Precious Memories

My family has a storage unit in Middletown. Our goal is to take our belongings with us to Hungary as space in the luggage allows. On one of our visits to the unit, I came upon some baby articles from my children's baby days. The first article I came across was the little pink Easter dress Heidi wore on her first Easter. She was born on Good Friday in 2007. I had her hold it up to herself in a comparison picture. She sure has grown a lot in ten years!

The next item was a yellow dress Jason's sister had made for Laura. The matching hat and scarf were not amongst the items in storage, but I was pleased to find the dress and had Laura hold it up to her as well.

The final item was a quilt Jason's mom had made for Micah. It had six handprint outlines: Micah's four grandparents, Jason's and mine. It was a neat gift and had been displayed in Micah's room when he was a baby. 

It's neat to take a walk down memory lane and remember all the Lord has blessed us with: three of those blessings being our children. I was leafing through photo albums of their baby days and not getting a whole lot of packing done because of it. I'm happy to have these precious memories and look forward to making more.

Let us Exalt His Name Together

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

Psalms 34:3

About a month after Jason and I were married, his oldest sister, Erin, presented us with a wedding scrapbook she had made. On the first page, she wrote Psalm 34:3: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together."

Together is such a neat word. It is defined as- with or in proximity to another person or people; at the same time. God created us to need each other. We are not meant to be completely independent of one another.

A year after we met, in August 2003, Jason and I took a trip to Niagara Falls for an overdue honeymoon getaway. While there, we purchased a wooden sign that read: "Grow old with me. The best is yet to be." It has hung in every place we've lived, including the dashboard of our car during some of our time on deputation. While Jason was purchasing this wall decoration, the cashier made a remark that came across as though she didn't believe this simple statement. She wore no wedding ring which and her cynical attitude may have been a result of a divorce. How sad to prefer "solitude" over "together".

I'll admit, I enjoy being alone for brief periods of time. It's nice to go off on a peaceful walk or sit quietly working without having to talk to anyone. But I don't believe I'd be happy with it for too long. Eventually I'd desire to be together with my family again.

And how about an even better together? Once we were dead in sin, eternally separated from God. But Christ made a way for us to be together. Ephesians 2:4-10 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Amen to that!

Together with Christ. How awesome is that!

A Most Romantic Gesture

Perhaps as a little girl, you dreamed of the day Prince Charming would come on his noble steed and carry you away to his palace. You twirled around in your princess costume dress, imagining it to be your wedding attire.

Perhaps as a young man, you pondered over bringing a girl flowers, chocolate, and a ring, asking her to be your bride. You dressed in your best suit and neatly polished shoes, reflecting over her eager acceptance of your proposal on bent knee.

We get our ideas of what love and romance is at a young age from books and movies that, while are entertaining for the moment, do not show a realistic view of what a lasting relationship between man and wife really is.

There is one most romantic gesture I can encourage you to show your spouse now, even if you have not yet met.

Pray for him. Pray for her.

I didn't catch on to this while we were dating, but some time after we were married, Jason revealed to me that as a young boy, he began to pray for the girl he would one day marry. He prayed generally for the most part, yet there were a few specifics. He prayed his wife would be saved, attend a Baptist Church and have attended a Christian school. Through the prayers of my husband, God prepared me to be his helpmeet by bringing me through all of the items on the checklist.

Whether you are single and have not yet met that special someone or have been married for years, praying for your spouse may be the most romantic gesture you can do for him or her. And parents, praying for your childrens spouses while they are as young as infancy is a most loving gesture you can do for them to safeguard against unequally yoked marriages.

Today, Jason and I celebrate fourteen years of marriage. I need to be reminded to lift him up in prayer throughout the day instead of being wrapped up in my own activities.

So what should you pray for when praying for your spouse or the spouse of your offspring?

1 Pray for their Salvation

This is the most important thing you can pray for. If you are unmarried, pray that your future spouse would accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Jason started to pray for my salvation as his future wife at a young age. The way the Lord made a way for me to come to know Him still amazes me. I grew up in a Lutheran church, but through different circumstances, my family started to attend a Baptist Church. It was there I heard a clear presentation on the gospel and got saved. Had my husband not been praying for my salvation, who knows if I would have ever heard the gospel or not.

If you are married and your spouse is not saved, let me encourage you to not give up. I have a friend that had been praying for years for her husband. Though he still has not accepted, she keeps praying. Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." I know it may seem like your prayers will never be answered, but don't give up.

2 Pray for their Spiritual growth

I've known a few baby Christians who have done things that devastated their marriage just because of lack of maturity and Bible knowledge. After salvation, we are to grow in our walk with the Lord. 2 Peter 3:17-18 says, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." Just as babies need adequate nourishment to grow, so does the baby Christian need to be fed the Word of God daily and needs more mature Christians who are willing to help guide him or her as they walk the path of their new faith.

3 Pray for their Safety

Praying for safety is not just for physical safety, but also spiritual. After all, 1 Peter 5:8 says of our adversary, the devil “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Satan is looking to devour your spouse. He is seeking to destroy your marriage. He would like nothing better. And the more you serve Him, the more fierce the attacks get. Be your husband's cheerleader or your wife's hero and pray for his or her safety, that the Lord would put a hedge of protection around them.

