We're Back!

I am so excited! I just got word from our mechanic that our Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is ready to be picked up! We will be a 2 car family again! God is so good. I feel blessed just to have one car, but God blessed us with this second car through a Christian family we know for free, so we have been overly-blessed having 2 vehicles. But I missed her while she was gone, and wondering if she was dead. But no longer! We will once again have the freedom to go where we please, do what we want, and not have to burden our friends with the task of bringing us to church on Wednesday nights. But I tell you, that is another area where I am blessed. We have such wonderful people in our church! I really have not lacked anything I need, including a way to get to church so I am blessed all the way around! Thank you God!

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost (1874–1963) TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

The Christian walk is just like this. We are called to walk the path less taken, but straight and true. But along the way it is so hard to find my way and be sure I am doing just what God wants me to do. I know that in order to have true peace and fulfillment I need to be seeking to do what God has for me to do. I sometimes rely on my own strengths and abilities, choosing to do things that seem logical. But I have to re-evaluate and ask myself, "Is this really where God wants me?" I have felt confused lately as I try to figure out just what God has for me to do, when I can across an encouraging scripture.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21

God is here all along I just need to be patient and seek Him until I can hear Him. I know that He will guide me if I am willing to truly seek His will. Until I know that I have new marching orders from Him I will continue to do what I believe He has called me to do until I can hear Him tell me owtherwise.

Romans 15:5-7
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (NIV)

Unity is so key to just about everything, yet so hard to get. Have you ever noticed that you can have 5 people in a room, all listening to one person talk yet they all hear the person differently? It is so weird but true. Unity is so hard because we are all so different. Satan tries to capitalize on those differences to divide us, when God created those differences for good. This scripture encourages us toward unity so that we can praise God together. But it also points out that we have to accept one another so we can have unity so that we can praise God. Why? Because Christ accepted you! That is just too hard to argue with. Why do we have to forgive one another? Because We are forgiven by God. He hasn't asked us to do these things without doing them first. God is so gracious.!

I picked this picture of a rainbow at night not only because it is beautiful and I never knew that there are rainbows at night anywhere (This is in Alaska), but because that just takes hope to a whole new level for me. Isn't that just too cool that God even gives his symbol of promise at night!

This scripture starts out by saying that may the God that gives endurance and encouragement give us a spirit of unity. That is so neat because it is pointing out that God is there to help us, knowing that unity can be tough to achieve. God is always with us and helps us as much as we will allow him.

Let's SOAR!

Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)


What an encouragement! It may sound weird to you, but the first thing that stands out to me is that even young people get tired, weary, stumble and fall. It is not just those of us that have been walking the Christian walk for a while now. Right now I am in a place of weariness and I am tired. But even a young person can get here. But the best news is that if we but hope in the Lord HE will renew our strength! And what a renewal! To soar on wings like eagles is such a neat picture! To run and not grow weary or walk and not be faint is such a wonderful promise. But I have to hope in the Lord. If I make Him my focus He will take care of the rest. Thank you God, you are so good!

Bearing WithOne Another in Love

Ephesians 4:2-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV)

Boy sometimes this seems such a hard thing to do, doesn't it - to bear with someone else? That's a nice way (when you are having a hard time with this concept) of saying to put up with them. BUT I find it interesting that the responsibility is fully placed on us to bear with that other person. It doesn't give us the allowances we wish for. "But you just don't know how much I have had to put up with in dealing with this person!" Boy I have at least thought this countless times, and many times I go ahead and say it. But God calls me to be Patient, humble and gentle. God doesn't even let me off the hook at that, He calls me to make EVERY EFFORT to keep unity through the bond of peace. That is so hard for me sometimes because I am so sinful. But I know that God's way is best and if I obey Him He can bless me, so I will try to do as He has called me to. What is neat is that I am a bear to deal with too so maybe you can bear with me in love too!