Getting My Angie Self Out of the Way (Jan newsletter)

Women sprawled out all over the floor because we ran out of chairs. Forty-nine women indicated that they wanted to place their trust in Christ as a result of the Christmas Gathering outreach Sondra (right) and I hosted. (Cue angels.) Sondra baked an amazing spread of cookies and I talked about gifts (the giver, the recipient and the gift itself) and transitioned to Jesus being the best gift ever given.

Oh, wait. The cookies and the talk, that happened. But the 49 women? No. That was a dream. The reality was that 4 women came. And no lives were changed as far as I could see. Only four, Lord? I mean, really? We were so excited to see what You’d do in our neighborhood. Surely women are seeking this time of year? And we did everything “right” — Sondra hand delivered 40 invitations and talked with many of her neighbors.

What do we do with seeming failures and disappointments like this? My heart tends to sink and say, “I’ll take my ball and go home now. I don’t want to play anymore.”

And yet, was this a failure? When I stop and tell my feelings to hush for a minute, I realize it’s not. I know God is the God who leaves the 99 to go after the one. And there were 4 “ones” around our table. (See below.)

Since when have I become a superhero, equipped with x-ray vision to see hearts? I have no idea the extent of what God did on that cold Sunday afternoon in December. But I know one thing He did in mine: My self gets in the way too often. Truth be told, I want to see lives changed. I want to invest in things of great return. I…I…I. See the problem? I do. So God’s been challenging me to take on His strength and take my Angie self out of the way. To fix my eyes on Him and His purpose and timing.

Early on in my involvement with Campus Crusade I learned a definition of evangelism I think I’ve forgotten at many key moments (like the moment we closed the door after the last guest left): evangelism is sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God. (When in the Christian life has the focus ever been about me?)

Do you wonder if missionaries struggle, too? (Read a bookmark that really got my attention about pride vs. humility.)

Now a month later, I am so glad we stepped out in our neighborhood even if it didn’t turn out like we’d planned. We 6 had a great time laughing together and discussing opening the real meaning for Christmas. One new friend indicated she would like to be in a Bible study that Sondra’s starting. Who knows the rest of the story?

 

Gram’s memorial service tomorrow

Tomorrow we’ll celebrate the life of Ethel Maree Shaneyfelt–known to us grandkids as Gram–tomorrow in Aurora, Nebraska. (I’ll leave my plaid seersucker pants at home.)

She was a grandma who sat through endless hours of softball innings, plays and screeching-violin concerts.

You are missed, Gram! I’m so thankful the Lord allowed you meet the man of my dreams and be a part of our wedding.

 

Merry Christmas!

May you experience the Hope sent 2000 years ago.

We’re enjoying our first married Christmas together…hats and all.

 

Thankful

We just finished rip-roaring card games of Pitch and Presbyterian Poker and are laying on our turkey-stuffed tummies.

We are thankful.

• For a country where we experience freedom in ways that allude much of the world, like India.
• For a wonderful start to our marriage and for the encouragement we’ve received these 7 months.
• To be within an hour’s drive of both sides of our family.
• For God’s provision in our season of raising financial support.
• For lives that have purpose because of God’s grace.

 

Weary

If I could pick a word to capture my last month, it’d be weary.

Now, mind you, I was the girl who was born 3 weeks late but always cheerful. I don’t like grey skies or party poopers.

So when this weariness came to settle in like unwanted chill sets into the bones, I…well, I didn’t know what to do. (Because that’s what type As like me like to do–fix it, work it, tug at it, make it go away.)

But it didn’t go away.

What brought it? A bit of everything. Mostly, it came from a heart that missed its amigas back in Orlando–women who know me and love me, laugh with me and challenge me. Also at fault is the fact that my feeler is stuck on overdrive these days. A third is wondering if I knew the duration of time I was in for when Scott and I said, we’ll trust You, God, and trekked to frozen tundra (or at least frozen canal I stare at outside my window) in Omaha.

So came the weariness to the heart of a woman who feels like pioneer 13 out of 24 hours a day. (There, see? Feelerometer’s a bit off regarding reality.)

But God wasn’t taken back. In fact, He was right on time when He showed me these nuggets in Scripture just now.

“He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eages,
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” –Isaiah 40:29-31

A-ha! How had I forgotten that the antidote for weariness is hope! Hope in the Lord. Oh, Angie heart! Put my hope in the Lord. It’s the only thing I see here that I am to do.

“The Soverign Lord has given me [Isaiah] an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.” –Isaiah 50:4

“Sustains the weary”–now, that’s what I’m looking for. That word. A word from the Lord.

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” –God speaking in Jeremiah 31:25.

What a promise. God offers that He’ll refresh the weary.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

There’s a choice.

• Will I go to Him with my weariness or somewhere–or someone–else?
• When my strength runs out, where will I go to try to get it renewed? Him or somewhere else?
• Will I take His yoke or trudge on, on my own?
• Will I learn from Him or be prideful and stubborn, thinking I know best?
• Where do I go to try to get rest for my soul?

