Not My Will, But Thine Lord...Again

For those of you who have been reading my posts for the past few months, you know that we retired from providing foster care in April. Well.....we got a call on Monday about a little girl who left our home four months ago. I had asked to be kept informed of how she was doing, so our social worker was calling to tell us that she was coming back into care. We weren't home when the call came, but she had left a message. I wasn't able to contact our social worker until Tuesday morning. I told her I had just had a dream on Sunday night about having another child come, then remembered(in my dream) that we are no longer licensed. She said, "Wellllll.....actually you are, because I haven't finished the paperwork yet. She said of course, that she wanted to respect our decision to retire, and there was no pressure to take this little girl, but that she knew we would want to know, and that since she had been with us, we were the first choice for placement.

Hmmmmm......haven't we been through this already? Didn't I just write the end of the story? But then I got thinking about where 'the story' had ended.(and you'll have to read my book for all the details!! LOL) But where it ended was with me 'laying my Isaac down,' and as I thought about that, I remembered that when Abraham lay Isaac down....God gave Isaac back to him. I just didn't think that God was going to do that in our situation...even though I know he has in the past. But, as I said to my husband,"What do you do when a baby is dropped on you? You catch it!" So, for whatever the reason, and for however long, we now have an 18 month old little sweetheart back in our home. We're just going to take it day by day and see where the Lord leads, because this turn of events has caught us quite by surprise. I guess I should mention that only this particular little girl could have brought us out of retirement! The fact that she came back in without her four year old brother was also a huge factor, as there is no way we could take him. She also came into care on the same day as about four other kids, which had cfs scrambling for homes. On a quiet day, they may have just placed her elsewhere and not bothered to call us.

I couldn't help but think of some of the 'sports stars' who have retired over the years, just to make a comeback. Well, I'm sure we have them all beat with our two month retirement! I'm also epecting to hear many "I told you so's," from all those people who didn't believe we would actually retire!

Of course I can't show her face, but this will give you a clue as to why our retirement ended so quickly!

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I'll Keep Trusting

I’ll keep looking unto Jesus, who’s Spirit abides in me.
He’s my example to follow; he is all the answers I need.
I’ll keep trusting in my Saviour, who said these things must be.
He suffered so at the hands of man; gave his life so willingly.
I’ll keep going for my Lord; I know he’s working in me,
through all life’s sorrows and blows, to conform to what I should be.
In the face of opposition, I’ll keep trusting in my Lord.
Through pain and disappointment, I’ll keep trusting in my Lord.
Through dark and lonely valleys, I’ll keep trusting in my Lord.
Every scar left from the battle; every bruise I bear from this world,
is simply my reminder of the healing power of my Lord.
I’ll keep trusting in my Lord.

I may not be able to see beyond the next curve in the road, or past the valley I’m walking through, but I know my final destination, and I know that if I keep my eyes on my Lord and Saviour, he’ll guide my footsteps along the way. He may take me places I’d rather not go, but that’s where I learn to trust him. He’s already shown me over and over again the folly of choosing my own path. No matter what this journey brings; no matter what trials come my way, no matter how difficult the road may become, my response must always remain the same: I’ll keep trusting in my Lord.


Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

You Remind Me

Lord, when I am trudging through a valley filled with mire,
Feeling oh so lonely, my circumstances dire;
Wondering where the joy of thy salvation went;
Weary of my burdens, my energy all spent,

You remind me of those mountains
Hidden by the clouds….clouds of my own making,
Created by my sin and doubts.
You remind me just to set my eyes and heart on things above,
Then you lift me to the heights upon your wings of love.

Lord, so many times I’ve traveled down that same old path,
From that lofty mountain to cloudy misty flats.
If I’d turn to you before I go astray,
I know you would guide me along the higher way.
You remind me each time I slide and I lose sight of you.
Lord, forgive my sin; I surrender all to you.

Sometimes, when I think I’m in a valley, I’m really just flopping around in a muddy ditch. I may feel like my circumstances are dire, but it’s my frame of mind that’s in need of an adjustment. I’m looking at things from my own earthly perspective rather than setting my eyes on things above. It’s my own sin; my pride, my selfish attitude, and my laziness that has put a black cloud over my head, and blocked my view of the Lord. Thankfully, I’m only one prayer away from getting my heart right.

Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Psalm 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

One Step At a Time

One step at a time I’d wandered away,
Not knowing the path I trod had taken me so far away,
I was missing the voice of God.
One step away from time with the Lord toward a day of strife.
One step away from time in the word toward a wasted life.
One step just in time, I turned back to him,
Just following the path he trod.

His word cut through my stubborn sin,
Now I’m hearing the voice of God.
One step toward a time with the Lord toward a fruitful life.
One step toward a time in the word
Toward victorious life.
One step away, are you on the line?
Oh, won’t you turn his way?
One step toward redeeming the time
will change your life today.

While it’s easy to stay close in the midst of a crisis, it seems to be the every day struggles and cares of this world that get in the way of time alone with God. When there are no mountains in sight, and no deep valleys to struggle through, it’s those long stretches of dreary road scattered with rocks and rubble that tend to get me down. We had spent months building our new house, and getting it to a point where we could move in, and then many more months trying to finish it. With the problems created by the continual flooding in the basement, it seemed that most of our time was taken up with work, leaving very little time for anything else. So much so, that I hadn’t really noticed that I was drifting away from the Lord. It seems to be an ongoing struggle to maintain that close relationship….to stay in his word...to pray without ceasing. But it’s a struggle worth fighting. Just put one foot in front of the other; one step at a time.

