Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It looks to me like the bright, shiny glow I see outside must be the SUN! What a joy to see the sun after several days of cloudy gloom. I am not complaining about the rain, but we seem to be saturated now, and could use a little drying out.
I had a good nights sleep for the first time in about a week, The radiation on my nose, stops it up and then I can't breathe too well except through my mouth, and I don't breathe well through it. So, Praise God! I hope this means healing is taking place.
I enjoyed going to the park in the rain yesterday. The teacher is back, but no students yet, and it has been too wet to take the kids for a tour on the boardwalk. She has lots of interesting things in the classroom, though, and they can learn a lot if they listen. It is good to see all the green in the park and the squirrels are always running around getting their acorns and chasing each other up and around the trees.
God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
You are my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:1 NKJV
Vaclav Havel is a former president of what used to be Czechoslovakia. In 1948, the Communists took power in his country and confiscated his family land holdings. From that time, Havel was part of a defiant underground that opposed the Soviet government.
When the Soviets marched into Prague twenty years later, Havel remained to form a coalition that would be ready to take over then the time was right. He spoke out boldly, writing defiantly against communism. He was put under surveillance and eventually jailed for his activities.
In 1970, several United States senators met with Havel in Czechoslovakia. They brought what they thought would be good news for him. They told him they intended to press for legislation allowing dissidents like him to immigrate to the West. Havel replied by saying he was not interested in going to the West. "What good would that do?" he asked. "Only by staying here and struggling here can we ever hope to change things." Like a watchman in the night, Havel stayed on duty in his country.
Times of trial and struggle often seem like long, dark nights. But doing the right thing--even the hard thing--gives us hope. How do we maintain those long night watches when there seems to be little change in our circumstances?
1. Take one step at a time. Don't attempt to tackle the whole task at once. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."
(Proverbs 20:24)
2. Keep your struggles in perspective. Separate the mountains from the molehills. "What, then , shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
3.Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."( James 1:4 KJV)
4. Learn to recognize the invisible God in the world around you. "By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27"
Placing your hope in the Lord helps you to do all these things. He will lead you; He will remove your mountains. He will strengthen you, helping you to be patient; and He will open your eyes to His works all around you.
If it were not for hope the heart would break.
English proverb.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
