a. "Worry is misuse of your imagination" said the church sign I saw last night. This morning I looked at Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you." Interestingly, the word "mind" in that verse means "imagination." Read the verse again using the word "imagination" in place of "mind."
b. While we live with another family in their home, this Luke 16:12 has taken on a whole new meaning: "And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?"
c. I miss home–cooked meals. I believe these will follow in short order once we get our own home.
d. Cetelia has made her presence known by giving nutritional advice to our friends, particularly where natural-ingredient smoothies are concerned.
e. We had an incident today with one of our children, and I told the child that we all miss home, and that this is not easy for any of us. I went on to tell the child that being rebellious doesn't make it easier on any of us.
f. My prayer for the past two days has sounded something like this "Lord, thank you for the privilege to share your in glory, and for the privilege to share in your sufferings (Romans 8:17). Help us to test well." Whether sharing in his glory or his sufferings, it is a test.
g. I spoke with my friend Edgar today, and he said he was so glad that I was coming up to New Jersey this week. That really bolstered my confidence that I made the right call. Thank you for your prayers for him.
h. Cetelia and I were eating dinner at Panera, and I saw young lady named Pamela studying the Bible (just like I did the other day at Chick-fil-A). I asked her what God was saying, and she was studying about being a child of Abraham. I guess right now I am experiencing being a son of Abraham by living by faith.
i. Speaking of Panera, how confusing is their table alert gadget? Which side should I put down? Somebody help me!
i. Two years ago Cetelia and I unknowingly read the same verse on the same day while 3000 miles apart (Deuteronomy 8:18). I read it that morning, and she read it that afternoon. It was a great promise, and seemed to foretell what was going to happen with us where Marriage Works! was concerned. Needless to say, I was ready to walk in it then. Tonight at dinner, however, I was prompted that there is a prerequisite to that great promise: humbling and testing (Deuteronomy 8:16).
j. We're being humbled by being reliant on others to provide shelter for us (they said we can go to a hotel if we feel like we need to, but questioned why we'd spend the money needlessly). Furthermore, we're being tested by trusting that God is truly leading us despite everything going opposite from how we thought it would.
k. God continues to do exactly what I've been praying that he would do: direct our steps by his word (Psalm 119:133). As we read the bible, we keep getting direction for the next step.
l. I believe God wants his children walking by faith , not by fleeces (sight) (besides, it's just too doggone hot to walk by a fleece here in Texas!) (2 Corinthians 5:7). As we mature in Christ, we should also mature in taking steps of faith. Even if go the wrong way, God's grace is sufficient and his love grand enough to keep us.
m. Cetelia and I are not perfect in this area yet, but we are mindful of it, and try our best – by God's grace – to avoid fleeces so we can take steps of faith instead.
n. For years I have believed and taught that reading God's word should be done for more reasons that getting a gold sticker or feeling good about one's self. Reading and studying God's word is for staying alive. I love how Psalm 27:8 describes it as a necessity. That's where I am right now.
o. Max came home from VBS tonight, and was nearly disappointed to tears over one of the boys was getting picked on [by six other boys] for the second straight day. I love how tender Max's heart is towards those who are hurting. For the third straight night, he prayed for Edgar and his children. I like what I'm seeing.
p. Although things are still very much up in the air, we're doing our best to keep doing what we do. I'm working on Marriage Works! stuff, and Cetelia is homeschooling.
j. We're being humbled by being reliant on others to provide shelter for us (they said we can go to a hotel if we feel like we need to, but questioned why we'd spend the money needlessly). Furthermore, we're being tested by trusting that God is truly leading us despite everything going opposite from how we thought it would.
k. God continues to do exactly what I've been praying that he would do: direct our steps by his word (Psalm 119:133). As we read the bible, we keep getting direction for the next step.
l. I believe God wants his children walking by faith , not by fleeces (sight) (besides, it's just too doggone hot to walk by a fleece here in Texas!) (2 Corinthians 5:7). As we mature in Christ, we should also mature in taking steps of faith. Even if go the wrong way, God's grace is sufficient and his love grand enough to keep us.
m. Cetelia and I are not perfect in this area yet, but we are mindful of it, and try our best – by God's grace – to avoid fleeces so we can take steps of faith instead.
n. For years I have believed and taught that reading God's word should be done for more reasons that getting a gold sticker or feeling good about one's self. Reading and studying God's word is for staying alive. I love how Psalm 27:8 describes it as a necessity. That's where I am right now.
o. Max came home from VBS tonight, and was nearly disappointed to tears over one of the boys was getting picked on [by six other boys] for the second straight day. I love how tender Max's heart is towards those who are hurting. For the third straight night, he prayed for Edgar and his children. I like what I'm seeing.
p. Although things are still very much up in the air, we're doing our best to keep doing what we do. I'm working on Marriage Works! stuff, and Cetelia is homeschooling.
q. I spoke to my sistah today. Love her and my nephews.
r. I also spoke to my sis-in-law. Love her and my nieces, too!
r. I also spoke to my sis-in-law. Love her and my nieces, too!