We will go to the mountains tomorrow, by way of Warsaw and Angelika's mom's house. It'll be a 6 hour train ride, thankfully with no transfers, to get to Warsaw. Then Monday we'll caravan on to a town in the south of Poland, up near where we had our honeymoon.
Going on a week's vacation to a rented house is new for me. We did this last year at this time, but to a rented place on a lake in the north of poland. We will split the costs with two other families of friends of ours from warsaw.
It's a needed break. I'm not used to taking a break without a movie theater very near by. But I'm thinking that we very much need the time to get away and pray. I also might start writing..something. There are several things on my heart to write and I need to start following His leading to write more. But more than anything, we'll relax, enjoy fellowship, and let Angelika smack us all down in Phase 10.
In case you all are wondering, yes Poland is a buzz with talk of Russia, Georgia and the Missle Shield. The times are changing...and He is in control.
Blessings till I return!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Teeth and a muffin
I try to be aware of the moments when I'm supposed to do something for someone. I say I try to be aware cause honestly, I'm one of those guys that can be walking down the street seemingly thinking about objects or people at hand, but really I'm deep in thought:
Man it would have been cool to be an actor in Band of Brothers.
I wonder what kind of character I'd play...
chaplain...yeah, that would have been cool
chaplain or maybe heavy machine gunner...either...
I wonder how heavy those machine guns actually are...hmmm, I'll have to look that up on wiki when i get home...
I wonder what kind of character I'd play...
chaplain...yeah, that would have been cool
chaplain or maybe heavy machine gunner...either...
I wonder how heavy those machine guns actually are...hmmm, I'll have to look that up on wiki when i get home...
Yeah, that's the way it goes sometimes.
But recently, I've been blessed to be aware enough to see two moments to help. The first was when I heard that one of the young guys i've been taking on these trips broke a front tooth in half and had a dead molar. I decided to take him to a very reputable dentist, who just happens to be a friend from church. And in the meantime, I figured I'd bight the proverbial bullet and get a checkup myself.
I hate checkups at the dentist. I wouldn't hate them if they were always unfruitful. But sadly, they actually find something at these things and for me, that's bad! But I knew it's been about five years since my last checkup, so high time to get it done.
We spent the better part of a day together to get to the dentist office, get worked on a little, walk to the radiology place and get xrays, then bus and lengthy walk back home. And thankfully, this guy is more talkative than his buddies. We talked about alot of stuff, and each time I could share what God means in my life was just a joy.
The other time was today after bread hand-outs.
I went downstairs to get some more bread since we underbought. I heard alot of arguing come from the little store that's situated literally under the stairs. Actually, I just heard a guy cursing...alot. And I could tell immediatelly that he was under the influence. I had seen him around once or twice - a very normal, professional looking young man. But this was the first time I had seen him drunk. In his right hand - a full new bottle vodka. With his left he made a fist.
I waited to see what he'd do to the sales girl, who is either his sister or his wife, I'm not sure which. But I heard him say he'd hit her if she didn't give him something he wanted. I waited to see if he'd try, and had determined that a knee to the back of his, and an arm around his neck would most likely discourage him from carrying out his threats. But, I decided I'd wait till he actually tried to be physical to step in. Praise God he changed his mind when he saw me standing behind him, and staggered off away accross the street.
I went to the bakery, bought a muffin (my favorite thing to eat in poland, hehe) and brought it to the still visibly shaken lady. She smiled and I told her God loved her...just then her phone rang. I walked away, and made mental plans to go back with Angelika and talk to her and hopefully convince her to let us pray with her about the situation.
I will be going out to the many alcoholics that sit and stand, and too often lay face down, infront of the stores nearby. I want to make up some buisness card / tract type things to hand out to them and encourage them to talk to me.
God wants to bind up the broken hearted and those who break hearts... and we want Him to use us.... at the dentist, at the store, wherever He might.
G'night guys and gals.
corey
But recently, I've been blessed to be aware enough to see two moments to help. The first was when I heard that one of the young guys i've been taking on these trips broke a front tooth in half and had a dead molar. I decided to take him to a very reputable dentist, who just happens to be a friend from church. And in the meantime, I figured I'd bight the proverbial bullet and get a checkup myself.
I hate checkups at the dentist. I wouldn't hate them if they were always unfruitful. But sadly, they actually find something at these things and for me, that's bad! But I knew it's been about five years since my last checkup, so high time to get it done.
We spent the better part of a day together to get to the dentist office, get worked on a little, walk to the radiology place and get xrays, then bus and lengthy walk back home. And thankfully, this guy is more talkative than his buddies. We talked about alot of stuff, and each time I could share what God means in my life was just a joy.
The other time was today after bread hand-outs.
