"From Challenge to Change to Courage ... God's Master Plan" for your Life! Lesson 4

"From Challenge to Change to Courage ... God's Master Plan" for your Life!

Lesson 4 

by Sharon Leaf

Istanbul, Turkey 2008 ~ strong, delicious hot turkish coffee!

Today's women are facing many Challenges.  Challenges that call for Change.  Speaking from experience, I can tell you that Change can be scary, but as we trust in the Lord we realize that God allows Change for our benefit.  However, when we're going through these Challenges and Changes we sometimes 

cannot see the forest for the trees.  

But when we allow God to direct our path, 

Courage comes on the scene ...

then anything can happen!

Part 1 ~ The love of Jesus

Throughout your life, have you ever been drawn to Jesus?  If so, what brought you to Him?  Was it a preacher yelling fire and damnation?  Was it a friend (or a stranger) quoting Bible verses to you?  For me, I was drawn to Jesus when I was eight-years-old because my Sunday School teacher always told me how much Jesus loved me (we even sang about it... you know...Jesus loves me, this I know...).  What could I do but accept His love and ask Him to be my personal Savior.  Since then I've heard just about everything that would 'turn off' the average person who was seeking truth.  But what is truth?  Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the Life but yelling, preaching and pounding is not the best way to show it.

   When Rob and I traveled through Siberia for a month in 1992 right after Communism fell, our small team piled into an old Russian army van and drove miles over a bumpy dirt road, out to the countyside to visit a home for the elderly.  Let me tell you, it was nothing like our senior homes here in the USA.  We spent the morning visiting the old folks, just loving and hugging on them.  We didn't speak the Russian, but they could not resist God's love flowing through us, and after we shared the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, more than 90% of them received Him as their Savior.  

   Later, as we walked down a dark musty corridor that led to the parking lot, I glanced in a room where an old lady lay on a broken-down bed.  I motioned to our interpreter to follow me.  As I sat beside the eighty-two-year-old babushka she cried, "I have been waiting for seventy years to talk to someone about Jesus."  Then through my tears, I shared, "God sent me all the way from America for you to talk to me about Jesus."  I knew at that moment that I was sent to that woman by the Lord.  She made all the sweaty days and mosquito-bitten nights worth it.  "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16.  That day, our team's lights were shining bright!  How is your light doing?

Part 2 ~  Manager or Hoarder?

   God wants to establish us in our field to allow us to rise to places of recognition so that His power can become clearer to those who have only known an invisible God.  When people hear our testimony and see our outward blessings--a beach home in California, and now living on a lovely lake in South Carolina--they ask us, what is your secret to success?  Rob always smiles and says, "It has to be God because I'm just not that smart!"  Rob is being modest--he's very smart--but we always take the opportunity to share what God has done in our lives and how He wants to do the same for them.  We have been tested through the years but even through challenging times, we have always chosen to dedicate everything we have to him and to tithe to God's kingdom.

   Sometimes God moves slowly, testing our ability to see if we can handle more status.  Part of the test is in discovering if we can love Him through the droughts, the emptiness, the unknown, and the non-support of others.

   While you are waiting, know that He is watching over you, and that He cares.  In His timing there will be provision.  It doesn't matter where you are in life--a stay-at-home mom, a business woman, a single working mother, a famous beauty queen, an almost-famous author--God wants you to share your testimony right where you are, to draw those around you to Jesus.

Part 3 ~ God cares about the Small Stuff 

"No eyes have seen, nor ears have heard... the things I have for you."  I Corinthians 2:9.  

   Do you like to be in control?  Most of us do.  Life is about control most of the time.  We think we're happy when we're in control.  But I often hear God ask, "How much control are you willing to give Me?"  Oh, my.  That means I have to trust Him in every delicate challenge that I find myself in.  I did that in the past, but am I willing to do it now? I ask myself.  I can give Him the big tasks to handle, but can I give Him the smaller ones too?  He wants it all.  He really does care about the small stuff.  Why?  Because everything is small stuff in His eyes.

