Waiting, rejoicing, and trusting

Psalm 33:20-21 reminds me, "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name."

We are so grateful for many flowers, cards, and prayers on our behalf for my dad's homecoming to Heaven. The Lord is all we need.

Our son-in-law and daughter also suffered a miscarriage within hours of the time my dad died, and maybe there was a very sweet fellowship of great grandparents and great grandchildren that day in the tender arms of Jesus.

I trust it was certainly to God's glory and for His highest purpose.

We have received more support and are now at 58%. We thank you for faithfully remembering to pray for our needs. None of us can do well in the absence of prayer.

Daily faithfulness

The pink daylilies outside have begun to bloom. Each new bloom opens for just a one day. God reminds me He provides for each day as needed.

We are traveling to the Saginaw, Michigan area tomorrow. The following day, Jim will be speaking in Sunday school, briefly in the morning service, and then present our mission work in the evening service. Next week we will be in Iowa.

We truly need prayers for more support to be added. God is faithful and we believe He wants us to be in Brazil soon. Thank you for remembering us.

In the Park

Janelle, Olivia, and I walked to McDonald's for lunch and then went to the grocery store and the park. The weather is just beautiful and we all enjoyed the playtime.

"Life music"

We are praising the Lord for the church in Dowagiac, Michigan picking us up for support this week. Every church makes a difference. Thanks for your prayers!

I have been reading, Mood Tides: Divine Purpose in the Rhythms of Life by Ronald Horton. He walks the reader through some possible purposes for God allowing both the ups and downs of life.

He says, "I have associated what I have called the rhythms of life with the flow of music. Music of the highest order has like life its regularities - its patterns and themes. It also has surprises, its departures from pattern, for it plays on expectations, sometimes appearing to frustrate them before resolving them. Even within the pattern itself can be contrasting elements that seem to jar. Some of the most gorgeous music ever composed, Bach's for example, incorporates dissonance as well as passages in minor mode.

It is no less true in the divine harmonics of a dedicated life that pain may intrude unexpectedly or return at feared intervals in a disturbing way. Dark overtones may dominate at times and seem to shadow the whole until all is resolved and the Composer's work is done. The somber strands are part of the divine masterwork. It would be lesser without them. The descent from elation to depression is never a welcome one, to be sure, but both meet artfully in the richest music of life."

Quick trip to Denver

Janelle and Olivia flew to Denver with us to see my dad last week. Dan came from Virginia and met us in Denver. We had a blessing to talk with family and pray with Dad.

I had some time to plant flowers a couple of days ago and enjoy having the color outside. We are getting rain today and tonight.

Pray for my dad. Please pray for the church in Michigan and the church in Maryland to pick us up for support soon. Thanks!

The Lord is our "stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9

Brothers

What an awesome time we had with Dan, Sara, Peter, and Andrew. We drove home Monday, and it was hard to say good bye.

We will be taking a quick trip to see Dad in a couple of days. I am sure he would be grateful for your prayers.

Almost two weeks old

Andrew is a sweet and calm little boy, and we are enjoying getting to know him!


We had great fellowship with the church folks in upstate Maryland, and we pray for support from them in God's will.

We appreciate your prayers.