Today I picture Jesus speaking to me, calling me what Gram does as He says, “Sweet Angie girl, come to Me. Take My yoke. Learn from Me. In Me will you find rest for your soul.”

 

Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? (November newsletter)

We’re in a series about different ministries in Campus Crusade. Scott and I have an opportunity to serve these ministries through our roles at the World Headquarters in Orlando, Fla. This month is about FamilyLife.

Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?

The only sound was the whir of our tires on 70th Street.

Scott and I had gone to see Fireproof for our date night on Halloween and now quiet blanketed us in the truck. The movie impressed us—even with a low budget and volunteer actors—with the real issues surrounding marriage. We’d discussed the movie for a bit, but now silence fell as we drove back to my parents’ home.

I’d love to talk more, I thought. We’ve only been married six months. In the movie they’ve been married seven years. I wonder what our marriage will look like at that stage?

I looked over at Scott. He looked deep in thought.

I wonder what’s he’s thinking about. Maybe about the 40-Day Love Dare? Or that scene where Caleb smashed the TV with his bat?

I wish he’d hold my hand, whatever he’s thinking.

“Do you think your dad has leftover Halloween candy?” he suddenly asked, with a staid expression.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is that what you’ve been thinking about?!?”

Like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar he confessed. “Um. Yeah.”

We both rolled.

Let’s just say we’re still learning about this amazing thing called marriage—and differences between men and women. Six months of marriage has not made us experts, but rather made us very aware of our need for Jesus to be in the center of it all—bliss and conflict and everything in between.

FamilyLife is the marriage and family ministry of Campus Crusade. Recently, they teamed up with the makers of Fireproof to encourage couples to see the movie, then take the 40-day “Love Dare” challenge. (Listen to the FamilyLife radio program.)

Besides the radio ministry, FamilyLife is probably best known for their marriage conferences, called A Weekend to Remember. Scott and I are fans after attending a three-day conference while engaged and becoming friends with the speakers, Dave and Peggy Jones (left). Read these responses from an October conference in New York where the Joneses were on the speaker team.

· “My wife and I have been on the brink of divorce for more than nine years, and this weekend is kind of the life preserver thrown to us from the boat.”

· “It opened my eyes to the kind of marriage I truly desire and realize it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. I just loved how the whole conference was centered on God and biblical principles! I pray that God will strengthen our marriage as we apply these principles.”

Growth Ideas for You or Friends

• Attend a Weekend to Remember Conference (Friday evening through Sunday noon)

  Omaha: March 15-18 :: Lincoln: March 27-29. Find a conference location near you.

• Start a Home Builder’s Bible Study Near You

  These 4-to-8-week marriage Bible studies tackle relevant topics in marriage like finances, conflict, parenting and remarriage.

• Angie’s Top Picks

  Ok, I’m new at this, but I have to highly recommend these: Love and Respect, For Women Only and The Power of a Praying Wife. Consider buying a copy then passing it on!

 

Celebrations

One Year Since Getting Engaged

Today marks one year since Scott gave me my beautiful ring and asked me to be his wife in Kansas City. I mean, be his wife wherever we live. He posed the question in Kansas City.

Read about how Scott proposed last October 26.

Thought it’d be fun to include a couple of wedding pictures we didn’t put up before.

And We Celebrated 6 Months of Marriage Last Week

Scott planned a really fun 6-month-anniversary-eve for us Saturday, the day before the real deal on the 19th. We ate dinner at The Garden Cafe, a fav of mine I didn’t know was still in Omaha, got pumpkin spice lattes and then strolled on the new walking bridge that connects Omaha and Council Bluffs (see pix below). He even got to be my Soda Hero when my blood sugar went low on the walk home. What a wonderful man I got to marry!

Check out a few photos from the evening…including a surprise we found when we got home!

 

Jesus in Washington (October newsletter)

Over the next few months, we’re sharing about different ministries in Campus Crusade. Angie and I have an opportunity to serve these ministries through our roles at the World Headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

Jesus in Washington

Recently I (Scott) was trying to educate myself with the $700 billion plan that our government leaders were debating by watching President Bush’s prime-time address to the nation.

It’s a complicated issue that even the top economists in the country can’t agree upon, so it’s a daunting task for my simple little brain to attempt to come up with a conclusion on what the correct step is. No matter what side of the aisle you fall on, I think we all wish more of our elected officials knew the Lord and sought His guidance in all matters.

In 1975, Campus Crusade sought to help meet this need and launched Christian Embassy in Washington, D.C. This outreach is a non-political, interdenominational ministry directed to those who work on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon. Elected officials, international delegates, employees in the Department of Defense all need to hear the good news that Jesus died for their sins and offers eternal life. Or, those who are already believers in Christ can be plugged in with other believers to help encourage and strengthen their faith.

During our New Staff Training in Orlando this summer, Angie and I got to spend some time with Tommy, below, whose assignment is with Christian Embassy.

