Doorknobs and Unexpected Opportunities

Posted on April 9, 2013 by vivianmabuni

I met Elisa Morgan at my first Synergy Conference in 2010. I sat in one of her seminars as she taught out of the books of Acts. She took off her shoe and used it to illustrate an Alexandrian ship; a type of slow moving barge the apostle Paul probably sailed on in Acts chapter 27. Her ability to keep the entire room engaged during the dreaded after-lunch-when-people-are-apt-to-doze-off spot, her brilliant handling of God’s Word, her fabulous taste in shoes, her willingness to share her weaknesses, and her deep devotion to God drew me in spellbound. I understood first hand why Elisa is such a sought after leader and teacher. The Publisher of FullFill™, a free digital magazine for women of all ages, stages and callings, her current mission is to mobilize women to invest their influence in God’s purposes. She previously gave leadership to MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) International and helped grow the ministry to become a recognized household name across the country. She recently joined the Women of Faith teaching team, and continues to influence women all around the world.

I sheepishly approached her between meetings and asked her for advice and counsel regarding the writing/publishing world. She warmly replied, “Just keep jiggling the door knobs. Don’t force your way trying to push through the doors, but trust God will open the right doors. Your job is to keep jiggling to see which doors are open.” I tucked her words away in my mind with arms frozen by my side. Looking down the corridor of closed doors, I didn’t feel qualified to even try jiggling.

A couple months later Elisa asked her editor at Fulfill to contact me to find out if I would be willing to write a short article for the Summer 2010 issue.

I was floored.

Elisa opened a door for me. She modeled for me what it looks like for a more experienced leader to help, encourage and believe in an insecure, unsure, unqualified, leader-in-the-making. Her words and actions came at a time when I most needed assurance. Leadership is more than a title or role. Leadership is also about opening doors of opportunity and clearing the way for new leaders to grow and flourish. Leadership is exercised not only in planning meetings, but also lived out day to day in unexpected opportunities.

My hope is to be a generous leader like Elisa in helping encourage women to jiggle doorknobs and open doors where I can. My hope is to keep my hands open, and like Elisa, remember God’s Kingdom is bigger than what I’m involved with in my little corner. Kingdom building is an all-play, requiring all of me and all of you, to give all to Him.

Here’s the article below.

Helpful reminder from the article for me today:

“Even on my worst days as a mom, wife, friend and daughter….being here makes a difference.”

To view the latest edition of Fulfill on the theme of Courage and subscribe to this free e-magazine, click here. Every issue is filled with thought provoking articles.

The Wilderness: Life Post Active Treatment for Cancer

Posted on April 2, 2013 by vivianmabuni

Sometimes after I speak, in the quiet of the car as I drive home, I review in my mind the happenings of the day. I picture the faces of the women who have come up to talk with me. If they express appreciation, I try to graciously receive each gift of encouraging words like a wildflower. Then, in the quiet of the car, I present to God my little bouquet of wildflowers as a thanksgiving offering. I remember reading Nazi concentration camp survivor, Corrie Ten Boom, presenting her flowers of thanksgiving and decided to adopt the same practice.

All things with Him, through Him, by Him and for Him.

(My lovely niece, Angel. And yes. All my nieces are stunning.)

Usually, after presenting the flowers of thanksgiving, I review my talk. And most of the time I come up with a few things I wish I would have shared or elaborated on more. This past Good Friday, after sharing my cancer journey with the women at NewSong Church in Irvine, I thought about the first 18 months following active treatment. I called it the wandering wilderness time. Looking back, I wished I would have taken more time to encourage the women with these words:

The year and a half following active treatment (surgeries, chemo and radiation) was a time of confusion and bewilderment. All of the delayed emotions I had stuffed in order to make it through the physical demands of treatment finally surfaced. I felt lost. Unsure. Wobbly. I related to the Israelites in the Old Testament who wandered 40 years in the desert after escaping Egypt. God provided in ways unlike anything they had experienced pre-wilderness. Sweet manna was available morning by morning for them to gather and eat, quail dropped from the sky after they complained about missing meat, and when they could not locate a water source to quench their thirst, God provided water from rocks. Their shoes never wore out. They followed God’s lead by following a pillar of fire at night and a cloud during the day. Following the wilderness time these provisions were discontinued. The Israelites would learn to trust and obey God through different means after they entered the land.

