2011 Newsletter

Isaiah 6 Ministries Newsletter
A Mooring for the Moorings
A hardbound dictionary will never go out of date for me. I love pulling the one off my desk to either look up an unfamiliar word or to see how Mr. Webster defined a familiar term. This year I looked up our last name- mooring. It comes from the root word moor. Some of the definitions for moor are - to secure a boat by mooring: ANCHOR; to be made fast.
2011 was a defining year of the mooring to the Mooring’s. 2010 had been a year of some deep highs and lows. Our hopes for 2011 had been for a smoother sailing kind of journey. God had different plans for us.
In the Spring, Mark’s dad took a turn for the worse. After a month long hospital stay he finally went to be with His Savior. In July my body started producing strange lumps and painful extremities. I saw just about every kind of specialist, had MRI’s and CT scans, and donated most of the blood in my body for research. The culprit was a herniated disc pressing on the spinal cord thus causing extremity problems. Physio- therapy has helped immensely. In August we received a new granddaughter, Joy Canaan Overholser.(She lives up to her name bringing much awaited joy.) October brought Mark a new awakening. No job is permanent. He was downsized after 17 years with AIG.
So what has been the mooring for the Mooring’s? Our God. He is an anchor for our souls, our minds, our bodies. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Oh how I want to be preserved blameless! I want the God of peace to be our peace. Job or jobless I want my peace to remain in Him. In life and death and birth and health I want the Prince of Peace to be our mooring.
I have had some ministry changes. I stepped down from teaching my ladies Sunday school class in March. I am now working in a young singles class. I serve as a mentor to the young women who desire an “older woman” to disciple them. At 55, I guess I am truly an older woman, though I still feel very young at heart! I had many speaking engagements over the Spring months and some in the Fall. My heart’s desire still burns to teach women the Word of God as their anchor, their mooring. 2012 already has some filled up dates with several pending. This excites me as I study and prepare. I am also working on a new study on the heart, mind, and MOUTH connection. As I look up verses I see my need to be careful with my mouth, my lips, my words. My desire is to teach believers how to edify one another and glorify God with what pours out. I am still needing God’s help and grace in this area of my life. Please pray for me as I finish this assignment God gave me awhile back.
Please pray for Mark and I as we decide what to do with our lives and ministries. We are at pivotal places in how we spend the second half of our journeys. Through it all we want to be obedient and honorable as kingdom builders. We pray the same for you with love!

Sole Survivor

About 15 years ago I participated in a "Right to Life" march. This event took place in the latter part of January.The weather that day was below freezing. In fact, the weather prior to the march had hovered around the freezing point all week long. I bundled up to stay nice and toasty, to keep from becoming a popsicle before the day was over. Unfortunately, I put fashion before reason with my shoe choice. Flat leather Keds were quite the rage of the times. So.... that is what I wore. I thought thick socks would keep my feet from getting cold. Wrong! Oh so wrong! The march lasted for hours and miles (or so it seemed.) About half way through the day, the soles of my feet were numb. I picked up my legs and hoped the appendages were still attached. If a lead ball had been dropped on my feet I would not have noticed. Thoughts of frostbite and amputation raced through my mind. Yet when the day was over the soles of my feet had carried me to march for a cause I believed in. Down in my soul there was peace. I stood up ( marched) for what I believed to be right. Before night fell both my soles and my soul were warm.
Listen to what Luke 1:78-79 says. "Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
I pray my soul's desire be for the soles of my feet to be guided in the way of peace.