...A more romantic gesture you will never find.

New Happenings in the New Year!

With the conclusion of January, some new and exciting developments have occurred. January 30, 2017, the contract was signed for a building of the new church plant, Cornerstone Baptist Church! 

Three years ago in January of 2014, our family started deputation to become church planting missionaries to the field of Hungary. 

One year ago in January of 2016, Jason was ordained as a preacher of God's Word and commissioned by our church.

Now, it is so neat to witness a vision becoming a reality.

Kiadó (to rent)... Not anymore!

The contract signed and rent paid!

   After the signing of the contract, the believers gathered together to have a service to dedicate the building to the Lord. The building itself was a former bar up until last August. While it is in good working condition, it will need time to clean it up and prepare it for services. After a quick cleaning, we all gathered for our prayer service. There were 15 people total in attendance. Four Hungarians from the neighbourhood came out to pray with us. They represented three families (though not all in attendance) who have been praying for a church in their area to attend. We also had three pastors of churches in Budapest, Dunakeszi and Szolnok come out to join us for the service as well and to pray over the new ministry. Jason extended greetings to the small assembly, Jonatan Andrásik gave a short devotional from Psalm 118:22, his wife accompanied the singing with her flute playing with songs throughout the entire meeting. After service concluded, the group remained in fellowship and prayer for almost another hour. 

We pray the Lord is honoured in all that is done!

Pastor Peters praying that Cornerstone will always stay near the cross
and that the focus of the church is the cross

Pastor Andrásik praying that Christ's sacrifice to not be in vain for Cornerstone

Pastor Pranger praying for the lost near Cornerstone

The group of gathered believers excitedly discussing the future of CBC after service

Sign now hanging in the new church building reading
"Coming Soon, Cornerstone Baptist Church"!

Click the link below to see the live facebook video of the beginning of the dedication service:

https://www.facebook.com/gothyway/videos/706407489526537/

Half a Year in Hungary

The trees are getting packed up and lights being taken down. The holidays are over and a new year has commenced. I trust you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year with family and friends. I pray 2017 will be a great year and many souls come to know Christ as Saviour!
I put together a short video that gives a small glimpse of some of the highlights of our first half year in Hungary. If you are interested in a missions trip, my family would love to have a visit from you this year!

https://vimeo.com/197006154

First Thanksgiving in Hungary

Our first Thanksgiving in Hungary was very enjoyable! To start with, the Sunday before was spent with the church in Szolnok where they had their own Thanksgiving celebration.

    Even though Hungary does not have a specific day of thanksgiving, the Christians in Szolnok had much they wished to thank God for. They even created crafts for table decor with Bible verses and the phrase "Adj hálát" written by on them, which translates to "Give thanks". 

Offering of first fruits 

   The day before Thanksgiving, our family enjoyed putting up the Christmas tree. And I know you're thinking "Couldn't you at least wait until after Thanksgiving?" (Hahaha, no!) 

Thanksgiving day was a great turkey dinner which we enjoyed at home before going to spend the weekend in Szolnok to enjoy a meal with friends. It was a nice time as we reflected on all God's blessings to us this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Hungarian Holidays - All Saints Day and All Souls Day

The stores will be closed tomorrow and children out of school. Traffic sharply increases around the cemeteries (temető) in Hungary. This is because the first two days of November are All Saints' Day (or All Hollows Day) and All Souls' Day, which are both Catholic holidays. I have read a few articles on what exactly happens these two days. I'm still not sure I understand the differences between the days; they seem to be the same. However, here is a glimpse of what these two days are all about :

November 1, All Saints’ Day (a mindenszentek napja) 

- This is day to commemorate souls (lelkek). 

- According to Hungarian folklore the dead will return to their homes on this day. For this reason many households set a place at the table and place bread, salt, and water out in anticipation of the returning dead. Candles are placed in the window to guide the souls back home.

November 2, All Souls' Day (halottak napja) 

- This is the day to commemorate those souls who haven't received salvation and are currently in purgatory (purgatórium).

Traditions of both days :

- On the first two days of November, all families in Hungary visit cemeteries. They clean the graves of their dead relatives and decorate them with bouquets, wreaths and candles, praying for the salvation of their family members’ souls. 

- The tradition is to light candles for deceased relatives. People light one candle for each person that is no longer with them. According to Catholic tradition, this is to give warmth to errant souls and help them find their graves and prevent them from disturbing living people. 

- The chrysanthemum is the flower of the dead since it blooms in late October and early November. This flower is seen all over cemeteries. 

- Church bells all over the country also continuously clang for 1-2 hours, because souls in purgatory are thought to be calmed by tolling.

It was saddening for me to read about these two days in Hungary. The devil has deceived the people into believing these lies about their deceased loved ones. They believe they can pray their dead loved ones into salvation. How terribly sad! So long as a person is alive, he has second, third, fourth, fifth, etc chances to accept Christ and be saved (Romans 10:13). Once saved, always saved (John 10:28). However, once a person dies, there are no more chances. It is so important for us, our friends and loved ones to accept Christ today while there is still a chance, because there will be no praying anyone out of "purgatory" on November 1st, 2nd, or on any day of the year for that matter.