Part 4 ~  God has the perfect Master Plan for each of us 

   A new chapter of my journey began in 1987 when God brought Rob into my life, via the telephone (before smart phones were the rage).  We were married a year later, then in 1991 our friends who were living in Sweden invited us to stay with them and go on a week's 'ministry trip' to Russia and Estonia.  At the end of our two-week journey we felt that God was asking us to lay down a large singles ministry at a mega church, leave our family, and move to Sweden for a year to attend an international Bible school!  Why would He ask us to do such a thing?

   Our daughter Jacquie, who was pregnant with her first baby asked, "How can you leave with your grandchild that's on the way?"  A close friend asked, "Do you have enough money to live in a foreign country for a year?"  Good questions.  A pastor on staff inquired, "Why do you have to go all the way to Switzerland?"  I answered, "Excuse me, we're going to Sweden."

   That did it!  We knew everyone was concerned, but the bottom line was that we heard God speak to us.  As crazy at it seemed, we made the choice to obey.  Our intent was to receive everything we could at Bible school, then return to impart what we received to those who were hungering after God.  But we were getting hammered on all sides.  The elders didn't understand, so they informed Rob that he had to resign as singles pastor ... immediately.

   Through it all, we stayed faithful to the call of God and by the time we left for Sweden five months later, God had supplied the money for school tuition and round-trip airfare. Love offerings abounded in our Swedish mailbox for the duration of our stay in Switzerland--oops--Sweden.  And God smiled on me when Jacquie and our granddaughter flew over for Christmas ... the best Christmas gift ever!

   You see, when you obey God's Master Plan, He will never let you down.  That doesn't mean we won't have challenging times.  I wish He would have given us all the finances first, but He waited until we made the choice to say yes to Him.  That's when His provisions came, step by step.  That's part of His Master Plan!

     Has God ever called you to do something that was totally against the norm of your life?  If yes, then encourage someone by sharing your testimony.  If no, it's not too late.  Just wait, and listen.

                                                   Istanbul, Turkey 2008

Part 5 ~ Learning to Listen 

   The more we walk under His Master Plan, the more we will be amazed at the results.  Doors will open and chances to give God the glory will be ours to share.  Being able to access the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit enables God to guide us.  I love it when the Holy Spirit and I work as a team.

   But we have questions.  If God is leading me, should I plan to go to college?  If God is leading me, should I finish the online business class I started?  With His leading, God wants us to use our abilities and resources ... our God-given gifts.  When we use our mind to think ahead, the more ready we are to act when He shows us where to go.  By working our thoughts through options and plans we can be more ready to respond as God to the Challenge that He directs.

   I'll give you an example.  In 2008 Rob and I wanted to go on a mission trip so we prayed for guidance, and then called the missions department at the Swedish church.  When they told us of the upcoming Istanbul, Turkey missions trip, my first response was, "I'd rather go to Switzerland."  But we made the Choice to say yes to Turkey.  We had no idea what we would be doing once we arrived, but at each church meeting and home group, we saw that the leaders needed encouragement.  The Holy Spirit gave us the words to speak over them, and when Rob preached at the Sunday service, we prayed for many who came forward for personal prayer and ministry. This is what I mean by listening to the challenge, then making the choice to act.  When we accepted the Turkey Challenge, God gave us the Courage to act upon that Challenge.

   Learning to Listen and Act is an Art.  We want to learn from this Bible study how to grow these skills.  It's not that hard when we follow God's Master Plan, in His perfect timing.  The world around us notices.  His plan is a perfect plan and has an awesome outcome.  Sometimes we can't even explain it to those around us.  Have you had one of those instances where you just couldn't explain?

   God is appealing ~ God intended to make our faith in Him look appealing so that we can draw others to Him.  By drawing attention to our worldly success we find moments to share the greater source of our power and abilities.  God is glorified, and man is amazed!  In what ways do yo bring glory to God daily--in your work, your home, your church, your community--so that those around you may see and be amazed?  "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."  John 12:32

God has a plan for your life!

Listen, then act!

And remember, whether near or far,

Keep reading, and keep that body movin'!

www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

www.sharonleaf.com

Lady Traveler Travels the 7 Seas on a WWII ship

~ You cannot discover new oceans until

you are willing to lose sight of the shore ~

Photo of me on deck of the MS Restoration, raising my hands to God,
thanking him for a successful--and challenging--voyage!

