“And his name, by faith in his name, had made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” _Acts 3:16
Monday night we a phone call from yet another terrified mother….”My child is sick! It is life threatening! Please pray!”
This is the third such call in as many months. Here is another gut-wrenching cry for help tearing through a young family; another child’s life at risk; another mother beside herself with fear. This time the threat is a brain tumor. A thirteen year-old boy is having debilitating headaches and blacking out. His doctor has prescribed an MRI and a battery of additional tests to be performed on Friday. The test results won’t be available until the third of next month.
His mother wants to know – NOW. “How do I wait that long? What if….?”
Years of experience have taught us to face these gut-wrenching, life-altering, moments of fear by running to our Heavenly Father, climbing up on his lap and pouring our hearts out to him. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (do an about face away from your fear) and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” _Matt. 18:3-4
We (D and I) have learned, through crisis and fear in our own lives, the only truly safe place to be when fighting for your life, or the life of someone you love, is firmly embraced within the kingdom of heaven. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it (faith) the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.” _Heb. 11:1-2 (emphasis mine)
Picture yourself as a child (are you a child of God), warmly embraced in the arms of a loving father, pouring out your heart’s desire; knowing (by faith) he is willing and able to grant your requests because he promised he would. And the good news is he never breaks his promises. Trust in and rely on the promises God made to his children regarding their healing.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m telling you here. Medical science is wonderful. Many doctors are men of faith. God can use all of the wonders of modern medicine and men with training and a commitment to accomplish His will. But, the only power we have available to us in times of crisis is the Word (the promises) of God.
We are told, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
We are told the name of Jesus is above every name; that at the name of Jesus “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11, Isa 45:23, Romans 14:11 We read this to mean Cancer, brain tumors, sickness and all disease are names that must bow their knees to the name of Jesus.
The last time we received one of these phone calls I wrote to you about God’s ICU. That information has not changed. The steps remain the same, no matter what the crisis. The only problem with that first post – it’s missing the promises.
Monday night, while I was talking on the phone, saying the same things I always say when one of those calls comes, it dawned on me, “She may not even have a Bible with her. Even if she has a Bible with her – she has no idea where to look for the promises you’re talking about. You’re talking a language it’s taken years for you to learn and understand!” Giving a panic-stricken mother, whose child is facing a medical crisis, instructions to ‘look up’ healing scriptures is like offering a drowning mother ice water!
She probably heard me say, “Concur your fear!”
“How?”
“By an act of your will.”
No, That’s not the idea AT ALL. If that’s what you heard, in your time of panic, I apologize.
Here is what I wanted you to get – God’s Word says:
I am the Lord, your healer. Ex 15:26
It (wisdom, the word of the Lord) will be healing to your flesh… Proverbs 3:8
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24
Bless the Lord….who heals all your diseases…Psalms 103:1-5
He send forth his word and healed them…Psalm 107:19-20
These and hundreds of other promises from God’s word mean that when a crisis arises you don’t have to dissolve into panic. God sent His Son to the cross, to carry our sickness and bear our diseases. Isaiah 53:4-6
God’s word is filled with promises telling us he loves us and wants only the best for us. Healing is God’s will for his children. Why would the Father say, “He (Jesus) himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” unless he intended to fulfil his promises in our lives.
We are told God watches over his word to perform it. Jere. 1:12. We are told God’s word never, ever returns to him without accomplishing the thing for which he sent it. Isaiah 55:11
And, we are told the enemy of our souls…that would be the same old snake who lied to Eve in the Garden… is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 Jesus tells us he comes but to steal, to kill and to destroy. John 10:10
I can tell you from years of experience, when a crisis comes into the life of a child of God – fear follows. Dick will tell you that the laws of the universe demand that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The opposite of fear is faith! If somewhere within the first few minutes of fear, we can react in faith (speak faith – think faith – believe faith) fear will bow down and allow us to climb up in the lap of our Father, accept His promises and watch Him change the crisis on our behalf.
I hope these words will give you something to hang on to as you await the outcome of the tests.
hugs,
e
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
So…to wrap up the Arizona saga…by Saturday Dick felt we had pretty much knocked on all the doors available to us in the Willcox area. We went there to look for a church where we would be hired as pastor. That door was closed. We went there prepared to enter into a financial agreement to buy a home. That door was closed, too. But God had given us a new answer and now the only thing left to do was wait to see how it would unfold.
