April 2, 2022                            GOOD GIFTS FROM A GOOD GOD

In the midst of grief and darkness, the Lord sent a spark of encouragement. Actually, a big spark -- I was given the opportunity to go to Tanzania, East Africa as a journalist for my ministry! A very unexpected surprise. I was reminded of the verse my precious husband said to me when I was feeling anxious about a cross-cultural marriage: "God knows how to give good gifts to his children." (Matt. 7:11)

 Here are some pics from that wonderful time last month.

Dodji, my long-time Facebook friend and brother in Christ, I finally met in person.

 We are truly kindred spirits!

Interviewing Maasai Christian pastors alongside our photographer

Elisha and Anna, my new friends who care for orphans

Maasai costume. They love jewelry just like I do!

Note the baby on the back and the interesting costumes

Pastor Johanna came to Christ after he was rescued from a lion

"Only God could have protected me."

New friends! They are becoming leaders in their ministry.

These people literally jump for joy!

 I loved my time getting to know the Maasai believers! 

 REACHING FOR JOY

By Nancy Kelley Alvarez                                                                                                    January 11, 2022

I love flowers. Each is unique and traveled its own journey to beauty. As I grieve the loss of my beloved husband I feel like an uprooted plant. I believe God will turn it all into beauty, just like a seed forms into a masterpiece.

Uprooted,

Ripped from familiar ground,

Shocked,

Dazed,

‘Loss’ my new name.

 

Replanted,

Stubborn, rocky ground,

Seeds buried in the dark,

Watered by His Word,

Roots push deep.

 

Unseen growth,

Sprouts appear,

Leaves reach upward,

Seeking the light,

Stretching to heaven.

 

Time passes,

Buds form,

Tentative birth,

Blossoms unfold,

Colors deepen.

Branches spread,

Abundance blooms,

Delight explodes,

Creator praised,

Joy has come.

 

 

 

What Are You Waiting For?

 12/20/2021 

I’d like to share a devotional with you. I think it will inspire you to praise our wonderful Lord. First, listen to the story “New: A New Heaven and Earth,” (see references below) the last story in The Promise story set at this link https://www.storyrunners.org/stories. Then, enjoy the devotional below.

What are you waiting for? It seems more than half of our lives involve waiting. Waiting for Christmas, the end of school, a lifetime partner, a new baby, a better job, a bigger house, healing, someone to come to Christ and on it goes. What is the next big thing you are waiting for? “Wait” is a dreaded word in our fast-paced culture. Yet, often, that is exactly God’s assignment for us.

 Have you ever thought of the Bible as a sponge? The more it’s squeezed, the more we get out of it. Let’s consider this short story and see how much we can squeeze out of it.

 Just like us during this long pandemic, perhaps John, the apostle, complained to the Lord when he was put in exile –away from his family, friends, church, ministry and society? “Lord, how can I serve You here in this deserted place? How long do I have to wait?” Perhaps, if he wasn’t in a waiting period, he wouldn’t have seen this vision from the Lord. If he’d been busy doing other ministry, we might not have this account about heaven or what to expect in the last days. 

Let’s look at the Christians’ situation in those days. They experienced persecution, yet they stayed true to their faith. Most likely they felt discouraged and fearful. They probably prayed for an end to their misery. It was a time of waiting – an in between earth and heaven time. Sound familiar?

What message did Jesus give them? “Don’t be afraid. I was dead, but look, I’m still alive. And I have

And then John saw heaven. Maybe you can hardly wait for heaven. You long to reunite with loved ones there. (I do!) You’re eager for no more pain, sickness, sadness or death. What else can we look forward to in heaven? We will worship the Lord as He deserves –alongside people from every language, culture and nation. And God will be our light. No evil will be allowed to enter. Life without sin. A new earth and heaven. Try to imagine that.

John also saw what will happen at the end of this age. Satan and his army will be defeated. Everyone will face judgment. We’ll live with God, see His face and joyfully worship Him. And we’ll drink from the river of life and eat fruit from the tree of life. That sounds like the first garden God made for Adam and Eve.

What else did the Lord Jesus say in John’s vision? “I am coming soon.” That reminds us to keep our head in the game. We need to be ready, waiting with hope for His coming.

And while we anticipate His return, let’s strive to bring along as many people from every language, culture and nation as possible. When you share God’s stories to those who don’t know Him –through giving, prayer or going –you gain a multitude of family members to worship alongside in heaven. Now that’s worth the wait!

What other insights from this story can you glean? Perhaps you could grab a friend or family member and listen to the story together and squeeze out as much truth as you can. If you’d like to learn more about using stories as a devotional tool, go to this link: https://www.storyrunners.org/resources/

I hope you found this devotional inspiring. May the Lord guide you in your time of waiting.

* Rev 1:9, 17-19; 20:7-15; 21:1-4, 27; 22:1-2, 5, 12-14, 17

My latest book now available: The Glimmer: When Light Shines, Darkness Flees

 The Glimmer is AVAILABLE on Amazon.com as a downloadable e-book or paperback

https://www.amazon.com/Glimmer-Light-Shines-Darkness-Flees-ebook/dp/B09DJJPBBB

In the continuation of the Evil Beware series, the Holloway family must once again learn to overcome.

