The Art of Flight Beating the Odds Bearing Fruit Unseen Results Slay the Dragon Conquer Your Fears Vol 17, Issue 11

change your life. change your world.

Vol 17 • Issue 11

The Art of Flight Beating the odds Bearing Fruit Unseen results Slay the Dragon Conquer your fears Vol 17, Issue 11

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION For information on Activated and other god’s promises inspirational products, visit our website or contact one of the distributors below. In the book of Genesis, chapter 12, when Abraham www.activated.org was 75, God promised him descendants. And again Activated Ministries in chapter 13. “Some time later,” in chapter 15, God P.O. Box 462805 Escondido, CA 92046–2805, USA promised him a son and descendants as numerous Toll-free: 1–877–862–3228 as the stars. In chapter 16, when Abraham was 86, Email: [email protected] he fathered Ishmael, but God told him he was not www.activatedministries.org the promised son. In chapter 17, Abraham was 99 years old, and God again Activated Africa promised him a son and “countless descendants,” and then once more in P.O. Box 2509, Faerie Glen chapter 18. Finally, in chapter 21, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90, Isaac Pretoria 0043, South Africa Tel: 0861 888 918 was born. Abraham had continued to believe God’s word as the years and even Email: [email protected] decades passed, and he reaped the blessing in God’s time. Activated Nigeria When Pharaoh finally released the Hebrews and Moses led them out of P.O. Box 9009, Aggrey Road P.O. Egypt, God told them to “turn back”1 and camp at the Red Sea. Then He told Port Harcourt, Nigeria Moses He would cause Pharaoh to pursue them, and that’s what happened. Cell: +234 (0) 7036963333 Email: [email protected] The Hebrews would surely have preferred to leave Egypt without any compli- Activated Philippines cations, and Moses would surely have preferred to skip all the panic and anger P.O. Box 8225, Paranaque Central P.O. he endured when the people realized they were trapped. The sea was before 1700 Paranaque City, Philippines them; Pharaoh’s chariots were behind them. But that was God’s plan. He said: Cell: (0922) 8125326 “I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his Email: [email protected] whole army.”2 Editor Samuel Keating Design Gentian Suçi God allowed Abraham’s and Moses’ situations to turn critical, to the point © 2016 Activated. All Rights Reserved. where there was no alternative or hope unless He performed a miracle. But Printed in China. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise he needed them to hold on to their faith even though they didn’t understand indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. what He was doing. Used by permission. Other Bible quotations There’s a popular saying that “the darkest hour is just before dawn.” When are from the following sources: New Living Translation (NLT). Copyright © 1978, 1996 it seems to take forever for God to move or answer—hold on! God does His by Tyndale House Publishers. Used by best work in impossible situations. permission. New International Version (NIV). Copyright © 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. The Holy Bible: Samuel Keating International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL Executive Editor RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission. Holy Bible: Easy-To-Read Version © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center, Inc. Used by permission. King James 1. Exodus 14:2 NLT Version (KJV). Public domain. The Living Bible (TLB). Copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House 2. Exodus 14:4 NLT Publishers. Used by permission.

2 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6–7 NLT

By Gabriela DeLorenzo MY HAND IN GOD’S

In my quest to accomplish again for peace, but I eventually hear own steam hasn’t been working. I some of my goals and turn my His quiet voice coming through my need to trust, to believe that as God dreams into reality, I’m currently in muddled thoughts: How can you put has guided my goal-setting, He will a position where things ahead seem your hand into Mine while your hands help me accomplish them in His quite bleak. There is little I can do are full? time. A bit of patience would also to make progress on my own, and I That’s when I realize that I’m help! can’t really see much farther up the holding on to all of my own plans a The road ahead is still unclear. I path. bit too tightly. I have a time frame in can’t be sure of what the future holds, As I lie restless in bed, pondering which I want things to happen and a but I know that with my empty hand my situation and trying to pray, certain way I want them to pan out, in God’s, He’ll lead the way and I find myself meditating on the and I’ve felt this was the only way I be the light that I need. I visualize picture described by Minnie Louise could be happy. But I’m constantly myself letting go, and as I do so, Haskins in her poem, “The Gate of feeling frustrated, as one thing after peace comes. I fall asleep, secure in the Year”: Put your hand into the another seems to go contrary to my the knowledge that God will work hand of God, and He will be more plans. things out. to you than a light and better than a Having goals and making plans is known way. a good thing, of course, but it should Gabriela DeLorenzo lives I try to visualize myself putting be a work of cooperation with God in Germany, where she is my hand into God’s and allowing rather than merely our own self- studying to be a childcare Him to lead me. I ask Him again and efforts. Trying to forge ahead in my professional. ■