Dick was ready to come home, but he didn’t want to drive over the weekend. We would leave Monday. The plan was to go to mass on Saturday night with Barney’s parents, spend Sunday with the kids and head out early on Monday morning. We talked about taking the trip in thirds this time, spending the night at two stops along the way. The trip down had been two hard days of driving and we anticipated no less on the return. This time we would take it easy…go slow…rest more.
Saturday morning Laurie wanted to go back out to the northwest acreage and lay out the camp site; walking the paths; positioning the chapel. In fact, she was insisting on it. Dick’s take on that was, “no need. We were out there the other day. We’ve seen the land and know what’s out there. Basically nothing.” But, Laurie continued to insist. She can be as stubborn as I am when she makes up her mind about something. So…the three of us jumped into the old farm pickup and headed out to take possession of the land.
I have to tell you…in thirty plus years of marriage, I thought I’d seen Dick in every phase of his emotional cycle. The years have often been a roller-coaster ride – highs and lows, good and bad, happy, angry, sad. I have never before seen Dick so overwhelmed. As Dick and Laurie and I walked around that flat barren clearing in the desert we were transformed – by the presence of God. Just as we located the exact spot for the chapel Barney drove up. God must have brought him to look for us. The meeting was not pre-arranged! Now our number was complete. The four of us walked the camp; taking possession of the land and claiming it in Jesus name, and laying out the site as we envisioned it.
The chapel came first. We scanned the surrounding hills searching for the perfect view…and stopped facing northeast toward Dos Cabazes. That’s it. That’s the scene to be framed by the front window of the chapel behind the alter! It was as though a fully completed chapel and the buildings around it materialized before our eyes. Laurie bent to pick up an arrow shaped stone…drew a cross in the earth and began placing other stones to fill it in. Immediately we all saw what she was doing and within minutes the chapel cross was built.
Dick knelt in the dirt, anointed the stones with oil and asked the Lord to bless the work of our hands and the vision He had given us. That anointed cross will hold and mark the place until God gives us the way and the means to complete the project. In my mind’s eye I see that stone cross embedded in the chapel courtyard forever pointing the way to the alter – pointing the way toward God’s plan for all the tired, hungry, thirsty people in that desert and from wherever else He may choose to bring them.
Then Dick bent down behind the pickup and drew a wheel with seven spokes in the dirt. At the center will be a fire pit surrounded by benches. At the end of each spoke will be a round building. A yurt! Each circle will house a group of seven or a community. (in your imagination replace the pines in this photo with manzanita and small leafed sumac – it is a desert southwest retreat, not a mountain camp).
From that moment our hearts were secure in the fact that the Holy Spirit has done a perfect work. The scripture says, “Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. Proverbs 29:18 AB
We moved away from the chapel and conference center, south toward the acreage where we (Dick and I) will ultimately build our home; stepping off the distances between buildings; decorating the ‘chuck wagon’; mapping out the food preparation areas – planning, planning, planning. It was amazing!
Later that afternoon we all attended mass in the catholic church were Barney grew up, loving the Lord, and serving as alter boy. It was a time of worship for all of us, even though we (Dick, Laurie and I) were not raised catholic. It is my honest belief God has placed members of the Body of Christ in every church, in every denomination, around the world. True and honest love of the Father, through the Son, is not limited because God and his Son Jesus CANNOT be limited or contained in man’s religious boxes.
After mass we were invited to go out for pizza with Barney’s parents and their friends. What fun! What great people! No wonder their son is such a good man. How blessed we are to be getting him as a God-son-in-law. Later at home the four of us talked and planned and laughed until quite late.
As Dick and I said our nightly ‘Our Father’… it was agreed we would leave for home on Sunday morning. It was all done…a completed plan. There was no need to stay longer. We needed to get home and begin taking the necessary steps toward starting the project. “thy will be done.”
Sunday morning brought a big family breakfast. Laughter and fun again; a bonding that will last and bless us all for years to come. After breakfast the four of us took our little bottle of oil (the one we carried out to the chapel site) and walked through the house. Every door and every window was anointed and dedicated to God. We asked for protection, direction, guidance and blessings on everyone who comes in or goes out. We believe God will honor our requests.
