Greg Loves Sarah

I thought you all would appreciate the advice offered in this article:

http://sofrep.com/9657/navy-seal-lessons-learned-aurora-colorado-survive/

Time for me to start carrying my Blackhawk! Gladius NightOps flashlight with me at all times. Thanks, Greg! ~Sarah (I praise the Lord for my husband who thinks A LOT like this guy in regards to these issues! He is a PROTECTOR and GUARDIAN and THINKER!)

Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The Camps and Conferences Dept. at ALERT is a busy place to work. It’s a good thing and I love it. Lately, we are working really hard at balancing out our hours and not putting in overtime. SO, if I have to work over the weekend (because a conference is scheduled) then I have to take that amount of time off during the week. Sometimes, this can be challenging – like when one (me!) is in the mood to work or has the motivation to tackle a certain project or just has a ton to do. Other times (like this very moment!) it is a delight to escape right smack in the middle of the week and do whatever my heart desires! It’s like a little vacation.

This Wednesday afternoon, I am sitting at a park in Tyler. This pretty little park is my most recent discovery of favorite places to be. There is a Starbucks on the way too :)

Here I am with my laptop, a lousy wireless connection, a plate of Chinese take-out, a grande solo (shot of espresso) mocha Frapp, a patchwork quilt, and sunshine – lots of sunshine. By the way, $4.76 is an absurd price for a drink! Gratefully, its price was covered by a friend in the form of a gift card. Ah…praise the Lord for friends!

I have such a wonderful dad. Ok…that was a change of subject I know. But hey, it works for me and its my blog :)

My dad has always, always, always shown his love for his girls in such sweet ways. As Catherine and I grew, Dad knew what a great joy it was for his daughters to be able to give. Particularly at Christmastime, this was always on Dad’s heart. He knew that our greatest joy at Christmas would not be in the things we received, but in being able to have gifts for others – for him.

But there was one dilemna for us girls. Catherine and I were POOR.

And so, Dad would reach into his wallet with a glad, loving heart and give his girls “spending money”. Ah, what a grand Christmas it was then! Catherine and I could shop! Not for ourselves, but for those most dear to us.

Christmas morning, Dad and Mom would open their gifts from each of us and smile and hug us – Wow, it was great! Never mind that Dad had actually PAID for his OWN GIFT! That didn’t matter to him. It didn’t matter to me.

Dad didn’t mock my or my sister’s poverty. He rejoiced in the fact that we gave from our hearts (though it was from his pocket). And, you know what?…Our poverty itself proved to be a gift – for that very lack created the need for Dad to step in, for us to see with our eyes and hearts his love for his girls, and allowed us to give back not out of our plenty but out of our dependence and love.

So, here I am with my Heavenly Father. I long to give Him everything that I am. But what specifically can I give? He has given so much to me. There are things to give that I can see easily: my talents, possessions, my future. But are there other things that He’s given that I haven’t yet learned to see as gifts???

What has my Heavenly Father given me that I can give back? At times and in some ways, I feel so poor. But maybe, in this case as well, the poverty itself is a gift. Maybe…I can give this to Him as well.

Maybe just as it is with Dad, my lack, my hunger, my poverty are gifts. Maybe they are among the most precious gifts of all – those that cause us to see HIM for all that He is.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

In giving these humble things back to the Father, He doesn’t mock our poverty. Rather, He rejoices with us that we gave because He gave first. This is what makes even the smallest of gifts PRICELESS.

SO. Like I said…I have such a wonderful dad. And these two girls – who will always be Daddy’s girls – are grateful for a dad who, as a father, is constantly being a picture of Christ’s love for His children.

I love you, Daddy.

“And the peace of God, which passeth ALL understanding, shall keep your HEARTS and MINDS through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

I believe in miracles.

And sometimes, it seems that the miracles that He does in our hearts and minds are GREATER and GRANDER…….than parting the Red Sea, or making the lame to walk, or calming the storm.

It is just as miraculous to calm the storm in me.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39

Psalm 23

• “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Need? Used to think of that in a physical sense (money, shelter, clothing). And Father does provide those things, but He also does SO MUCH more. He supplies our needs for companionship and comfort, our needs for hope and grace, our needs for mercy and new days, and the list goes on and on and on. What a kind, generous, and abundantly RICH Father!

• HE RESTORETH MY SOUL:

Soul: Mind, will, and emotions. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm 42:5 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your HEARTS and MINDS through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6,7 ….. And THEN, just THINK on that word “restore”!!!! Restore. What a beautiful word!

• He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE…

FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE!!!!!!!! Oh Father! Keep me for Your name’s sake! To You be all glory!!!!! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8,9 Ah, THANK YOU FATHER THAT IT IS NOT UP TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Surely GOODNESS and MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life:

GOODNESS and MERCY: I see them every day, every time I wake up, every time I breathe, every time I lay down, every time I HOPE, every time I cry, every time I smile. Goodness: The Lord’s goodness just can’t be summed up with human words. It can’t even be comprehended by the human heart. God’s goodness is one of those realities that if you try to imagine the breadth of it, it is like trying to fathom eternity or the extent of the universe. Just b l o w s a girl away. Poof, I am gone. Mercy: I don’t deserve it. Cannot earn it. Desperately need it. He freely GIVES. Over and over and over and over………………..”Oh, the blood of Jesus. It washes white as snow.” His mercies are NEW every morning. GREAT is His faithfulness to me.

• and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

Psalm 27 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion…he shall set me up upon a rock…Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD…When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek… Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies… I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living…Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

I pray that these thoughts encourage your heart as they are encouraging mine. Wait on the Lord, my friends. Be of good courage. He will strengthen your heart.