Restful Few Days

The past few days our family of 5 has been in Blue Ridge, Ga at a little cabin.  It was a bit strange to think about going to a cabin in July, but it seemed our best option for A) getting away to relax and B) not breaking the bank.  When we drove up after only about an hour or so in the car, I knew we had made the right decision.  The cabin was quite secluded, roomy enough for us to all enjoy being together, and there was a creek running down the back of the property.  This mild July weather was a nice added touch.  It rained off and on while we were there, which I enjoyed.

The kids enjoyed playing in the water.

Jacuzzi time was fun!

Mack enjoyed being out in the woods.  He never has a hard time imagining and playing make-believe.  You never know when you might get shot or put in jail when he is around.

We even made our way to a little fair up the road.

Josh found a hammock for him to enjoy….

I spent some time reading a few of the first readers that the girls are assigned this coming year.  I only have about 15 more to go!  I also spent time on this 1,000 piece puzzle.  I love puzzles, but I don’t like the way they control me.  I would try to walk away and go do something else, but it was like I was under a spell or right before walking away I would find a piece that fit and bam!, I was stuck.

I also spent every morning on the upstairs covered deck.  It was so nice.  I could hear the creek running and the birds singing.  And I didn’t have a thing in the world to do! (besides the puzzle!)  I opened my Bible and was blessed each morning.  I caught up on my yearly read through the bible plan that I had detoured from in order to lead a summer Bible Study.  Consuming so much of the Word and the parts that I consumed at this season of life was perfect, of course.  God does that.  He is so good.

The past three months have been difficult around here.  There has been this “situation” that sparked and then gradually turned into a blazing fire that required much of Josh’s mental energy….even though it wasn’t his doing, he was very much a part of the heat and damage control.  He relied on The Lord to guide him and help him because we’ve never really been in quite this “situation.”  It was one of those times in life when each morning you get filled up with the Word and ask for the Lord to guide your every step and by the end of the night, you are spent and the only way to face the next day’s decisions or trials is by getting up again and getting back in The Word, allowing God to remind you that He is with you, He is for you, and He sees everything.  He can be trusted.  He sees what we don’t see.  He’s working, even though it seems He isn’t.  Our “situation” didn’t end the way I kind of hoped it would, yet I trust that The Lord sees and knows and is protecting us from something and/or strengthening our faith.  So, yes, God has been good and faithful through it all, but we are human and the stress of life has a way of wearing you down.  We needed some time away to rest our minds and our bodies.

Here are a few nuggets from my time away:

—I was reminded of James 5:7 ” Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”  We are very much in a waiting period…trusting that the Lord knows best when we are ready for a harvest.

— I read in Jeremiah on Tuesday.  Jeremiah 2:13 says the Lord, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”  As I sat out on that deck and could hear and see the stream of water running, I was greatly warned and encouraged.  #1)Don’t forsake The Lord!  He is the living water that satisfies. #2) Don’t try to fill my soul with anything else.  All cisterns are broken ones.  And I read the quote from G.Campbell Morgan that I have written by that verse in my Bible: “We must live by the stream, or we perish.”  Amen to that.

— Contrary to what the world says, “Seeing is believing!,” The Lord wants me to believe in order to see…that is faith.

—Psalm 84  “How blessed is the man whose strength is in in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage!  Passing through the valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a spring;  The early rain also covers it with blessings.  They go from strength to strength, each one appears before God in Zion.”

— I also read Psalm 87, which is a clear chapter on the blessings of being a citizen of Zion.  I’ve been praying for Israel and all of those involved in this war.  Praying The Lord will continue to bless His people and protect them.

Thank You, Lord, for the time away…for the rain…for speaking to me in the quiet mornings by the creek in Your Word…for time with my family…and for helping me finish that puzzle.  Amen.