The wilderness time was a unique time but not the final destination. God never intended the Israelites live as nomad wanderers. He was clear from the beginning when He promised Abraham the land. Moses was tasked to lead God’s people to the promised land. Joshua and Caleb surveyed the land and reported back the land God promised was all God said and more. The wandering time was a detour time. The wilderness was only for a time.

The story did not end with walking in circles.

I was reminded the cancer, post cancer wandering time was not the ultimate destination. It was for a time even though at the time it seemed like it would never end. I’ve experienced other wilderness type times. I’ve had dry and desert like periods in my spiritual life. Showing up to read my Bible was void of exciting, new insights, and I felt like a worker on an assembly line going through the motions. Prayers seemed unanswered or bounced off the ceiling. I imagine the Israelites had times when the manna grew mundane. As a young mom, I remember the same sensations of feeling confused, unsure and wobbly. The day in and day out of caring for little ones seemed unending. I felt like I was walking, and sometimes stumbling, in circles.

Looking back, God was able to redeem the wilderness time. He used the wilderness to teach lessons I would have otherwise missed. Trees develop stronger root systems when forced deeper underground to find water. I’ve noticed strength of character is forged through the wilderness times. The daily acts of faithfully showing up to gather spiritual food, the willingness to break down camp and move whenever and wherever the pillar of fire moved, and the wandering in the wilderness builds resolve. God uses the wilderness to strengthen, refine and surface what truly fills our hearts.

The biggest gift from the wilderness is the realization God was WITH the Israelites. He is with you and me. He reveals Himself and we learn to trust God in ways unlike “bountiful land” times when we walk in and through the wilderness.

Perhaps you are currently in a wilderness time. I want to encourage you to not lose heart. The wilderness is only for a time. The wilderness is not the final destination. I want to encourage you with the truth that God is WITH you and has not abandoned you to walk the wilderness on your own. Don’t give up.

How about you? What are some of the lessons you have learned in the wilderness?

Midnight. Death and the Cornerstone of my Faith

Posted on March 28, 2013 by vivianmabuni

I lifted this off my CaringBridge site. I wrote this around Easter time while in the middle of chemo treatments. Death, pain, tears and the ought-not-be’s and why Easter makes all the difference.

Michael, our twelve year old, has been the proud owner of three hamsters. Most summers we are away on some type of summer mission trip or training time, so it hasn’t been conducive for us to be dog owners. The kids have had their share of pet fish, pet caterpillars, and some of you remember “Jewels,” Julia’s “pet” pumpkin. Well, we decided to turn the corner and enter the land of mammals by giving Michael a hamster for Christmas several years ago.

Hammy, our first hamster, died from an accident pretty early on. Then Teddy joined our fold. She was a great Mensa genius escape hamster. We would duct tape down the opening of her cage, and somehow she would still mysteriously escape. Twice we found her downstairs in the guest bathroom trashcan. She was discovered at different times in the master bedroom, the TV room, and under the stove. We never could figure out how she managed to get down the stairs! Those who watched our hamster for us while we were out of town had their own stories of her amazing Houdini antics in their own homes. One day, after escaping for the hundredth time, she never returned home. I thought at one point this past October she returned after two and a half years, but it turned out to be a rat. I’ll save that story for another time.

More time passed and we adopted Midnight at Christmas two years ago. Midnight was completely black and a very sweet hamster. Michael did a great job taking care of her and training her. On a Friday night last March, during a Not-So-Small-Group meeting in our home, Michael called me up to his room in tears. Midnight stopped moving and looked dead. Darrin was away at an Elder’s Retreat. I called him. Through choppy phone reception we decided I would take Midnight to Animal Urgent Care.

It was our first time visiting Animal Urgent Care. After waiting a long, long time the vet came out to us and explained they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She explained that for $500 they could run more tests, but it wouldn’t guarantee MIdnight’s recovery. Her voice was matter of fact, but her eyes showed compassion as she explained to us Midnight was suffering and probably wouldn’t make it through the night. We needed to decide if we would put her down. I tried explaining what all this meant to Michael, but I don’t think he fully grasped what was going on. He and I agreed it was better to not let Midnight suffer anymore. It was a brutal decision. After they put her down, they brought Midnight back to us wrapped in a towel inside her travel cage. Michael hugged the cage close and sobbed. I sobbed, too.

