Faith & Understanding

Hello friends,

Thank you ever so much for your continued prayers over the weeks.

Last week, we miscarried. God has been so good through it...so gentle and merciful. So loving. We have been surrounded with loving people and uplifted in prayer. God's word has been a comfort over and over, and the peace that passes understanding has been evident. We praise God for this peace, that only HE can give through times like this.

I've learned to be thankful during a time that doesn't seem natural to be thankful. Again, it's not of me, but of God. His strength has been made perfect in my weakness and all the glory goes to Him!

We were priveleged to spend a week at a Missions Conference in Albert Lea, MN last week. God knew it was exactly what we needed. The spiritual encouragement and daily time together in God's word, focusing on living for HIS glory was such a blessing.

Now that we're home again, back to the grind, I find it a bit more difficult to focus...to be motivated to take the next step of the day. BUT, God is still a very present help in trouble, and I'm praying for the strength to rely on Him, even during the day to day goings on of life.

Again, thank you all for praying. It's been a tremendous help and blessing. We are confident that God has done what was best for us and our baby. We trust His goodness and love and although, there are times I seek answers to the "WHY's", I realize that I don't need to know, but I just to trust.

During yesterday morning's sermon, Pastor preached from Mark 8 about the disciples on the boat with Jesus, fretting because they forgot the bread. Even after they had seen Jesus provide food TWICE for a multitude of people...their unbelief caused them to lose focus on who Jesus is, and instead, they focused on themselves, their reasoning, their inabilities, etc. And, their unbelief caused a lack of understanding. Something Pastor said really stuck out to me at that point. Faith proceeds knowledge and understanding. How can we even hope to understand what God is doing if we don't trust Him first? And, will I, like the disciples, forget what God has done for me already, and respond to life's circumstances like He's never provided before? God forbid. I pray I would let the lessons of this experience linger throughout my lifetime, and that God would receive the glory...