Lisa Harris's Blog, page 32

Gettin' in the grove..

(Early morning prayer time with the disciples)

I think it's taken me longer than usual to settle back into live here in Mozambique after so many months away, but we've finally got back into our school routine and are making progress there, so that has helped.

While the kids and I are working hard to finish up the school year (we will finish in August) Scott has already started meeting with his key disciples during the week for an intense study of the Word. They are also meeting weekly for prayer and fasting. It's exciting to see their passion and desire to learn and then share what they learn with others. Scott is also working on recording Oral Stories Bible for them that can be played on MP2 players for training of the disciples to go out and teach and for people who can't read.

The ECHO Project

We recently had our first official ECHO project board meeting via Skype and I'm so excited about the plans for the future. A pharmacy in South Africa gave us vitamins at cost. We will be giving them out primarily to pregnant and nursing women in the villages we work in as well as specific children and elderly who need them.

Want to get involved?

In connection with one of our supporting churches in Katy, Texas, we are putting together ten short videos about life in Africa that will be used for their summer mission program as their children's classes raise money for The ECHO Project and those we are ministering to here. We have several ideas we will be putting implementing in the next few months that can be used for children's program, youth groups, women's Bible classes, sororities, or anyone who is looking for a fun yet profound way to make a difference. I'll share with you more about this project in the weeks to come.



(Preparing vitamins to be distributed in the villages)

Summer Giveaway

I'll be hosting a giveaway toward the end of the week. This will be one of three giveaways I'll be doing throughout the summer, so be sure and stop by!

Be blessed,

Lisa

A Place of Peace

The kids and I are reading Case for A Creator for Kids and while this version might be for the younger generation, I've found it convicting and a great reminder the One who created life.

It's one of the reasons why I love going to the game park. I can't watch the huge variety of animals and bird life without believing there is a Creator.

The book of Psalm states it perfectly in the beginning of chapter nineteen. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."

One of the things I enjoy the most in Mozambique is the sea. The vivid blues of the water, the constant crash of the waves against the shore, and the lingering smell of saltwater in the air. For me, sitting on the beach and watching its every changing moods is a place of peace.

While I'd can't live at the sea, we are currently looking the possibilities of building a house near the bay. Rent keeps climbing, but we found land for a good price. The photos (except for the lion) are views near the land. What I love about the water, whether the ocean or the bay, is not just the sense of peace it brings me, but also the reminder of the greatness of the God we serve.

What about you? Where is the place that you find the most peaceful? What place reminds you that God is real?

Be blessed,

Lisa

Letting go...

I remember clearly the day we brought Gabriel home. I'm positive I didn't sleep that night, because I was so worried that he'd stop breathing. He was so tiny and perfect and a huge answer to prayers.

But even with all the concerns I felt that night and in the coming weeks on being a new mom, there was one thing that never crossed my mind. And that was the idea of one day letting go.

Fourteen years later, I'm certainly not ready to let go of my children, but I realized clearly this past weekend that letting go begins long before they walk out the door for collage, their first apartment, or even down the isle.

My youngest turned ten this past month and for his birthday, he asked if he could learn to dive. Still young enough to snuggle, but now old enough to learn to scuba dive. I wasn't ready. You can't imagine (or maybe you can) the fear that passed through me as I sat on the boat with my three kids beneath me in the sea as the younger two dived for the first time. It didn't matter that there were a number of dive masters below with them, watching their every move. These are my babies. And yet, not so much babies anymore. Thankfully, the scenery was so stunning that I was able to stay distracted. At least a little bit.

I'm slowly learning to let go, with a heart full of prayers that they will continue to learn and grow in the coming years...and never be too old to snuggle and sometimes, to even let me call them my baby.

Enjoy the family and friends around you today.

Lisa

Life's ups and downs

I'll be honest. Things have been crazy the past few weeks. I mean really crazy and not always in a good crazy way.

We said good-bye to Janelle along with another family who left South Africa, dealt with unresolved car problems, had a cyst on my arm burst, learned of the unexpected death of two friends, sorted through boarder problems, mourned with my mom over the loss of her dog, found out about a tax audit (can you believe the timing?) endured internet issues (meaning no internet for days), grieved with a friend who's marriage has fallen apart…

I'll stop there, but then there's also the not quite as important things like the Wii went out, the DVD player went out, the TV's going out…

It's been a constant barrage of stuff that has to be dealt with beyond the normal ministry issues. You know what I mean, the urgent vs. the important.

God's good, though, at always helping to put things into perspective. I just finished reading a non-fiction book about a woman who was the only survivor in her family during the holocaust. I've also been closely following our friends in Japan who are making a huge impact for the kingdom of God as they minister to hundreds of people who have lost everything.

Somehow, not having a Wii suddenly seems very unimportant. And even the more serious things are still things we'll get through.

This weekend we're headed off to the beach thanks to a free weekend given to us by the owners. We need it. Of course, we'll spend Sunday in the villages and Scott will still be working on taxes while I help him get everything together, but it will be a blessing for our family to spend some real quality time together for the first time in several months.

Along with all of this, I've started reading Stormie Omartian's Power of a Praying Parent. Through it, I've been reminded of the power of prayer and how essential it is to make prayer a priority, "…for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but …the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

What about you?

