We're Moving Out. To where? I'm not exactly sure

AHHH! I just wrote a letter to our landlord giving notice that we will be moving out at the end of March but, at this point, we don't have a place to move to in Lowville. This is not the first time that we have done this but it is still kind of nerve wracking. I am so thankful that God knows where we are going to live and that He has it under control. I can trust Him. He has never left us without a place to sleep and I don't know that He is going to start now. I am so thankful for all of the times that He has provided places for us to sleep over the years (and for our landlords and for all the wonderful people that let us crash at their places when we were homeless) so I can look back and have confidence in Him that He is going to do it again - Lord willing without the homeless part!

Waiting

This morning in my quiet time I read 1 Thessalonians 1:10.
“and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from
the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to
come.” I long for Christ’s return. His return is a sure
thing and knowing that, as I wait for His imminent return
I am not anxious because I know that His timing is perfect
and He knows… He is so longsuffering. As I wait for other
things in our lives I need to remember Who I am trusting.
I can have that same peace in His sovereign plan for our
lives, that He will bring about good things (though at
the time I may not see them as good) in good time (which
is rarely my time)because He is such a good God. Lord,
help me to trust You more.

Press On

Wow... it has been a long week. One week ago right now I got a call from my aunt AmyJo sharing with me the news of dad's passing on to glory and we started letting the kids know and getting them ready to head to Waterloo. It was a good week, hard but good. It was good to see old friends and relatives I hadn't seen in a while and meet other people whom I had never met who's lives my dad's life had had an impact on. It was amazing to me the number of people who came up to me that said that they hadn't really seen or talked to my dad in years but in the last two weeks of his life they saw him at church, or at the parade, or at dialysis or somewhere out and about and had a brief conversation with him that had impacted them. I'm glad that he was so 'healthy' during his last two weeks of life. It was also good to have a few good conversations with my dad's widow. I'm sorry she never really knew my dad because he was so sick for all of their relationship. It was also good to see my half sisters from Texas. They are so precious to me. Also, besides my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who were such a blessing, my Seneca Community Church family was also. All the emails and wall posts, especially the prayers. I ache but I know that I made it through this week because of the prayers of those who love me.

But still... I struggle. Now that it is 'all over,' now what? Before heading to church on Sunday I was really needing help from the Lord and He gave me Psalm 46. I think that Glenn read it at mom's funeral 5 years ago. It was one of her favorites:
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

God is my refuge, the place I can run to and be safe, and He is my strength. He has been faithful and He will remain. I have slept through the night the last couple of nights which has been good. Yesterday morning after reading my Bible I was still struggling so I got out a hymn book. Singing through a hymn book is always faith bolstering to me. So many songs, reminding me of God's faithfulness, His provision, His comfort, His love. I'm struggling, not just with losing my dad but the uncertainty of things like, where we'll be living in 50 days when our lease is up and what we'll be doing in the fall and things like that. One song that God really used in my heart yesterday morning was "I'd Rather Have Jesus." God really asked me, "Would you?" "Would you rather have Jesus than anything 'this world affords today?'" As I was sharing it with Glenn we came up with a new version of the first verse of the song, "I'd rather have Jesus than acceptance to U of R; I'd rather have Jesus than a new car; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I'd rather be lead by His nail-pierced hands." He truly is "all that my hungering spirit needs" and I can trust Him and let Him lead.

We took Kendra to the train station last night for her to head back home. It was nice to have my sisters-in-law visit but I am looking forward to getting back into some kind of a routine. I'm overwhelmed with our apartment which is a mess and the idea of packing again not knowing where we are going. God knows though and He only asks me to be faithful today... so today I will find my house and start packing relying on His strength and help to get me through. A song that Sue Schrader and Brenda Eastman sang at both of my parents' memorial services is "Press On" by Selah. This song always made my dad cry. God is using this song to help me today so I needed to look at the lyrics once again:

When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

Chorus:
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

I'm keeping my eyes on the prize, with His strength and in His name I press on.