Psalm 143:10,11 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy names sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Jerry's Big Day

For a week, Jerry (almost 9) kept telling us that his big day was coming up, and on Sunday it finally arrived. After the morning service, Jerry, and three others were baptised. About a month ago, Jerry and his Dad sat down with our pastor and talked about baptism...something Jerry had asked about several times, but had not really been persistent about until recently. Even though Jerry had asked the Lord to save him way back in August, 2006, I was surprised that he was able to remember every detail, including the message that was preached the day before he accepted the Lord. Just as we never lead a child in a sinner's prayer, we did not tell Jerry that he needed to get baptised. It's important that even a child comes to these decisions on their own.

If you asked me if I'm 100% positive that Jerry is saved, I'd say, "No I'm not," but then I'm not 100% positive about anyone but myself! What I do know is that Jerry has a very soft heart, he loves the Lord, and wants to serve him. To stop a child, who claims Jesus as Saviour, from taking that step of obedience, baptism, would be wrong, and we want to do all that we can to encourage our children to follow the Lord. If sometime down the road Jerry has doubts about his salvation, we will tell him to base his salvation not on a prayer, but on the condition of his heart.

So, he entered the baptismal and professed his salvation.

He went down, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

buried in the likeness of Christ's death,

and raised in the likeness of his resurrection!

And the people said AMEN!

And every big day should end with a great sunset!

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Don't

Don’t fail to read God’s word each day;

Don’t forget to take time to pray
Don’t wait to seek God’s perfect will;

Don’t quit before his plan’s fulfilled
Don’t settle for God’s second best;

Don’t stay where your life can’t be blessed
Don’t wait to put God’s service first;

Don’t wait to find your place in church
Don’t miss a chance to share God’s grace;

Don’t neglect to sing his praise
Don’t start a day without thanking him;

Don’t end a day with unconfessed sin
Don’t stop looking to the Lord above;

Don’t take for granted his mercy and love
Don’t stop trusting in God’s word;

Don’t quit preaching ‘till all have heard
Don’t grow weary seeking the lost;

Don’t ever forget what your sin cost
Don’t take your eyes off Jesus Christ;

Don’t be deceived by the devil’s lies
Don’t doubt what God has promised you;

Don’t let the storm clouds block your view
Don’t ever think you are all alone;

Don’t forget this world is not your home

The day to day cares of this life can cause me to grow weary, and there are times that I need a reminder to focus on those things that bring me strength. When I get my eyes off of the world around me and take the time to consider what Jesus endured for me, all of my petty problems become small indeed! When I set my heart and mind on things above, I realize the awesome privilege I have. I’m a child of the King! Praise the Lord! How can I possibly mope in my house when I have such good news to shout from the rooftops!?

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay adise every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The Story Behind The Song

I had been writing songs for about six years, and had come to a point where I was wondering why I kept writing. I was feeling that maybe it was a waste of time. After all, no one seemed to be interested in singing my songs. Then one afternoon I was lying on the couch in our family room, not quite asleep, but not fully awake either. I saw a picture in my mind of my family at different points along a river. Some were struggling against the current, grabbing branches along the river bank, and some were caught up in the weeds. Suddenly I was wide awake, looking for a pen and paper. The scene was so clear that I had to put it into words.

Where The River Leads

Each of us is beckoned by God’s awesome drawing power
That pulls us like the current of swiftly flowing water.
We may safely follow where the river leads,
if we will wade out deep, and rest in the surging stream.
But those who fight the current get pulled in the undertow,
and they are lost forever in the murky depth below.
Some firmly cling to branches, resisting the river’s sway,
drifting to an inlet, entrapped in the miry clay.
Many others struggle so entangled with the weeds,
they never know the peace of following where the river leads.
Those who find the rhythm of the mighty river’s flow
must then fully surrender the direction they will go.
Sometimes the flow is gentle, just guiding the weary on,
leading them through the water with a hand that’s sure and strong.
Though many ride the rapids until still waters they will seek,
they’ll one day know the peace of following where the river leads.
While some will go their own way and refuse the one who saves,
still others seek a Saviour who will calm the raging waves.
Oh, heed the rushing waters, and give to the Lord control.
Reach out for the lifeline; he will anchor your soul.
There you will find a haven to supply your every need.
You’ll forever know the peace of following where the river leads.

I knew that day that I would keep on writing even if no one besides God ever heard my songs. The truth is, I can’t NOT write! When I come across a scripture that jumps out at me, or I hear a message preached that touches my heart, I know that it’s only a matter of time before it comes out in a song.
About a year after I had written, "Where The River Leads,” I realized that this song wasn’t just about my family, it was for me. I was the one who had been struggling against the current; not in my writing, but with my spiritual life in general. It wasn’t until I followed where the river leads that I understood why God had put that song on my heart.

Now here I am, six years and many miles down stream, holding a book of my own writings! I never could have imagined that this is where that current would take me, but as I wade out a little deeper each day, I'm learning to rest in that surging stream, and allow the Lord to direct my course.

My method may not produce a second book, or make me the kind of writer that publishers look for, but as long as the Lord is carrying me along, I'm content to just keep following where the river leads.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Psalm 37:7a Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him