Duped. Drugged. Disenchanted with the world of fashion. Wherever Kelsey Holloway goes Romy Amor mysteriously appears and captivates her with his charming accent and stunning good looks. When he brings her to New York Fashion Week, she’s swept into a whirlwind of romance and the promise of a successful fashion design career. Then suddenly the glitz of the fashion world morphs into a web of exploitation. Will Kelsey get out of this mess before she’s auctioned off to the highest bidder?

Isaac’s sister is missing. Following a hunch, he and her friend Cade Sanders drive to New York City. Cade has less than twelve hours to crash Freshmeat.com’s online auction. And if he can’t, Isaac must raise $30,000 for a bid or else Kelsey will fall victim to human traffickers. It will take a miracle. If you’ve ever felt broken and hopeless, this story will inspire you to rise above. When light shines, darkness flees. Find out how. 

Looking Up, Looking Forward

 

LOOKING UP, LOOKING FORWARD!

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

The affliction I am facing now doesn’t feel light or momentary at all. My beloved husband passed into glory on August 2, 2021 from Covid Pneumonia. It was the most heartrending experience. The horror and shock still hover on the edge of my consciousness. Yet will I continue to believe the Word of God in whom I’ve staked my life on? Yes, of course. How can I doubt His goodness or faithfulness after 50 years of seeing Him at work in my life? Where else can I turn but to the One who created me and my husband? Who numbered our days?

Do I dare trust Him to make these next weeks, months, years fruitful and fulfilling? Yes, I will.

My feelings rage but the truth is stable and secure.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed.” Romans 8:18

When I lift up my eyes to an eternal perspective, I can have hope, I can press on. I can leave behind the mire and muck of confusion surrounding our days’ events, opinions, conspiracies and ever increasing evil.

When I go for walks I sometimes find myself looking down. When I look down I see the cracks, the dirt, garbage, and nothing very inspiring. When I look up, I see flowers, trees, birds, butterflies, the sun – thoughts of the Lord come easily to mind.

In our current situation, it’s easy to focus on bad news. We hear almost daily of someone’s serious health concern, loss of a loved one, or new threats and concerns.

The Lord gives us the solution: “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.” Psalm 121:1,2

Another verse says, “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:2-4

And this brings me to my biggest hope: Christ will not leave us alone in this dark world. He is bringing about his plan to accomplish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven! He will bring us to the mansion he has been preparing for us for the last 2000 years. He will reign on the earth and He will receive the glory He deserves and we will reign with Him forever.

“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus! “So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:28

Are you eagerly awaiting His return? Are you keeping your focus on the things above? Are you shining His light to others? (Matthew 5:16)

 

A Prayer Journey

 

 Have you ever gone on a prayer journey? I'm longing to travel like we did just a couple years ago. The Lord gave us many opportunities to go to places like Thailand, China, Laos, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Brunei. These places enriched my life, especially when meeting the people of that place. When we travel, we usually visit people we know and this makes it more authentic and personal. Here are some pictures of Bhutan. I've only been there virtually. Watch this Youtube video and pray for the people of Bhutan. There are points in the video that will surely help you pray for this gorgeous country and friendly people. We may be stuck in lockdown or limited in our traveling...but we can still pray for anyone around the world! Let's stretch our wings and fly!

 

 https://youtu.be/Au3QBbuyc2M?list=PLYH00XPDkOmBavRYeBMWD2GVmmt6TFN6O

 

 

Try it and tell me what you think! 

 

Marinate: Soaking Up the Spices of God’s Word

By Nancy Kelley Alvarez April 2021

 

Fear is all around us. Fear of disease. Fear of change. Fear of the future. Fear of an economic crash. You name it. Which fear is haunting you these days? Ready to grip you in its claws?

A week or so after I learned I might have cancer I found myself stressed. In my mind, I knew I’d be alright. I’m utterly convinced that God is not only with me, but he would get me through whatever may come. But somehow my body didn’t receive the memo. I’d wake at night going over the possible scenarios, none of them pleasant.

Isaiah 41:10 came alive in a new way. I started marinating in each phrase and soaking up all the meanings hidden within them. “Do not fear for I am with you. Be not anxious for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. Surely I will hold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Meat tastes better if it is marinated and soaked in various sauces and spices. God’s Word is the same way! Let’s try it out.

“Do not fear”—what is the opposite of fear? I’d say it’s peace, relaxation, calm and confident trust. What would it look like not to be fearful in whatever current situation you face? While it doesn’t mean you’re skipping about with joyful abandon, it might include a peacefulness that shows, ability to handle daily activities, and enjoying the good in life that surrounds you.

“I am with you”—this is the reason why we don’t need to fear. What does that look like? He knows, he understands, he cares, he aches for us, he is by our side coaching, protecting, and guiding.

“Be not anxious” – that is my choice. Another verse says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.” (Colossians 3:15). Think about what it looks like to not be anxious.

“I am your God” – if God weren’t powerful that phrase would hold little meaning for us. Or if he wasn’t loving or merciful. Or if he wasn’t in control. Imagine God without one of his eternal attributes and your hope would disappear like bubbles sucked down a drain. Thank Him for all that He is.

Now you try it. What does it look like when you marinate in the remaining phrases?

“I will strengthen you” --

“Surely, I will help you” --

“I will hold you” --

“With my righteous right hand” --

Offer up to God a fear that grips you. Think about how God is going to give you glorious victory and make you more like Him through the circumstance. Marinate in this verse and soak all the juice up. Believe me, it’s delicious! Share with someone else what blessed you most in this exercise.