Tag Archives: God

The Birth of a Book

Hi Friends. I am really excited to bring my book Faith Lessons to you. As I have shared with people, I am mainly asked two questions: why did I write a book, and what is it about. So let me tell you. The why began with a lingering desire. I have been carrying a desire to write a non-fiction book for many years now. A couple times starting, but then feeling sure it was not the time. Then toward the end of last year (2021) I was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer, stage-2, and I was holding the weight of that, while utterly excited at the same time my first grand-daughter was soon to be born.

My heart was sure at the start of that season, it was time for the book. Seeing how frail life is a little more closely and personally, all I knew was I did not want to miss the opportunity to share with my grandchildren someday stories of my own life, and the wonderous faithfulness of God through it all. It is massively important to me, they know God is present, His love is real, His provision never runs out, and just like I have stories to share, so will they ~ and I want them to be encouraged to share them. So, at the start of radiation therapy, and still going to work everyday, I spent every extra bit of time writing for them, and for you.

What is Faith Lessons about? It is a cluster of my life’s experiences enduring and fighting battles, trusting while waiting, the process of transformation and emotional healing, and even being the recipient of a God size miracle. As I share some of my stories with you, I will also be sharing with you God’s faithfulness and the presence of it, in conjunction with the Word of God. It will be a spiritual journey for you. Along my own journey I enjoy taking notes of things I’ve learned, writing in journals, notebooks, planners; so I have included 24 faith lessons in the book that have been personal lessons I have kept for myself through years of growth. I also pray you step away encouraged to know your stories matter too. And it is important for you to highlight God’s glory to others by way of sharing your own experiences in life and with Him. Therefore, I will also give you some of my process of reflection and simmering on life’s memories in order to first know God’s role and then know what to share in the capacity you are called.

The book will be released first. Then there will be a journal companion, already in the works, for those who want to take your personal reflection time deeper.

It has been a joy and honor to sit down and speak with some of you, and just talk about how faithful and good God is in every season, even when faced with some of the hardest moments of our earthly lives. My heart is passionate about you grabbing a hold of your faith, and not losing it; and even more so, thriving in it. Reach out via Engage or Instagram if you want to spend time together. Let’s see what is possible; and I can’t wait for the soon to be day when you have the Faith Lessons book in your hands.

There has been tremendous support along the way. A special thank you to an amazing editor and author: Blair Parke. Author of Empty Hands Made Full: How to Cope with Infertility (available via Amazon & Barnes & Noble).

Love, Mika

Quietly

The wisdom spoken through Solomon, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised; And his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard (Ecclesiastes 9:16-17a). This stirred my heart to consider all the quiet areas of our lives. The things we think and feel, the emotions experienced from deep within, the unspoken doubts and victories, the observances we witness that leave a mark, the pauses after we read something profound, the gasp for air when at the edge of unbelief or utter gratitude. Somewhere in those moments we find ourselves changing and learning. O Lord You have searched me and known me…You are acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139: 1, 3b), nothing about us is unknown to God, so He knows how to speak to each of us. So, it is unfortunate when we only share the so-called big, visual and interesting moments with people, and not the more minor and intimate moments that impact our spirit and heart; something I often have to remind my own self to do.

What have you learned in those quiet spaces that now you see produced growth and wisdom? Nothing about you, or your experiences are insignificant. Gift that to another, and share the unspoken spaces with others. John, one of the disciples said, Jesus did so much that the world could not contain all that would need to be written on it; and He is still at work in and through us. I believe Jesus spent a lot time with the disciples individually and collectively in the gap of the active moments sharing in the quiet, and demonstrating who He is through every small gesture. God, who is the same yesterday and today, is still reaching us in quiet moments. When we weep and when we walk what He says to us has worth. Reflect on them, for we grow in those moments. Then when you come out of the quiet let the wisdom of Christ in your life be shared.

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17:23 NKJV).  

Give it Away

How heavenly life would be if nothing ever hurt, crumbled, caused despair, or confusion? One day, the Lord promises. However, right now the world reality is very real and tiresome at times. Though, as God stands before us, we must learn to give it all away to Him. Not only our praise in triumph but our sorrow in the tragedies. David once began a statement with, Who am I, and what is my life (1 Samuel 18:18a), who are we, and what is our life? We are created and purposed for the will and the joy of the Father and our life is His. As Jesus said, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one (John 17:23a). As we tread through the mud we show the world the stamp on our life – Love (made perfect through Christ Jesus).

If we take all of our burdens and pains and pile them on our own shoulders, how will we then have the strength to move, the room to carry another, the lightness to lift a friend? Cast your cares at the feet of the cross, cast them at the feet of the King, who promises refreshment and refuge. There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3), but do not miss precious and useful moments in time with being buried in things God is wanting to take from you and work out for you. Let the Lord delight in the rawness of your prayers, for He already knows, so open up and lay it down, then let the might of God go to work. You instead press on in joy, and with the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Further, fellowship. The times I have spent with others has brought me encouragement and sometimes needed correction, and in togetherness we recognize we all cry and ache. You friend are not alone.

The Lord your God in your midst; The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV).

Prayer

Enlarge My Heart

Such a simple but powerful request, “enlarge my heart.” Three words joined together in Psalm 119 (vs 32b). There are many things I am sure anyone of us could recall with quickness that are commonly asked for and requested throughout the day. Even in our quiet thoughts there are request and desires chattering around our minds. Though what an awesome prayer to ask for a bigger heart, filled with the heart of Christ and the passion of His Spirit. There are no perfect human ambitions or deeds, and we are all definitely far from being a perfect model of rightness. But praises there is a perfect love, there is a perfect heart. Not found in us, but found in Jesus, found in God the Father in who we have access.

Imagine the possibility of global peace if everyone asked for an enlarged heart? A heart with compassion for the weak, concern for the suffering, longing for the lonely, passion for the lost, eager toward serving, open to listening, willing to be available, endearing in speech, caring in approach, kind in motive, tender in expression, fond of building others up, craving consideration, loving sacrificially, driven by unity and to desire nothing in return.

“For the love of Christ compels us,” (2 Corinthians 5:14a), to want to be patient and more understanding, to desire to love as Christ has loved. My prayer is that each of you will explore the love of God in your life and reflect on the promises provided through His redeeming love in Christ Jesus. Allow your heart to love for His sake (Lord allow my heart to love more for your sake), for “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear,” (1 John 4:18a). Through Jesus, love removes condemnation and we get to love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). For that reason let us together seek to be examples of love to those within our environments, fulfilling the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-31) overflowing as we are filled by God, reciting with gladness that it is the Lord whom “satisfies the longing soul,” (Psalm 107:9).

…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3 NKJV).