Leavin' on a Jet Plane

photo by d mansouri

Only those of you who grew up in the 60’s will hear a tune when you read the title.  For those of you who do know the song, I do know when I’ll be back, and I don’t hate to go.  So much for the song lyrics. 

It’s hard to believe I haven’t traveled since last October – and haven’t been itchy to do so.  But now it’s time to gear up again.  Our schedule looks pretty full of various types of travel between now and the end of the year, though none are my most favorite kind – mission trips.  So, I’ll just let each trip, regardless of its purpose, be a mission from the Lord to shine the light of Jesus Christ and share the good news of His grace, love, and redemption.  I think that’s actually the way I’m to live every day, though, isn’t it?

Anyway, we will be visiting our sons and their wives in the Dallas area, and we look forward to it.  Just before we leave, we will be getting the phone call letting us know whether this little baby developing in the womb is a girl or boy.  Then, look out baby shops – this grandmother-in-waiting is ready to buy some baby clothes! 

On the more serious side of things, though, I want to encourage you that God will keep moving and working even when you don’t have any more hope for the situation.  He is bringing restoration to our family, despite that part of my heart seeming to have no life, no expectation for the better.  I wasn’t opposed to it – just had no hope for it.  I know, that doesn’t say much for my faith in that area, but it’s honest.  But God!  Again, He has moved in His grace and mercy to show me, again, that He is still the God of restoration.  What part of His character do you need Him to show you again?

Up, up, and away . . . on the wings of the Spirit, and with the metal wings of the jet!

Abiding in Him

As I sought for something with which to encourage you this time, I picked up the book Secrets of the Vine, by Bruce Wilkinson.  I haven’t read this for several years, but remember it shedding light on some of the things I was experiencing at the time.  I flipped through the pages to see if any of the passages I had underlined might minister to you.  The following passage comes under the heading, The Person of Abiding, and proceeds from an extended teaching in which it is made clear that so much of what we do, calling it abiding, is merely a matter of works.

“Abiding is all about the most important friendship of your life.  Abiding doesn’t measure how much you know about your faith or your Bible.  In abiding, you seek, long for, thirst for, wait for, see, know, love, hear, and respond to . . . a person.  More abiding means more of God in your life, more of Him in your activities, thoughts, and desires.

In our Western-style rush to do and perform for God, we often falter at the task of simply enjoying His company.  Yet we were created to be dissatisfied and incomplete with less. . .”

May you allow yourselves to be drawn to the One in Whom you are to abide – the One Who loves you . . . and likes you!  May you truly be dissatisfied and incomplete without the pleasure and fulfillment of His company every day, my sisters.  I include myself in this prayer, as well.