Good Is Coming

I added a quote to my quote page the other day.  It goes like this:

"Yet I believe that good is coming to me--that good is always coming; though few have at all times the simplicity and the courage to believe it.  What we call evil, is the only and best shape, which, for the person and his condition at the time, could be assumed by the best good."  by Anodos in "Phantastes, a Faerie Romance for Men and Women" by George MacDonald.

I don't know about you, but I have to read that over a few times. The story is a fantasy adventure that takes Anodos through Fairy Land where his experiences challenge everything he had ever known as reality.  Along the way he grows and becomes a very different person by walking through the hardships and joys of this path.  Very often he was in despair and gave up hope of surviving, but in the end he can say that "good is always coming".

I also just finished the new book by Philip Yancey, "The Question That Never Goes Away".  It revisits the question he addressed decades ago, "Where Is God When It Hurts?"  He gives no pat, safe answers to the dilemma of suffering, but he does assure us of God's presence in the midst of it all.  He is the God who understands suffering and pain.  As God the Father, He lost a Son.  As Jesus, He laid down His life in incredible suffering and injustice.  He truly knows and stands with us in the midst of any and all pain.

And, yes, good is always coming.  Eternity holds more than we can ever dream, and all of this life with every pain and trial will be redeemed for good fully and forever.  Rejoice and be blessed!!

4th of July

Tomorrow is the 4th of July!! It doesn't seem it should be here already because our last couple of weeks have been a blur. Our summer has had a lot of travel already, which is unusual for us. One trip to Grand Forks, one trip to Keyport, and multiple baseball games. All that behind us now, I think things will slow down a bit. It's been hard for Jon to even keep the grass mowed with so much running around. We still have a wedding, an anniversary, and a shower coming up soon...then in August a MOST IMPORTANT baby shower!!!!

We had an unpleasant surprise after coming home from NJ. We had a little water seepage in the basement again, and today we discovered that we have a fairly major plumbing issue down there that will require a pro. Yuck. Hopefully, by next weekend everything will be put back in working order. The good news is that only our kitchen sink and dishwasher are out of commission...I can handle that! We're eating on plastic now!!

Tomorrow Greg and Megan will be coming in the morning and staying until Monday morning. Tabbi and the boys will be over part of the day, as well. Trever has been working hard this week trying to reroof their house, so we're praying the rain will stay away and let him keep going!! Jon is on call this week, so who knows how busy he may be! So far, it's been completely quiet, but that can change.

I need to get back to work...more cleaning and some food items to get ready. Wishing you all a safe and fun 4th of July!!!!!!

Thought for the day

There are no answers for some things this side of heaven. That doesn't stop us from asking the questions, however. How, why, why not???? When the only explanation we can see puts God in an uncaring light, we can be sure that we don't see the whole picture. But knowing that doesn't take away the pain and uncertainty. How do we grapple with the big question that no one wants to ask...the question of how can we go on trusting God when the unthinkable has happened? How do we not be afraid of Him? I don't have the answer, and I'm thinking that the only ones that actually can answer are the ones who've faced, experienced, and walked through a great tragedy. I am humbled in the presence of that kind of suffering and courage. God's grace on each of you.

Louis Giglio

It's back to hot outside...not horrible, but not like yesterday. We went to church this morning and had friends here for lunch and part of the afternoon. We watched one of the Louis Giglio DVDs that we have with them and watched another after they went home. They are really excellent and we are quite willing to share if any of you want to see them!
Here's wishing you all a safe and excellent week...LOOKING FORWARD to heading north next Friday! Look out Holthe's...we're coming!

Thought for the day

One of the messages we heard today was about when life hurts. It's very powerful and makes the point that when suffering enters our life we are given a megaphone and what is inside us comes out amplified whether we want it to or not. If we've built our life on the goal of our own happiness what will come out is despair, but if we've set God's greatness and glory as our highest priority what will come out is a testimony to God's goodness in the midst of the suffering. Suffering of some kind will come, so be prepared ahead of time and set your heart on Him so that when the megaphone lands in front of you, you give Him glory.