After we got home, Michael asked to sleep in the TV room. I decided to join him. He had a restless night of sleep and would wake up crying. Michael was not a big fan of hugs. Even as a baby, he didn’t enjoy cuddling much. But on this night, each time he woke up crying, I would go over and hold him and cry with him–and he let me.

Death, grief, sorrow, separation…and the heart of a parent whose heart breaks with her child. We were not created to experience these things. This is why it is still unnatural and uncomfortable when we rub up against things that ought-not-be. Cancer and other illnesses fits in this category, too.

This Easter weekend, I am reminded how God’s heart breaks when He sees what ought not be. As I head into another round of chemo this week, I am reminded God’s love for me is fierce and compassionate. And like I was with Michael in the TV room, God will be with me. He will hold me and cries with me in my pain and discomfort.

I am also reminded this Easter how God’s perfect plan righted the wrongs and the ought-not-be’s. The hinge point of my faith rests on the truth that Jesus rose from the dead.

“and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead,” (I Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19, 20).

If Jesus was merely a good teacher, and did not prove He was God by raising from the dead, then it’s true: my faith is worthless, I would still be separated from God because of my sin. Most to be pitied.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead…

And so we celebrate hope, new life, and a time coming soon when there will be no more tears, death, crying, sadness, pain.

Happy Easter to you and yours…

Mount Hermon Writers Conference: One Year Later

Posted on March 21, 2013 by vivianmabuni

My eyes keep scanning the feed on twitter and Facebook for updates. Incredible people who were strangers last year, but have now grown to become friends, are descending today on hallowed ground surrounded by towering redwood trees. They will enjoy time, deep in the Santa Cruz mountains, connecting with God and each other over the art of crafting words. The cover photo on my Facebook page of the redwood trees was taken outside my cabin last year at the Mount Hermon Writers Conference.

And though I sit here, tapping away on the keyboard at my dining room table, with faithful canine sleeping nearby, my heart is up north. In my mind I picture the pathways, the dining hall, the fire place, the spots where conversations with just the right people at just the right time took place. Gratitude and awe for all God has done since last year at this time.

I’ve met remarkable people over the course of this past year who steward well the gift of painting pictures with words. They have been generous, kind, helpful and inspiring. I pray to be a blessing to others like they have been to me.

Special thank you and shout-out to these highlights from Mount Hermon folks I met last year:

Janneke Jobsis Brown, helpful buddy who answered dozens of my newbie questions and encouraged me to pursue application to the non-fiction mentoring track
Karen O’Connor, who accepted me into the mentoring track on the last possible date and took time to meet and encourage me
Steve Laube (President of the Steve Laube Agency). So humbled to be agented by this incredible literary agency.
Karen Ball–literary agent extraordinaire.
Sara Baysinger–roommate and soon to be mama!
Mary DeMuth–her initial blog about MH was what first started the ball rolling. Her open-handed posture for helping writers at every stage of their publishing journey has been refreshing and one I hope to adopt.
Jan Kern–incredibly skilled intermediate writing mentoring track mentor leader, coach
fellow MH authors/writers: Erin Taylor Young, Gillian Marchenko, Kim Van Brunt, Bethany Macklin, Cheri Williams, Susanne Lakin, and many, many other gifted wordsmiths.

Our life journey is full of twists and turns. Writing, for me, was a completely unexpected twist and turn. Grateful God calls us to travel together. Grateful He allowed my path to cross with each of these lover of words. Grateful for their example.

Eyes up and out.

I wonder: what will life look like next year at this time?? One thing for certain–God willing, I will be up at the Mount Hermon Writer’s Conference again next year at this time.

Use Whatcha Got Weeks 9-11: Change the World Party Follow Up

Posted on March 14, 2013 by vivianmabuni

“Completely on her own, she dedicated her 11th birthday to helping others. Rather than amassing more stuff, she directed all her birthday gifts to help the less fortunate. It sure would be nice if You would work it out for us to win the lottery to get orchestra seats for $25 for the Wicked musical. It’s something she would LOVE, it’s something over the top we normally wouldn’t be able to afford. I would see it as a gift from You. A “well done, atta-girl”–a perfect way to top off her birthday celebration.”