The Destination

If you own a GPS (global positioning system) you have experienced a love/ hate relationship with an inanimate object. You rely on a device to direct you to a necessary address. In full confidence you proceed in obedience to a voice you have no idea how it is generated. You trust in something which you do not have a relationship with. The relationship with your plastic/metal object is purely conditional. If it steers you correctly you love it and cherish it. If it lands you at the wrong place you get angry. You feel defeated at being lost with no clue as to how to get where you need to be. You may toss it in the back seat or possibly out the window! Perhaps like me your device has told you that you have arrived at your destination. You look out your car window to see an abandoned building or a dead end road. The "voice" keeps repeating, "You have arrived at your destination." You know you are lost.
We humans have the tendency to rely on the wrong voices to steer us where we think we need to be. Perhaps family, friends, or even a spouse can tell us we need to head in various directions that do not take us where we truly need to be. So where do we go when the voices of so many sound right? Where do we turn when an inner voice tells us to go a particular way but the popular vote tells us to go down another path?
Those who listen for directions from heaven won't get lost by this world's distractions. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans for us and they are good. Proverbs 3:5-6 says that when we trust God and acknowledge His ways, He will direct our paths. Isaiah 30:21, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
The voice you and I need to heed is God's. The directions and destination may be unfamiliar but they lead us to the exact spot we need to be. Obey the One who's voice that is never wrong!

Shattered Pieces

Have you ever dropped a glass that seemed to shatter in a million pieces? You sweep endlessly thinking the floor is clear. Then a small piece in a corner reflects the light shining on it. Out comes the broom once more. Absentmindedly you walk barefoot across the floor and a shard of glass penetrates your foot. You wonder how such a small fragment could cause that much pain and even blood.
Note the similarity between a crystal goblet and stream of words. Both can enhance the beauty of time spent around the dining table. An empty goblet may be worth much by book value but at a table the glass is worthless without contents to enjoy. Empty words are like that, a wind without end. In Scripture Job spoke to his friends who had given him both useless and hurtful counsel. He admonished them by saying, "Shall words of wind have an end?" (Job 16:3) Long winded speeches often leave the recipient dry, like an empty goblet. However, a goblet filled with strong drink can pack a powerful punch. So can words. Listen to Job in verse 4 of the same chapter. "I could heap up words against you." Translation - I could knock you out with painful words just as strong drink knocks a person out.
In Job 19:2 he questions his counseling friends, "How long will you torment my soul and break me in pieces with words?"(Painful words that cut like glass. Words that leave a heart broken and bloody.) Job's friends had words that affected him like shattered pieces of glass. Their words hurt.
Our words can easily hurt as well. A bride-to-be carefully selects goblets for her wedding registry. Our words should be chosen as carefully. Words can be useful gifts or leave others empty and dry. Worst of all we can shatter people with words. Proverbs 25:11 states, " A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."

Still Waters

My husband got a new cell phone. I inherited his old one. I have to be one of the least technical people on the planet. So with all the features of my inherited phone I pretty much only know how to answer and talk on this thing. I'm flustered! As I was driving down the road yesterday the phone randomly starts playing this song (no it wasn't a ring tone!). I looked down and listened. The words played out loud,"Break my plans...." over and over these words just played. I was wondering if God was trying to get a message to me. I hadn't picked up the phone or hit any buttons. The song came on by its own. I knew this was no accident. I am generally very busy with plans to stay on the go. For now though, God has led me beside still waters. At first I felt nervous. I don't like the stillness for too long. I tried to enjoy the stillness but felt fidgety. A friend chastened me and said they were meant to be enjoyed, not fretted over. I wanted to get up and start going again after a few weeks of the still waters. Yet there was no hand to lead me, no path to walk on and no compass to direct me. So for now I stay by the still waters. The song reminds me to let my agenda, my plans, all be broken before God. Still waters are peaceful and meant to refresh. I want to learn to drink from them and not begrudge them. In today's quiet place I wait.

