Rest is not just sleep, not just relaxation, not just a fun time, but a deep sense of hope and peace that will only abide in us to the degree that we abide in Christ and the grace He provides. Rest is not just punching out the time-clock and putting up your feet, it is resting in the fact that grace covers you, that mercy and protection are extended to you, and that your days are numbered and ordered of the Lord. That’s not something we typically find remembrance of while napping or knitting, but while tuning out the world long enough to plug into God’s amazing perspective.

"Sometimes it feels as if God isn’t listening to me.” Those words, from a woman who tried to stay strong in her walk with God while coping with an alcoholic husband, echo the heartcry of many believers. For 18 years, she asked God to change her husband. Yet it never happened.

What are we to think when we repeatedly ask God for something good—something that could easily glorify Him—but the answer doesn’t come? Is He listening or not?

Let’s look at the life of the Savior. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He agonized for hours in prayer, pouring out His heart and pleading, “Let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). But the Father’s answer was clearly “No.” To provide salvation, God had to send Jesus to die on the cross. Even though Jesus felt as if His Father had forsaken Him, He prayed intensely and passionately because He trusted that God was listening.

When we pray, we may not see how God is working or understand how He will bring good through it all. So we have to trust Him. We relinquish our rights and let God do what is best.

We must leave the unknowable to the all-knowing One. He is listening and working things out His way. —Dave Branon

Not ours to know the reason why
Unanswered is our prayer,
But ours to wait for God’s own time
To lift the cross we bear. —Anon.

When we bend our knees to pray, God bends His ear to listen.

Life with Midge

Well, Midge decided to take a stroll this morning. Thankfully I had some clothes on and not just my pj's as I was up and down my block trying to convince her to come home. She missed being hit by a car twice and finally went into my neighbor's yard where I was able to corner her. We need to work on the command "come".

Well I delivered Jen's package to the post office and when they asked me if there was anything liquid, etc in the box I said "I have no idea". He just looked at me and I said I am just returning it to my daughter--she sent it to me and said don't open it so I didn't. Luckily-he let me send it.

Work is kind of interesting--the dynamics between everyone constantly changes--sometimes it makes for tension. My doctors appt was rescheduled again but at least they faxed me my blood work so I could see what my cholesterol was. Still a bit high but not much more than last time.

The state fair starts Thursday and we will be going Saturday night. They have some free concerts and I will just kind of look around. Last year my sister was up and we saw a rooster crowing contest-it was fun! A bunch of people stand around a group of roosters and encourage them to crow....

Vacation is coming up the end of October. Rented the car on line the other night.

Looking forward to fall.

MY Space

My Space--how addicting--four hours have gone by--better get to bed. But it was great to see and read about the kids from Trinity and where they are now.