Beautiful Last day of January

Sam took photos while working today.

Sorrow and Joy

An online friend's husband died this morning. She wasn't surprised by this, she is sad beyond measure, yet rejoicing that his pain is over. A dear sister in the Lord, she will navigate the hours, days, weeks and months without her precious highschool sweet heart, married 33 years, with only babies in Heaven to make her more eager to go. I am grateful to know her, and am familiar with her sorrow, and also with her rejoicing. It is agony to watch someone suffer and feel so helpless. When our selfish and selfless prayers are finally answered by God we hope to understand, to get a glimpse of how He was glorified by their suffering, or by our agony in watching. When our sovereign God stands to greet our loved one, we breathe, we let go of all the holding in we have done for weeks or months or years. We sigh, relieved of this duty that became a blessing to us. We wonder how to survive without them.... and in time remind ourselves that the One who holds our loved one now, the One who held us when we didn't know how we could do this for one more day, will hold us now.

Ready to Go Home

Dad is waiting for us to hit the road Thursday morning for his 9:30AM flight to Seattle. He had a short delay in Seattle, but no problem for this seasoned traveler.

Stan picked dad up from the airport and they went to dinner. I called about 8:30PM and they were just getting in. Long day for dad, but he sounded energized to be home.

It is always bittersweet when dad leaves. I know how much he misses his routine and his own home, but there is an emptiness when he leaves. Today the kids and I will wander around missing Poppa a lot.

Willy, on the other hand doesn't understand where Poppa went, they were inseparable. I think Dad should get a dog, he enjoyed Willy so much.

We miss you dad and look forward to your return!

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely avoided, and you don't sting or hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ...That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart and don't defend yourself, but take it all in silence...That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear disorder, any irregularity, an impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility...and endure it as Jesus endured it...That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any amount of money, any clothes, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God,...That is dying to self.

When you no longer care to hear yourself in conversation or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, ...That is dying to self.

When you can see your Christian brother or sister prosper and have his or her needs met, and can honestly rejoice in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances,...That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly, as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart,...That is dying to self.

Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the cross, "That I may know Him..being made conformable to His death." Phil 3:10
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