I am listening...

Speak, for your servant is listening.

1 Samuel 3:10

As I checked and rechecked my list of last minute things to pack for Trinidad today, I was overcome with the urge to rest. I questioned, as ususal.

Rest? Are your sure, Lord? I have so much to do!

Of course He knows just what I need. He knows how to get my attention and in that sacred moment He spoke to my heart in such a tender way, reminding me that He is in control.

So many things pull me in so many different directions.

I often feel like Gumby, that dark green clay figure created in the 1950s.
Stretched and stressed.

But today, He took me in His hands and held me, molded me, smoothed me out, re-shaped me and spoke to me through His Word...

Your strength will come from settling

down in complete dependence on me.

Isaiah 30:15

He whispers,

Depend on Me,

Be still,

Depend on Me completely.

I listen.

I rest.

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply" - Hudson Taylor

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" - William Carey

How Great Thou Art...

219. a prayer, an annointing, a blessing for our trip

220. bathing, feeding, rocking Malli

221. boiled peanuts

Faith will not always get for us what we want, but it will get what God wants us to have.

orchid in Trinidad


The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old when he set out from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4

What tremendous faith! God told Abram to leave all he had ever known...what he was comfortable with, pick up, and go to a new place. Abram obeyed God. He stepped into the unknown. What about me and you? Will we obey God and follow Him into unchartered territory? If we do step out, our faith in God will be increased and our dependence on self will lessen. God speaks to each of us in different ways. He has a specific design, a special purpose for each of us. Will we trust Him?

Faith will not always get for us what we want,

but it will get what God wants us to have.

- Vance Havner

A blessing is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one's hopes.

215. Taylor home from Atlanta

216. watching Savannah-Jane search scripture

217. hearing Griff sing praise songs

218. my husband, a true help-mate

G-Pa, Poppy, Gramps, Grandpa, Pop, or Papa...

214. an afternoon nap with Malli

We aren't sure what name he will be given, but for now he should be labeled "smitten." He can't seem to take his eyes off her. He thinks she is perfect, brilliant, beautiful (and she is). He loves to cradle her in his arms, pray over her, and whisper sweet blessings into her ears. I captured a precious moment this afternoon... just the two of them snuggled together, napping, stealing a moment, a memory, a treasure.

His name? The name she will call him? Not sure yet. For now though it's definitely smitten (and truly blessed).

God is God and I am not

You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.

Revelation 4:11

One of the many lessons God is teaching me over and over again is ...

He is God and I am not!

The words to the Steven Curtis Chapman song below remind me of the certainty of the uncertainty of life and at the same time the assurance and the hope that God is in control. I can not rely on my emotions, my feelings, other people, my health, my wealth (or the lack of it). It is temporal!

He is first and last before all that has been.

Beyond all that will pass.

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don't know
And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust
God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture Hes painting
God is God and I am man
So Ill never understand it all
For only God is God
And the sky begins to thunder
And I'm filled with awe and wonder
Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I
Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass
Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things
So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

-Steven Curtis Chapman

Praise to God!

213. sharing hope with a discouraged soul

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel!

He comes alongside us when we go through hard times,

and before you know it,

he brings us alongside someone else

who is going through hard times

so that we can be there for that person

just as God was there for us.

We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah,

but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—

we get a full measure of that, too.
When we suffer for Jesus,

it works out for your healing and salvation.

If we are treated well,

given a helping hand and encouraging word,

that also works to your benefit,

spurring you on, face forward,

unflinching.

Your hard times are also our hard times.

When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times

as to enjoy the good times,

we know you're going to make it,

no doubt about it.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7