I prayed silently, without sharing my thoughts with her, with Darrin, with anyone. I didn’t tweet or post on Facebook asking others to pray with me. I just prayed and held my breath.

She finished homework in record time, got dressed, packed her purse with treats and we stopped off at Cold Stone and used a gift card I rediscovered in one of my many, many, MANY piles….probably a great trove of other untold treasures still yet to be unearthed await me!

We drove into the parking structure and found perfect parking. Stood in line. Only 20 others in front of us. Twenty orchestra seats would be given out to the winners of the lottery. We were accustomed to waiting and standing in line. Our hope level was high. We made friends with the person in front of us and the ladies behind us. They had all tried for the lottery several times, but had never won. We reconnected with a mom and her daughter we recognized from a baseball team Michael was on when he was in elementary school. When the half hour was up and everyone gathered for the announcement of the winners, my heart sank as I looked around us. Easily 250 people stood waiting and hoping for the same outcome. Ten names were called. We were not among the ten.

We ventured down to the box office to see if any seats were still available. Only one seat remained.

I stroked her thick, blackish-brownish silky hair,

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out. It’s such a bummer we didn’t win. Since we are out, would you be interested in seeing “Les Mis?” It’s showing not too far from here.”

She smiled and nodded.

She had asked to see the movie when it first came out Christmas day after I shared with her it was my favorite musical. I waited and polled several of my mom friends after they saw the movie to find out if the subject matter surrounding Fantine was too mature. We both knew there was one scene where she would need to cover her eyes.

Back in the car, on the way to the movie theatre, Julia asked me to share the story of “Les Miserable.” My words spilled out with increasing fervor as I shared the story of how grace can transform a person’s life; of the parallels of the Gospel when Jesus lays down His life for those He loves and how the same theme is played out with Jean Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine. The choices they make in the story came out of the selfless place of genuine love. I contrasted how Javert could not allow himself to receive the gift of grace, which, just like the Law, led to death. I shared about the silver candlesticks and what little I knew about the French Revolution.

We settled into a nice table for a quick bite to eat at the Nordstrom Cafe. Julia looked around with a sincere and grateful attitude and smiled,

“Mom, this place is really nice. The food is really delicious. I’m glad for this time with you.”

We finished up our dinner and walked to the movie theatre. Like everything else at the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach, the movie theatre looked posh and expensive. Our hearts sank again when we learned they served wine in the movie theatre so no one under 21 could be admitted. We had no way of knowing. The gentleman behind the counter apologized and pulled out a list of other nearby movie theaters.

I quickly scanned the sheet and saw the movie was playing at the UC Irvine campus. We had just enough time to make it.

When we arrived in the theatre, every single seat was empty. We had the whole theatre to ourselves. Eventually three others joined us. We watched. We wept a bit. When the movie ended she leaned backed and sighed,

“Wow. That was an amazing story.”

I shared with her in the car,

“Julia, this side of heaven you won’t know exactly how your gifts helped others, but I trust that the projects you selected are going to help families and will keep some in real life from having to be like Fantine in the movie. I am so proud of you.”

Through the generosity of Julia’s family and friends she was able to donate nearly $400 to the Hope Venture. One of her friends even gave five weeks of her allowance to the Hope Venture. Julia’s birthday helped provide:

17 blankets for those in Northern India where the cold weather has been the cause of death
6 goats for widows or families in Narok, Kenya, who have been ravished by drought in recent years
16 sari’s for widows living in the slums of India
3 “mama’s kits” for mothers in Uganda. Thousands of children become orphans because women die during childbirth. The mama kit contains everything needed to help provide a clean and safe delivery.

I think the story of Les Mis, more than the story of Wicked, fits with what Julia intended for her birthday. God has used Julia to challenge and teach me what it means to live out a life of compassion and generosity. I’m inspired by her life and her choices. Sometimes in life, our prayers seem to go unanswered. But I trust that God’s bigger purposes are being accomplished even when we don’t understand.

