Friends

Lately, I've been realizing how many wonderful people God has placed in my life. New friends, old friends, family friends, work friends, church friends. It would never be possible to be as close to all these people if it were not for God. Time, distance, and life often separate us. All of them are a blessing. All teach me lessons that are straight from God. Lessons of grace and love and connection and sharing the love of the One that makes them possible. Lessons of patience and love that are only possible because of the patience and kindness and gentleness that God makes possible because those are not "fruits" that I possess as a child of Adam. I am blessed.

Warm Greetings from Long Ago

On Friday I received an email from a very special person in my life. My parents sent me to Trinity Christian School for second grade more than 30 years ago. I only went there for a year because the ride from Delmont to Wilkinsburg proved rough on my little seven year old self. But that year was very special. I had a wonderful teacher who made each of her students feel so special. Her name was Miss Wilma - well, that's what we were to call her since her very Dutch name would have been difficult for our seven year old tongues to get around. I can honestly say that I remember more about that year than any other year in my elementary education. Units about Japan and Holland and the journeys of Paul. Songs about Jesus and Bible baseball games. And special memories like McDonalds lunches on Tuesdays and one particularly poignant moment where I got in trouble with several other kids and spent some comical moments in the principle's office praying with my classmates that we wouldn't get in trouble for racing around an unsupervised classroom on a winter morning while waiting out a snow delay. What a year. And what a teacher. She collected bells and we once visited her house to look at her piano to buy and I remember seeing one of the bells was one we got her as a teacher's gift. I can't tell you precisely why she was so special but I can say that she loved the Lord and she loved me and this was so evident.

After that year, we exchanged letters regularly. I don't remember the chronology but over the years I was priveledged to learn of her missionary return to Japan, her adoption of a little girl named Sarah, and her battle with cancer. And through it all, she loved the Lord with a passion that I aspired to. She taught me about a relationship with the Savior in that year and in every year after by her very life.

She sent an email telling me that she had been reading this blog and Bob's. And sharing some of the our common studies and even struggles. I read it and was immediately overwhelmed with the gift that God has given me in Ms. Wilma. 30 plus years and He's been in the middle of it all along. What grace.

I'm going to try and dig up a photo I have of the two of us standing outside of the school on one of the final days of my second grade year. I know that I'll not likely see her again until we are home again with Christ. What a homecoming that meeting will be.

Step by Step

Bob and I are taking on a few big adventures this summer. The worship leading has already begun and while it is fun it is a big responsibility - one that both of us take very seriously. In addition, we agreed to lead a Bible Study this summer.





Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. We got the books and met with the pastors about small group leading last Sunday. This week I've started to look it over. When Tommy mentioned it, he said it would be lifechanging and even the small part I've read already has been great.

Here's what I've been getting already:

Staying in God's will is sometimes about listening to what He tells us to do one step at a time. I've been reminded so many times that it is truly a marathon - not a sprint. Here's a few examples of stories that have already reinforced the idea that this is how you Experience God:

- Elijah was told to go to hide. God didn't say much about the exact hows and whys - He just said go and I will provide. One step at a time.



- Abraham was told to go. Not exactly told where - just that he should obey and would be blessed.



- Moses - again with the go. Go out from Egypt. No street by street TOM-TOM directions.



And mostly that's what I want God to do - give me the whole 5Ws. But if I listen to Him on all the little things, I'll find myself smack dab in the middle of His will. And obedient. And happy. And not worrying - because who can worry when you are looking at your next step. You don't have time to panic about the giant valleys that might be coming.



There was a time in my life when I ABSOLUTELY lived by this. Life was crazy and sad and unstable. I didn't know if my marriage was going to make it and looking ahead was terrifying. I was coming back from the gym on a Saturday morning. I had walked the short way because it was so pretty out and was trying a different way back. I had to climb up this big hill and as I climbed with the loose dirt and tall grass, all I could do was concentrate on one foot at a time. One step and then the other. If I had looked up, I might have gotten overconfident. If I had looked down, nervous. Even side to side would have lost the focus. I just needed to look at my feet and stay focused. And like a whisper, I knew that the Spirit was teaching me. I needed to stop worrying about the past and the future and just focus on God - on the getting through the next minute.



And now years later, I am learning that He wants me to do that not just during the hard times, but ALL THE TIME. This is the path to the hope and peace that I am desperately seeking. If I learn to do this, I know He'll give me the cue to sometimes turn around and sit down on that hill and enjoy the view - without the worry and without the stress and the overconfidence. Because I bet when I am able to look out from the place where my steps have been led, I will see that I have been walking in the beautiful path of His Grace all along!

A Day of Blessing and Tests

This morning God really spoke to Bob. We talked briefly before I left for work and I was overwhelmed. I just had this wonderful feeling that Bob was finally in a place where he could sometimes be my support. Check out his blog for details:

http://bobmasterino.blogspot.com/2008/04/under-attack.html

Then later on this afternoon I had a wonderful conversation with Bob's mom. Nothing extraordinary just loving and encouraging from both sides. I've missed that.

Then I made some calls to yellowpages.com. I've been working on the contract he signed for advertising. In 6 weeks, he's not received one referral from it. When I first decided to call I toyed with the idea of stretching the truth or being belligerent to try and convince them to cancel the contract. And I was compelled - by a rather convincing source {read God} that I should just be totally honest and let it up to God to do whatever was His will. I spoke with our rep. He respected my honesty but could not do much because of policy. However, he did give me the phone number for his supervisor. I spoke with him this evening. Although nothing has been decided, there's at least a chance. They were receptive to our dilemma and will be reviewing it with the supervisor above him. There's no explanable reason that he is getting no calls. It should have worked - but perhaps that wasn't what God had in mind. The fact that no one knows why this isn't working is very telling. So we'll just have to wait in faith. That one is kind of a blessing and test of faith at once.

Then the test. Emily called tonight in crisis. Nana is hallucinating because of an infection and it is tearing everyone up inside. Emily is having a hard time because Nana thinks that everyone is conspiring against her. I spoke with Nana for a few moments and prayed with her. And it was bad - it didn't appear to help but God works in His own time. The whole situation is just so painful. Daddy was just getting there when Emily hung up. If you read this, please pray for all of them. Nothing like this is easy.

UPDATE: I talked with Dad this morning and got an email from Em. Nana settled down about 11 last night. Emily laid in bed with her after she hesitantly took a Ativan. She felt like she had a terribly vivid nightmare. I think Emily felt the same way. Keep praying for Emily and Dad and Nana. They are on the frontlines on this one and are taking turns being pretty battleworn.