3 IT’S SO, BECAUSE

This is the secret of joy. We shall no longer strive for our own way, but commit ourselves, easily and simply, to God’s way, acquiesce in His will, GOD and in so doing find our peace. —Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) SAYS SO There is never a moment when God is not in control. Relax! He’s got you By Virginia Brandt Berg, adapted covered.—Mandy Hale

As you know, people aren’t which he has found to be dependable what we ask for—but that is exactly always able to fulfill their promises, and true. There is a tie that really what God wants us to do. but God always is. His Word says binds you to the one you can depend Those with trusting faith are daily that He is “able to do exceedingly upon in stormy weather.” Just so, doing things that the skeptics say abundantly above all that we ask anyone who has tried and trusted can’t be done. Those of faith dare or think.”1 God stands behind His the promises in the Bible when there to take the promises from God’s promises, so hold Him to them in was no other help, no other hope, Word just as they are, appropriate your hour of need, and He will not nothing else to lean on, has found them for themselves, and act upon fail you. them to be utterly trustworthy. We them—and they receive in return the Have you ever had a friend upon know through experience that we can most wonderful answers to prayer, whom you could utterly depend, who put limitless trust in every word and solutions, and supply. was absolutely faithful to you even rest our full weight upon them. These great and precious promises when things were going wrong? Such All God asks is simple faith—that are there for you.2 God means them friends are few, but oh, how we value you take Him at His word and personally for you, and He will not them! Someone has said, “There is a accept His promises at face value. fail His Word. strange bond that links a man to that Many modern people think it utterly ridiculous and impossible to take Virginia Brandt Berg 1. Ephesians 3:20 God’s promises seriously and cash (1886–1968) was an American 2. See 2 Peter 1:4. them in at the Bank of Heaven for evangelist and pastor. ■

4 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.—Romans 8:35,37 NIV MORE THAN CONQUERORS By Maria Fontaine, adapted

Have you ever stopped to I think that one of the most not just in the moment but also ask yourself, “Why am I here important things in our life is to in the bigger picture of eternity. I in this life? What does it all mean to draw experience from everything trust Him when He says that He me personally?” This is a common that comes our way. This experience, will not suffer us to be tempted question, especially when we’re going coupled with God’s counsel, will gain above what we are able to bear. through difficult times. us knowledge and understanding and He’s the God of the universe. If Of course, we know that God has wisdom in the Holy Spirit. There’s no anyone knows what’s best for us placed us here to love Him and others.1 shortcut to growth and maturity. and can tailor our life in order to However, when we are faced with our We have the Answer Man, and He enable us to gain the most from own unique set of experiences that is guiding us in the right directions our experiences, He can. He is are part of our personal journey, it as we follow Him, but He would be sure to know what is needed a lot can sometimes be challenging to find robbing us of the full benefits of this better than any of us can with our meaning in all the things that come life if He just short-circuited any dif- limited, finite perspectives. at us. That’s where we run up against ficult experiences and took us out of brick walls every so often. We need an them because they might sometimes Maria Fontaine and her outside perspective from Someone who be painful or traumatic. husband, Peter Amsterdam, can see the full picture when we can’t. I believe He, in His love for us, are directors of the Family knows exactly what experiences we International, a Christian 1. See Matthew 22:36–40. need in order to learn and grow, community of faith. ■