Have you ever had a day when everything was going great ...

dancing on the deck of a ship in the middle of the Mediterranean ...

when suddenly, out of nowhere,

there's a rifle staring you in the face?

Well, that was me.

Entering the port of Sochi, Russia in 1995 to pick up Russian Jews.
Liv, the beautiful ship's nurse, and I on deck of the MS Restoration.
Note: Liv went to heaven on August 2017. She had recently married,
and was a strong pro-life advocate in Norway and Sweden.
She is missed.

I'm going to take you back to 1995.

Here is Chapter One of my book:

1

July 1995

Within minutes of the MS Restoration's entering the Haifa harbor, an Israeli gunboat sped from the port and circled the World War II vessel.  Two soldiers aimed their deck-mounted machine guns at the ship. Another soldier shouted instructions in Hebrew through a loudspeaker.

     The captain of the MS Restoration responded over the ship's radio, "Please speak to us in English!"

     Rosie grabbed the rail.  "Do they think we're terrorists?"

     Jesse touched her arm.  "Rosie, calm down."

     "They think we're pirates."

     "Just calm down," her husband repeated, holding her hand.

     "Will they make us jump overboard?  I don't have my life jacket," she spoke, fighting back her fear of water that was trying to surface once more.

     "Rosie, you must get hold of yourself."

     Her mind raced as she gazed up at the man who'd brought her on this unpredictable journey.  Jesse's right.  What's come over me? Rosie asked herself, all the time wishing she didn't have to go down below to the head.  She didn't dare leave his side.

     The ship, her fellow crew members, and their special passengers--the Russian Jews--had finally reached their destination.  No more troubled waters.  No more hurricanes.  No more delays.  On this hot July morning, they were home free--or so they thought.

     Rosie looked at the crew, poised as if they were ready to hit the deck.  "Isn't this ironic?  We've traveled halfway around the world, and this is the welcome we get."

     "Stop your engine!" the soldier shouted.

     Within seconds, they were dead in the water.

     Rosie's stomach churned.  She hung her head over the side of the ship and let it rip.  She wiped her mouth with a hankie, then grabbed hold of Jesse's arm.  She'd heard stories about people who'd experienced close calls.  Her seventy-year-old father once told her about the time his ship almost went down in the China Sea during the war.  "At that moment, my whole life passed before me," Talmage said.

     Feeling lightheaded as the Israeli soldiers glared at the Restoration through their binoculars, Rosie wondered if this was her moment.    

end of Chapter 1

(60-second video of crossing the Atlantic Ocean, sailing by Istanbul, and Israeli gunboat in Haifa Harbor is available on my website)

After being in mothballs after WWII,
this is the MS Restoration after dry dock in Seattle, Washington 1994.
The beginning of her complete make-over. Isn't she pretty?
Believe me, she was a mess!
What began as a week of volunteering, Rob and I stayed 14 months
as volunteers on her maiden voyage to Haifa, Israel.

Map of Restoration's 1994-95 maiden voyage from Seattle, WA to
Panama, Stockholm, Sweden. Scandinavia. England.
Latvia.  Greece.  Russia.  Israel.
I visited places I never dreamed of.
And a few places that I had.

We sailed under the two bridges of Istanbul, on our way to the Black Sea.

One of many lessons I learned during this journey:

If God can bring an old ship out of mothballs and use her for such a time as this,

how much more he can use us for that which he has planned for us.

The crew truly saw God do great things before our eyes,

on shore, and mile after nautical mile at sea.
Many miracles.

I consider it an honor to have been chosen to be a small part of God's prophetic word

to help bring the Jews home to Israel.

Always remember,
it's never too late to say yes to what God has called you to do.

Whether big or small, the task that he has chosen for you is 

GREAT in his eyes.

The Restoration transported almost 2,000 Russian Jews

before she was laid to rest.

If you haven't read my book, jump on board

for a great adventure!

Until then,

I wish you oceans of travel blessings!

Shout and sing for joy, you people of Jerusalem,

because the Holy One of Israel does great things before your eyes.

Isaiah 12:6

You can order at www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

or go to my website:

www.sharonleaf.com

My 72nd year portrait

Lady Traveler ~ No place like home for Christmas

Lady Traveler is home for the holydays!  

