Things in life have been great! My Valley Fever seems to be getting better and better. I'm still on medication, and will be taking it at least until July. Then they'll do another blood test and if it looks good then I can stop taking the meds. So thats what we are praying for- that I can stop taking the meds in July and will be totally recovered without any lasting side effects from the illness. I've still been having relapses about every 2- 2 1/2 months, but honestly each time it happens its not as intense as the last time. So I'm thankful for that! I just feel so thankful for all that the Lord has been doing and is still doing in my heart over the past 8 months of being sick. It hasn't been easy... it has been hard. But you know what... its been good for my soul. You want to know why? It was good for my soul, because God was loving me by allowing me to get Valley Fever... God giving me Valley Fever was loving because He gave me more of Himself- which is THE most loving thing He could ever do. My desire for Christ is stronger than it has ever been and I praise HIS name for stirring up my affections for Him and placing that desire in me! I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and I want more!
In other news, I have been enjoying going through a book study of 'Don't Waste Your Life' (by John Piper) with my dear friend, who also happens to be my neighbor. It has really been such a blessing to go through this book... God is really speaking to both of our hearts and our times in The Word and praying together have been super sweet. Its kinda funny because... Casey (my neighbor) and I had never really talked much about the Lord and one day I felt like Spirit was prompting me to ask her if she wanted to study through 'Don't Waste Your Life' and I just blew it off. I told the Lord " Lord, Casey and I don't talk about You, so doing a study like that wouldn't work." Later that day Casey and I went for a walk in our neighborhood, and she started sharing about how since quitting her job, God had been making her think about her life and how she was living and if she was living for the Kingdom or was she wasting her life, etc. When she told me this I just started to laugh because I knew that was totally the Lord's way of speaking through Casey to me saying "I told you that you should ask her to do that book study with you!" Anyway... God is so faithful. He knows what we need and when we need it.... especially when we THINK we know whats best. haha! I do have more to share about this book and how God has been using it to ignite a passion for sharing The Gospel with our neighborhood. We are still in the process of organizing how to reach out to the neighbors but I do plan on writing about it here so that anyone who reads this might also be encouraged. So yeah... more on 'Don't Waste Your Life' coming soon! :-)
........(this really was supposed to be a "little update" but its kinda turned into a longer one... sorry!)
The bulk of our time lately has consisted of the following; reaching out to new people at our church through hospitality, working on our house, gardening and enjoying the lovely spring weather of the central valley. Dave just finished another semester of teaching at the fire academy, and is busy with little projects around our home. He is always inspiring me and encouraging me in the Lord- I feel very blessed, realizing that a husband like this is a gift that I certainly do not deserve. I hear many woman complain about their husbands not leading them spiritually and it breaks my heart. I praise God for graciously blessing me with a husband who is constantly in The Word getting nourishment for His soul, which enables him to encourage me in my walk with Christ. What a joy... what a privilege to be the wife of such a man!
To end this post, I wanted to share with you a prayer from this awesome new book that I got. Its called 'The Valley of Vision' and its a collection of puritan prayers and devotions- I highly recommend it!
Lord of all being,
There is one thing that deserves my greatest care,
that calls forth my ardent desires,
That is, that I may answer the great end for which
I am made –
to glorify thee who hast given me being,
and to do all the good I can for my fellow men;
Verily, life is not worth having
if it be not improved for this noble purpose.
Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind!
Most men seem to live for themselves,
without much or any regard for thy glory,
or for the good of others;
They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue
the riches, honours, pleasures of this life,
as if they supposed that wealth, greatness,
merriment,
could make their immortal souls happy;
But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these!
And how miserable ere long will those be that
sleep in them,
for all our happiness consists in loving thee,
and being holy as thou art holy.
O may I never fall into the tempers and vanities,
the sensuality and folly of the present world!
It is a place of inexpressible sorrow, a vast empty
nothingness;
Time is a moment, a vapour,
and all its enjoyments are empty bubbles,
fleeting blasts of wind,
from which nothing satisfactory can be derived;
Give me grace always to keep in covenant with thee,
and to reject as delusion a great name here
or hereafter,
together with all sinful pleasures or profits.
Help me to know continually
that there can be no true happiness,
no fulfilling of thy purpose for me,
apart from a life lived in and for
Amen.