Whether the things you are facing today are simply small and irritating or if your world has just crumbled apart, look to Him remember that our "momentary struggles are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us!" (Romans 8:18)

To end on a positive note, I just received some pretty cool news. Blood Ransom is a finalist in the Christy Award category for Contemporary Romance. This was completely unexpected, though very exciting news for this book. If you don't know about the Christy Awards, you can check it out here.

Be blessed today!

Lisa

Settling in...

I realized today that it's been several weeks since I've posted. Life has been a bit...well... hectic so far this year to say the least. March and April were spent primarily helping Janelle (my aunt) pack up her home for her move back to the US.

We loaded up a container with her things, sold what was left, and finished closing up the house. Scott came at the end to help with some of the logistical things like switching over the utilities to the new owner amongst many other things.

Once we finally realized that our second vehicle wouldn't be fixed by the time we needed to go, we packed up our truck and headed home. As you can see from this photo, we had to wrap everything in plastic garbage bags because it was pouring as we left.

Thankfully, we made it home with out any problems (except for missing a turn while Scott and I were busy talking). It was clearly good to be back together again!

We are now so thankful to be back home in Mozambique, but even here things have started with a bang. Scott is already back to his teaching and preaching in the villages. We also have guests from South Africa who have been with us since last week. They feel that God is calling them into the mission field and are spending a week with us to observe our ministry.

On a quick writing note, I had a great time doing an interview about my books and The ECHO Project on Blog Talk Radio last Friday with long time friend John Gaessler. You can listen to the archived interview here if you missed it.

Be blessed this week!

Lisa


The kids were also excited to finally get back to the beach for our day off yesterday. (And so was I!)

The end of summer...

While summer is getting ready to fade into winter in my part of the world, I spent sometime outside this morning, listening to the birds and watching the bees search for nectar. It will be a while before winter is here, but in the meantime, I'm enjoying the slightly cooler weather along with the beauty of summer's end.




What beauty do you see in your world today?

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Be blessed,

Lisa

People of the Book by Kathi Macias

Today, I'd like to introduce author Kathi Macias to you. Kathi is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten several others.

A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs.

Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women's clubs and retreats, and writers' conferences, and won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Kathi "Easy Writer" Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time buzzing around in their new ride: Al's 2005 sunburst orange Corvette.

Kathi's books caught my attention because she uses them to tackle real events through a fictional story--or as she calls it, 'fiction with a mission.' Here's an excerpt from her latest release, People of the Book.


"Eighteen-year-old Farah, who lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, wants nothing more than to develop a deeper, more meaningful devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and she pursues that goal throughout the holiday. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. At the same time, her only brother, Kareem, who has never liked Farah, actively seeks an opportunity to expose her for the sham he believes she is.

"Meanwhile, Farah's seventeen-year-old cousin, Nura, has begun to frequent an online chat room where former Muslims gather to discuss their new faith, based on their belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. While there, Nura becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian named Sara—and a friendship quickly develops. However, Sara has problems of her own due to her fifteen-year-old brother Emir's involvement with a gang.

"The lives of Farah, Nura, and Sara ultimately dovetail until each finds herself at a place where her faith is put to the test. Will they remain faithful to the end? Will God protect and keep them safe in the midst of persecution and treachery? Or will they be required to pay the ultimate price for their faith?

To learn more about Kathi, please visit her website or her blog.



Book Trailer for People of the Book



Be blessed today,

Lisa

God's amazing creation

Yesterday, my aunt and I spent some time up on the nearby mountain where she treated me to some time at a spa. Not only was our time extremely relaxing, but the view was incredible. Photos don't do justice to the stunning backdrop of the mountains, the green valley, and the white, shifting mist, but I had to share some of the beauty of God's creation.

Please pray for Janelle, who will return to the US tomorrow. I'll stay another week to finish some last minute details and get rid of the remaining things here, before leaving for Mozambique with my family.

Be blessed!

Lisa

It's here!

I'm always so excited to hold a new story in my hands, and Summerside did an incredible job with the cover of An Ocean Away. It's even multi-textured, something I couldn't see by just the photo.

Be blessed!

Lisa


"New York's high society might prove more treacherous than the wilds of Africa"

Saying Goodbye

It's been a season of goodbyes. Almost a year ago, Allen Avery, our teammate, father, and mentor passed away. For the past month, I've been in South Africa helping Janelle close up the house in preparation for her move back to the United States. While I've been so thankful for the opportunity to be with her during this time, it's been very emotional.

There have been other goodbyes during this last year as well. We spent last October through February on furlough, and while I don't mind saying goodbye to the days of traveling, it's always hard to say goodbye to the friends and family we were blessed to connect with while we were there.

In January, we said goodbye to our teammates, Luis and Fernanda who returned to Brazil. Then this morning, I had yet another goodbye to face. Friends from SA that we've known for almost six years are immigrating to Australia and stopped by to see us.

I hate negative blogs, but face it. Goodbyes can hurt. Change can be emotional and lonely.

But there is a positive side to all of this. I'm reading through the Bible with the kids this year and I've been struck over and over of how God is with us. Every day. Every moment. Through good times and not so good times.

Here's what Moses said to Joshua. "Be strong and courageous. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

If you're feeling overwhelmed today, lonely, or discouraged, turn to the One who created you. The One who longs for a relationship with you.

"See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

You can read the entire passage in Matthew 6:25-34

Be blessed today,

Lisa