Then we loaded up the big red truck and headed back to California. We were refreshed and energized! The trip to Blythe (our original half-way point) was so EASY. We even stayed in the same comfortable Super 8 room, familiar and easy – a good bed and a nice continental breakfast. We watched an inspiring live broadcast of Joel Osteen’s Yankee Stadium crusade. We were blessed and encouraged.
On Monday we breezed from Blythe to Bakersfield with ease. Hiway 99 was, as always, bumper to bumper 18-wheelers, but even so, we were home by late afternoon on Monday. What a GREAT trip!
When we got our mail from the lady who so graciously cared for our plants during the week we were away I told her about our trip and ‘the project.’ She was thrilled! Turns out she is a believer, too. I suspected as much, but had never confirmed it with her. She immediately told me she would be available to help in any way we needed when the time came for us to move! And…she said there was someone who drove past the yard asking about a place to buy! Could it be that God has our house sold already?
Remember I told you – in the natural nothing can happen to build this dream? I kid you not…we have nothing to offer except our willingness, our hands, and our hearts. Like Peter and John in the 3rd Chapter of Acts, we have “no sliver and gold, but give you what we have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth….”
On Tuesday Laurie called and told us they (she and Barney) are going to gift deed four acres of land to us!!! The land we walked on Saturday!!! The financial details make my brain hurt. I am not a financial gee whiz by any means, but this much I know - Today we have four acres of land where God can begin to build a chapel and a home. And in the future a place of renewal and restoration in the desert!
At this moment, Dick is finishing up the architectural drawings for the chapel. And here is a Photo Shop rendering on one of my Arizona photographs of how it will look when completed.
The land is dry now, but the rain is coming! Please pray, with us, that God’s will be done and that many souls will be restored, refreshed and renewed in this desert sanctuary.
hugs,
e
“I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. …”The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. …I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out: I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.” Joshua 14:6-15
Looking back to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week (April 22-24) it’s hard to accurately pinpoint what happened when and where. So much was going on, so fast, and there were so many new people to meet! Some things jump out in my memory. I made some notes along the way. The week was a blur of activities, emotional highs and lows, excitement and apprehension.
On Wednesday morning Dick spoke to and prayed for/with Laurie’s brother Gary. His is a long, tragic story. He was not supposed to be in Arizona at all. His mother brought him to Willcox from Las Vegas and literally dumped him on Laurie’s doorstep the week after Easter. She told them, “I can’t deal with this. He’s your problem now.” And a problem is exactly what he had. A BIG problem. A 42 year old man, with bi-polar disorder since childhood and a prescription drug habit. Mix that with alcohol, serious relationship trauma both with his mother and with his girl-friend and you have a recipe for a suicidal lump of depression laying in a darkened room wanting to be waited on, catered to and enabled. He’d spent a week in the hospital psyche ward after a trip to the ER, but on Monday the 21st he was released! Surprise…surprise!!! Laurie looked at his release as a ‘God thing.’ She had already planned on having Dad pray for him sometime during our visit. Now he was right there in the second guest room…we didn’t even have to drive to town.
We believe God healed Gary that Wednesday morning, and that little by little he is growing stronger. All during the week there were small signs of improvement. One day he would look me in the eye. Another day he took a walk! The morning we left for home, Gary thanked Dick for his prayers and his support…while he ate a hearty breakfast in the same room with the family. Yesterday when we talked to Laurie and Barney on the phone, they were planting a garden, and Gary had been driving the skip-loader! Believe me when I tell you…that’s progress. Thank you Lord for your love and your healing.
At one point, early on, we made an appointment to look at the ‘perfect’ house. Everything was all lined up for us to buy it. The financing was in order through a private party. All we needed to do was say the word and it was ours. The sweet couple who owned this perfect house lived a quarter mile down the road from the kids. We would be neighbors! It was perfect.
This sweet couple would be selling their home, where it was obvious they had invested all their heart and soul with plans to retire and enjoy their golden years. It was perfect for them! But Ronnie had recently been diagnosed with MS, so they would be moving to town where he could have access to the doctors and hospital; moving to a house that was wheelchair ready where he could spend his golden years wasting away and waiting to die.
The house itself, while not perfect for us, could be made livable without too much work, so we looked at it as a possible open door. There are 4 1/2 acres adjacent to the property, on the frontage road, that would be perfect to build a church! OK…we’d ask some more questions and seek the private party financing. Maybe this was it.
