This family has been such a blessing over the years! I am so thankful for all the laughs we have shared. From listening to Jungle Jam episodes to hiking up Paris Mountain, it is always an adventure :) They are faithful friends, incredibly hard workers, and bonded brothers. Congratulations Brennan, I know the Lord has incredible things in store for you! Because all good men have sidekicks... I mean dogs ;) Because we like to have fun!These are my mom's tulips... some bulbs planted months before and forgotten about by everyone except the gardener. She prepared the soil, watered them, put fertilizer and pine-straw on top and weeded around them, but we could not dig up and check the bulbs or force them to grow faster. Before the blooms came it took time for roots to develop, nutrients to be absorbed, the sun to warm the ground after winter, and for the stem to be sturdy enough to even hold the weight of the flower. All of this was understood and expected by the planter. Somewhat similarly, God has orchestrated history for the purpose of our redemption. Before the gospel blooms in a life, God is preparing the soil of a heart. Before we know {if we ever know} the fruits of our labors or without seeing the blooms, we can trust that the God is still working and growing His children. Many times, ok, perhaps most of the time, the tasks of life or present responsibilities seem mundane, or it seems that evil is unashamedly rampant {which it is and is not a new thing - remember Noah?}, or it is discouraging to see people exposed to the truth still reject or neglect it. Yet, I was reminded this past week that when we are seeking the Lord He never "puts us on the shelf." He never forsakes us. God never says "hold that thought, I am going to do go something in someone else's life and I will get back with you in a few months!" His ears are never deaf to your prayers. He has not forgotten your dreams, in fact, He put them there. He has not forgot your desires, hopefully those too He gave you {Ps 37:4-5}. He has not forgotten you because you are still in school or still living at home or working at home during the summer or taking summer classes. Sometimes, I want to push pause on the good days, and fast forward on the heart-breaking days. But we cannot; we are not supposed to. Maybe the week is really rough, and you cannot imagine the situation getting better. But God has not pushed pause. The story is not ended. One day He will make all things right! He is working now as He has been throughout every king and kingdom to prepare the way not only for the redemption but also the restoration of His children. Isaiah 40 Isaiah 42
For a long time I {God} have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. And I will lead the blind {us} in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. |
AuthorI will be the first to admit that I am not a writer, but have a sincere aspiration to articulate Truth with grace, in love, seasoned with salt. Here is a journal of sorts, or photo documentations of a journey - one currently around the world in Papua New Guinea working at the Kunai Health Center. Thanks for visiting and your support! Archives
May 2019
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