Believing

Where do I even start after a three month vacation from blogging? I didn't intend to take a break, I just didn't have anything to write about. Oh, there has still been action around here...the family went to Chris and Ashley's wedding in June, great break at my favorite place (The Coconut) in July, and family vacation in August. We've celebrated 26 years of marriage, and last weekend we celebrated Cary's birthday, which isn't until this weekend. Monday my baby posed for her last first day of school picture. Carissa has traveled to the other side of the earth to South Africa and will return tomorrow. Plenty of things going on that I knew I should have been posting about, just didn't. These days have proved that Believing God really is the foundation of my life. I don't know how people get through life without Him. This has been a crisis in my life, and He has been faithful. I allowed few, very few to walk with me through this, but He has always been there, proving once again He can be trusted. This has been a time of severe sadness, loss, and relationship changes. Feeding the homeless has remained a bright spot through all of this-I have much to be thankful for. But one of my lowest and most painful moments came when I realized I had lost my ring that says "believe" while feeding them one night. Let me be clear, my loss was not because of the actual physical ring, but because with almost every breath I take I see that ring and remember that I have made the choice to believe Him, trust Him, to know He is at work when I cannot see it. It is a constant reminder. The ring could be replaced, and it was, and during those few days without it I just learned to see the white band on my finger where it used to be and be reminded to keep believing. It really has been my faith that has seen me through this. Today, nothing has changed as far as circumstances, but He and I are still in this together, for the long haul, and there is no other way for me. Psalm 130:7 became a lifeline...Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. I'm believing that He will bring full redemption from this. Not partial, but full. My mother's favorite verse, Joshua 1:9, ran constantly through my head, reminding me that He would never leave me. He didn't. I'll try to catch up on some of the big events that have been left out with the next few blogs. For now, I'll sign off, simply leaving you with this:

God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.

I am choosing to BELIEVE HIM!