ Say "Yes" to God. You will never be sorry. Christine
