Impact-Full

YEA! So happy to say that the weeks of my husbands traveling, that I dreaded months ago, have come to an end!  

Plus, this week I had lunch with a friend returning from the US, and it dawned on me that she is the first friend of the many traveling this summer to return to town.  Definitely makes me feel that we are on the home stretch of summer furlough season here.  As I have learned after 2 summer school breaks living in Chiang Mai is there is a mass exodus in the 1st 2 weeks of June, and then a mass entrance in the end of July and beginning of August.  

Still going strong doing the summer bible study with Good Morning Girls.  If you are looking for a good book to read or looking for a bible study to start in the fall, I would definitely recommend the book we are reading.  It is titled "Anything" by the author Jennie Allen.  God is doing a great work in my heart and stirring up a fire in me this summer. 

I just want to share some highlights from my chapters this week that are challenging and impact-full.

"I don't want to make decisions based on my adequacy and capacity.  I don't want to miss what God has for us because I am afraid.  Just because we are willing didn't mean it was easy.  I still wanted God to be more clear, so we could be more sure." (Chapter 15)

"In parenting...you have two or maybe three babies who turn into toddlers. At some point you either live perpetually anxious or give in and embrace the fact that your life is now completely out of control.  Once you embrace that, parenting shifts from an agenda to an experience." (Chapter 16)

"Our reality is a cross, a heaven, and a God who sees us and gives us his Spirit so we can do something while we are here.  And that's not building a cute, easy life for ourselves where the pros outweigh the cons."  (Chapter 16)

"We doubt because of the risk, the cost, the abandonment of rights and comforts, the disapproval of people you really love, and then on top of it all, because you have now officially picked a fight with the devil.
The devil is real, and nothing ticks him off more than people waking up from the numb stupor he has crafted to keep us harmless."
(Chapter 17)

"To accept that life is supposed to be hard is the beginning of joy.  There is freedom in understanding that heaven is coming and we are not there yet.  We're called to live, instead, aware that we are at war with a ruthless enemy who is trying to destroy us if we are living surrendered to Jesus." (Chapter 17)

"God has bigger purposes in allowing us to suffer, bigger than just winning.  He allows us to suffer because we change through suffering.  We hurt with others better.  We become humble.  We want him more." (Chapter 17)

Even as I read them out of context of the book here, they challenge and inspire me to know God more.  This really is a great book to read, and study scripture along with it.  (She has lots of scripture references that go along the way with the above quotes).  

Today I will end with God's Word:

"Now I am coming to You, 

and I speak these things in the world

so that they may have My joy completed in them.

I have given them Your word.  

The world hated them because they are not of the world, 

as I am not of the world.

I am not praying that You take them out of the world 

but that You protect them from the evil one.  

They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.  

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.  

As You sent Me into the world, 

I also have sent them into the world."

John 17 v.13-18

WE ARE THEM.

This is my blessed & non-traveling life,

Jennifer

Timing is Everything?

Lately I have been reminded of the timing of life and life events.  

During my mom's visit we were awaiting the arrival of my cousins 2nd baby, so there were many phone calls and updates.  My aunt, her mom, was scheduled to fly to be there for there for her delivery.  With her first son she delivered just days before Oma arrived and was really hoping this baby would wait for Oma to arrive.  Well, the end of the story is that they headed to airport to pick up my aunt while having contractions and their bags packed.  Sure enough baby boy waited just until Oma arrived and they headed strait to the birthing center from the airport!  
We were all so thrilled and praised God for His amazing timing!

Now move forward in time a couple weeks to this week that just finished.  My husband has been out of town for schooling and my mom flew back to the US in the same week...leaving me home as a single parent of 3 little ones (who also happen to sick during this week) for 7 days.  Not the ideal situation.  Wishing WE had planned it better, as if we actually have any control of His time.  
This time we were questioning God for his timing...?  

Let me just be honest; this was a hard mom week.  The biggest challenges were saying good-bye to mom and having the girls get sick.  Hope stayed home from school on Tuesday and after a good 1st half of the day, then unfortunately the 2nd half was not so good between us.  That same night after the twins went to bed seemingly healthy, an hour later they were crying with completely stuffy noses.  Let's face it, having twins brings different challenges than having a single.  So I can't pick up 1 baby while the other is still in her bed because the other loses it.  So I tried bringing them both in my bed for cuddles and love, but that didn't really work because they kept each other awake.  They didn't want to take the Tylenol that I offered (which was also weird), couldn't breath through their noses, and just cried in their own bed...whew...what to do?  In the end I brought Hope into my bed so that she could get some sleep and closed the door and let the twins cry it out off and on ALL night / morning...that was a LONG night.

So I had to ask, is this God's good and perfect timing?  Like He had for my cousin?

Of course it is.  Why do I think that?  This is His answer to my questions above.  

The morning after my long night, I drew strength for the day from reading my devotional and opening God's Word.  This ultimately brought me closer in relationship to Him and His work in my life.  Constantly my hearts desire is to draw close to God and learn more about Him and lean on Him for strength instead of my own.  This week I had to do that more than ever.  Just like this my cousins hearts desire was to have her mom with her during the miraculous birth of her child.  God loves and wants to give us our hearts desire, no matter how beautiful or ugly it can come.  

Timing isn't everything, but it is a part of His good and perfect plan.

"Learn to trust Me when things go 'wrong.'  Disruptions to your routine highlight your dependence on Me.  Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all.  Walk hand in hand with Me through this day.  I have lovingly planned every inch of the way.  Trust does not falter when the path becomes rocky and steep.  Breathe deep droughts of My Presence, and hold tightly to My hand.  Together we can make it!"

{from: Jesus Calling}

"For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!"  2 Corinthians 4 v.17

I am now happy to say that my husband is back HOME with all his girls!   

PRAISE GOD!