Here’s a glimpse of a typical Saturday morning Bible Study in Lesotho…
Snacking…
Playing…
Sharing…
Anchor Your Life
A little bit more
Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more….” – Dr. Seuss
We want to bring Christmas to the kids in Southern Africa by providing our children with new backpacks containing toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, Vaseline, face cloth, and a special treat for each of them to enjoy.
Would you consider helping us bring the gift of Christmas to these children in Southern Africa? $20 will cover the cost to purchase, assemble, and distribute each pack.
A Privilege
Let the games begin!
Reaching to the Ends of the World
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV) Isaiah 55:10-11
Anchor Your Life has been up and running on the Internet since 1997. I love hearing from our readers! Here are a few of the emails I’ve received over the years.
“I’ve been receiving your daily emails since 2000. I just want to thank you for your effort and perseverance in maintaining your website, especially the section of the ‘Thought For The Day’. It has been a daily source of inspiration. I look forward to reading it each morning after I spend my quiet moment with the Lord. Finally, I’ve also started your Bible reading calender this year.” Joyce – Singapore.
“I have been receiving Anchor Your Life in my e-mail for over 3-years now. There are many days when the message that is shared fits right into where I’m at in my life. Whether I’m needing comfort, encouragement, a lesson, or love – whatever my need is on that particular day or hour Anchor Your Life fits right in. That’s how I know that Anchor Your Life is God-filled and God-directed. I have been able to use your teaching as part of the jail ministry that I am active in. When I find myself waiting for what the Lord would have me teach while preparing a lesson, the message from Anchor Your Life fits right in as a confirmation.” Debbie – USA
“I am probably like a number of your readers. I work in IT and my day is full of emails and telephone calls. For me the “Thought Of The Day” provides an important balance – alkaline to the acid of daily life if you like. Your email arrives in my inbox just like any other email and sits there among the problems and challenges of my day. The value to me is the balance you bring to a hectic pace – an opportunity to pause for a minute or so and read something non work-related and a million miles (seemingly) from my daily challenges. A peaceful space, a pause for reflection, a reminder to examine my values and a gentle guidance when dealing with others.” Keith – Australia
“I have been receiving the “Thoughts for the Day” for about 3 years and I read it first thing every morning in the office before the day gets going…some of them have really hit home and I print them and read them over and over…you and your team are doing a wonderful job of teaching and spreading the knowledge we all need to learn and know more about…thanks and keep on doing what you are doing.” Tom – USA
“I wanted you to know how much Anchor Your Life has touched and guided in my life. I find that it many times relates to exactly the kind of situation that I am experiencing in my life. It is as if God just sends the right words at the right time through Anchor Your Life. I am the director of the lay counseling ministry at my church and have printed out and used Anchor Your Life many times in counseling others. Thanks for allowing God to use you to minister to others!” Joy – USA
Many of you indicated that you use the material from Anchor Your Life for Bible studies, small group studies, choir devotionals, church bulletins. . . even sermons! You’ve used the content at Christian coffee houses, in jail ministries, for Youth groups, for dorm floor devotions. But, perhaps the most creative use of the devotionals came from a woman who selects specific messages, makes a dozen copies on colorful paper, places them in her desk drawer at work and gives them to everyone who visits her – the postman, the paper boy, the cleaner, the plant keeper. All I can say is keep on keepin on with sharing God’s Word with those around you!
Lastly, I appreciated some special comments that a few of you made – It “is so nice to know that there are actual people behind this email and not just a micro chip programmed to pump out the data each day.” Another reader wrote, “In this rat race and high technology world we live in, it is good to know that there are people out there like you that use it to give God honor and glory.”
We will keep proclaiming God’s Word on the Internet. . . you keep sharing it with others!
How has God used Anchor Your Life to draw you closer to Himself?
A Special Friend!
Only God! Only God can direct a woman living in Ethiopia to visit one website in particular, one out of billions of websites on the Internet. Only God can then develop a deep friendship between two women on separate continents as they correspond via email, sharing their common commitments to Christ and their visions for doing God’s work in the world.
Only God can prompt a church in a small African country to invite a team of women from the US to come and teach God’s Word and encourage their people. Only God! And when our one and only God provides such extraordinary opportunities, I want to immediately follow!
I have known Dr. Angela Benson (Director of the World Health Organization in Lesotho), now from Lesotho, since 1998 when she first visited the Anchor Your Life website and we began to correspond via email. Over the ensuing years, Angela and I have shared God’s Word and prayed for one another many times. I had the privilege of meeting Angela and her family while they were in Philadelphia a few years ago. God knit our hearts together in Him immediately. Then, I had the joy of hosting Angela in Sarasota two years in a row.
For years Angela has used content from the Anchor Your Life website in Bible studies and small groups in her local church. Consequently, many of the people in her church are familiar with Anchor Your Life.
God is continuing His incredible work in our lives and in the ministry of Anchor Your Life!
From the Outside
More thoughts on our day with the school children…
We were thrilled to be able to provide more clothing, shoes, and other school items for the children this year. What a privilege it was to be able to help 80 plus children.
They were so sweet to us and very appreciative.
As they left after 3 hours with us, one young girl reached up to give me a kiss on the cheek. It was a special moment for me. Their smiles and faces will forever be imprinted on my mind. But, we wrestle with the fact that many at the school received nothing. When I went outside for the television interview there were 100’s that encircled me hoping that there was something left for them. Some even peered in the windows from outside to watch those who were the fortunate ones.
The needs here are so great. Everywhere you look there are people who need assistance or are sick. It breaks my heart. And yet, throughout the Bible we see that each life matters to God. He not only sees the masses in Lesotho that are suffering, He sees each individual. He knows every heart. He created each as His unique masterpiece. And every life we come into contact with is special. I would love to have 100’s of 1000’s of dollars in my pocket to help. But, right now I want to focus on the children and the people that God places in my path today. Perhaps when we reach Heaven we will hear of how one child was changed for eternity.
Thanks for your support, your friendship and your prayers…keep them up!
If you would like to assist us with helping the children, make an online donation. The needs are so great!
One Heart
Despite the differences we have with women across the globe, our hearts were knit together as we studied God’s Word. We had a great time of greeting one another, sharing wonderful home cooked meals (Me’ Rose’s pancakes were outstanding!), singing together, and hearing God’s voice through His Word.
Many women who attended the Bible study are fighting the conditions and the consequences of poverty in Lesotho. But, we heard together from the Word that although our conditions may never change we are to stand firm in our faith, stay focused on God, and continue to pray.
God always speaks in One voice and all were encouraged as many voiced how God had laid on their hearts the need to pray for the Maseru United Church, the people of Lesotho, and all nations. The message was timely for the Global Day of Prayer on Sunday which we will participate. Churches from across Maseru are coming together to pray in the native language. It will by a symphony of prayer for the nations!