the next place

 We are preparing to move to the next place.

We thought it would be home, but instead the next place will be the Hospice Center.  In some ways this will be a blessing for my mom - allowing her to sleep.

I don't know whether to be glad or sad.  I don't know what I feel right now.

He's not as good today, yesterday joking around with my cousins who stopped in to visit, today moaning due to bowels not functioning.

While I'm writing this he's witnessing to the precious nurse named Faith who told me today in tears, "I just want him to feel better"...  My dad has treated everyone with such care and respect that it's been another example to a daughter about how people should be treated.  As God intended.

We have a transport about to come to take us to Ashland, to the next place.  People are waiting for us there and I'm sure the Lord has a whole new group of people waiting to be encouraged at the next place.

Thanks for praying.

what I learned today

"perhaps the most distinguishing mark of a true partaker of the riches of God and Christ is that they cannot hoard the treasures. They want everyone else to enjoy them too."

This quote is such a great description of how our faith should affect us. The joy of our salvation should make it impossible to be silent about our relationship with Christ.

Does it?

As I studied today I believe the Lord opened my eyes to see that I have kind of fallen into a 'take it for granted' mind set when it comes to my faith.

I had to ask myself honestly, am I so in love with the Lord that I cannot keep silent?

I am not afraid to share my faith, but, I had to wonder if the joy I have, the joy that the world is seeking so hard to find, is evident to those around me. Would any seeker ever ask me why I seem different? This is something I will be thinking and praying about.

I learned today as I studied that I need to watch for opportunities to share how much I love the Lord, and to be very careful that I don't ever become complacent in my faith.

what I learned today

Faith leads to hope, and it overcomes fear.

I am struggling not to fear today. My spirit is troubled and I have been in prayer constantly since I woke up.

I read a small email daily called, "Encouraging words". Today's reading included the following sentences, "You'll look to God in trust to take care of the things you can't do because of your human limitations and needs. In the Bible, the focus is always on trusting God and letting him reign supreme." This is difficult for me to do. I tend to take charge, try to fix it myself, I am not patient.

It is hope that I long to feel, hope that God will be honored in this day. Hope that he will protect. Hope that those I pray for are very wise and cautious. If I have faith, it will lead me toward hope. My hope is only in Him. Today I learned that without faith there is no hope. This is what is missing in many peoples lives - the focus and hope of things eternal.

How hopeless it would be to only have this world...

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 3:13–15

Wisdom. This is a word I seldom spend any time thinking about. When I ask myself who do I know that I would consider truly wise, the list is very short, and believe me, I'm not on that list.

In reading this morning I came across the following; "What do you want most in life? Consider that Godly wisdom may be the means to fulfilling your deepest desires. Do you want to be happy? Seek wisdom and you'll be joyful. Nothing you desire can compare with wisdom! "
Of course I believe that true wisdom and understanding only come from God, never through worldly knowledge.

Wisdom brings understanding which brings contentment because you would have a clear understanding of why. When I become dissatisfied and begin to complain it is always because I don't see beyond the circumstance I am in right then. If I had an understanding of what comes next, or what caused the circumstance I would be satisfied, I wouldn't try to change the circumstance. But, isn't the fact that I need to know what's next prove that I don't have faith, and am not wise?

This is what I am wrestling with in this discussion, where does blind faith and obedience come into this whole scenario? True wisdom, I think, can only come with faith and a desire to live an obedient life, maybe wisdom has very little to do with knowledge of any kind.

I wonder possibly if faith and Godly obedience is all wisdom truly is?