I'm re-posting this blog from last year (2016) because the message is the same.  

Enjoy, and I'll chat with you next year.  2018!

Christmas in our first South Carolina home in Fort Mill, 2006
The mural painting was in the house when we bought it.
The canal reminded us of when we lived in Uppsala, Sweden in 1991-92
so I kept it and created a little cafe where the Le aRtist's Studio
met each month to share our dreams. 

There's no place like home for the holidays,

No matter how far away you roam...

Fa-la-la-la-la, la la la la!


On the other hand...
For a few moments while we were on the road

traveling cross country in Moon River, our 40-foot motor home,

the thought came to me,

I could do this...full-time.

Everyone is so busy at home...

No one would miss me.

Everywhere Moon River took us,

the wide open roads seemed to be 

beckoning me,

from Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri

across I-70 through Kansas and Colorado.

Even on the I-15 from Utah to California,

the desert, the hills, the blue Pacific

I heard them calling...

Come, stay with us.

Like my Daddy, I have a spirit of wanderlust.

I'm a happy wanderer.

A gilded gypsy.

A vagabond.
A sojourner.

I've traveled the USA by bus, bike, train, plane, car and RV

HOWEVER, like my sweet southern Mama,

I'm a homebody.

I love to nest.

I adore my little treasures

from around the world.

Russia, Siberia. Latvia. Estonia.
Turkey. Greece.

Sweden. Norway. Finland.

England. France. Spain. Italy. Germany.

Israel.

There are more countries but I can't seem to remember.

That's what treasures are for, 

to remind us of those places where we first saw them, brought them home, and 

found a special place for each one.

beLeaf in your dreams and they will come true.
Believe.

Some day I might have to part with these treasures, but not today.
And the highways and byways will have to wait.
Because for now, I'm singing ...


There's no place like home for the holydays,
where
family and friends gather
to celebrate
the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.


No matter what you believe,
I wish you oceans of holyday blessings!


And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son,
and thou shall call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.
Matthew 1:21


and He still does.

Lady on the Sea is available:

www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

sharonleaf.com

S-S-S-Seventy, the new Seventy...who da thought. Part 1

"S-S-S-Seventy, the new Seventy...who da thought - Part 1

"Lord, Can You Use Me?"
(the answer is "YES")

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Psalm 16:5-6

Hello...it's me.
A week after turning seventy, I was asked to speak to over a hundred ladies at Red Bank Baptist Church on the theme, "Lord, Can You Use Me?" Afterwards, I asked the Lord, "did you use me?"

Why is it that after we study and pray and do everything possible to share what the Lord has given us, our insecurities try to steal our joy?  I should be used to that by now.  After all, I am seventy.  I'm sure some of you have experienced this, so that's why I'm going to share--in a nutshell--two reasons that keep me from saying yes to God when he has a great--and sometimes scary--plan for me.
(taken from my somewhat organized notes).

The #1 reason is FEAR.  There are several kinds of fear. One is the fear of stepping into the unknown.  Oftentimes Jesus has asked me to come out of my comfort zone in order for me to totally rely on him.  Now, I know there are several of you who are saying, "I don't need God's help; I can do it myself."  That's nice, but I assure you that there will come a time when you will hit a brick wall, throw up your hands, and humbly admit, "God, I think I need your help on this one."

Fear of man will paralyze you.  When I was in eleventh grade I took a speech class because I loved to write and wanted to learn how to write formal speeches.  What I didn't know was that I had to give a speech from what I wrote.  The thought of speaking in front of a room filled with varsity football players made my head spin and my stomach churn.  My sixteen-year-old body was experiencing fear in the first degree.

After giving a successful speech, still standing in front of al of those cute football players,  I fainted and woke up underneath a table with Toby-the-darling-quarterback holding my hand.  Embarrassed is putting it mildly.  At that moment I resolved never speak in public again.

Well, God had different plans.  Throughout my life I have been asked to speak, share--whatever you want to call it--to various groups...Singles Ministry, Bible school classes, women's groups (USA and international), garden clubs, assisted living, where several dozed off within 5 minutes (great for the ego), book clubs, book conferences, and book signings.  Each time I speak I recall one of my favorite verses to overcome my fear of man: 

He gives power to the faint and 

to them that have no might he increases strength.  

