He Is Better

Hello Again!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. The good news is that Bruce and I finally found a new place. The bad news is, now we have to pack up and find furniture to fill our new TWO bedroom apartment. What a blessing! Through all the struggles and frustrations of looking for a new apartment, God taught me a lesson. I thought it was hard enough to be going through all the newly-wed challenges, plus apartment shopping and then add a little homesickness and you have a big mess. That is what I was. My husband is so patient!

So after we pulled through all of that and finally found a place, my husband showed me this video.
Matt Chandler was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor three years ago and was given three years to live. It's been three years and he's still alive. That is beside the point. His attitude towards this shocking news is simply this: Thank you God! Thank you for considering me worthy to display your goodness and your excellence and your glory in THIS. Not just when miracles are happening and we are blessed, but even when things are terrible and don't FEEL good, YOU ARE STILL GOOD!

He spoke about Hebrews 11 and how so many are commended for their faith. At the end he talks about  those who shut the mouths of lions, and who overcame terrible odds, but then it says some were beaten, some were shipwrecked, some were sawn in two and both groups of people showed great faith.

First of all, wow are my little trials BEANS compared to how people have suffered for Christ or what? Secondly, not everyone gets miracles and blessings all the time. Sometimes we suffer. I want be known as someone whose faith withstands the trials that come. I want to be able to stand up and say God is good, and excellent and beautiful and glorious no matter what the circumstances may be. I want to be able to say that God is sufficient, God is BETTER even than any thing, any circumstance, any ache or pain that there is in this world.

I also read an article in Table Talk magazine this week that spoke about pursuing contentment. It was dealing with the issue of covetousness, and how the heart issue is contentment. I have been so guilty lately, not of covetousness, but just of wallowing in my little list of things I wish were different. Um, Maria, THINGS AREN'T DIFFERENT!!! And you can't change them. You can only change YOU. That change that I need, it's contentment. So I've been on a crusade to pursue contentment. What a change it has made. How much more joy there is in life when you just choose to be thankful.

I sure do miss home....but I have the best husband in the whole world. So instead of being mopey because things here are different and mom and dad are far away, I choose to look at my hubby and let the goodness of the Lord fill my heart like wind in an open sail.

p.s  Here is a little preview of my wedding pics courtesy of Mark Elkins Photography.

There's a lot of love here :) 

Still Not Home

Still Not Home

White, and wispy all at once, she saw it coming fast

planning, working, calling, making, hoping she would last.

Then it came, and she emerged in white from head to toe.

Veil blown by balmy breezes, bright and all aglow.

She looked him in the eyes, she felt her spirit soar.

Home never felt this close before.

That white and wispy dream it carried her so long.

It buzzed and rang inside her ears like a lovely ringing song.

Day after day the song wore off, and then she faced her life.

She was happy cooking, cleaning, being a little wife.

I must be home, she thought, and sat down with a sigh.

But something in her yearned and longed, and made her want to cry.

The days grew long, and sometimes dull, the wispy dream had left.

She felt a little lonely, a little bit bereft.

Perhaps something was missing to make a home out of her house,

Perhaps she needed time to find her place, 

and get to know her spouse.

But time went on and on and on, she knew that wasn't true.

There was no thing, no time, no spouse

 that could stop her feeling blue.

No place, no person, nothing here on earth could fill and satisfy.

No place would ever fill her heart, and stop the need to cry.

No apartment, house or hut could make her feel at rest.

No roof would satisfy the longing that weighed upon her chest.

The only thing, she realized, that would fill her to the brim,

Would be when she saw God and went to her eternal home with Him.