9000 feet

In Psalms 139:7-10, it says " Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou are there. If I take the wings of the dawn. If I dwell in the depths of the sea, even there Thy hand will lay hold of me." A couple of weeks ago, my family took a trip to Glacier national park and then to MAF headquarters in Idaho. What was unique about the trip is that my husband flew us and due to the terrain we often had to fly higher then we usually do. At times it was amazing looking out at the terrain. Other times I decided not to look because I really didn't want to know how high I was especially if we were having a few bumps. Either way, I found that time to be a worshipful time. God was there. He was there guiding our trip as we landed in Colorado Springs before the storms came in. He was there when we were able to land in Cut Bank, MT before the winds got too bad. Most of all, God was there as the creator of mountains, deserts, salt lakes, rivers, and green mesas. God was there when I had my eyes closed listening to praise songs from the plane's radio. There is no where you can go that God is not there even if it is 9000 feet above the ground.



Dear God, Thank you that there is no place I can go that you are not there. You never let go.

Amen

My waiting equals God's glory

In Beth Moore's bible study, Living Beyond Yourself, she spends one week just on Peace which is the third part of the fruit of the spirit. During the week, she gives us portraits of peace in Jesus life and the two that stood at to me were Peace in my circumstances and peace in the wait. One of the verses she uses is Is. 64:4 "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has percieved, no eyes have seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those waiting on Him." It is often in the waiting that God's glory is most seen.

Let me begin with some biblical examples. Jesus sends the disciple ahead in a boat and goes away for some time with God. The disiciples get stuck in the middle of the lake in a bad storm and are struggling. They probably struggled a long time since it tells us in Matt 14 that Jesus came to them during the 4th watch. Jesus didn't save them right when the storm started but right when they most needed him. God's glory was seen in Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm and then in Jesus calming the storm in his time. In John 11, Jesus didn't go to see Lazarus until after Lazarus was dead. When they arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead 4 days. Because of the wait, Lazarus being brought back to life was truly a miracle and the timing was perfect for many Jews who had come to mourn with Mary and Martha to believe in Jesus because of this miracle.

I have also seen this in the people around me including in our lives. We have friend who are in China right now who are getting a special needs baby. We have waited and prayed for them and sometimes the waiting seemed so long but when everything came together we could clearly see God's glory and hand in it all from the timing of the their letter to go to being able to get their plane tickets switched to an earlier date. In our lives, we saw God's perfect timing in the wait in regard to our rental house. Everything had fallen in place except us being able to find a place to live. After much praying, we searched once more online and found where we are now, a nice rental on a street where kids can play outside and in our price range. In the waiting and timing, we knew we could not take credit for it but it was God's hand in it all.

I have a friend who is waiting. They are waiting to adopt an older child from China who has no paperwork. To us this seems like a road block but to God it is an opportunity to show his glory. I am excited to see how God will work in my friend's life as I hope and pray and wait with her and her family.

God of perfect timing. We praise you for your grace to us in all situations. We love you and wait on your perfect will. We wait to see your glory in all things. Amen

Life Markers

This past week with my family has been refreshing. It is nice to have children who actually like to spend time with their parents. In Glacier we escaped the heat of TX and bonded as a family as we snuggled in sleeping bags, took long hikes, and ate huckleberry ice cream. It was just what the doctor ordered. We went to a campfire talk that had no campfire. The speaker was dressed in trapper type clothing and talked about back in time. He ended his talk with telling us that Glacier is a place that if you listen you can hear God speaking to your heart. This week I have been reminded that God is still with me and have been amazed at the work of my creator.

Now we are in Idaho visiting MAF headquarters. I am very excited to get answers to some of my questions. Today I meet with the teacher recruiter. It is neat to know that God has a special job for me out there. We are sort of at our halfway point in Noel's training and if all goes well we may be able to be accepted by MAF this next summer.

I have not blogged alot this summer but have found myself refueled from all directions and am just taking it all in. I have my birthday club who keeps me accountable. I have a new/old friend who is mentoring me when our busy schedules allow. I have a group of 3 ladies from my church who are going through Beth Moore's bible study Living Beyond Yourself. What an appropriate title for where we all are in our lives. It begins with a study of Galatians which confirmed to me God's call for our family and that it can be done because it is Christ in us. I have been learning much and will share more when I have time.