Fortune Cookies

Yesterday we got take out for lunch after church. I love Chinese food and it is one thing that I just can't duplicate the taste of at home, no matter how hard I try. At the end of the meal we were eating our fortune cookies - I love those too. Glenn's said "Good news of a long-awaited event will arrive soon" and mine said "Do you believe? Endurance and perseverance will be rewarded." He looked at me and said "I wish fortune cookies were true." It made me think. I don't know how many times in the past I have thought that same thought. I have never had a fortune cookie that said "You are going to die" or "you are going to lose an important piece of paper." It is true, it will happen eventually, just like whatever else your fortune says on those little slips of paper. Not always when or how you think it will but it will happen. Even if my fortune doesn't come true how I want it to there are some other words written that will come true. I am reading through the Bible this year with The Daily Walk Bible from Walk Thru the Bible. It is really neat because it has "devotional helps to guide you through the Bible in one year." I've recently read through Job which was really helpful in guiding my perspective and now I am reading the Psalms. Today I am claiming Psalm 25, 28, and30 for Glenn. Again, I know that God will not always answer the way I expect or the way I want Him to but I know that His Word is true and I can trust Him.

In other news - Steph and Brody leave today after going to the Museum of Play with us again. It has been so much fun having them here! Here is a couple pictures of the kids together. I am sure that I will post more to facebook soon.

Where is my focus?

God has been working in our hearts a lot lately. Challenging us to become more like Him and keep our focus on Him. We've been reading through Job with some devotional readings and it has really encouraged our hearts and taught us that we need to keep our focus off of our big problems and on our big God! Getting into U of R won't solve our problems, going to Ross won't solve our problems, our Problem Solver is God and He wants us to trust Him no matter what what comes our way. We sang this song yesterday in church it is call Hallelujah, What a Savior by Paul Baloche:

Verse 1:
Oh how strong the power of Jesus' name!
It is stronger than any other name
How sweet the vict'ry that bore my shame
took the burden of my sin away

Hallelujah! What a savior!
I owe everything to Him
Hallelujah what a savior
Hallelujah to my King

Verse 2:
Oh how great the kindness our God has shown
We were strangers, now we're called His own
His grace has welcomed the sinner home
Tender mercies, lead us to The Throne

(Chorus)

Bridge:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah to my King! (repeat)

Verse 3:
Oh what peace the Spirit of Jesus brings
through the trials He will carry me
One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet
Filled with wonder, all the saints will sing

(Chorus)

(Bridge 2x)

Hallelujah to my King, hallelujah to my King

Verse 3 always makes me cry because I feel like we are going through trials right now but they are here for God's purposes to draw us closer to Him. It is amazing to me that He will carry me! The line that really opened my eyes to how much He thinks of me yesterday was "One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet" - WOW! The God of the universe wants to make eye contact with me! I am filled with wonder at that thought! The first line of verse 3 talks about peace that comes from God, as we were leaving church yesterday the kids were given a character trait DVD from Highpoint (junior church) and Hannah had handed in "contentment" for "peace." I really thought that I would personally benefit more from contentment but as Glenn and I were talking we decided that what we really need in our lives is peace - trusting God with the details of life.

In other news we took a walk around Highland Park yesterday with a lady who has lived near here for 18 years. She got to show us some of her favorites and it reminded me that #1 I must always bring my camera when I take a walk around the park and #2 I hadn't posted pictures here of how beautiful Highland Park is in the spring so here they are some pictures I posted on Facebook.

I need to get going, laundry to do, bread to bake, the kids room to find, all before my sister-in-law Stephanie and nephew Brody get here this afternoon for their week long visit that we are so looking forward to! Until next time...

We are in good hands

This morning in my quiet time I read Colossians 3:3 "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." I have been struggling a lot lately with our future. In my heart of hearts I really want to stay in Rochester, it is starting to feel like home but maybe that is why God wants us to leave. If Rochester is our home we may lose sight of the fact that Heaven is really our home. This morning I told God that I am dead to my will and want only His. I can trust Him. He knows the best place for us. He knows where we can best be used to glorify Him. He knows where He has placed people who need us. My life "is hidden with Christ in God." Doesn't that sound like a safe place to be?? Lord, I trust You, come what may. As I was praying this song came to mind so I had to look up the lyrics. I am in good hands! I would appreciate prayers though as it is a moment by moment decision to yield my will to Him.

My Life is in Your Hands
Kathy Troccoli

Life can be so good
Life can be so hard
Never knowing what each day
Will bring to where you are
Sometimes I forget
And sometimes I can't see
That whatever comes my way
You'll be with me

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

Nothing is for sure
Nothing is for keeps
All I know is that your love
Will live eternally
So I will find my way,
And I will find my peace
Knowing that you'll meet my every need

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

When I'm at my weakest Lord
You carry me
Then I become my strongest love
In your hands

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands
I trust you Lord
My life is in your hands