Isaiah 40:29

MS Restoration sailing over the Pond (Atlantic) from Seattle, WA to our first port, Stockholm, Sweden

Personal fears cause stress, anxiety, and illness.  After spending a week working on a WWII ship in Seattle, WA, I knew God was asking my husband and I to volunteer for a 14-month term to be part of her maiden voyage.  After saying yes to God, I suddenly remembered, "Eeek!  I can't swim!"  Fear hit me like a mighty wave.  I began plotting how I could get out of this situation until the Lord gave me two comfort verses:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... Isaiah 43:2

Thus saith the Lord, which taketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters...Isaiah 43:16

MS Restoration's maiden voyage '95.
Arriving in Sochi, Russia after my heart attack in Athens, Greece

FEAR struck me in Athens, Greece 
when I was experiencing what I later discovered was a heart attack.  
After living on board this old ship that was ready to sail to the Black Sea to 
transport Russian Jews to Israel, this old gal was determined to sail to Sochi, Russia. 
I would not fly home.  
Why? Because God's Word says:

My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart,

and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

I will share the #2 reason for not saying yes to God in my next blog.  Can you guess what it might be?  I will share some personal examples on this hot topic.

Until then, wherever your feet may take you,
I wish you oceans of blessings

Read my book for details of my travels
www.sharonleaf.com

A Special 'Thank You' to my readers...

Christmas 1994 on board WW2 ship MS Restoration
Stockholm, Sweden

Christmas is here and I want to take a moment to say a 

warm, heart-felt thank you to all of you out there in Lady Leaf Land 

who have bought and read my book, 

LADY and the SEA.* 

There are too many of you out there to thank personally, 

but you know who you are.  

I run across people at the market, social events, and of course all the emails, 

telling me how much you loved my novel, based on my true story.

I can honestly tell you that writing LADY was a 

Labor of Love.  

God has taken me to over fifteen countries 

where I have had the honor to meet the most loving, sweet people 

(Russia, Siberia, Latvia, Estonia, Turkey, Israel...just to name a few), 

so I wrote about my life's journey up until 1995.

The beautiful woman I inspired
to take a risk and be gutsy!
2013

As I mentioned in my last blog, I entered my 500-word essay in the

"Have you inspired someone to take a risk and be gutsy?" contest.

I won!!

  

Have you ever inspired someone?  

You might not ever know about it in this world.  

The only reason I know is because I asked on Facebook and 

Regina responded immediately.  

WOW!

So I'll share my story, "I Inspired Someone to Take A Risk and Be Gutsy!"
to remind you that there is
someone watching and listening to you. 

It was 1991.  

I was forty-four, happily married, and co-pastoring a large singles ministry with my husband, Rob.  Did I mention this was my third marriage?  

I'm not proud of that fact, but life's journey isn't all glitter and happiness.  

With four grown children between us and three grandsons, 

I wasn't prepared for God's gutsy request for us to leave California to 

attend an international Bible school in Sweden...for a year!  

How could He ask me to move when my daughter was about to deliver my first granddaughter?  Besides, we loved pastoring our singles ministry.  

Well, not our ministry...God's ministry.  

Over a hundred singles of all ages showed up every Friday night for fellowship and to 

worship the Lord, 

not to mention the summer and winter camps, sprinkled with fun ministry outreaches.

After much prayer, Rob and I made the decision to lease our house, sell our cars, 

take a sabbatical, and leave our family behind.  

We had no idea how we were going to financially pull this off, 

but we experienced--step by step--when we say yes to God, He will meet our every need, 

from Rob finding leather gloves hanging in a tree as we 

traveled home on a bus one freezing December afternoon, 

to a surprise January birthday gift from my California friend, 
a check in the exact amount needed to purchase a pair of much needed snow boots 
(thank you once again, Shirley).

Returning home was like starting over--

new jobs, buying a used car, putting our house back in order, 

and paying off a credit card that helped take us to Israel and Siberia after graduation.

From the beginning of this journey, 

there was a twenty-three-year-old single woman watching, praying, participating.  