I went downstairs to get some more bread since we underbought. I heard alot of arguing come from the little store that's situated literally under the stairs. Actually, I just heard a guy cursing...alot. And I could tell immediatelly that he was under the influence. I had seen him around once or twice - a very normal, professional looking young man. But this was the first time I had seen him drunk. In his right hand - a full new bottle vodka. With his left he made a fist.
I waited to see what he'd do to the sales girl, who is either his sister or his wife, I'm not sure which. But I heard him say he'd hit her if she didn't give him something he wanted. I waited to see if he'd try, and had determined that a knee to the back of his, and an arm around his neck would most likely discourage him from carrying out his threats. But, I decided I'd wait till he actually tried to be physical to step in. Praise God he changed his mind when he saw me standing behind him, and staggered off away accross the street.
I went to the bakery, bought a muffin (my favorite thing to eat in poland, hehe) and brought it to the still visibly shaken lady. She smiled and I told her God loved her...just then her phone rang. I walked away, and made mental plans to go back with Angelika and talk to her and hopefully convince her to let us pray with her about the situation.
I will be going out to the many alcoholics that sit and stand, and too often lay face down, infront of the stores nearby. I want to make up some buisness card / tract type things to hand out to them and encourage them to talk to me.
God wants to bind up the broken hearted and those who break hearts... and we want Him to use us.... at the dentist, at the store, wherever He might.
G'night guys and gals.
corey
Tug of War
Happened again today.
I was on my way home with Daniel in the stroller. He's started teething and it has caused him to break out in fever. So, we've taken him to the doc, obtained the right meds and are just trying to help him be comfortable. So, after a whole day of being difficult, I decided Angelika needed a break and took him for a long long walk.
On the way back my path crossed with a rather heavy-set woman, pulling a smart wire cart. I had seen her earlier this morning on my way to the church to hand out bread. Then, she hadn't really caught my attention. But this afternoon, she sure did. I stopped and turned to watch as she walked away cause I could feel that familiar inner call of the Holy Spirit to stop, and pay attention to the one.
She stopped at the end of the low brick wall which was on my right, her left. She sat down on it. I was no more than 10 feet away, looking at her and feeling God massage my heart. And there I stood - interceeding. I didn't know quite what to do at that moment, which is weird for me. Again, I felt God pushing my heart to pray for ways to reach the "normal" people of the neighborhood.
I've been wanting to organize a support group to help overweight people lose weight here in the neighborhood. Something like this is a big deal - not easy for me to imagine how to organize, advertise and run something like that. But, having been a person who has struggled with excess pounds his whole life, I know it's a form of bondage that holds a person back from God's best.
So, I'll go to the sports college at the start of the new year and see what I can work out with some people there. I stood praying for that lady at the opposite end of the wall for some time. I didn't go up to her; I didn't think Daniel would let me since he had been out for more than two hours with me already and was starting to get antsy.
I love the times when He puts His heart into me, and lets me share just a fraction of the compassion He has for His children - both the lost and found. If you've never asked Him to give you compassion for someone, do it now. Just ask Him to let you in for a minute to show you how He feels about a particular person. It's amazing. It'll make you stand and look and pray.... and maybe organize a group!
I was on my way home with Daniel in the stroller. He's started teething and it has caused him to break out in fever. So, we've taken him to the doc, obtained the right meds and are just trying to help him be comfortable. So, after a whole day of being difficult, I decided Angelika needed a break and took him for a long long walk.
On the way back my path crossed with a rather heavy-set woman, pulling a smart wire cart. I had seen her earlier this morning on my way to the church to hand out bread. Then, she hadn't really caught my attention. But this afternoon, she sure did. I stopped and turned to watch as she walked away cause I could feel that familiar inner call of the Holy Spirit to stop, and pay attention to the one.
She stopped at the end of the low brick wall which was on my right, her left. She sat down on it. I was no more than 10 feet away, looking at her and feeling God massage my heart. And there I stood - interceeding. I didn't know quite what to do at that moment, which is weird for me. Again, I felt God pushing my heart to pray for ways to reach the "normal" people of the neighborhood.
I've been wanting to organize a support group to help overweight people lose weight here in the neighborhood. Something like this is a big deal - not easy for me to imagine how to organize, advertise and run something like that. But, having been a person who has struggled with excess pounds his whole life, I know it's a form of bondage that holds a person back from God's best.
So, I'll go to the sports college at the start of the new year and see what I can work out with some people there. I stood praying for that lady at the opposite end of the wall for some time. I didn't go up to her; I didn't think Daniel would let me since he had been out for more than two hours with me already and was starting to get antsy.
I love the times when He puts His heart into me, and lets me share just a fraction of the compassion He has for His children - both the lost and found. If you've never asked Him to give you compassion for someone, do it now. Just ask Him to let you in for a minute to show you how He feels about a particular person. It's amazing. It'll make you stand and look and pray.... and maybe organize a group!
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