Another excursion was a tour of the farm. Laurie and Dad hashed out plans for a commercial greenhouse to be built in existing structures no longer in use. They talked about light, ventilation, drainage…it’s doable! It will take some serious work, but it’s doable. Then we drove out to the back acreage where they are digging a pond and plan eventually to build a Bed and Breakfast…a long time dream of Laurie’s. She has it laid out in her head, and has set up long term goals to accomplish her dream. Barney is soooo good to her. He watched and listened, agreed to do the work and help out in every way possible, but I’m not completely sure he had really captured her vision and made it his own yet.
On Wednesday morning, after breakfast, Dick and I took some time for our daily Bible study and prayer…and right there in 2 Samuel 17 was this verse, “the people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.” It struck a cord with both of us, but we continued reading and then Dick, as is his habit laid hands on the stack of prayer requests we have accumulated over the past several months and began to pray. As I prayed in the spirit, agreeing with him for salvation and healing, freedom from addictions and religious bondage the Holy Spirit dropped a fully completed picture in my spirit. Not a Bed and Breakfast! Not an already established house with acreage to build a church. A CAMP! A desert retreat and conference center where Christians could come for restoration and renewal! When I told Dick what I had seen, his spirit jumped in agreement. We had our vision.
When we told Laurie and Barney…they caught the vision! They both caught the vision in a heartbeat! The ideas began to pour out….women’s groups like the camp where Laurie and I first met, a place for pastors and their wives and staff to be renewed and refreshed, a place where Christian tourists and bird-watchers could stay without the new-age influence that is so abundant in the southwest…. We were on a roll, and it WAS a God thing!
In the next 24 hours I had a total meltdown. I haven’t been so far out of my comfort zone since 1977 when I pleaded with God, “if you’re out there, if you really exist, help me!” Then Laurie had a minor meltdown. Then Laurie and I had an upset over a misunderstanding. Don’t ever think that when God gives you an idea it’s going to go unchallenged.
The man who had offered private financing for our ‘perfect’ house changed his mind. He called Dick “the preacher” in a tone guaranteed to let us know our belief systems were going to clash from the git go, and then made it clear all of us that doing business with him was out of the question.
On Friday, Laurie and I took some time off. We went shopping – the local equivalent of Trader Joe’s – and went out for lunch while Dick and Barney moved a vehicle for Wallie and drug the mounting block down to the farm from her place. We had a great time! Just like old times. And all we could talk about was how God is going to build a Christian Conference and Retreat Center at B & L Farm! Wow!!! How cool is that?
We’re all just holding our breath to see what He’s going to do next! More later.
hugs,
e
“When we become disappointed, angry, frustrated and desperate, satan can have a field day in our minds. He can load our minds with so much junk that we can’t hear God or won’t pay attention to the Holy Spirit when he’s trying to talk to us. It doesn’t matter how much we study the Bible, how long we pray, how constantly we praise God, satan and his demons are waiting for one tiny port of entry into our minds to deceive us. His (satan’s) job is to confuse and frustrate us to the point of retaliation, rebellion, disobedience and distrust in God. He (satan) is always out to disturb our peace of mind while we’re waiting for the manifestation of God’s promises to us.” _Thelma Wells
Today my thoughts are bouncing back and forth between Arizona last week and home, here and now. The quote above was in my study Bible beside today’s reading. It pretty much sums up what we’ve been experiencing ever since we got home the first of this week. We have a new plan; a new vision; a future and a hope. On the other hand, there’s no way! The only way the vision can become a reality is with God doing everything necessary to bring it about. In the natural…it just ain’t gonna happen! In the supernatural…with God, nothing is impossible.
So…yesterday I was telling you about our trip. We were in Blythe, California on Tuesday morning – half way to our destination. With another 400 miles to travel, we had breakfast and took time to read our daily Bible chapters.
We’re reading the chapters numbered in multiples of 7 right now; plus the daily readings suggested at Bible Gateway’s Reading Plans. The Bible Gateway plan gives us a couple of chapters in the Old Testament and a selection from the New Testament. After we finish reading we spend time praying for the people and needs God has put in our circle of influence. All in all it takes about half an hour most days. Interestingly each day’s reading has been speaking directly into the path we believe God has been leading us along. And, each day there seems to be some odd, quirky little something happening that could be taken as perfectly natural, or a ‘God thing’. Dick told me this morning I should start making a Nut List! He says most people think we’re nuts anyway – so why not have a list of all these funny, quirky little things that we take as God guiding and directing our path – the things that make people look at us like we’re nuts when we tell about them?