Although Regina's job didn't pay much, she sent us a monthly donation of a hundred dollars.  

Like us, Regina wanted to experience God in a new, fresh, and powerful way, 

so I encouraged her to stretch her faith and experience the unknown.  

In other words, take a risk and live a gutsy-for-God kind of life.

Rob helped Regina get her finances in order, 

so in 1992 she quit her job, packed up and moved to Sweden to 

attend the international Bible school.  

And God supplied all of her needs.

When people ask, 

"Why did you go all the way to Sweden for Bible school?" 

I simply answer, "Because God asked me to go."  

Sweden was a door for me to walk through that 

led to many other gutsy doorways.

People ask Regina why she went all the way to Sweden and 

her answer is the same, but she adds, 

"there was this gutsy woman, Sharon Leaf, who inspired me 

to lose sight of my safe shore and dive into a new ocean."

I didn't know this until I placed a message on my Facebook page, asking, 

"Is there anyone out there who I inspired to take a gutsy risk?"  

Within minutes, Regina answered.

Today, Regina is still inspiring!

End

LADY and the SEA
My legacy

Again, thank all of you for the kind words you've given me after reading 

LADY and the SEA.  

Now, pass the book along to someone who needs to 

find hope for their forgotten dreams.

I wish you oceans of CHRISTmas blessings and a Happy New Year!

www.sharonleaf.com
Available on www.amazon.com, Ebooks, and my website.

To Sochi, With Love ~ Part 2

The Sea of Marmara, Istanbul, Turkey,
Near the entrance to the Black Sea on our way to Sochi, Russia

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia begins this week.  Anticipation is in the air for many reasons and I plan to be watching in the comfort of my living room.  But there was an event  in 1995 that transported me out of my living-room-comfort-zone, to a place I had never heard of before: Sochi, Russia.

Rob and I in crew uniforms on deck ofWWII ship MS Restoration
 Athens, Greece, last port before arriving in Sochi, Russia
June 1995

As I mentioned in my last blog, I am including an excerpt from my book, Lady and the Sea, that tells of my own personal moments of anticipation when the WWII ship, MS Restoration, arrives in the Sochi Harbor.  It is the moment the crew has been anticipating for fourteen months.  Now, one morning before the break of dawn, we are finally at the Sochi dock, picking up the Chosen Eight, as we endearingly named our beloved passengers. I truly believe these eight Russian Jews were hand-picked by God to make the five-day Breakthrough Journey from the Black Sea to Israel.  Now, for a few moments, travel back in time ...

Excerpt from Chapter 46:

... The crew held out their hands to greet the Chosen Eight as they walked carefully up the gangway.  The captain's wife shook the hands of each man, and wrapped her arms around each woman as if she were welcoming an old friend to her home.

     "Welcome to the Restoration," Tina said.

      They smiled and shyly answered, "Spasibo."

     Tina took the stewards aside and gave them specific instructions, as if she had done this many times.  

    "We cannot imagine what our passengers are thinking and feeling as they leave the port.  We must allow them personal time and space.  They are leaving their homeland and are wondering about this Promised Land they have heard so much about."

     The Restoration pulled away from the dock as the new day broke.  Silently, a mother held her daughter as they watched the shoreline fade from sight.  A family of four stood together, holding onto the ship rail and to each other.  An older couple, with arms wrapped around each other and tears streaming down their faces, made small conversation in their native tongue.

     Rosie and Tina watched from the balcony.  "Now I see with my eyes what this ship is all about," Rosie said as her own tears fell to the deck.  "It's about these eight brave souls."

     "Yes, the Chosen Eight.  But this is only the beginning.  Many more will follow.  As the Bible predicts, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will guide them out of the darkness, into the light. and to a life they have only dreamed about until now."

     Rosie put her arm around Tina.  "And this is what your dream is all about."

     "Yes, this is my dream come true.  And what is your dream, Rosie?"

     "When I was a young girl, my dream was to travel the world with Jesus, and with the man I love.  Now, as I am participating in this prophesy on this ship, my dream is coming true."

     Together, the two dreamers cried tears of joy.

