Where did the time go?????

Yesterday was Gwen's birthday.  She is old enough that I will not say exactly how old she is, but let's just say, I can't believe how old she is.  Wasn't I just that age, like yesterday?  I love this picture of Gwen's 3rd birthday.  It is special since Doug was just a bit shy of 2 months old.  This party would not have happened without the help of a good friend who basically took care of Doug the entire morning. And I have this picture, thanks to her!  I think we had 8 little friends for a morning party.  It was the first of many kid parties.  I love this picture also, because of the art work (thanks to Agape preschool) on the refrigerator.

Unfortunately, Gwen did not have a very good birthday yesterday.  Lia's sickness from Thursday of last week, next hit Ellie on Saturday, followed by Zeke and Anna at the same time on Sunday night.  And then, during the night (actually the wee hours of Monday morning) both Tim and Gwen got the dreaded stomach virus.  It was so bad on Monday morning that Lia actually volunteered to stay home from school to watch Zeke and Anna.  Needless to say, both Lia and Ellie made it to the bus.  Thankfully, both Zeke and Anna were exhausted from their interrupted sleep on Sunday night, and they took long naps.  So Gwen and Tim were able to just lay on the sofa most of the day.  Gwen was finally able to eat a few bites of dinner and a couple of bites of her "birthday cookie cake".  Today she was just glad that yesterday had passed and happy to be feeling better today.

Today I was reading from Psalm 62, which was titled (in the Passion Translation) "Unshakable Faith". I know that Jesus knew that I really needed this today.......

I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love;

waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me.

Only God is my Savior and He will not fail me.  

For he alone is my Safe Place.

His wrap-around presence always protects me.

As my Champion-Defender; there's no risk of failure with Him!

So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me?

God's Glory is all around me! His wrap-around presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior!

I kind of got stuck on the first line.  I WISH I was standing in absolute stillness.  And I WISH I has silent before Him.  I really didn't feel like I was standing.  In fact I kind of felt flat on my face.  I was not being still either.  As a matter of fact, I was really not silent either.  I was in a spot of crying out to Jesus and telling Him that I really didn't understand why things were not turning out as I had prayed.   I wish that I could say that his peace was immediate..... but it took a while to feel that wrap-around presence.  But I did feel it.  And even as I typed in those words tonight, I felt it again.  I am so thankful for Scripture that is alive and speaks to us!

Jesus, thank you so much for Gwen and all that you have for her in the years ahead!  Thank you for the destiny you have for her and Tim.  Thank you for restored health in their household.  Holy Spirit, thank you for reminding me to go to scripture when I feel shaken.  Jesus, thank you for your warp-around presence!  Amen

"Waiting in Silence for God only"

So I am remembering my last post......getting dumped on. Last night it became apparent that our Air Conditioning was not working - again.  So today we had yet another service person out to look at our unit.  And it was all bad news.  Both Ken and I thought our furnace and air conditioner were around 15 years old.  Sadly we were mistaken.  They are actually from 1993, and beyond good functioning.  So, we will be arranging to have a new furnace and air conditioner installed.  It does feel a bit like getting dumped on.  Especially since I have not found a new job! 

But here is the thing.  I am not feeling all that upset about this.  And I believe it is because of all the prayers that are being said for me right now, since I am unemployed!  Isn't it funny how that works out?  If I wasn't being covered in prayer by so many faithful friends, this might have really thrown me for a loop.  But today, it just seemed - sort of just one of those things.  As a matter of fact, I know that the Holy Spirit gave me wisdom and a potential plan of action to take care of not only this event, but also several other large repairs that are needed on our home. 

Being in that "dump" of the Holy Spirit on Sunday night sure helped and I am so thankful.  I've been reading Psalm 62 this week and meditating on everything packed into these verses. 

1 My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.

2  He only is my rock and my salvation. My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3. How long will you assail a man. That you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

and then verse 5  My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.

6.  He only is my rock and my salvation.  My stronghold. I shall not be shaken.

I can not seem to let go of the concept of waiting in silence for God.  On Sunday night we were talking about how often we babble on and on with our requests to God.  Like somehow our words are going to achieve something.  I know I have been guilty of this.  It's really easy to cross a point into feeling like if we pray the right words, if they are exactly right, THEN our prayer will be answered.  And the reality is that God is the one who acts in His own time.  And I have discovered this week that there is great peace in waiting silently for God only.   I had waves and waves of peace just wash over me.  No direct answers to my needs.  But peace that passes understanding.  Wonderful, warm, comfort as I just sat and waited in silence.  I have to say this was some of the most wonderful prayer time I have ever had.  I am so thankful for the leader on Sunday, that brought forth this particular Psalm, in this translation (NASB).  If I were reading this in NIV (my usual, preferred version) I would have missed this.  It really does not read the same at all.  What a blessing this has been to me!And the evidence of all the peace I have received, is my response to my broken air conditioning. 

Jesus, thank you for preparing me for this week.  Holy Spirit, I love how you know exactly what we need and when we need it.  Thank you for Nancy and her insights shared that bless so many.  Holy Spirit, help us to all to get comfortable being silent and waiting.  Thank you for the peace you give in the waiting.   Amen