5 BEARING FRUIT By Andrew Mateyak

In my work as a pray with us, but we would never message you gave me to read encour- missionary volunteer, it is see them again. I would sometimes aged me to go on.” important to me that I am “bearing wonder, Am I really bearing fruit? I felt so encouraged. My efforts fruit” and getting things done in I had to take it by faith that God really had borne fruit in someone’s life spreading the gospel. But just like would work in their lives. and even came back around to bless when one plants a pear tree and Fast forward to today. I recently me in return. I was reminded of the it takes four to six years before it went out with my wife and kids to verse where Jesus said, “The seed that produces fruit,1 sometimes I don’t deliver the new Activated magazine fell on good soil represents those who see the fruit of my work right away, to one of our friends in town. truly hear and understand God’s word and that can get discouraging. Our friend is the manager of a and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, Throughout my 20s, I would go restaurant, and he usually invites us or even a hundred times as much as to the city park with my brother to to have a meal while we read and had been planted!”2 distribute Christian leaflets and talk talk. However, when we arrived, we We may not always see the fruits of with people about Jesus. Most of discovered that it was his day off. our works and good deeds right away, those we met were students, though The replacement manager was but the Bible promises that God’s we also met people from all walks a woman in her late twenties. She Word does not return empty.3 If we’re of life. In general, the people we looked at me and said, “You’re obeying Him and doing what He would talk with and give something Andrew, the missionary worker, aren’t told us to do, we can rest assured that to read would listen, smile, and you? it will bear fruit! “When I was in high school, you 1. See http://www.starkbros.com and your brother gave me something Andrew Mateyak is a member of /growing-guide/article/how-many-years. to read in the park and prayed with the Family International in the 2. Matthew 13:23 NLT me to accept Jesus. I was going Philippines. Follow his work on 3. See Isaiah 55:11. through a difficult time, but the his FB profile, Activated CDO. ■

6 By Uday Paul THE ART OF FLIGHT

I am currently reading a book about the and a half years. He got on his knees and prayed fervently Wright Brothers, who are credited with invent- over and over until he saw the answer.1 ing and building the world’s first successful airplane and When Moses was called by God to deliver his people making the first controlled flight. It had always been a from slavery in Egypt, he initially tried to back out of dream of mankind to take to the air and fly like birds, it, arguing with God that he was incapable of such a and while hot air balloons had been in use for some time, monumental task. In the end, though, he obeyed God it was universally assumed that mechanical human flight and stood up to the greatest and mightiest empire of his was impossible. day, winning freedom for his people. Wilbur and Orville Wright, however, paid no atten- Another example of perseverance in the face of extreme tion to the chorus of skeptical voices around them. By odds was the apostle Paul. He persecuted the followers of closely observing the flight of birds, they gained insight Christ until Jesus turned his life around and called him to into the secrets of aerodynamics. They built and tested be His apostle to the non-Jewish world. It took some time their own flying machines, some of which failed, but with for the other believers to recognize God’s anointing on each failure they gained more practical knowledge and him and that he was indeed called to be an apostle, and experience. Wilbur and Orville persevered and eventually he faced persecution from the religious and civil authori- designed and built the Flyer, the first airplane in history, ties for the rest of his life. But he stuck to his task until ushering in the dawn of a new age of aviation that radi- he had evangelized most of the Roman Empire of his day cally changed the world. and changed the face of civilization. I also found people in the Bible who were great All these, and others, were men of faith who had a examples of faith, determination, and perseverance. The vision, and the faith, initiative, and courage to see that Old Testament prophet Elijah prayed for rain when there vision come to pass. And they changed the world. had been a severe drought in the land of Israel for three Uday Paul lives in Bangalore, India, and teaches 1. See 1 Kings 18:42–45. English and Personality Development courses. ■

7 By Peter Amsterdam, adapted

Slay the Dragon!