P.S. For those of you following Use Whatcha Got, there’s not much to report. I’m holding strong these past three weeks. Enjoying what I have, and gaining increasing gratitude for the sheer abundance of our blessings. How about you?

Letter to A Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patient

Posted on March 1, 2013 by vivianmabuni

Recently I have been contacted by several friends who have friends reeling from the call from the doctor no one wants, “You have cancer.” If I could, I would sit down with them “in human” by the fireplace at “my Starbucks” and listen to their stories. I wouldn’t give them advice unless they asked me. If they asked me, these are a few of my thoughts for those newly diagnosed with cancer from the perspective of a cancer survivor:

Dear Bewildered Friend,

I am so sorry you are carrying around in your heart and replaying in your mind the phone call from your doctor. Everyone around you is living life just as always, and here you are sitting with news so heavy, so derailing.

If you are like me, nights are the hardest. After the house quiets down, you lay there alone with your thoughts and fears. And each morning you wake, wondering if all of this is a bad dream. Once you regain your bearings, you’re faced with the challenge of how to get out of bed to face another day. Physically on the outside everything looks the same, but now with this devastating diagnosis, nothing is the same.

If you’ve started sharing the news, I imagine the phone is ringing and your email box is filling with well meaning friends and family offering advice on diets, doctors, and blog links and books. If you are like me, you will probably try to read everything and then hit a wall of information overload. You’ve been abruptly thrust into a new world filled with unfamiliar terms and options, appointments, decisions, all with varying outcomes. It’s hard to sort through everything and know which steps to take.

These are just a few nuggets of advice from me looking back on my cancer battle. Feel the freedom to apply what you like or disregard altogether.

There is no right way to “do cancer.” Everyone’s cancer journey is different. Yours won’t look like anyone else’s. So give yourself freedom to be on your own path.

Let other’s in. Chances are those who love you feel incredibly helpless, scared and want to help you in anyway they can. Giving them the opportunity to bring a meal, drive you to a chemo appointment, clean your bathroom, pick up your kids, etc., is a way for them to lessen the load for you, and it can be a blessing for them. Let others help so you can have space to heal and physically and emotionally tackle each portion of active treatment. You’ll probably be surprised with people you thought would be there for you disappearing and people you didn’t expect who come along to help.

Find an information hub person. If you’re married, your spouse won’t be able to go anywhere for the next two years without being asked how you are doing. Family and friends will want updates. We stopped answering our home phone. Rather than answering the same thing over and over, consider using an online blog like CaringBridge for updates and prayer requests and directing friends and family to use it to stay connected. If you enjoy writing, updates on the blog may be a good place to process. If you don’t, ask someone to write for you.

Try to be generous in the grace department. Grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. Give yourself grace. You’ve never battled cancer before. You are entering uncharted waters with how you will respond physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. Don’t be hard on yourself. Give those around you grace. They want to help, even though their unsolicited advice may not be helpful. Your cancer diagnosis may trigger unresolved grief in those around you, so sometimes the response of those around you may not be what you need or want. Grace goes a long way.

Lean into God. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, my encouragement is to move towards God. He can take your anger, your confusion, your sadness, your fear. Be honest with Him. He wants your whole heart. And let Him help you, comfort you, provide for you. And let others pray for you. God is able to bring good out of something as awful as cancer.

I hate cancer. I hate thinking about another person having to battle cancer. I hate that you will walk the treatment road. As much as I hate cancer, I want you to know from my experience, that God used cancer to expand my heart. I have met some of the most remarkable people on this journey. I have been blessed in thousands of ways by the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many. I am not the same woman today because of cancer.

Cancer has marked my life, but it does not define my life.

I am praying for God’s blessing on your life in unexpected ways.

Love from a fellow warrior in the battle,

viv

Now I Am An Author

Posted on February 4, 2013 by vivianmabuni

I wrote the word “author” for the first time a few days back on my Twitter profile page. I experienced the same internal struggle when I first used the word “writer” to describe myself on business cards I had made a year and a half ago. I felt like a little girl trying to walk in my mom’s high heels.

But the truth is: I am an author whether I feel like one or not.

I got official word this week from my editor my first book, “A Place of Abundance” will be in bookstores and available for download on Kindle/Nook, etc in April 2014!! Somehow having a release date pushed me over the line to begin embracing this new role.

