Waiting

So many of my friends are in very dark places right now. Many are hurting, broken, confused and some even angry. Some of my friends are in joyful periods of anticipation.

They are all left waiting. Waiting on the Lord. Waiting on some sort of peace or understanding. Waiting for answers.

It's hard to walk along side friends who are waiting when you yourself have no answers. All you can do is listen, offer a shoulder to cry on, pray, encourage, and when it's appropriate maybe offer a little humor. Sometimes it doesn't seem like enough.

For my friends who are waiting for test results, waiting for babies, waiting for a spouse, waiting for a job, waiting on answers of why a baby was taken before his time, waiting on answers of why the twins were taken at 22 weeks, waiting for peace about a break up, waiting for the right job to come along, waiting...

I wait with you.

I pray for you.

I love you.

Psalm 27

Of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

 ² When the wicked advance against me
   to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

 ⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

 ⁶ Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

 ¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

Spiritual Poverty

"The trouble is that, as modern people, we have too much to live with and too little to live for. Some feel they have time but not enough money; others feel they have money but not enough time. But for most of us, in the midst of material plenty, we have spiritual poverty."

Os Guinness, The Call

Snow Day Snippets!!

* Not only did Young get a snow day, Marc got a snow day from work tonight! How awesome to have an unexpected night with my whole family home! What a rare blessing that is.

* I went out with Isaac today. We sat in the snow, dug for treasure, watched the truck & tractor clear the snow from the church parking lot and took a walk. While Isaac wasn't about to lay in the snow, I went all out and even made a snow angel!

* My little boy wanted to cuddle with me this afternoon. I love that.

* I tried out my new long underwear for the trek outdoors. I might wear it under everything all winter long from here on out. Just you watch.

* Isaac & Hope did NOT get the memo about sleeping in on snow days. Someone needs to train these kids.

* Sending lots of emails about an awesome Wednesday night church night coming up at PH on February 16, and the high school winter retreat coming up this weekend.  There is so much to look forward to in the next few months at church. God has truly aligned the hearts of many of my friends with a similar vision for PH and we're making things happen! It's an exciting time.

* Started my Calvin Seminary class yesterday and excited to start a little snow day reading tonight on one of my books. My class is "Fostering Intergenerational Communities". I certainly consider it more than mere coincidence that I'm taking this class while my previous point about church stuff is happening.

* I finally changed my Christmas background. Yeah, it's an Easter one. I spent more time reflecting on Advent this year (thanks for the devotional, KB), and it made it much more meaningful. I'd like to spend more energy focusing on Easter and Lent this year, so I'm really excited about the Easter background!