Throughout our lives, we encounter situations and fears into words, they’re there and opportunities that have potential delay making the decision or avoid they hold us back. So what do we do to open new doors for our future. taking the needed first steps? about that? Sometimes, it’s very clear that God Often, the culprit is fear, and it God’s Word says: “There is no fear is opening a door; other times, we can be paralyzing. In my own life, where love exists. Rather, perfect love simply have a sense in our heart. fear shows up in many ways. I’ve banishes fear, for fear involves punish- There’s often an accompanying recognized there are times when I’m ment, and the person who lives in fear feeling of excitement and positive afraid of failing or of making a mis- has not been perfected in love.”1 anticipation that calls us to advance take or of what something might cost Having faith in God’s goodness into unfamiliar territory. in terms of hard work and sacrifice. and believing that He wants to bless After preparing and evaluating Those are not the only kinds of us puts us on the path to overcoming a plan, we can find ourselves on fears that hold us back. Sometimes fear. But this victory over fear can’t the verge of making a decision and taking the next step involves asking just be in our thoughts; it’s not just taking action. Everything is set, for advice, financial help, or permis- a philosophical or spiritual matter. we’re ready to start. But then what sion. In such instances, the fear of God often expects us to face our fears happens? Why do we sometimes rejection comes to the fore. Even if and take action and move in the right we don’t take the time to analyze and 1. 1 John 4:18 ISV identify our emotions and put these

8 This same scenario of procrastination that leads to inactivity can instructor said, “If you want to get show up in any number of situations good at skiing, you’ve got to get direction. We have to come to grips or circumstances. Other examples comfortable being uncomfortable.” with our fears and overcome them might include asking for a raise An important aspect of getting so that we can be free to pursue our at work, seeking a scholarship for out of your comfort zone has to do lives and have the full experience that college, asking someone out on a with starting before you feel ready. God intends for us. date, wanting to take a relationship If you wait until you feel like you’re Let’s say you’ve written a book to the next level, looking for more “ready”… well, we know what that and are looking for a publisher. In responsibility in your job, etc. leads to—procrastination, distrac- the meantime, you’ve decided to If we have a dream, waiting will tion, perfectionism, and sadly, often personally market your book by going not help us achieve it. Telling our- total inaction. Realistically, you may to local bookstores and libraries. So selves that tomorrow is better for X never feel like you’re ready. But if you take your printed copies, and reason is usually just an excuse. We’re you can muster up the courage to off you go to pitch your idea to store afraid, and instead of admitting it and just start, even if you don’t feel ready, managers and those who have the taking the chance of a step toward you’ll be miles ahead. authority to help you. But it’s not as that dream, we talk ourselves out of it The sooner we take the plunge easy as you thought it would be to and then justify our lack of action. and endure those terribly uncomfort- ask them to promote your book. In We have to take the first step. able first steps, the sooner we’ll get fact, it’s so hard you don’t get a single Often, the longer we wait, the more past that scary stage and start to have order, and you toy with the idea nervous we get. We get used to a lot more success. It’s a predictable of quitting. You procrastinate. You go things the way they are, and change cycle: decide what you want to do, to the bookstores, but then walk out becomes harder and scarier and more be confident of God’s blessing in again, telling yourself, It’s not the right uncomfortable. the matter, make a plan, commit to time; they’re too busy today. Eventually Growth and development require it, begin, do it again and again, and you pull the books out of the trunk some discomfort. As my skiing with time you’ll get better and better! of your car, thinking that maybe after When you are faced with doing the school year (or holiday or summer something that’s difficult for you, ask or whatever) will be better timing.

