YadaFactor

So many of us spent this past weekend reflecting on the difficult journey of Jesus and the miracle that followed. A lot happened in 3 days. Friday was devastating, Saturday there was silence, and Sunday brought the miracle of the resurrection. Peter marveled at the empty tomb wondering what had happened. Marvel is defined as being filled with wonder or astonishment. It is easy for us to marvel at the miracle on Sunday.

As I spent my quiet time this past week reflecting, I was drawn to the post resurrection story of the Walk to Emmaus. Two men are on their way to Emmaus and talking about everything that had happened. Now this doesn’t seem unusual as I am sure many people were buzzing about what had happened. What I am struck by in this story is how in Luke 24:15 Jesus just casually shows up and engages in conversation with the men.  Jesus is unrecognizable to them at first and they are just having a conversation about the events of the prior week with, of all people, Jesus! He shows up when the men are lost, hopeless, and overwhelmed and he provides insight, hope and peace. I marvel at the subtlety of Jesus’s presence with ordinary men walking on that path. He just shows up when the men least expect it and turns the conversation around.

This weekend I was moved by a story told by my pastor about the Atacama Desert in Chile, known as the driest place on Earth. This area is harsh and barren. The fascinating thing about the Atacama Desert is that hidden underneath the dry and cracked soil there are over 200 varieties of flowers. Every few years the desert gets a years’ worth of rain in one day resulting in the magnificent miracle of the desert bloom. In a place that is dry and hopeless, rain provides incredible beauty. Just as my days sometimes seem dry and hopeless, God provides hope and beauty.

I marvel at how patient God is with me even when I am in the desert and can’t see the flowers that are coming. Just as Jesus showed up on that walk to Emmaus, God is always by my side showing up! The miracle of Easter reminds me to re-order things that might seem out of control and marvel at God’s faithfulness to walk alongside me no matter what! During dry seasons, like in the Atacama Desert, we must remain faithful to see the blooming flowers that are coming. Just as we reflect about the heaviness of Good Friday, we are hopeful of what is to come on Sunday, and we marvel at the miracle of the resurrection.

How are you noticing where God is showing up in your life? Sometimes, it’s when we least expect it – like flowers blooming in a dry and barren desert or Jesus walking the path to Emmaus with two ordinary men sharing the good news! I pray that as you spend time with God, you are able to marvel at the moments where God is walking right beside you, speaking to you, providing comfort, and performing miracles!

Written by Christine Brevik, Chief Operating Officer

Hi everyone! My name is Dana Nicewander and I have been practicing Yada for 15 years. I currently serve as the Director of Women’s Ministry at Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, Florida and I also serve on the Board of Directors of YadaFactor.

A few months ago, when the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays were nearing, my schedule and responsibilities became even more demanding than usual.  I noticed in my Yada journal that I had been missing a lot of time with the Lord. My heart, soul and spirit noticed it as well.  I’m guessing there have been times when you have experienced this as well. Sometimes three or four days would pass before I made it to my desk to open my Bible and spend time with God. Too long between sips of living water.

It seemed like I was running from one deadline to the next, simply trying to keep my head above water and breathe. Ever feel this way? Some mornings I simply did not believe I had time to fit in another thing, let alone linger and savor my time in the Word. So, I did what I was originally taught through YadaFactor, and I prayed and asked God where He wanted me to be in Scripture. My mind screamed that it needed to be easy. My heart said it needed to be simple. It needed to be somewhere that would not require too much mental energy or I knew I would not engage.

The Holy Spirit gave me clarity. I was to praise Him during the holiday season and so I was sent to the book of Psalms. But to add a little twist, the Lord put on my heart to read the Psalms backward, starting at Psalm 150 and working my way to Psalm 1. Why not take a fresh approach?

I remember thinking to myself, “How hard can it be? Certainly, I can read one psalm a day.” I still repeat this to myself on mornings when the TO DO LIST is calling, “Certainly, Dana, you can read one psalm today!” This gets me to my desk. This gets me to my Bible and my journal. The Spirit guides from there.

Today I read Psalm 67. Tomorrow will be Psalm 66 (a mind bender, I know!)  I was reminded that His face shining upon me is enough. It was enough for the Israelites. It is enough for me. Had I rushed through my morning, I would have missed this incredible truth.

My New Year’s resolution: Mary first, then Martha.

Comments or feedback? Contact Dana at dnicewander@spanishriver.com

It’s amazing how the word wonder has different meanings. According to Webster the definition is “a cause of astonishment or admiration” or “a feeling of doubt or uncertainty.”

