June 25 - Step Three

These have been days rich with blessings and fragrant with joy. I find myself understanding less and less how people can only focus on the negative stuff and overlook the wonders of God all around. Certainly that's easy to say when things seem to be going well, but I assure you there are still plenty of frustrations daunting me. But as I hear of people being upset because of something someone said, or as I hear of people who stay away from God because of disagreements with other people, I find myself being far less compassionate towards them than perhaps I ought to be. But I wonder how angry Jesus would be. After all, he kicked some serious bottom side when clearing the temple. And he certainly had little more to say after the rich young dude walked away. We are so wealthy when it comes to resources and people and support and possibilities that it seems almost blasphemous that we could let individual scuffles get in our way on the course of our journey. If I'm reaching anyone out there who has let in-house anxieties fester in the place where you worship, I would admonish you to wake up. These are not the days for breaking ranks. These are the days when God's people must be strong and return to His heart. Take it from me, one who has learned these things the hard way, life is far too precious to focus only on the bitter, and not taste the far more abundant sweet. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and you will see more wonder than you ever imagined. If you think your eyes on on Him, yet you are being dominated by the negative stuff, you're kidding yourself and you're in true danger.

I had no intention of preaching a sermon today, but this all just flowed out of my heart like honey from the comb. Let me now tell you the good news of the day. I spoke with Barbara just moments ago and she happily informed me that she took THREE STEPS today! Wow! Do 3 steps seem like little to you? They don't seem that way from whence we came. This is yet another example of learning to see the wonderful blessings of God. Perhaps you know that there have been some very good and wonderful health care people along that way that were skeptical that Barbara would ever walk again. My daily prayer, through all of these days, is that this would be the week that Barbara walks again.

We have had some of the most wonderful days together recently. I took Barbara to church Sunday, we ate at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then spent a beautiful and relaxing day together at home. She has been able to be in the lower "family room/bedroom" area where we have lived most of our lives on these past 2 visits. Max was overjoyed at having her back in her "natural environs" as I suspect he thinks.

Our home assessment last week proved to be better than we thought. We have determined that we can make minimal improvements and make life reasonably tolerable for Barbara at home. There will still need to be work done on the bathroom, but not to the degree we initially expected. We have started down the path of making these improvements, but this will likely be a project that takes a bit of time. Most of what we will do involves widening the door, moving a light switch, adding grab-bars, putting in a new, lower reaching mirror, replace the sink, redo the flooring, replace shower plumbing, and remove shower door to replace with a curtain. There are also other improvements we'll endeavor to make around the house as funds become available. Mostly, though, we will make certain that all improvements will truly be useful to any future pastors inhabiting this parsonage.

Please continue to join us in praying that Barbara will walk this week,

That she will be more able to do things for herself that she wants and needs,

And that my back will hold out!

We love all of you and pray for you as well.