Embraced...again

I don't really understand it.

It's not normal, actually.

And its regularity astounds me.

At first, I eyed it with suspicion.

I analyzed it and pondered it's implications.

I investigated agendas and motives.

And...then...I cautiously accepted it.

Hesitantly...on my guard.

Overwhelmed by the obvious authenicity...unsure of its reality.

But now...I'll openly confess....

I've come to depend on it.

Lean on it.

Need it.

Miss it desperately when we are gone.


Our Glenwood church family.

Their love. Their support.

The gazillion hugs and smiles.

The gazillion offers to help...

Food, invitations, gifts....

Prayers.

Precious Glenwood,

Your interest and passion for our friends in Uganda amazes me. Your abounding love for me, Jeff and our kids bolls me over.

I don't know how we ever did this without you.

You are, over and over again, God's sustaining embrace on our family.

Love each other. Passionately. And never, never quit.

I need you now. His work through you continues to hold me up and press me on.

...to the goal...for the prize...

I'm exceedingly grateful to run this race with you.

Who's in Charge Here?

I awoke to Silas' foot in my ribs. (He slept with us AGAIN.) I gazed valiantly at the clock but my bleary eyes would not adjust.

After searching for and finding my glasses, I read "7:30am".

My foggy brain began immediately clicking through the details.

"Jeff--meeting at 10am...Kaylin watching the kids...clothes for the kids downstairs....must be brought up to their rooms...what items to add to the toy bag for the day...remember nap paraphenalia for Silas...forgot to buy lunchables...Whataburger for lunch...order things online...new homeschool curriculum or old?...lists for Alicia...article for bulletin...thank you notes...schedule for evening meal...Jeff should take the van..."

And on my brain tumbled.

Through my coffee, bagel, driving, errands, lunch and phone calls.
Projects, lists and priorities demanding to be processed and attended to.

4:00pm---I sat down to catch my breath, picked up His Message and found myself at these words whispering boldly into my busyness.

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,"

"...but you would have none of it."

Um. Ouch.

"...Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion...."

"...Blessed are all who wait for him."

The tender boldness I've come to love and depend on. His Truth. Calling me to be still. Quiet. At rest.

As I slam on the brakes of my day I am reminded that it is,in fact, not all up to me.

I don't have to do it all. I just have to keep the list :-).

And daily offer that list up to the One, Who with one glance, sets every priority into place.

"Be still and know that I am God."

Oh. Yeah. That.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Okay.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

So, I face the evening ahead. Guarded. By his peace. Which at last quiets my mind and declares in the silence...

"I am God, precious one. I am God."

(scripture references from Isaiah 30:15,18 and Philippians 4:6-7)

Hello Out There

My dear blog friends...I miss you.

Our current place of residence is without internet service (but has so many other plusses we can NOT complain!)

We daily enjoy the gorgeous view of a lake. The quiet and stillness of country living. And the blessed joy of having our own place.

So it is NOT all bad.

I have many delightful things to share. I THINK blogs all the time. And sometime soon I hope to have more than five minutes to record my thoughts and ponderings on my little space on the web.

Until then...I think of you often. And look forward to being with you again...