If I did start making a Nut List… there were a couple of interesting things on Tuesday that might be added.
First there was the Phoenix bypass. Map Quest laid out a route designed to avoid the heavy traffic in the metro area (a six lane parking lot, much like LA’s freeways, we were told). As we approached the turn south off I-10, missing Phoenix all together, I mentioned hoping to see a roadrunner while we were in the desert. “Can’t remember the last time I saw a roadrunner. It’s been years.” Anyway, the bypass route was a two-lane, 55 MPH road and since we’d been breezing along at 75 on the Interstate, it only took about a quarter mile before Dick was asking how far we’d be going down this road. Let’s just leave it at, he was not looking forward to 100 miles of 55 MPH on questionable two-lane road. “If you go back to I-10 you’ll have to drive through Phoenix and Tucson,” says I. “but if you really don’t want to go down this road, now’s the time to turn around.” So…around we turned….headed back for the faster, better road. Just as we pulled on the frontage road…guess what ran across in front of the pickup? Yup….there was my roadrunner. Cool! And, the drive through Phoenix and Tucson was fast, easy and much shorter. Cool! A God thing? Maybe. Maybe not. But one of our Nut List items for sure.
Laurie, Wallie and Julia met us at a truck-stop just off the interstate in Willcox a little after lunch. We drove through “old town” Willcox, right down Rex Allen Drive – saw the quaint little village, the museum, the dining car, and the Mercantile. You can check out the locals photos HERE and HERE. 
We stopped at the grocery store “food city” then headed out to the farm. Look at those mountains. The two knobs are known as Dos Cabazes – you’ll be hearing more about them in future posts!
Our arrival at the farm was a whirlwind of greetings, unloading the pickup, getting settled into the guestroom – typical of any traveler’s arrival. Excitement, anticipation, apprehension…all swirling around the joy.
Later Tuesday evening we all loaded into Wallie’s van and drove 20 or 30 minutes to the Bible study Barney and Laurie have been attending for the past few months. Somehow…someway…we had the impression that a church might be growing out of the group and they would be looking for a pastor. Well…we’re looking for a church. Maybe this is an open door. The group, larger on Tuesday than on most weeks apparently, numbered 21 including the four of us. That could be a beginning.
And here’s the second ‘nut list’ item for the day. It took about four minutes flat for the Bible study leader and Dick to come the the agreement that they were NOT looking for a pastor. They already have a pastor…the group leader, and while we were welcome to join in and share where it was appropriate…that door was firmly closed. And locked! I have to tell you though, it is a wonderful group of people from several denominations who love the Lord and are working on learning from His Word. We saw a room filled with needs; people who are tired, hungry and thirsty in the desert. So while there was no need for a pastor…there is very definitely a need for a time of ‘refreshing and restoration in Christ.’ Since that’s what we’re all about (see www.Isaiah496.org) maybe that door isn’t so tightly locked after all.
After Bible study the four of us relaxed at home with a glass of wine and began planning for the week to come. Someone had mentioned a Community church in another town close by where they were looking for a new pastor.
We knew this was a trip designed to ask questions, seek direction and knock on doors. So while the first, and most obvious door was closed, there were still doors to knock on, questions to ask, and direction to seek.
We turned in about 11:00 PM, tired but still excited and prayed our normal ‘good night prayer’ Our Father, who art in Heaven…..
Looking back, a week later, I’ve got to tell you…when we said ‘thy will be done’ we didn’t have a clue!
More later. hugs,
e
“The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.” 2 Samuel 17:29 NIV
A new month…a new season…a new vision in our life!
I’ve been wanting to tell you about this for awhile now. But where to begin? At the beginning I suppose. When Dick and I came to California from Colorado in December of 1981 it was with the intention of serving God full time. We told people we were “taking a step in faith.” We were both eager to see what God was going to do for us. “Listen up, God. Your servants are ready to do something BIG. Just give us what we’re asking for and we’ll give you all the credit.”
