The Revelation

 by Cindy Hester

This week has been a difficult one. As the anniversary of my birth arrived, a mixture of stress and unresolved conflict resulted in a discussion well-orchestrated by the devil himself. Words spilled forth without forethought, anger mounted, and what began as a pleasant day turned on a dime into an ugly shouting match unbecoming anyone and unlike any usual conversations held on a day-to-day basis.

I realize this is a raw and personal revelation, but I know in these demanding times we live I cannot be the only one who finds him or herself in such a situation reacting in such a way. As the day progressed, my mind replayed the statements made. By the next morning the first word that came to my mind the morning of my birthday was failure.

God has blessed me in too many ways to count. However, to pass my life off as a fairy tale of perfection would be a great disservice to the grace that has gotten me to this point. God has done great things in the lives of those whom He has given into my care, more despite me than because of me. I understand the challenge of loving a blended family of individuals who are each facing different struggles at different levels in life. I know first-hand the confusion of deeply loving someone who is a part of, you yet being brokenhearted that the world’s lies tend to make you the enemy. I am intimately familiar with the longing to be known and respected for what is genuinely in your heart although your words may not always be able to properly express those thoughts – especially to those who are closest to you.

As I stood worshiping in church Sunday, all I could do was cry out to God. I seemed to have nothing left, and I could not pinpoint where all of this was coming from. I confessed that I had made a mess out of trying to live a Christ-like life in front of my family. I admitted it was impossible. They know me too well. No matter how hard I try, I have to start over again. No matter how genuine my heart, I still fail. This thought was prevalent, I have failed.

The longer we sang, the more we worshiped, God began speaking to my heart. I began to understand and to realize the message of failure was not from Him. A scripture my Pastor had prayed came to mind, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1. God reminded that I have been placed where I am with those who are in my life for a purpose. Then came these words, “It’s not over.”  I had allowed my thoughts to be consumed with a feeling of finality. In my mind, I had either reached my expiration date, or I was throwing in the towel. I had completely taken my eyes off of God’s ability to overrule my shortcomings.

It is true that I cannot be a witness or live a Christ-like life in front of my family on my own merit. I can only come close to being effective in that effort by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform me by submitting myself to Him each moment of each day and by trusting Him to perform a work in their hearts. I will no doubt fall, but God is faithful to His promise to me. “The LORD will fulfill His purpose in me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8

I pray these words resonate with someone who may be struggling with an issue that seems hopeless. God specializes in hopeless. Our world is changing at a dizzying rate of speed, and challenges are presenting themselves in families in ways we once would have never dreamed possible. The one constant that brings us hope is the Word of God and the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is an unceasing source of honesty and peace. I pray God speaks His comfort to you through these words and that you’ll seek a living relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through the reading of His Word, the Bible.  

Ordered Steps, The Journey Continues

by Cindy Hester

Meet my friend, Rose. We came across one another almost a year ago in this very same shop where she works as a sales clerk in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Our paths crossed I believe as a result of ordered steps. For the past year God has continued to bring Rose to mind, and I have prayed for her on a  regular basis.

 When I learned I was going to have the opportunity to return to her city, God immediately laid it on my heart to go see her while there. I almost didn’t grasp hold of this opportunity. My husband and I were later getting into town than we had planned, and as we ate lunch, I began to wonder if Rose still worked at the same shop. Even if she did, I questioned whether she would remember me.

We finished lunch and began walking back toward the taxis that were parked waiting to take us back to our ship. Instead of getting a taxi, Charlie proceeded toward Rose’s place of employment.  Although this is what I had planned to do, a sense of panic overtook me. I thought to myself how silly I was being. I was simply going by to say hello. Somehow I felt in my spirit there was something more to this visit, and I felt extremely inadequate. I began praying and the Lord told me not to fear because He was sending His Holy Spirit before me, and He would give me the right words to speak.

As we approached the shop door, I asked a gentleman sitting outside if he knew whether Rose still worked there. In true Jamaican fashion he said, “yeah man, she inside.” The doors and windows were open letting the Caribbean breeze blow. I entered the building to the soothing sound of Jamaican wind chimes.  I smiled because the sweet evidence of the blowing breeze and the beautiful sound it made gave me a visual picture of how the Lord can use the Holy Spirit in us to make something beautiful come from us that we cannot do in our own power.

I looked around, but at first I could not find Rose, and my heart sank. Just then, a woman with curious eyes stuck her head around a door that led to what appeared to be a small break room. The woman stared at me with caution and curiosity, then looked back at someone I could not see behind the wall. I smiled and asked if she knew Rose. Her eyes grew cautiously large and she slowly glanced again at the person I could not see. She slowly said yes and asked for my name. After one more glance toward the woman behind the wall, her eyes grew even wider as she moved toward me and, grabbing me by the hand, began leading me back to the break room.

The room was barely large enough for a table to fit, and scrunched between the table and the wall sat Rose. She looked up from her plate, and her jaw dropped. She grabbed me by the hands, looked me square in face, and with tears in her eyes she hurriedly said, “What did God send you here to tell me? I have been fasting and praying. You were the answer to my first prayer for a word from God almost a year ago, and here you are again!” If that does not humble you, I don’t know what will.

Without thinking, God began providing the scriptures and the words she needed to hear. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6. Among other things more specific to her situation, I told her that God had especially put her on my heart to pray for her throughout the year. She was precious to Him, and she has a special purpose to fulfill.

With tears streaming down her face, Rose climbed out from behind that table, ran and threw her arms around my neck. She stood there a few minutes, then brought the other sales clerk over to where we were. Rose said, “Just before you walked in, I was telling her that all we had was our God and what He could do for us. She was not sure what He could do. Now she must be.”

I almost missed that blessing. Although God had laid it on my heart to go back to see Rose as soon as I knew I was returning to Jamaica, I almost talked myself out of getting off the ship to go into port. I almost didn’t go to the shop because it was hot and humid and there were so many people. I told myself over and over Rose probably would not be there. However Rose was there, and she was seeking a word from God.

No doubt God would have sent that word to her through someone. The fact I had been praying for her almost a year, and the fact that God blew me away with His amazing goodness in meeting her need meant so, so much to me. God showed a lot of His character to me that day - His love, His provision, His mercy, and His protection. I just had to share this with you.

Take Jesus with you wherever you go and however you get there - by mission trip or cruise ship. We do not need to beat people over the head with the Bible or by trying to impress them with our spirituality. We simply need to love others. Laugh with others. Celebrate with others. Spread joy to others, and when necessary, cry with others. Share what God has done for us through living as though He has done something for us. When we fully experience His love, it cannot help but overflow from our hearts. This my friends, is what we are ultimately placed on this earth to do. 1 John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us."