9 attitude, the “firsts” that we’re afraid of can become gateways to amazing yourself: What’s the worst that could progress. happen? When you answer that ques- Here’s a story that we might all tion and then determine that you’d relate to, as told by Rory Vaden: be able to handle that worst-case I once heard a true story of a woman I’d say taking that first daunting scenario, it will relieve the tension who was trapped in a burning building step is the hardest part. The next and help you to face your fears. on the 80th floor. She was terrified of biggest test comes in persisting. When Also, if you’re embarking on a heights and enclosed spaces, and when you’re not good at something, you new project or challenge that makes the fire alarm went off, she refused to encounter a lot of seeming “failure.” you feel uneasy and scared, it helps follow her colleagues into the stairwell to But if you keep doing it over and if you give yourself permission to be evacuate to safety. over, and learning from the reactions awkward and to stumble and to not The firemen did a sweep of the build- you get, pretty soon you’ll be good be perfect. Realize and accept that ing and found her hiding under her and then great. you’re not going to be good in the desk, waiting to die. She was screaming A new challenge can be very beginning. In fact, you might fail at “I’m scared, I’m scared!” as the firemen awkward, even scary at first. But if we first, and that’s okay. insisted she walk down the stairwell deliberately put ourselves out there There’s nothing wrong with being until one fireman said, “That’s OK, just and do the very thing that we’re afraid awkward while you’re getting the hang do it scared.” He repeated it all the way of, it becomes easier and we get better of something new, so go ahead with down the 80 flights of stairs, until he at it. Eventually we will no longer be whatever the challenge is and just say brought her to safety. afraid. That is conquering our fears! to yourself, It’s perfectly fine that I’m We’ve all faced these moments in our not very good at this yet. I’ll get better. careers—when you know what has to Peter Amsterdam and his I’m going through the steps to greatness. be done, but your fear holds you back. wife, Maria Fontaine, are When you lower your expectations In order to stand out, you must develop directors of the Family for immediate success, it makes it the habit of acting in the face of fear. It’s International, a Christian easier to actually take the first step fine to be scared—do it scared. It’s fine community of faith. ■ toward a new challenge. With this to be unsure—do it unsure. It’s fine to be uncomfortable—do it uncomfortable. Just do something.2 2. “To Reach the Top, Do What Others Won’t,” CNN, March 12, 2012

10 FacingPoints to Ponder fears

Be strong and courageous. Do Don’t wait. The time will never Waiting to develop cour- not be afraid or terrified … for be just right.—Napoleon Hill age is just another form of the Lord your God goes with you; he (1883–1970) procrastination. The most successful will never leave you nor for- 2 people take action while they’re sake you.—Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV You miss 100% of the shots you don't afraid!—Unknown 2 take.—Wayne Gretzky (b. 1961) 2 If you wait for perfect weather, you 2 The greatest failure is the failure to will never plant your seeds. If you You gain strength, courage and try. When I die I want four words are afraid that every cloud will bring confidence by every experience in written on my tombstone: “At least rain, you will never harvest your which you really stop and look fear he tried.” For the glory of God. crops.—Ecclesiastes 11:4 ERV in the face. … You must do the thing You’ve got to take risks. That’s what 2 you think you cannot do.—Eleanor brings abundance. That’s what brings Facing your fears robs them of their Roosevelt (1884–1962) success in life. Don’t be afraid to go power.—Mark Burnett (b. 1960) 2 out on a limb, that’s where the fruit 2 Do the thing you fear and keep on is.—Rick Warren (b. 1954) Inaction breeds doubt and fear. doing it … that is the quickest and 2 Action breeds confidence and cour- surest way ever yet discovered to [The things we need to do to reach age. If you want to conquer fear, do conquer fear.—Dale Carnegie our goals] may all be things that are not sit home and think about it. Go 2 uncomfortable at first. So what! Do out and get busy.—Dale Carnegie Each of us must confront our own it anyway! One of the ways to get (1888–1955) fears, must come face to face with through the discomfort is simply 2 them. How we handle our fears will to do the thing you are uncomfort- Winners are those people who make determine where we go with the rest able doing.—Jack Canfield and a habit of doing the things that of our lives. To experience adventure Mark Victor Hansen, The Aladdin [others] are uncomfortable doing. or to be limited by the fear of it.— Factor (New York: Berkley Trade, —Ed Foreman (b. 1933) Judy Blume (b. 1938) 1995) ■