In 1982 I went off to “speak” at a Mother/Daughter conference at a Baptist Camp in the Sierra Mountains…and during that weekend God gave us our only daughter. Her life’s goal was similar to ours…serve God…and the three of us set out to make our dreams and goals come into being.
I’ll spare you the details…but after nearly thirty years, God has finally brought us all to the place where we are saying, “Here we are God. Please, tell us what you would have us do.” In the margin of my study bible, next to 2 Samuel 17:29 is this quote – “God’s mill grinds slowly but exceedingly fine. His refining fire is hot, and nothing can come into your life except through the filter of God’s love.” _Barbara Johnson
So… Dick and I have been through the mill.
Dick served God by returning to teaching. In the late 1970’s he’d vowed never to enter a classroom again. Never say never to God! After a brief hitch in a Christian School, a job that could only have come from God, he spent 20 years in a classroom in the public school system. His pulpit…a self contained 7th Grade classroom in a small community in the California mountains. His job description…showing the love of God to 25 or 30 students each year, without saying a word about God! Dick is the most loving, giving person I know. His students recognized something in him that made a difference in them. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I served God by speaking at a few Christian Women’s Camps and Retreats, writing a couple of books (as yet unpublished books) and waiting for Him to finally give me the BIG ministry I’ve always dreamed of. In the meantime I worked in several offices, helping to make ends meet. Along the way I was learning desktop publishing, web site design and… humility and discipline. Still got a ways to go on both fronts! For a few of those intervening years I was angry with God because I wasn’t getting my own way. I was an only child. A spoiled brat really. I thought wanting something, then asking for it should be enough. When God didn’t come through the way I thought He should, I backed off and pouted in my room for awhile! Thank God he is a loving and understanding father. “he showered down upon us the richness of his grace – for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.” Ephesians 2:8 LB
Our God-daughter, Laurie, has been through the fire!
Her story is…her story, and I can’t share it with you here without her permission. But trust me when I tell you God’s refining fire can be HOT. The only saving grace I can find for being in His fire is this – He doesn’t send someone to help you out…He shows up himself. Daniel 3:19-30
So here we are… spring 2009. Dick is retired. We are praying for a new career. Retirement is not for us! We have sent applications and resumes to every corner of the U.S. looking for a small church who needs a pastor. We’ve produced a new web site, Isaial496.org and prepared a brochure for a “restoration” seminar and sent it to several non-denominational churches in the area. Nothing has produced more than a brief nod of acknowledgement. Laurie is living 800 miles away in south-eastern Arizona. She’s happy, finally, and planning a new life with a truly good man. Barney’s spent a few years in God’s refining furnace too, but that’s yet another story. We haven’t really been in touch with them much, except to know they are together, healing and happy.
On the 19th of March we prayerfully wrote out our vision for the future after hearing a sermon on Habakkuk 2:2-3. In my study Bible those verses are surrounded by dates marking probably a dozen times God has prompted me to “write the vision and make it plain”. The first time was in July of 1981.
On the first of April we laid out a “fleece” before God. I told you about that…in my April 7th post. Later in the same week we sent Laurie and Barney an email, including our “vision” for the future. We envisioned things like a small church to pastor, a small parsonage to live in, a small group of believers who could be influenced by our testimonies. Suddenly it seemed God might be opening some doors. There were several small churches in her corner of the world seeking a new pastor, and there was the “perfect” house just down the road from their place.
On Easter Monday she called and talked to ‘Dad’. On Tuesday he decided we should go to Arizona, if only for a visit. On Wednesday I got a web site remodel that would cover the cost of our trip, including two nights lodging, meals and gas…the job was completely unexpected. Dick spent Thursday contemplating the road trip into unfamiliar territory. I don’t think he was exactly worried, but he was not comfortable about it either. On Friday when he took the car in to be serviced he met a man who used to live here, but now lives in Phoenix. Apparently he makes the drive from Arizona to California and back on a regular basis. He’s a retired veterinarian, so close to our age, and he assured Dick there’s nothing to it. After a nice informative visit Dick was ready to go, and he was comfortable with what would be required to make the drive.
On Monday the 19th we drove the first 400 mile leg of the trip to Arizona. It was the first 400 miles of a journey that has changed our life. I’ll tell you the rest of the tale over the next few days.
Please, just pray for us…that we hear the directions we all know God is giving in this new season.
hugs,
e
