A Diamond in the Dark

Hello SUMites, Ann here.

So, something momentous happened this week on the SUM front, which I'm about to tell you. But unfortunately, it came out of a time of great difficulty. So, this post will be a mixed bag. I am going to share something hard, and something beautiful.

This will be a transparent post, in fact.

This past week my relationship with someone in my extended family fractured. It blew up, and it is quite possibly the end of the relationship. It is affecting the wider family, as things have come out that have been painful for everyone to process. 

As a result, I have been under enormous emotional stress. So, I'm going to take the rest of September off from writing to reset. I would greatly appreciate your prayers.

But, as I said, something else happened. And this is a shift for Bryce and me:

The second night after this happened, Bryce - in great distress -- prayed to God. He was unable to sleep, tossing and turning, and finally lay on his back staring up at the ceiling in the darkness. He said, specifically, "God, please help me to help her."

After praying that prayer, he then received a 'very strong feeling' -- right there in the dark -- that gave him a clear and specific strategy as to what I was to do next. 

In the morning, he told me about this prayer and the fact he felt he had received an answer. I bawled in his arms.

So there we have it, a momentous moment: My husband prayed, sought God, and not only that, he heard God's voice and knew he had heard it. If I wasn't in such a state, I'd be jumping up and down and eating cake in celebration!! I must remember to do this, in time.

Have you ever had a diamond come out of the darkness?

Much love, 

Ann

Keep Praying!

Photo courtesy of Arina Krasnikova and Pexels.com

Following on from Lynn’s post, I too felt led to write a similar post after reading something earlier in the week.

As a result of both Lynn and I being led to write similar posts, I’m sensing there’s some of us are feeling discouraged. We’re believing these posts will help shoo away ALL discouragement and fill each of us with renewed vigour to pray for our spouses, family members and other loved ones who may not yet know the Lord.

I’m not going to say much more but simply share this short testimony of one man’s intercession for friends of his. The man, George Mueller is known for building an orphanage in the 1800s on the back of daily prayer requests that resulted in sufficient moneys, food and other items being delivered to his home daily. It’s a wonderful story of one man’s faith and God’s faithfulness.

“More than a century ago George Mueller, that prince of intercessors, began to pray for five personal friends. After five years one of them came to Christ. In ten years two more were born again. Mueller prayed on for 25 years and the fourth man was saved. For the fifth, Mueller prayed until the time of his death, and this friend came also to Christ a few months afterward. For the latter friend, Mueller had prayed for almost 52 years.” – James McConkey¹

I was greatly encouraged after reading this and felt a shot of renewed hope and belief for my beautiful partner and other family members. I hope you might too.

Keep praying. Keep believing.

Go well, dear SUMites.

Note: 1. Nick Harrison, Magnificent Prayer, 366 Devotions to Deepen your Prayer Experience (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2001), 328-329

Our Faith Impacts Our Spouse

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

SUM Nation,

Lynn Donovan here. I have a quick story to share and some experiential wisdom to encourage all who are traveling the road of the Unequally Yoked behind me.

Mike and I have been married for nearly four decades. Yikes. Where does the time go?

I want to assure you that your prayers, your faith and persistence impacts your spouse and kids. And more importantly the faithful love of our God makes a difference in our lives and the salvation of our family.

Last week as I was sitting in the hospital room with Mike, the Hospital Spiritual Support person arrived in the room. I sat at the back of the room and listened to an interesting exchange.

Daniel, the spiritual support person came in an announced to Mike who he was and that he was there to offer prayer if Mike wanted prayer.

I watched and thought, I'm going to stay quiet and see what happens here.

Mike responded by replying what his condition was and then Mike said, "Yes, I would like prayer."

My goodness I was surprised. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, But Mike didn't hesitate. Daniel closed his eyes. So did Mike and Daniel prayed a general supporting prayer over Mike.

After all these years of persistent faith, Mike truly believes. His faith is so much different than mine. But my faith has rubbed off on him. And it's such a beautiful to witness.