Our tiny one-room cabin
WWII ship MS Restoration May 1994 to July 1995
Notice fan & stereo at foot of our bed; shortwave radio next to Rob's pillow;
Reading lights hooked on metal headboard
The good life.

We all have our moments of anticipation, especially when we are right smack dab in the middle of that moment.  Have no fear; know that God has placed you there for a purpose.  Then when you look back, you too might want to write about it.  If not a book, how about a short story to give to your family--so they won't forget.  Or at least a note to yourself in your journal--so you won't forget.  Believe me, time has a way of filling the brain with so much stuff that it sometimes pushes the important events out.

Remember,

~ You cannot discover new oceans until 

you are willing to lose sight of the shore ~

Until next time, I wish you oceans of blessings!

www.sharonleaf.com

To Sochi, With Love ~ Part 1

Me and nurse Liv Kersti in Sochi Harbor 1995
on WWII ship MS Restoration
Behind us is the seaside town of Sochi
directly behind are the mountains where the skiing events will take place

He protected us on our entire journey 

and among all nations through which we traveled.  

Joshua 24:17

We don't know how the 2014 Winter Olympics will turn out next month, but I know of a very successful event that took place in Sochi that is written down in God's history book.  I was a small part of this prophetic journey.  That is why I was compelled to write Lady and the Sea, a novel based on my true story.

The photo above was taken on the deck of the MS Restoration June 23 1995 in the Sochi harbor.  The day was clear, warm and full of electricity.  After fourteen months on board the WWII ship, we had finally arrived in Sochi, Russia where we would pick up and transport eight Russian Jews to Haifa Israel.  A small group, yes, but it was our 'breakthrough' trip for the thousands of Russian Jews that would follow, free of charge.
Note: You never know when your own 'breakthrough' moment will take place, so stay alert.

For security reasons, the crew was told to stay on board except for the captains and those who loaded the large crates that were filled with the Russian Jews' personal belongings.  And Rob.  How he got permission to set foot on Sochi soil, I'll never know.  Neither will he.  Only God.

Next week I will write an excerpt from Lady and the Sea that tells one of the more emotional moments of my journey.

As we each travel our own journey, 

Who knows where their paths will lead?  

We take one step at a time and trust God.  

God is great.  God is good.

Knowing this will give us peace to take the next step.

www.sharonleaf.com

Advice from Lady Traveler: from Russia to Israel to the USA, be aware of your surroundings

It's a big world we live in!

Since my first trip to Russia in 1991, Rob instructed me, always be aware of your surroundings, so whenever I travel abroad, I'm on the lookout for unusual sitings.  Today, more than ever since the Boston Marathon bombing, I'm keeping my eyes open here in the USA.  In the supermarket.  At the local mall.  Yes, times are changing fast.  Israel has lived for years with this type of terrorist attacks.  Now, again, terrorism has reared its ugly head on our American soil.

I'm not writing this blog to be political or religious, and this isn't meant to be a Bible study, but when I was recently in California visiting friends of different backgrounds, certain topics always seemed to surface:  How can such bad things happen to good people? Did God do this?  On and on.

I don't claim to have all the answers, but the Bible talks about these subjects.  So I'll make it as simple as possible.  If you want more details, you can study further via your Bible.  So here goes.

There were three archangels in heaven, Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer.  Lucifer was the worship leader; he was a beautiful, anointed cherub, perfect in all his ways, but as the years went by (thousands, millions?), iniquity (evil, distortion) was found in him.  Because he desired to be like (as God), Lucifer was cast to earth (Ezekiel 28:12-17; Isaiah 14:12-14).  One third of the angels decided to follow him, now called demons (Revelation 2:4).  Satan brought this evil and distortion with him to earth, and he is temporarily the prince and power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), going to and fro, causing as much havoc as he possible can because he knows his days are numbered.

When I became aware of this revelation, it helped me to understand why evil abounds all around.  But God gave us a way out ... he sent his son, Jesus, and through His death and resurrection, we have power over our enemy, the former archangel Lucifer, now called Satan, or more familiar--the devil.

