World Renewal International

The writer of Genesis tells us that God named the long awaited son of Abraham and Sarah "Isaac" meaning "laughter." It was God who named him. Abraham and Sarah had already offered their inappropriate laughs. God laughed last.

God seems to care about names. He changed peoples names like the two old people mentioned and then Jacob had his name changed from "liar, cheater, deceiver" to Isreal. I have a friend who seems to have been given the right name from the start. Her name is Joy. She,88, lives by herself on a farm in Kansas. One of her favorite expressions is "God seems to be doing a new thing here!" I have heard her say it over and over about various things since her husband died. She seems to see Him when others only find the gloom. She really lives in the constant state of anticipation of what will do next.

I met Joy and Clint at the altar of their little country Church. Clint had never made a pubic confession of his faith until that day. It was a call, as usual over these last 25 years, for men to make a commitment to be a leader in their home and a challenge for their wives to join them. We have had a great relationship down through the years since then.

I remember not seeing them for a long while, and then dropping in to see them. Clint told me he had Alzheimers disease. It took his life. I traveled to Kansas and preached his funeral. They were a great love story. They had their challenges in marriage, but they had really grown in their love for Christ and each other. When Clint went to heaven, Joy felt uncertain what to do. She had been a care giver to Clint and before his illness they had been a team going everywhere together.

Joy has a wonderful way of seeing the world. It is opportunity she sees and that is in the lives of the people God sends her way.

Several years ago she approached me about our work in Haiti. She decided to sponsor our Pastor & Leader Conference. She has now sponsored four, one postponed by the flood. It has made a huge difference for Pastor Luc in Haiti. The meetings together helped him form a team of leaders and we have planted more churches because of this. Funny thing though, Joy had never met Luc. That ended November 6 of this year. When Luc flew into the USA, he landed in Kansas. Max Wright-WR Haiti Director, Frank Penna and myself met Luc and took him to Joy's farm.

Luc and the people of Haiti had always told us to tell Joy how thankful they were. However, when Luc and Joy met for the first time it was a moving event. Joy said, "I am an 88 year old woman making a difference in Haiti. " Yes, she is.

Makes me wish there was more Joy in this world.

Thanks for stopping by.