What if I'd given up two decades ago? What if I became discouraged and stopped asking God to save him? 

SUMITES, don't give up. Don't stop your intercession asking for forgiveness and mercy for those in deception. Ask because our kind Father listens. His heart is moved by our petitions. 

And remember your spouse and kids are also His children. Keep praying. Stand in the battle as the fire rages hot and know that Jesus is right there with you.

I adore you. Blessings and hugs, Lynn

Donovan Clan Update

Hi My Precious Family, SUM, Church without Walls,

Lynn, here. Since Ann is on a break, (bless her with healing and health Jesus), I will update you on our interesting journey.

Today, Mike is 14 days out from his transplant. His blood counts are very low, and he is tired.... a lot. But he remains positive and hasn't endured all the terrible possibilities that were outlined for us before we arrived. It's truly miraculous. The doctors are pleasantly surprised at his progress and lack of complications.

This is because YOU prayed. There are people as far away as the Philippines who are praying for some guy in a hospital in California. I'm blown away at the many prayers that have arrived and the encouragement that has come from my church here at SUM. I'm deeply thankful for even a few words you have whispered for me and Mike.

THANK YOU.

I'll admit, it has been rough for me personally, these past few weeks. I have really struggled but a few days ago, the Lord lifted me up and I'm doing better coping with all that must be managed and handled, and now remotely. It seems life, which is already challenging, becomes even harder (managing life remotely now). Last week my daily Bible started on the first chapter of Job. I've never really related to that story until this week.

However, the Lord has given me some promises. I prayed on the day Mike was admitted to the hospital back in April

He revealed the end from the beginning and I KNOW, that I know, in my knower..... IT WILL HAPPEN. So, I wait for October 6th. And this promise came with a sign that God said would happen on June 6th. AND indeed, it did happen. So, I'll wait and when I see how and what God is going to do, I'll share it with you.

I expect Mike to be released from the hospital next week. And then we hang out here in Palo Alto for two months. There is so much to be resolved, but I cling to the hem of His robe.

I also am so aware that a great number of you are walking through very difficult stuff. My heart aches for you. I have prayed for many of you. I feel the compassion of our good Father as He watches us tough it out. I'm convinced we are on the precipice of a great move in our world. God has those who love him and are sold out for His Kingdom, in His strong and loving hands.

So, for now we pray for one another. I would love to pray for you. I actually need new prayer focus. So, please leave me your prayer requests in the comments. 

I adore you, my SUM family. STAND UP STRAIGHT. We have the TRUTH. Don't waver in what is real and powerful. 

BELEIVE! PERSEVER! PRAY! Then we shall see the miracles. I know I'm in for a ton in a few months. So are you.

Blessings and Hugs, Lynn

A Few Days' Break

Ann here!

Oh dear, I said I'd write today but I've ended up coming down sick, ugh. So we'll have a few days of quiet on the blog until I'm better. Back soon!

Love, 

Ann

Our Life Storyline

My friends, Ann here.

Ok, so I've got this funny quirk. I do believe it's a quirk God gave me, but sometimes I think God gives us some crazy quirks. Do you have one, I wonder?

Anyway... Mine's this:

I take especially careful note of the things that happen in my days, and I record my life.

I've got this living document on which I have tracked all the key spiritual things that have happened to me since my birth in 1975! Yep, it is a little long. And by 'living document', I mean I am continually updating it.

On the document, I have written a summary of the things God said to me on certain dates, things I asked God, world events, and other notable events in my life. If I have a dream or vision, I record it. I have tried to keep it as precise as possible, so that it reads as a nice summary. And every morning, I read through a part of that document (i.e., a part of my life) and ask God about certain things that happened.

COVID was on there too, and what an interesting time that was to look back on. Yep, the years 2019 - 2022 make for interesting reading.

What were you doing there, Lord?

Why did I meet that person?

Wow, that was you, Lord! I asked you a question, and I can see now that you answered it for me over the subsequent days.