TiP:  Go ahead, open your Bible and turn to John 3:16.  Once you start reading, you won't want to stop!  Until then,

I wish you smooth sailing ... be aware of your surroundings ... and yes, oceans of blessings and waves of peace in the midst of all turmoil.

www.sharonleaf.com

From Israel to the Interstate, I love to Travel

Sailing from Sochi, Russia to Haifa, Israel on the MS Restoration ('95)

As I watched the The Bible series on the History channel the other night, I was taken back to the days when Rob and I traveled through Israel.  The Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, and ahh, the Holy City, Jerusalem, surfaced from my memory bank.  David's citadel, the Upper Room, the old city, and my favorite place, the Western Wall where I placed my small, white piece of paper between the stones.

Rob and I at the Western Wall

Rob and I have traveled to many countries and found each one unique.  But no matter where we travel, or live, what makes up the places where we are?  The people.  It's the people who add flavor, zest, and wonder to that particular corner of the world.  Cultures are different, so the people are in so many ways.  In my travels, I took the time to get to know the Swedes, Norwegians, Finnish, Russians, Estonians, Latvians, Turks, Greeks, Israelis.  And of course I have to add that their delicious food and delicacies was icing on my cake! (note: I write about my travels in my novel, Lady and the Sea)

When we moved from sunny Southern California to sultry South Carolina, it was a big adjustment.  More for Rob than me.  I was born here so I was returning to my southern roots.  But Rob is a beach boy at heart.  Thankfully, we are only a few hours from the east coast shores, and we can visit our hometown of Huntington Beach periodically, but this is our home now.  We are surrounded by big-hearted folks who have taken us in like their own children.  Pretty nice since we're in our mid-sixties.

Driving down the Interstate

So remember, wherever you travel, near or far ... wherever you live, on the west coast or in the heartland, get to know the people around you.  Those are the ones that God has placed in your lives, whether for a small season or for years and years and years to come.

I wish you smooth driving and highways of blessings!

And remember ... there's NO PLACE like HOME

At the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God.  

So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest  

Hebrews 4:9-10

www.sharonleaf.com
www.sharonleaf.blogspot.com

Russian Meteorites bring back Russian Memories

Moscow 1991

Our road will be smooth and untroubled no matter what care life may send; 

if we travel the pathway together, and walk side by side with a friend.  

The news reports of Russian meteorite showers that hit the town of Chelyabinsk, Russia last week took me back to when Rob and I traveled on the former youth communist propaganda train through fourteen cities in Russia and Siberia in 1992.  The beautiful Ural Mountains.  Wonderfully kind Russian people.  Heart-kept memories.  God kept us safe through many close calls, but you'll have to read my novel, LADY and the SEA, to find out the details.

Have you had any close calls lately?  Who knows, perhaps one waits just around the corner.  Lean on God to take you through.  He'll give you a friend in time of trouble.  Most important, He is your best friend.



Meanwhile, closer to home...

Jacquie and me,  two weather gals at a local TV station
No meteorites in site.

Jacquie and I toured our local 

WIS10TV station yesterday.  

We had loads of fun, met the wonderful WIS10 team, and 

went behind the scenes of the 4 o'clock news program.  

Tune in next week for more details (do I sound professional??)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  Ephesians 4:3

No matter where I travel, there is no place like home.

www.sharonleaf.com

Lady Traveler's First time--for everything!

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

As I write my first Lady Traveler blog, 

the thought crosses my mind"

 there is a first time for everything. 

The simple days of typewriters are long gone.

I typed my first two manuscripts in the 70's on a Smith-Corona.

I have slowly dog-paddled my way into the generation of 

laptops and an Iphone.

Yep, my husband bought me one of those gadgets last week.

I sleep with it (joke).

I will be writing about my travels thus far

--living in Sweden for a year;

traveling through Siberia 

on the former youth Communist propaganda train; 

volunteering on a World War II ship for over a year 

to transport Russian Jews from Sochi, Russia to Haifa, Israel; spending time in Russia, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and 

other exotic destinations. 

I'm writing to encourage women everywhere 

that it is never too late for your dreams to come true. 

My international travels began when I was forty-four

--more about that later. 

I'm not sure that I'm blogging correctly, 

so I will close for now. 

If I am, I will celebrate by writing a real, 

honest-to-goodness blog tomorrow.

I wish you oceans of blessings on my first day of blogging!

www.sharonleaf.com