It is always a pleasure to come to visit our daughter’s family. As I am having my devotions this morning I get to listen to my daughter conduct a women’s bible study in another room via zoom. They are doing a study in Revelation which she has written. It makes dad fill with gratitude for what God is doing.

Last night my kids here welcome a struggling family of mom and 3 kids to their home for dinner. They do this each Monday night. It was fun to be part of it. The kids are 12, 7 and 5 with the two younger ones being boys. After dinner we played games outside until it was time for them to go home. It was so nice to see how my son-in-law and my grandson have become so influential in these two young boys lives. My daughter gets to do this with the daughter.

This morning’s devotion centered on giving back. It was fun to read it having just last night been part of my own family giving back in this way for this family. God is always at work with His people. This isn’t just here, but around the world. All we have to do is listen and obey that still small voice I like to call a nudge.

There is never a day that goes by when I don’t see Jesus at work. It is simply amazing to me how thorough God is. As I sat in church with my kids yesterday I thought I was in a Celebrate Recovery Summit. All of the worship songs were specifically ones that bring the spirit of man to his knees before God regarding whatever has taken place in their lifetime. God is waiting patiently to take that past/present and replace it with a future with Him that man cannot even imagine. Even though the strife of life may continue to exist, it will not need to govern his life any longer. Instead, the peace which only God’s Spirit can provide will replace it. These seasons in our lives can be used by God to grow us into the sensitive, humble individuals who see needs in others. God will then use us to assist them just as we have been helped by someone God gave to us in our time/s of need.

This service yesterday included a sermon by their pastor which continued the same message the worship songs carried. As I watched individuals come to the altar and pray I also saw the ones who came and enveloped them with prayers of support and arms of love. It was a picture of God’s Spirit at work. What a joy it is to see God’s Kingdom Work taking place!

Last night was a little exciting as a major tornado warning was being alerted to all of the surrounding area where our kids live. It ended with the tornado moving to the west of us. I did get to se the torrents of rain which was quite spectacular.

Yesterday as we were accompanying our kids to a wedding shower for a young man in their church, my son in law gave me a nice compliment. It was nice to hear but I immediately put it down, not as much as I would have done in the past, but still wouldn’t receive it with a simple thank you. Last night I had this very vivid dream where I was at a hospital to see someone. There was a crowd of people at the hospital entrance due to the entrance being blocked for a reason the dream didn’t display. What did happen was a man recognized me as his daughter’s past principal and began to compliment me. As he did another man joined him. As they did this I took a cigarette from someone by me and began to smoke it (something I’ve never done in reality).

This morning as I journaled, I wrote about this confusing dream. Instantly I was prodded to understand that I need (in my mind) to let any one giving a compliment to me know I am nothing but a man of flesh with all kinds of issues (as though people wouldn’t already know this). God just simply told me He created me to be who I am and I can accept this fully, not partially. Compliments don’t need to be downgraded, but received, a simple thank you suffices.

It is amazing to me how much God cares for us. The fullness of His Glory touches every aspect of us. I will never get beyond how much He cares!

It is so nice to be here with our kids and grandkids. Being part of their lives for a short while is a rich blessing, They love the Lord and serve Him well which makes being here all the more pleasurable. Their church friends are like family to them and even to us. I love it!

I am enjoying immensely the devotional for this year. Every single day it has relevant messages for me and for any reader. We were here last year in September when I picked them out at the bible bookstore for our quartet. Little did I know how God was purposely having this one chosen. I wish I could afford to get them for everyone in our Celebrate Recovery group and the counseling group. The messages of each day are so focused for living beyond what hardships may be experienced in past or being experienced presently.

I don’t care how old we are or how young one is, we all need reminders of how much God loves each one of us and has specific purpose for us being where we are and who we are. God makes no mistakes. It has taken me a lifetime to realize all of this and the reminders which come daily are deeply appreciated! God is SO GOOD!

As I experienced yesterday I needed to apologize to God this morning for all of the angst and frustration I exhibited to Him prior to coming here to be with our kids. I kept telling myself I knew we were suppose to come and nothing at home was too important to stop this from taking place. Yet, even though I’d tell myself this, I still fretted. Just being here 1.5 days I began to live out the reasons it was so important to come. My granddaughter’s concert last night was fabulous. We’ve never been able to take part in one of these before last night. I got to meet her fiancé as well as his parents and his sis and her fiancé. They are a great family.

Spending the day yesterday planting all of the plants my daughter and I had purchased the day before was also a joy. She ended up being on jury duty for the day so I just planted them as I thought it would work. Amber said she’d just be glad to have the flower beds and pots with plants dad had done. So now that is the case.

I’m always amazed at the way God uses the time Kathy and I are here away from home to give me another look at Him working. With all of the world events one hears and witnesses each day it is good to get away momentarily and watch how God is working in the lives of others far away from where my perspective has been. God is never idle and His Work is continually being done by His faithful servants around the world. How rewarding it is to witness this and grow one’s own strength in Him. God is the One and Only true GOD!