11 FOCUS ON THE GOAL By Steve Hearts

It’s one thing to dream of motivation and desire at the start; of reaching a goal or that is, until I heard about other accomplishing something. blind children my age who had This is an important first step. For tackled this challenge and were now some, it may be the pursuit of a able to read their favorite books and new endeavor. For others, it could stories on their own. From that point be acquiring a new skill. For yet on, I diligently applied myself to others, it might be making changes learning Braille, which took a little in habit or lifestyle. Whatever over three months. But because I was fingers hurt the case, effort, perseverance, and so intently focused on the objective, from pressing often sacrifice are required in order these three months seemed like the strings, but it for our dreams to become reality. mere weeks. Once I could read seemed impossible Once we realize this, it’s up to Braille, learning to write it to remember so many us as individuals to decide how went even quicker. different finger positions for determined we are to reach our goal, When I was all the chords. whatever it may be, and how much about six, I’d It was not until I was 12 that I made we’re willing to give of ourselves in hear my a conscious decision to learn to play order to see our dreams fulfilled. two older the guitar, regardless of the initial This is where the importance of brothers difficulty. I paid close attention motivation comes in. play the guitar to what I was being taught, My mother was very and I would dream and practiced what I learned. consistent when it came of being able to do so Sure, there were moments to teaching me to read myself someday. But when of frustration, and I occasion- Braille, despite my lack one of them actually handed ally tired of the effort. But I kept me a guitar and tried to give me thinking about the goal I was striving 1. KJV my first lesson, I got frustrated and toward. This spurred me on and kept 2. www.just1thing.com said, “Forget it!” Not only did my me inspired, and in a little over a

12 Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. —Galatians 6:9 TLB

year, I was playing music with my gain weight. My family doctor told us run with patience the race that brothers. Today I’m still learning new me that although I wasn’t obese, I ran is set before us, looking unto Jesus things about guitar-playing, and the risk of soon becoming so if I didn’t the author and finisher of our faith; looking back, I’m so glad start eating less and exercising more. who for the joy that was set before I set this goal when Following the doctor’s instruction him endured the cross, despising the I was 12, and was a hard pill to swallow in the shame, and is set down at the right that I beginning. But when I started think- hand of the throne of God.”1 worked ing ahead to the future, I realized that Jesus kept His eyes on the goal of toward it. I knew, at least secondhand, some of fulfilling His mission on earth, and “That’s the health risks of obesity, and I didn’t was undeterred by all the mistreatment all right,” want to experience them for myself. He suffered, including death itself, and you may say, I also realized that if I took the steps because of this, we have salvation and “but there are some the doctor was suggesting now, I eternal life in Him today. goals that are more could avoid having to make drastic What then is the secret to suc- enjoyable to strive toward diet changes later on. cessfully reaching the goals we set? than others.” That’s definitely I set to work on eating less and exer- As I see it, it’s looking beyond the true. For me, learning to play cising more. Within about a month, tedium, work, and sacrifice involved, musical instruments was far more not only was I able to bring my weight and looking ahead with our focus on enjoyable than trying to lose weight. down to a healthier level, I found my reaching that finish line. When I was 20, my mother emotional state to be much improved passed away from cancer. As a way as well. Today I love exercise and no Steve Hearts has been blind since of dealing with my pain, I longer have to watch my weight. birth. He is a writer, musician, and took refuge in excessive Looking ahead to the goal and member of the Family International eating, and did little to imagining having reached it is an in North America. This article no exercise. I felt justified in excellent way to stay motivated. In was adapted from a podcast on this, considering the emotional stress Hebrews 12:1–2, Paul encourages Just1Thing,2 a Christian character- I was under, but I began to steadily us to take a lesson from Jesus: “Let building website for young people. ■

13 Help

Comes God’s help is available to all. Even better, He wants to from the help you! Just ask Him: Jesus, I trust You and I want to have You by my side always. Please come into my heart and help me face life’s Lord storms. I know that with Your help I can navigate whatever comes By Rosane Pereira my way. Amen.

