IN the Wake of Brussel Sprouts, God Sends Immense Encouragement

Yesterday morning, as I was preparing for my LAST surgery for final details on my breast reconstruction, I posted my blog about Brussel Sprouts. I was anxious about the surgery, but also berating myself for bothering to write a blog every day.

"Good grief," I told myself. "I have nothing to say. I wrote about brussel sprouts. Why do I bother?"

I drove to the doctor's office with great anxiety, listening to the Christian radio station. The song "Peace on Earth" came on, and I sang along, deeply moved. Tears even dribbled out of my eyes. It was a foggy morning, and the sun was just breaking through the shroud, casting light that reflected like God's Holy Fire on the buildings uptown.

After surgery, I came home, went on a walk (with Doctor's permission) and got a call from my very good friend and fellow Cities4Life volunteer, Mary.  She had received a Facebook message from a pastor in Uganda.  Emmy pastors in Kampala, Uganda for an organization called Compassion Uganda.

Pastor Emmy

In the course of their messages back and forth, he asked Mary if she knew Vicky Kaseorg. She was surprised, and said she did, and has worked alongside me.

He sent her a message which she wanted to read to me. She told me, if she wrote a blog, she would write about me and this message, and felt I should do so.

"Show them the power of God to take a spiritual message from a willing servant and multiply it all over the world," Mary told me,  "Vicky, your blog is touching hearts to the impoverished youth and ministry of this man in Africa!"

I felt like crying. I had been so despairing because all I could think to write about yesterday was brussel sprouts, and God sent me this note of incredible encouragement and blessing. Mary sent me the text, which I have copied below: (English is not Emmy's first language, but I have not altered his spelling or usage)

Mary:

How do you know Vicky?

Emmy:

she's my facebook friend..being someone who loves to dwell in the spirit..theres smething about her posts which keep me..touched..so as to stick ti the word of God...her works gives a wider connection..in the word

Mary:

I have worked side by side with Vicky in the pro-life ministry here in Charlotte and I can tell you first hand she is an amazing woman and warrior for the Lord. You have picked a good one to follow

Emmy:

A warrior indeed ,I normlly use some incites she posts within our ministry to encourage my fellow brothers and sister's on God's mercy towards mankind

Mary:

What is your ministry?

Emmy:

our ministry is centerrd on reaching out to the streetkids,homeless..typically on Sunday evenings..where we gather .share the word...

Mary:

How wonderful - you are truly the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.  I will be praying for you, your ministry,  your fellow workers in God's field and the people you touch.  May God  bless you and continue to empower you.

Emmy:

Amen..His name should b glorified..being Christ like..leading by example..

Mary:

We will be lifting you up.  Please let  me know your prayer needs and I will share them with our church.

Emmy:

being a young ministry of warriors.a prayer of mercy and grace upon our streetkids who yearn for a place to call home and education..and love

Emmy closed with this:

can u do mi a favour?

if you meet pastor Vicky..tell her about how her message is touching souls...good day may God bless you, thank..may her words of hope continue to empower broken souls

Mary:

ABSOLUTELY!

Pastor Vicky!? It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? I really cannot tell you how much this letter means to me, what an incredible encouragement at exactly the right time.

Please fellow laborers in the Lord, never think your work is too small or of no consequence. God takes our offering and multiplies it far beyond what we can ever imagine. I am humbled, and grateful.

And sore. The last of the breast reconstruction surgery was relatively easy compared to the others, but frankly, no surgery is fun. Pastor Vicky is going to take a nap.
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Acts 12:24

But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

Malachi 3:10 

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Mark 12:41-44 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”