We have made it to Oklahoma and love being here with our kids and their extended family and friends. Tonight I get to meet my grandson-in-law to be. My granddaughter is singing in a concert we will be attending. Ahead of this we will go to dinner with this newest family member. Kind of fun!

On the way here yesterday morning I was reading a book entitled In Abba’s Arms. It was recommended to me by the retired counselor I work with in our ministry. One young mother I meet with has a very troubled childhood and I had asked if there were any recommendations she would have for me. She suggested this book. Well, this suggestion is a God send. I have never read any book that is more powerful in its message regarding our relationship with God. I found myself wishing I weren’t reading this on an airplane full of people. I wanted to just weep a few times but I thought it best to try and keep myself under control. I am eager though to work through this book’s content with the young mother once we return. There is a lady in my kid’s church that talks with me each time we come. She had her own troubled childhood and last night I was able to recommend the book for her. She ordered it as we were talking.

My daughter told me yesterday that a young mother in their Celebrate Recovery group gave her story a couple weeks ago. Last night this young mother told me that when I gave my testimony to them a few years ago inspired her to tell her own story which she did two weeks ago. She had never heard anyone tell their story until she heard mine. i couldn’t talk for a moment. It is so meaningful to experience God using our past as a tool for Himself with others. Wow, what a blessing!

Today has arrived! We are headed to the airport to spend the next two weeks with our daughter and family there. Our daughter Amber graduated from seminary last December and the actual graduation ceremony is May 4 in Kansas City, Missouri so we will drive there with our kids. It will also be Kathy’s maiden voyage for a trip of this length since her stroke last November. It is not a taxing time for anything we are doing and I know God is preparing all of this.

Yesterday I received a text of answered prayer. One young man I’ve been seeing for a year now had a huge answer–huge for him. It was so nice to see him praising the GOD he thought had maybe abandoned him. I knew better and we had talked this through many times. He also knew this, but believing it to be true for himself was an ongoing struggle. God truly answered him in a big way. It is always such a joy to watch God work in His Timing.

GOD is GOOD!

I will never get over the beauty God has created in Springtime. Every day I anticipate the sun rising enough so I can see the flowers in bloom outside the den windows. The added blessing I never would have expected is getting to watch the birds as they scrounge around for particles for building their nests. Even the squirrels are cute this time of the day. I’m not a fan of them for they like to dig the tulip bulbs and replant them in the middle of wherever they choose.

When I was a boy I would see flower beds in people’s yard and tell myself I would have ones just like that someday. For many years now I still do this. However, now I get to enjoy my own each and every day. Yes, winter time comes when they are dormant, but that is why God created garden catalogs and now, websites so I can dream about springtime coming all over again. OK, enough about this.

Today I ready everything I need to for our absence the next two weeks. At some point I’ll pack but that is a minor item for me at least. God has replaced the anxiety I’ve had up to this point. Today I’m at peace knowing this trip is something God has wanted for us. I’ve known this and now I’m at peace with it. I even thanked God this morning for the anxious moments that He used to get me ready for tomorrow’s flight. God is AMAZING that way!

Yesterday truly was a nice day. My grandson came in the afternoon and we walked through what needs to be done as we talked about his own next steps as he is stepping into his adult years ahead. My confession of yesterday still wants to linger but I am putting my faith and trust to work. In fact, my devotional message this morning was to thank God for the needs we have. It is our needs which bring us closer to Jesus and to rely on Him. Once again God’s perfect timing is seen. I would never have thought to thank Him for creating me to have these needs I expressed yesterday. However, they, along with other needs I’ve expressed in former posts do bring me to my knees before Jesus.

As I was praying through my prayer list this morning and was praying over my own family the words of the hymn, I Need Thee were singing through my own spirit. “I need Thee, oh I need Thee, every hour I need Thee….” The frailties of my flesh lead me to the Cross. In past I’ve confessed them to Jesus. Today, I not only confessed them but I thanked God for giving them to me so I stay on my knees before Jesus. What a magnificent Triune God we get to serve: God the Father, Jesus our Savior and Lord, and God’s Holy Spirit Who resides within each of us who believe.

There are times when I just don’t like who I am. This is one of those times. For us to be gone for two weeks in the prime of spring weighs on me like I would never have thought. I hate admitting this, but it is true. I keep being reminded that I am to do what I am to do and then let TRUST fill in the two week gap. I have a grandson who is very capable of taking care of things staying right here. In fact, he is coming today so I can walk him through the chores. He is even excited to do this. I just haven’t ever turned this amount of time over to someone else this time of year and I have never wanted to do this either. Yet, the reason for it far outweighs this angst I have.

I was reminded this morning of the 3-R’s: recognize, reject and replace this angst with truth. My grandson is very capable and wants to do this. I actually need to experience this so I practice the trust I talk to others about. God is faithful and doesn’t want me living in this doubt. So, in this confession, I place my trust that all will be well when we return on May 8. If for some reason it is not just as I would have had it, it would take just a couple of days to get things caught up. I write this and realize once again how human I am. But, God loves me anyway and I’m so grateful for Him!