A few years ago Tommy graduated from Guilford College. With family already working in Washington, he tried his hand and was a lobbyist for three years as well as working for Congress for over a year. His last experience in Washington left him unfulfilled, so he eventually walked away from politics and thought he would never return to The Hill.

Tommy felt called to go into ministry, so after speaking with one of our missionaries with Christian Embassy, he knew he needed to return to Washington in the name of Christ. Angie and I are personally thankful the Lord is using Tommy just as he is with his charisma and large personality. He’s a people magnet who loves the Lord dearly, and will no doubt make an impact in others’ lives.

Angie also wrote a neat story a couple of years ago about Sue, another one of our missionaries in Christian Embassy. Her interview with Sue and how she is trying to impact other women staffers on the Hill. Read Angie’s story.

Angie and I feel blessed to be able to support Christian Embassy through our roles at Campus Crusade’s world headquarters in Orlando—giving people in government an opportunity to say yes to Jesus.

The only One who can offer real life change.

Praise:

God really knew what He was doing with this whole marriage thing. The past almost-6 months have been absolutely wonderful. Scott has yet to be wrong. (Angie the editor sits here smiling at what he wrote.)

Prayer Request:

For Christian Embassy missionaries to have an influence on elected officials and their staff arriving and departing Washington, D.C. over the next few months.

 

A worrier whom I’ve observed

I never seem to read the famous “Do not worry” passage in Matthew 6 except for those times I seem to, well, uh, worry.

I’m sorry. I mean I have a friend. She worries.

Yeah, she worries.

She worries that she doesn’t work hard enough.

She worries that the bump on her left hand that suddenly got hard is cancer.

I worry…ahemm…I mean she worries that God won’t come through.

And she worries what people will think that she worries even though she knows Truth.

So, she tells me that today, in Luke 12, she saw something new in verses 25 &26:

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? [actually, it's 'a single cubit to his height'] Since you cannot do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Wow. Adding something, whether it be a single hour to my life or a cubit (finger tip to elbow, I think) is crazy-impossible.

And God knows that. He drives home the point.

Angie, if you don’t have the power to get 25 hours in today nor the ability to hit 6′6…don’t bother worrying about the rest.

And the amazing contrast is the fact that God has the ability to do those things. He has power.

As it says further down in verse 29, “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.”

In verse 31, “But seek His kingdom, and these things [food, drink, clothes, etc] will be given to you as well.

It’s about what I set my heart on…what my friend sets her heart on.

I can set my heart on the things God already knows I need (see v. 28) or I can set my heart on Him and His power for meeting my needs.

I’ll have to tell my friend.

 

Not being surprised when God answers

God never puts His kids in a fair fight. (So that He gets all the glory when He swoops in as the hero.)

I heard that once, long ago, and life seems to prove it. Acts 12 proves it, too.

If Peter had a journal with him, I wonder what it might have read. If I was him here’s what I’d have penned:

“So, it’s not looking good. My dear brother James was just killed by the sword. I can’t believe the rage and the jealousy the Jews have for us who follow Jesus. How I want them to see the truth, too…but I might not see that day.

“Herod has me in this pitch-black, damp, rotting prison. Word is that he’s putting me on public trial tomorrow. I may get to see James very soon. And Jesus, how I long to see Him again.”

Peter was guarded by 4 squads of 4 soldiers each, according to verse 4.

That night before the trial, he slept between 2 soldiers, bound with chains and sentries stood guard at the entrance, according to verse 6.

Not looking good for any kind of escape. Even for David Copperfield.

Amidst those circumstances in the early morning hours, his friends were “earnestly praying to God for him” and something amazing was near.

An angel of the Lord woke Peter. “Quick, get up!” and the chains fell off his wrists.

After putting on his clothes, sandals and a cloak, Peter followed the angel. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city.

It opened by itself. (I would have loved to have seen that.)

Suddenly, the angel left.

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating,” (verse 11).

Peter then goes to the house of the friends who were burning the midnight oil praying.

(Bet his heart was racing, excited to show up on their doorstep and tell them what happened.)

He knocks at the door and Rhoda, a servant girl answers. She reports to the friends that it’s Peter and…ready for this?

They say, “You’re out of your mind.”

They’re praying for Peter to be released (I assume that’s at least part of what they were praying for him) but then are astonished (v. 16) that God actually answered their prayers.

I’ve been thinking on this for 3 days now. How I’m like this! I pray boldly for God to move in a way in my life when reality says, “Um…that may not be practical to ask, Angie.”

But then I’m astonished when God answers.

The Bible says that nothing is impossible for God. Nothing.

Seas are parted.

The blind see.

A woman touches the hem of Jesus’ robe and 14 years of bleeding is suddenly halted.

A little boy’s lunch feeds more than his mom initially thought when she packed it that morning.

Peter is freed the day before a trial that might have taken his life.

May I remember that today.

Nothing is impossible with God, even if it’s unlikely with men.