I think of the hymn lyrics:

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

In 2005, I believed God told me in my time in scripture that I would be moving from Florida (my Egypt) to go to a “Promised Land,” which I believed was Colorado. It took five years, and God allowed many circumstances to move in my husband’s heart, but we went in 2010. We were there almost three years when great trials came.  I felt the Spirit revealing that this was my wilderness time, and that it was temporary, but I was not open to hearing that message. I began to wonder if I had heard God correctly the first time.

Today I was reading Luke 7:18-35. John the Baptist was in prison, and he sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

John was in wonder and amazement when Jesus came to be baptized by him, saying “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Matthew 3:14).  And “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who ranks before me, because He was before me’” (John 1:29-30).  Why did John then wonder later when in prison, hoping to be released?

Jesus did not rebuke him, but said He was fulfilling prophesies in Isaiah through healing and telling others good news. We often doubt and begin to wander when prayers are not getting answered in ways we thought. Little did I know that three and half years later, in 2013, God would send us to live in Lynchburg Virginia, which I did not see as a “Promised Land.” But now, nine years later, I have more hindsight to see God working all things out for good and for our best.

The real struggle is to stay in scripture to continue to hear God speak until He gives full revelation of the work He is doing in our lives and in our world till He returns. Having my Yada sisters along for this journey was critical to not fully wandering away.

Like the lyrics, He knows I am prone to wander. However, He is the One who leads me to wonder in awe of all He does, despite my doubt. John was not released from prison but was soon united with Christ after His resurrection. I can only imagine the joy and wonder he experienced when he was was united with his Lord for all eternity.

Now that is a wonder that awaits us all!

Cindy Chamberland is our resident thinker and a forever student of God’s word. Cindy has a doctorate in clinical counseling and a private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Lynchburg, Virginia. She has a passion to connect with people and help them find hope and healing. On the weekends Cindy loves to ride motorcycles with her husband of 35 years to see the incredible beauty in God’s natural world. She also enjoys running and hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. She has two grown children and six grandchildren.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Hello! My name is Cindy Chamberland. I am one of the YadaFactor Co-Founders and Board Member. I wanted to share some of the “beginnings” as often we look at January as a time to start over or make resolutions that we often find challenging to keep. Each time I come across Isaiah 61 and see title “The Year of the Lord’s Favor”, I think “could this be the year?”

Isaiah 61 was the first “promise” I was told in a time of my life I felt like giving up; on my marriage and life itself. I was crying out to the Lord with all that was in me. When I was in Isaiah 61 the first verse stood out to me as if Jesus himself was speaking audibly to me personally.

Jesus told me He was the anointed one to come to me; a very brokenhearted woman and promised He would set me free. This was also at a time when God was calling me out of a large Bible study as a leader, as well as a college/career leader in my church. I could not understand why God would ask that of me when serving was my joy and lifeline, but He knew I needed to get to the roots of my own pain.

This began a journey of personal counseling and a few months later, Pegi, Debbie and I began meeting to share our struggles. As we did, God led us to read, journal, and share with each other what we believed God was saying to us. So often, after we met, we would leave our time together amazed at what the Holy Spirit was revealing to us which we had not experienced together in Bible study.

It was about a year later, God brought me back to Isaiah 61 and revealed to me that He was calling me to be sent out to heal the broken hearted, set captives free and release from darkness for the prisoners as a counselor. I was dumbfounded as I was 38 years old and had not completed an undergraduate degree. I knew I would have to go back to not only get that degree, but also a Masters degree. I thought it was too late and I was too old, but God had other plans. I was accepted to Palm Beach Atlantic University where I spent next 6 years completely both degrees and 5 years later also had completed a Doctorate degree.

Since this first promise, God has given me many more promises for myself, my family, and for the call of YadaFactor and counseling. God asked me to put all my promises in one book so I can one day write a story of all God foretold to me that has been fulfilled. I credit the commitment Pegi, Debbie and I made to each other to meet faithfully for 18 years, as so often we wanted to give up. By not doing so, we were able to persevere while holding each other up in prayer and love. We experience “The Year of the Lord’s Favor” time and time again, every year.

Currently, I am reading through the book of Luke. Luke 4:18-19 was spoken by Jesus in a synagogue when he was quoting Isaiah 61. He stated vs. 21 “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Many were amazed as we should be as well. He came to earth from Heaven above and He will come again. Maybe this can be the year of the Lord favor for all of us in his coming as well as coming to know/yada Him intimately.

What are your New Year prayers and promises you can write down in your own journal or promise book? God is speaking! This belief is the heart of all of us at YadaFactor as we hope every ear hears Him and all have eyes to see Him at work in your life. May we all have a year of the Lords favor.

God bless!

Cindy

Cindy has been married to her high school sweetheart for 39 years Pete living in Lynchburg Virginia where her two married children live as well as her 7 grandchildren. Her parents moved from Florida to live in Va near their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Cindy and Pete love to ride on their motorcycle to enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and nature all around them.