A missionary’s husband to Brazil, and electronic goods from When her mother died, she was passed away at the age of Paraguay to Brazil. able to secure a grant for the school- 37, leaving her with seven children Once, when finances were tight, ing of her children, even though aged seven months to 14 years old. she was taking a fax machine from the paperwork took three years to Her husband was in the process of Paraguay to Brazil for a friend when complete. Then she moved back to emigrating from Argentina to Brazil, she saw an elderly woman, a couple, Rio to be close to her sisters. so she received no widow pension and a crying baby walking in the Now all her children have from either country. She lived in Foz hot sun. She gave them a lift, and it become upstanding adults, some do Iguaçu, a city in the border zone turned out that the man was from with children of their own. During between Argentina, Paraguay, and the same neighborhood in Rio as she those difficult years she clung to the Brazil. Her sisters offered to help was, and needed a fax like the one promise of Psalm 121:1–2: “I will raise some of her children, but she she had. He offered to buy it from lift up my eyes to the hills—from decided to keep the family together. her, and the small profit was the whence comes my help? My help With the help of a friend she exact amount she needed to pay her comes from the Lord, who made kept her husband’s small silk-screen back bills. heaven and earth.” business alive, and like many of Throughout those difficult years, How do I know all that? I was the people living there, set up a she clung to God’s promise: “I will that woman! small-scale import-export business— teach all your children, and they T-shirts from Brazil to Argentina, will enjoy great peace.”1 She read Rosane Pereira is an English potatoes and garlic from Argentina the Bible with her children every teacher and writer in Rio de morning and prayed for every need Janeiro, Brazil, and a member 1. Isaiah 54:13 NLT they had. of the Family International. ■

14 KEEPING THE SPARK By Anna Perlini

When I was a child I reason, I’m glad every time I have a I simply answered that, no, I didn’t remember bursting into tears when chance to stretch and in some way have any of that sort of regrets. I knew thinking of my parents growing old. start anew and remain young inside. that I’d found and followed God’s I loved them so much, and just the I’m a hopeless idealist, that’s all. calling in my life, and that is the highest thought that one day they could lose A few years ago, I attended a form of reward. Everyone breathed a some hair and get a few wrinkles school reunion and saw many of my sigh of relief and almost unanimously was so hard! Thinking about it now, friends that I hadn’t seen in over 30 exclaimed: “We are so glad to hear that something in me was dreading the years. When I was young I was a very and to know that you are still fighting aging process. I felt strongly that good student and a leader in political for the ideals you gave up so much for! everything beautiful should never and social causes. Then I decided to You continue being a role model for us.” end or lose its spark. dedicate my life to missionary and I realized then that I wasn’t the As time went on, that particular humanitarian causes and spent the only one who hates quitting. It’s not a fear slowly disappeared. I can’t next 38 years doing that, often in matter of always appearing strong and honestly say I’m excited about very difficult circumstances, never never making mistakes. That is impos- growing physically old, but besides accumulating much for myself in sible anyway, and there are many falls feeling stronger now than when I was terms of material goods. In contrast, along the way, and even times when in my twenties, due to being more quite a few of my friends are now one is forced to take a break. What physically active and keeping a better accomplished professionals—doc- I’m talking about is not quitting diet, I’m starting to realize that what tors, lawyers, and businessmen. for good, but instead continuing to I actually dread the most is becoming At one point, someone dared to believe, give, move, and change. old inside: losing my enthusiasm, ask me the hot question: “But ... do my ideals, and the desire to continue you have any regrets? You were such Anna Perlini is a cofounder to learn and move forward. For this a brilliant student. We all admired of Per un Mondo Migliore,1 a you and thought you would become humanitarian organization 1. http://www.perunmondomigliore.org a great doctor or writer.” active in the Balkans since 1995. ■

15 From Jesus with Love Hold on

Do not give up! Do not let go! Hold on to Me, because I love you. Hold on to My Word, which gives courage, strength, faith, hope, life, and power, even where there is none. I have so much more to give you, to show you, and to work through your life. There’s so much ahead for you!

Don’t let go of all that I have in store for you just because you can’t yet see it. This is not the end; it’s just a bend in the road. I know the way looks dark, bleak and dreary, but around the corner there will be sunlight, happiness, and fulfillment.

Put your hand in Mine, like a child who utterly trusts her loving father and is willing to go into the fierce and raging storm, though to her it looks so great and fearful, clinging desperately to his hand. As she puts her hand in his and steps into the dark and stormy night, little by little, step by step, her fear is replaced by faith as she sees her father leading her through the storm, safe and unharmed.