"Be patient. Wait on the Lord for whatever He appoints, wait quietly, wait trustingly. He holds every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year in His hands. Thank Him in advance for what the future holds, for He is already there."
- Elisabeth Elliot, Keep A Quiet Heart

Currently Walking Miracle: A Vision for Asia, a Prayer for Healing (International Adventures) By Art Sanborn see related

A friend recently gave me this book to read. What a challenge and reminder it is to trust God more fully and to rejoice in both the good times and the bad times! Oh, to walk by faith and not by sight!!!

Flowers fit for a cowgirl

I guess this is the first time I've ever seen bluebonnets in bloom. ...You know, I kinda like 'em!  ...Actually they are very pretty but I'll have to say that I'm really glad to see my good ol' Missouri dogwoods in bloom at the same time! Gotta remain loyal, ya know! And with such a state flower as the dogwood it's not too hard!

...Wait a minute - loyal to what??? I don't even think I'm from one particular place. It's just that one of the three houses I lived in in Missouri was the longest I've ever lived in any one place. (That would be a whole...er, almost 8 years!)

So much moving...and to think that there is still SO much of the world yet to see!!!  Besides returning to Russia I wonder what will be next in my travels... I'm content to stay put for awhile ...but...!

Fall Colors: The Beauty of Death

 

God's Beauty in the Midst of Suffering

I'm not necessarily going through any particular "suffering" at this point in time of my life (thankfully!!!) but I just came across this Bible study excerpt in my files and thought it to be worth sharing. I pray that God will use this to be a blessing to others as it was to me when I first read it...

Quotes taken from: Women of the Harvest Online. "The Powers of God: Omniscience" (Lesson 8; Days 4 and 5).[Emphasis and brackets my own J.]

A. “…God allows His children to suffer and that suffering is usually a lonely experience. Frequently there is no one who can truly understand the level of pain and suffering I am undergoing. What an encouragement to know that God knows and sees it all with perfect clarity. …Psalm 31:7 and 103:13-14; Hebrews 4:15-16”

 (He is compassionate: Matt 9:36, 14:14 and 23:37.)

B. “…[God] has created and sustained a universe of unimaginable proportions and placed us in it. We cannot comprehend all that He is taking into consideration as He deals with it and with us. Repeatedly HE assures us in His Word that He has not forgotten or overlooked us in our adversity. He who calls the stars by name also heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3-4)”

C. “We must also remember that our God is the Gardener, Who alone knows what, when and how to prune the branches on His vine. If we are bearing fruit, we will get pruned – and pruning is always painful. However, the pruning itself proves that God loves us, is pleased with our efforts and desires to make us even more fruitful.”

D. “…[God] will refine that which is of infinite value to Him. …And so, there will always be another test. Let us not despair because it will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (James 1:1-9)”