StaddonFamily.com

posted by Esther on 07/31/08

“The strawberries are ripe!” What a joyous proclamation! Up to the strawberry patch I went with bucket in hand. I pulled back the big, green, healthy leaves and my eyes ran to and fro throughout the whole patch in search for the perfect, deep red, juicy, flavorful berries as I envisioned a strawberry pie!

I was glad to harvest much of the fruit even though it had rotten spots or insect bites because I knew they could be cut out and used as part of the pie anyway. However, it didn’t compare to the thrill of finding a big, spotless, evenly ripe, picture perfect strawberry! These were the kind I would go back to the house and show off! These were the kind that could contribute most to my goal. These were the kind we had in mind as we planted and cared for the plants. These are the kind that brought the most pleasure and reward for our labor in the sun.

As I was up there, I thought about how God’s eyes similarly run to and fro throughout the whole earth searching for those whose heart is perfect toward Him. Why? Because He has a great goal in mind, a vision of His perfect Kingdom, and a desire to show Himself strong in bringing this to pass as He finds us willing and eager to be used of Him however He sees fit. Thankfully, He will not overlook us because of our rotten sin nature but my desire is that He will find me striving to be spotless from the world, and someone who, like Job, He will take great pleasure in saying “Have you considered this servant of mine?” Someone who will give Him great excitement and the joy of intimate fellowship as He allows me to be part of His great work where He has placed me. May He find you glorious in His sight, and take great joy as you are presented to Himself. Eph 5:27 “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

1 Comment » | posted in Family News

posted by Esther on 07/28/08

Wow! I hope you have all taken time  to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation this spring! Our Asian lilies were abundant and glorious and I hope that sharing them with you on this post will lead you once again to glorify God for His handiwork. Let me tell you the story of our first lily.

Early in the Spring of 2004 despite the hungry deer and obnoxious Japanese beetles, bloomed one stem of pure white lilies. These were a treasure to Mom because we were not sure if we would get anymore so  Mom took great joy in seeing these unblemished flowers.  About this time Mom heard that a former elementary teacher was dying of cancer. Mom felt led to go visit her and present the gospel. The Lord prompted Mom to bring her treasured white lilies to brighten the lady’s room. So Mom cut our only stem of blooms and took them as a gift to this failing friend.

We do not know how much this sacrificial gift meant to her or if it did anything to reinforce the message Mom gave with it, but God has unexpectedly returned this gift to us with many more beautiful blooms through the years. They stand as a reminder to us of Proverbs 19:17  “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” 

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Michael on 07/23/08

The letter was written by Lady Jane Grey, the “9-days Queen”, just before she was put to death at about 17 years of age. One of the most well educated people of her time and a devout Protestant, she took no interest in the common pursuits of the young people of her day. She had her “affection on things above, not on things of the earth” Col. 3:2. She was one of the only true friends of the beloved King Edward VI, and as he was dying at the age of 16, hasty alterations were made to the law of succession so that she could become queen after his death. The crown would have otherwise devolved to Edward’s half-sister Mary Tudor, whose bitterness toward Protestants was a huge concern of Edward’s. The decision to transfer the kingdom to Jane Grey was also motivated by the self-interest of power-seeking individuals, and viewed as a rebellion. Lady Jane, whose eyes were on the unseen Kingdom, was shocked and very reluctant to accept, doing so only after much urging. As power shifted to Mary Tudor, those who had been following Edward’s plan (and Dudley’s!) began to surrender. The new queen Mary had no personal hatred toward Jane and her life was secure until Wyatt’s uprising forced queen Mary to do away with anyone who could supply a basis for opposition. Mary’s resolution to execute Lady Jane came as no surprise to her, and also as no concern. She wrote to her sister Catherine, “And as touching my death, rejoice as I do, good sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption and put on incorruption. For I am assured that I shall, for losing of a mortal life, win an immortal life, the which I pray God grant you, and send you of his grace to live in his fear, and to die in the true Christian faith, from the which, in God’s name, I exhort you that you never swerve, neither for hope of life nor for fear of death.” John Feckenham was sent to try to persuade her to become Catholic, and their debates were a great delight to Jane. Feckenham was astonished at her calm behavior, great knowledge, and sense of religion. She was beheaded on February 12, 1554. According to John Foxe (1517-1587), Judge Morgan who pronounced her sentence was so affected by her death that he went mad. Queen Mary was also troubled.

