nice man

matt had a precepting teacher that would always tell the students that “mr. l is a very nice man”. this was said in a very condescending way…but he was right. matt is pretty nice!

he brought me flowers:

and matching loveseats.

Life is hard right now.  It seems all bets are off until things get better.   I wish we knew when that would be or why they are like they are.

Thoughts while Driving

Sometimes I feel as though I reflect best after a quality movie.  You know the kind that you know is tragic from the outset but deeply so, in a way that is moving and real to your soul.  It is as if once touched my soul desires to speak, or at least to muse a bit.  Often times though this can be unproductive as my soul is quickly quieted by the anxieties of the world.

Tonight while reflecting deeply I heard something unique.  Not my soul speaking but as Ellizabeth Elliot would say “a breath of heaven”.  It was a knowledge that the Lord knew and that he identified with us and that in all this there still was His present love.  His love is like the crashing waves of the ocean only deeper, like the air around us but thicker and more present, it…as I glimpsed it dimly lit was so much more real than months of doubts and trial (which have been no small trial of themselves).  The short of it is, God is here with us, not as a man but as a God, as The God and if that wasn’t enough next I realized that He initiated.  The Holy Spirit is still with us.  Thank God He has not left us to fight for ourselves or to muse at who He might be and who we might be in relation but has not only given us confidence in Himself to face all that opposes us as it did and does Him, but His presence which is so powerful and real that it can even change the direction of a crooked heart.

I don’t pretend that our problems will vanish or gently fade into bliss.  I fully expect to be battered and confused next week, hurt at why pain lingers.  I just wanted to write to remember the breath of grace and speak of His love.

 ”for when we are faithless, He will be faithful, for He cannot deny Himself”  God will bring about the good work He began in us.  God, not us.  Even so Lord, come quickly!!