Comfortable or Comforted

If I were to ask the richest man in the world if he would like access to my checking account he would laugh hysterically (especially after seeing the amount in there). If I were to offer a meal to an executive chef of a notorious restaurant most likely he'd decline. If I were to offer a chic dress from my wardrobe to the up and coming Princess of England her answer would be a definite "No thank you!"
Why list such preposterous scenarios? To prove that those who have no need of a gift will decline offers of what they have an abundance of. Unless a person is greedy, gluttonous, or generous to give away what has been offered, too much is precisely that ~ too much! Who are the needy? Who are those truly insufficient, inadequate, incapable? Do I fall in the category of comfortable or needy? What about you?
In John 16:7 Jesus stated, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Jesus knew the disciples were quite comfortable having Him around. They marveled at His miracles, enjoyed meals around the fireside with Him, and drew strength from His daily encouragement and exhortation. Yet Jesus said, it would be better if He left their presence. Absence would make the heart grow fonder. "Alone-ness" would create a void that had to be filled. Familiarity often breeds carelessness, a taking for granted the invaluable around us. Jesus knew for the disciples being uncomfortable without Him would prove just how much they needed Him. He also knew for the rest of time those who need Him would yearn for His presence. His presence would be present for all eternity in the person of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples had the privilege of physically walking and talking with the God man. However, the Scripture is clear what would be better, to the advantage, was for Jesus to physically leave the earth and leave in His place, the Holy Spirit.
Has my life, your life been so comfortable that we have no need of the Comforter? Are we doing life in our own strength or in utter dependence of the Holy Spirit. Does my comfort come in the form of food, money, relationships, circumstances? Where does my help, my shelter, my comfort come from? Psalm 121 proclaims, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
May we never become comfortable without the Comforter!

Mouthful

Webster's defines mouthful as "a comment or a statement rich in meaning or substance." I have met people who took a lifetime to utter a mouthful. On the other hand I have been acquainted with those whose every mouthful was a mouthful. There used to be an advertisement for the investment firm E.F Hutton that stated, "When E.F Hutton speaks, people listen." Certain individuals have earned the respect of earnest ears and receptive minds to drink from their rich verbiage. I have to ask myself about the quality of my "mouthfuls." Recently I heard the term "verbarrhea." We all know what diarrhea is. "Verbarrhea" would have to be to much mouthful with no quality substance. I stand guilty as charged with this condition at various times. As a speaker and a writer I have been told to limit my wordiness. I remember one critic as saying my speech and writing were just one long run-on sentence. I have since taken some courses to improve these areas of my life. How often I have rehearsed speeches and letters to be eloquent, not offensive, not demeaning or too commanding. I fear being a cesspool of mindless meandering that pours out and spills onto innocent ears. Numerous times I have opened my mouth when the shut position would have fared me much better!
Exodus 4:10-12 states, "But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Wow! What a thought - the Lord God being with our mouths. In Psalm 139 we are told that before a word is ever on our tongues that He knows it altogether. I have been memorizing this to remind me to honor God and others with my words. The mouth either builds up or tears down the heart of our listeners. A mouthful can encourage another to soar to higher heights or plummet into a bottomless pit.
So today let's listen to our "mouthfuls" and evaluate if they are indeed rich in meaning and substance, worthy of an audience at all.

Broken Heart

I remember my first broken heart. Eighth grade, Bobby G. He dropped me for another girl. I was rejected, heartsick, and could barely eat or sleep. Honestly, I thought I'd never recover! That was the first of many heartbreaks. They all seem silly now. Teenage tears brought on by rejection. Arrows to a passionate heart.
Webster's defines passion as "the suffering of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death." Christ's passion was for us. He loved us so much He was unwilling to leave us stranded in our sin with no hope of recovery. He would rather die for us than to live without us. He experienced true rejection, true heartbreak. He agonized in the Garden with no sleeping or eating, just prayers, tears, and sweats of blood. Our sin broke His heart.
Why does my own sin not always break my heart? Sin is rejecting God in a moment when I choose my desires over His ways. Why am I so sensitive when someone hurts or rejects me, yet callous when I grieve my Lord and Savior? What measure of love does it take before rejection of the One I love breaks my own heart? I pray to have a heart that is more sensitive to God than self; that counts the cost of fleshly desires over heavenly gain; that is willing to suffer long than indulge in a lustful momentary pleasure.
In a moment Jesus could have left us rejected and heartbroken. Instead He bore both for me and for you.