While Bloody Queen Mary suffered both the trouble of ruling the kingdom and the agony of both bitterness and guilt, Lady Jane Gray was living in the splendor of eternal life in the kingdom of God and in the presence of her “Saviour Christ”. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” 2 Cor. 4:17-18. Remember, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us” 2 Tim. 2:12

4 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses

posted by Robert on 07/20/08

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me:
and to him that ordereth his conversation aright
will I shew the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:23

How do we “order our conversation aright” and receive the exciting benefit of this promise? The word for “conversation” in this verse literally means “journey” or “path.” One translation reads, “If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Life is a journey. As we surrender our way and allow God to lead, we will experience His powerful deliverance from the hurts of past offenses and the stress of present habits.

For the past year and a half, hundreds of young people have experienced the joy and power of full surrender as they have set out on a Journey to the Heart. This time of seeking God with a whole heart is designed to encourage young men and women to “taste and see that the Lord is good” and launch them deeper into a lasting, life-changing relationship with their living, loving Heavenly Father.

To encourage each of us to continue “living the journey”, a new website has been launched with challenging real-life testimonies and powerful training for life and ministry. Check it out at www.livingthejourney.com!

LivingTheJourney.com

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy!”

3 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Donald on 07/17/08

When we first began the work here, the opportunity was announced that schools in the area were looking for native speakers to teach at various public schools once a week. I decided to decline but stayed in reserves. Then one day reserves were needed and, fairly early last fall, I started another year of English teaching!
My school was She Zih Elementary School in Sinwu, near the west coast. Event though it wasn’t my primary teaching responsibility, I enjoyed every Tuesday there. It was good to revive my old TESL skills and gradually begin to get to know the students. I taught 6th, 4th, 2nd and, later, 1st grade. Altogether there were about ninety expectant young faces–each one with their own personality–teaching me as the teacher how to hone my teaching skills.
During the breaks we often had time to play basketball and talk. Lunchtime, with the staff was memorable and it was an honor to spend time each day with Director Liou and Katherine, the head English Teacher. Truly Tuesdays at She Zih Elementary School were a highlight in our week.
Then, all at once the year was over.
June 18 was graduation day for my 6th grade class. Many in the class had attended school there for six years. At supper I had the chance to meet a few people from the parent support group, then during our last walk around the school grounds God provided a beautiful sunset. But what left a most lasting impression was when the time came for recognizing faithful attendance. Four students, Stephen, Jack, Charlotte and Peter, had never missed a day of school in six years.
I should add here that, in Taiwan, not only do children come to school five days a week but many spend overtime trying to improve their education at school, with tutors, or at evening cram schools (which are incredibly popular).
It hasn’t really sunk in what it means for them to spend so much of their early life in school. As for me I could hardly believe how strong our friendship had become in only nine months, teaching only one day a week. As you may remember, being able to build a relationship with the 6th-graders was something I asked prayer for last fall. Not only was that prayer request answered but the Lord has broadened my perspective and enlarged my heart in a great way. I caught a glimpse of a student’s daily life and what a huge part of their lives can be impacted through wise teaching. Now I look back not only over the past year but over the past eight or nine years–and I suddenly have no regrets about spending a fair piece of it with young students–at school, teaching English as a second language. It has enabled me to say that I know to a small degree their feelings. That is a dear qualification. It’s a qualification I couldn’t have gotten exept through the course God designed for me.
It’s been a worthwhile year! I appreciate all the teachers and staff at She Zih, IBLP, King Car and the Taoyuan Government administration, and most of all I appreciate the Lord the Master Teacher Who is so creative and patient with me in my education.

3 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports