March 24, 2019
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The Swells of the storm
I am so thankful that GOD shared with us so many amazing events that took place during Jesus’ brief time on Earth. Reading His love letter to us, His Word, reminds us daily of how our God’s greatness is beyond human conception. He puts into perspective even the most difficult of situations reminding us of HIS loving orchestration and total control over our life events.
This morning the reality of the swelling seas starting once again to swirl our life craziness around us started to overwhelm my heart. Trying somehow to balance home schooling our two boys, selling, packing and moving totally to PNG (We have always had my parents home as a USA residence….like a second home away from home), wanting and needing to see our family and friends, and visiting churches that support us….ALONG with surgeries and medical checks….made me feel a bit overwhelmed to say the least. I feel like we need a month of 48 hour days to accomplish everything. The more I thought and pondered and TRIED to figure out HOW to do it, the more I felt the stress just choke me. Whatever happened to “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”? My spiritual warning lights were flashing. TIME to STOP trying to do this on my own….I can’t do it. This life storm is too great!
In that moment of desperation, my mind immediately went to the Sea of Galilee. THE disciples had literal swells of sea and winds rise up and drown them, not just emotional stress. I am sure , even though they were experienced sea men, they began to feel overwhelmed as the anxiety and stress AND FEAR started to overtake them one crashing wave at a time. They were not alone, though, just as I was not. Jesus was watching from afar. He allowed them to toss and turn a bit, but HIS watchful EYE never left them. In the early morning hours, as Im sure they felt their strength was finally gone and they were ready to give up, it was TIME for them to let go…and be rescued. Jesus came. HIS voice stilled the waters. He calmed the winds.
PEACE be STILL….and my heart also responded.
I am so thankful that GOD will lead us and guide us each day to accomplish HIS purpose and plan these next weeks before we return to our home in PNG. The details are HIS to plan. Our lives just open pages of a book and HE holds the pen and writes the amazing adventures of our life stories. I just need to let go of the PEN!
We covet your prayers as we wait upon Him in the midst of the craziness.
Funny how perfect peace can be interrupted by flashes of fears or concerns that bolt across our hearts like lightening in the sky. We know that Bill’s eye surgery is now very needed. We have waited as long as we could and now it is a necessity, but the thought of his EYES being lazered and “fixed” is a bit daunting. We know there are risks anytime surgery is done on our very delicate eyes. We have full confidence and trust knowing GOD is in complete control, but we covet your prayers joining ours that all will go exceptionally well with no complications and fast safe healing. Pray with us that our hearts stay calm and trusting. His left eye, the worst one that has been giving him pain, is first! Tuesday is the day. We will post on facebook when we have a time of surgery.
We have had many of our Pastors and family asking us about our plans for the next weeks before our return to the field. TO be honest we are just waiting to see how Bill responds to the surgery first before we start to organize a schedule. We are in the midst of selling Daddy’s house and the packing continues, though the majority of it is done. We are really needing prayer that we prioritize well and that we follow GOD’s plan for these busy days ahead.
WE ask for prayer for the estate Settlement we have mentioned in previous updates. As with any big blessing GOD desires to bring, there is opposition. We need very specific prayer this week that GOD will turn the hearts of the lawyers in charge of this estate to favor using the monies of this gentlemen to benefit the people of PNG through our clinic and Bible College (and other ministries they are seeking to help with this estate settlement as well.). PRAY for GOD to use our dear friends that have been tasked with choosing the charities to benefit from this money, that their testimony and opportunities to share CHRIST in the midst of all of this legal red tape and opposition would be fruitful. WE wait upon GOD to intervene and orchestrate HIS plan in this opportunity. HE alone will open and close the doors and we not only wait upon HIM but we trust HIM to bring about what is best no matter what the end result will be. WE just need to pray, wait and trust !
Please continue to pray for:
*Bill’s eye surgery on TUESDAY. PRAY for no complications, fast healing and great results.
*The processing of Dad’s PNG visa, the construction of his apartment inside our home structure , and for the sale of his home and packing and shipping of all our combined family belongings to PNG.
*For the boys schooling needs.
*For God’s guidance as we plan our schedule over the next weeks before our planned return home to PNG.
*For GOD to move the hearts of the lawyers involved in the Estate settlement to allow the funds to benefit the PNG people through our clinic and Bible College ministries.
“It takes the storm to prove the strength of the real shelter”. Thankful for the storms as we know rainbows will soon follow! Trusting in the gales!
No restraint. No retreat. NO REGRETS. Fearless. Faithful.
Bill, Lori, the boys and dad.
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