I have experienced similar feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness when I read some of God’s high calling of me in the Bible. Some descriptions are easier to embrace than others. Being referred to as a sheep (not the brightest animal), a worker in the harvest or a servant, is not a problem for me. But to fully take in that I am elevated to Daughter of the King (Princess, Royalty), Ambassador, Friend, Beloved because of being adopted into God’s family sometimes feels like a stretch.

But the truth is when I placed my trust in Jesus and gave Him my life, in that moment I was granted the privilege of adoption into God’s family. And as a child of God, I now had a new identity. And with this new relationship came everything.

What kind of difference would it make in how I carry myself, the decisions I make, how I think, and walk and move throughout my day if I lived out of who I truly am? Jesus did not need to prove anything, did not have power struggles, did not need to hoard, was not arrogant or insecure, He did not demand places of honor, titles, getting in the last word…

Instead,

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:3-5)

Jesus was able to give His life away and serve those He loved because all things had been given to Him. He walked in confidence knowing where He came from and where He was going.

Part of growth and character change comes from being comfortable with who God has made us and learning to walk in whatever path He leads. My path has good parts and hard parts, just like yours; times of joy, times of pain. Now part of God’s path for me includes being an author. This part feels quite “over my head.” So to push through these feelings which could cause me to quit or give up, I’m trying instead to hold onto the One who has led me thus far. As I look back, and as you look back, we can see His perfect faithfulness. Eyes on Him, and not on circumstances and leaning into Him and not my constantly changing feelings.

May we learn to live and serve out of the place of abundance that comes from knowing deeply all things have been given to us and this world is not our home.

What are some ways you have learned to embrace who God has made you? How do you deal with feelings of inadequacy?

Use Whatcha Got Week 5: Change the World Birthday

Posted on January 29, 2013 by vivianmabuni

I have studied her face even before she was born. My eyes would trace and retrace her profile on the flimsy black and white ultrasound paper I kept in my Bible while my belly grew and grew. Over the months and years after she entered the world on Valentine’s Day, I logged thousands of hours watching her face express a thousand emotions. Two weeks ago I could tell she wanted to share something out of the ordinary with me. Her eyes were bright and her head tilted slightly. She looked both mischievous and triumphant.

“Mom, I’ve been thinking about my birthday.”

I braced myself, ready to talk down some over the top party theme. Birthdays are a big deal for Julia. She starts talking about ideas for her next birthday sometime around August, before school starts, and I repeatedly request we get through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year before we talk about her next birthday. I took a deep breath as she went on,

“I was up in my room and looking at all my stuff. I have so much stuff. I think for my birthday this year instead of getting gifts and more stuff, I’d like to ask my friends if they would be willing to donate to kids and families who actually need things. Maybe buy some goats or chickens or something.”

I swallowed hard.

wow.

Was she sure? She smiled and I could see in her eyes her mind was made up.

I prepared myself by thinking, “Now, Viv, don’t get all puffed up and proud. The whole Use Whatcha Got challenge is meant to be something for just you. The fact it spills over and helps others to reduce consumerism is not the point. Humble. Think humble thoughts.”

“Julia, I am so proud of you. This is incredible. I love the idea of you helping others. How did you come up with this idea?”

”Oh, watching the Disney channel.”

Humbled. No problem with humble thoughts!!

So yeah for the Disney channel highlighting a kid who wanted to help other kids. Yeah especially for Julia for wanting to make a difference.

One of my dearest friends from college, Cynci Petersen, began in incredible organization called the Hope Venture.

The Hope Venture is a non-profit organization existing to bring help and hope to people around the world through compassion-based projects.

Cynci’s character, integrity, and heart for changing the world through these compassion based projects makes the decision to donate to this organization a simple one. I trust absolutely in the soundness of Hope Venture. Cynci travels herself to India and Africa regularly to check in on the projects and to look for new opportunities. God has blessed and expanded the reach and influence of the Hope Venture and Julia is excited to be a part of changing the world through Hope Venture.