Hindsight is a helpful thing. Sometimes, in the past, I can see that I did hear God's voice, but I was too quick to interpret it. The correct interpretation was far different to what I thought. Indeed, often we just don't know what God is saying until we can look back in hindsight, or until he has revealed more. Sometimes it will take years or decades to understand what God was doing.

Other times I have noticed I was right about something. Those situations give me a quiet confidence in the Holy Spirit.

Another thing I can clearly see is that God has opened seasons for me and closed them. Once, for example, I moved into volunteering my work hours to a small church I was attending; but a year later I strongly felt God wanted me to move out of it. As I look at that situation, I can see that God did move me in and out. It was just a crazily short season that had its purpose. 

My friends, our life storyline with God becomes our war chest. It gives us confidence in him and makes us understand our identity in his eyes. All of this, in fact, makes me feel that I can't wait to be an old lady sitting in a rocking chair with decades of storyline behind me. My life story is my belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). It will feed me and sustain me when I'm old .... 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

(Psalm 139:16-18, NIV)

Anyway, this post was way different to what I meant to write, LOL. But this topic leads nicely into the next one I'm going to write, so I will be back again on Wednesday with more.

My friends, do you have moments of hindsight you look back on, where you understand what God was doing?

Loads of love

Ann

Raising Godly Kids: The Bible and Archeological Treasures

My friends

You never know just HOW God will speak to one of your kids!

Something cool just happened in my world:

My son, Travis, who is now a young adult, hasn't been to church with me for quite a few years. He went for a while when he was younger, but there came a point where it was his choice. He was about 14 at the time.

(Parents of teens get to that point sometimes).

He has always been an intellectually curious boy - In particular, he likes science and engineering, and he thoroughly enjoys watching factual videos on YouTube that have given him a great general knowledge.

He's often talked to me about things like space rockets, volcanoes, science experiments, and such like. I grin at him and love the fact he's got that strength. That's my son.

Anyway: Here's what happened this week.

I found out -- to my surprise -- that he has been watching a YouTube channel called Expedition Bible ! On this channel, an archeologist describes how different aspects of the Bible are supported by archeological findings. These videos are well researched, presented in a thoughtful and captivating way, and there are videos on all sorts of things, including:

• Sodom and Gomorrah
• Jesus' tomb
• Nineveh
• Pharoahs in Biblical times
• Moab
• King David
• The Canaanites

... And more!

This week I started to watch the channel myself, and -- WOW -- I'm afraid I have sunk into a binge-watching state, and today will not be going out anywhere. No, instead I will be drinking tea all day and watching this channel. Yes, my friends, today's post is even a little late because I have been busy watching Expedition Bible this morning instead of getting my post up quickly LOL.

In all seriousness, though:

What I most love about this is that I did nothing to make my son go near this topic. Well, not much: It would have helped that over the years he's seen how much I love God and reading the Bible. In that way, he was not brought up rejecting the Bible, so he would have an open heart to start with. But with this channel, he went there off his own bat. And I believe God led him there: God knows how my boy's brain works -- well, God made him so -- and God found him a channel that was the perfect way to reach him and crack open the Word for him.

It's so cool!

SUMites, I believe that God will find similar ways to speak to all of our children. We just might have to be patient.

As a final note, this morning, I sent Travis a WhatsApp saying "Expedition Bible!! Where have I been all my life?! I love it!!!"

He wrote back saying "Good to hear. I've watched pretty much all of them by now."

So I thank God.

My friends, why don't we share in the comments any stories we have of times where God has touched our family members in unexpected ways?

Loads of love to you today

Ann

How to Handle a Demonized Family Member, Part 3

Dear SUMites, following on from last week's posts, here's part three of our series on handling a demonized family member. For those who missed it here are part one and part two.

 

Meet Evie. A Life Redeemed and Restored

Hello my Sumite Sisters,

 

My name is Evie, and I have been following this ministry since 2015. I became a Christian after I married. My faith was not received well by my husband, my family or his family, and 26 years later, it still isn’t.  There has been a lot of ups and downs, confusion, and lack of trust. 

 

I grew up in a very dysfunctional family. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse took place, and I have real trust issues. I was searching for the love and affection my soul desperately desired, but I was searching for it in all the wrong places. I believed I was too broken, too dirty for God to possibly love me.

 

In 2001, I accepted Christ as my Savior.  My healing has been a long process, and it is one that is ongoing.  I didn’t receive His love right away. I believed it for others, but it was hard for me to accept for myself. I desired God's love, but it was a battle. I listened to the enemies lies and still felt the effects of the trauma I endured as a child, but also the dysfunction of my family in the present.  

 

Through a lot of prayer and counsel with Lynn, I found strength through God to forgive, not because they deserved it, but because it was what Jesus did for me. It is a daily process, but since I have chosen to bring my pain and emotions to the throne of grace and ask God to help me forgive, I am overcoming the trauma, the anger, rejection, and resentment that had a hold over me.

 

I have a lot of heart work to do and am only beginning to grasp the depth of Christ and His love and grace for me.  And I am asking God, my true Father, to show me how He sees me, and how He loves me, and He has.  I am able to receive the blessings the Holy Spirit bestows on me daily, throughout the day, and that has changed my heart in a powerful way.  

 

I’m starting to receive the identity Christ has given me, and to stop listening to the lies of the enemy, by whatever means he uses to snare me.  Whether it be my flesh, his lies, or the worlds lies. I am rebuking them in the name of Jesus. And asking God to show me His truth, and I’m learning to be still and to listen for His voice.

 

It is a daily battle, but I know He has me, and He is guiding me one step at a time. The hard shell around my heart is breaking, and I am not hiding in shame, self-hatred, or the other lies anymore. I have asked God to help me to be the Evie, He designed me to be, to show me how, and He is doing that. I don’t have to explain myself or hide because of my shame anymore. I can be proud of who I am, because I am a child of God, and He knows everything about me, and He loves me. He will not leave me or forsake me, and that is truth.

 

That is not just truth for me, that is truth for each of us, that is willing to believe His truths and promises.  

 

God has been very fun and kind to me, as He reveals who I am. Helping me to use the voice I have been so afraid to use for pretty much my entire life. Showing me, I have a witty sense of humor and really love color.  That I am compassionate and love to serve others. In a few months I will be 60 years old, and I have finally realized I have a lot of love to offer, because He is in me, and He is love and God knows just the people He wants me to bless, to bring His light too, and I am grateful to Him that He is patient, kind and true to His word. He really loves me and you.

 

Blessings, Your SUMite Sister in Christ, Evie

 

Eve Moran, I have been married for 26 years. Both of our second marriage. Together we have five children, two each from our previous marriages and one daughter together. We have three grandchildren. I love the Lord, and I love being a wife, mom and grandmother! I volunteer with the children’s ministry and my church and love to watch the young children learn about Jesus. I enjoy cooking, the outdoors, painting and reading the Word. 

How to Handle a Demonized Family Member, Part Two

Hello my friends

We're continuing with the topic of how to handle a demonized family member. For part one click here.

I promised that I was going to upload a video on this topic, but I've decided to first share with you the eight key points that are in my video, and let you mull them over before we continue.

Ok, here we go:

Eight keys to handling a demonized family member --

1. Forgive them, repeatedly and deliberately 
2. Identify what spirit is at work, with God's help, and become determined not to bow to that spirit
3. 'Strengthen yourself in the Lord' before you spend time with them
4. Think of clear and practical ways in which you can show them love
5. Don't try to reason with them
6. Instead fight this thing actively in your prayer closet, and use spiritual warfare activities
7. Take authority over the thing coming near you and impacting you. 
8. Understand your sphere of authority vs. the person's free will, and play the long-game

Ok, that's what we'll talk about in the video, and I'll post it next week. Some of the above points may already be very clear to you, but others you may wonder about and would like to hear more on. 

Anyway, more next week! And, in the meantime, we have a guest post from one of our SUMites on Friday which I'm greatly looking forward to. See you on Friday, and much love to you all,

Ann