A few days ago Julia and I finished creating her evite for the birthday party. I added the Hope Venture link and we explained how the kids could bring checks written to Hope Venture. Julia would collect the monies and then decide which projects to support. I watched her face as she began flipping through the Hope Venture catalog. She couldn’t hold back her smile. She looked up with sheer joy filling her face.

“Mom, I think this is going to be my best birthday ever.”

(If you’d like to write Julia a note of encouragement in the comment section I will be sure she gets it)

God Has Much More

Posted on January 25, 2013 by vivianmabuni

In the past couple of months, all across the country, at every Epic Conference and at every Cru Winter Conference, college students have been invited to sign this pledge:

pledge.epicmovement.com

It reads:

Lord Jesus, I surrender to you and in the power of Your Spirit, I will…

Go where You want me to go
Do what You want me to do
Say what You want me to say
Give what You want me to give

The possibilities from this are endless. God is able to direct and mobilize a whole new generation of leaders to make a difference for good. To me, this posture of willingness to go anywhere and do anything is the single most crucial decision in the life of a believer. Coming to a point of surrender of our entire lives unleashes God’s Spirit to move, empower and bring about eternal change.

A couple of months back my Bible reading plan, via my Annual Bible app on my iPhone, had me in 2 Chronicles. The second half of the book chronicled (ah, such an appropriate name!) the reigns of the Kings of Judah. Some kings followed the Lord, some did evil, some started off well but ended up in misery. One king in Chapter 25 caught my eye. He was 25-year-old, King Amaziah, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He was described as a king who “did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.” (v2). He decides to go to war and counts 300,000 able men in Judah. He goes on to hire an additional 100,000 warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

A man of God comes to him and says,

“O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before your enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.” (v7-8)

Amaziah naturally asks,

“But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”

I love the response of the man of God,

“The LORD has much more to give you than this.”

King Amaziah had invested money into trying to win this battle against Edom. The man of God reminded the king the battle ultimately is won by God, not by the size of the army. Back in 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan and his armor bearer go up against the Philistine army.

“for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.” (v 6)

God did and does have power to help and to bring down. I often forget, but when it comes to the challenges I face,

“the LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

I didn’t know what a hundred talents of silver amounted to until I looked in the margins of my Bible. $38,400,000. That’s A BIG chunk of change. And yet God had MUCH more to give to King Amaziah than this. I’m challenged in my own life. Do I really believe God’s power and resources are unlimited? Do I grip onto what I consider to be valuable because I think it is all up to me? Can I trust that God is able to restore, replace and/or provide if I give it ALL to Him? Can I trust God if I give ALL of me to Him?

You and I, and all of the students who signed the pledge have but one life to live. We can live out our days grasping after things that rust and moth destroy or grab hold of Him, the One who has much more to give you than this….

How about you? Will you trust Him with the challenges you currently face? Will you trust Him?

Use Whatcha Got Week 4: 6/5/4 Simplicity

Posted on January 22, 2013 by vivianmabuni

Back from Morristown, New Jersey. We are wiped out. I went to bed early last night with a sore throat and still needed a nap after lunch. Probably could have slept all day. Darrin and Julia are fighting off sinus infections. Many thanks for all who prayed for the conference. It was a powerful weekend.

Darrin and I have spent many summers in various locations on summer mission projects. We’ve found it refreshing to live with only the contents in our suitcase for six weeks at a time. The simplicity of “6/5/4.” We used to tell the kids: six underwear, five t-shirts, four pairs of shorts. Add to that a couple sweatshirts and one pair of long pants, and a dress for Julia, and that would be our clothing for the summer.

Our previous summer mission experiences using public transportation helped me and Jonathan figure out how to get from Newark to Morristown by train. Signs in English were a plus. We did, however, confuse “going east” to mean going inland, so we were initially on the wrong train platform. Wrong coast. West is inland on the east. Lesson learned.

Jonathan, like his incredible Dad, ended up as “personal Sherpa” and carried all our luggage. Yes, I felt proud. And blessed. And thankful.

My UWG13 thoughts this week:

simplicity is refreshing, so I hope to continue simplifying and clearing out our stuff so we can “travel lighter” in life
walking through the airport I didn’t kill time by wandering around the little shops; knowing I was committed to UWG simplified how I spent my time. I find I don’t miss stuff I don’t see

How has the first month of UWG13 been for you??