trust in the Lord...

with all your heart. lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

today our new president took office. today in the midst of a recession, our nation spent more money than in history to celebrate that inauguration.
today the news magazine covers celebrated this man, who spits in the face of God with his beliefs and passions, as "the hope of America."
this man is not our hope.
God Almighty is our hope, and it is in His plan to use this time in history to shape and mold and prune His people, to teach us again to trust in Him, and to be glorified.

trust in the Lord. with all your heart.

today i sent my three oldest to ride their bikes to our garden plot a few blocks away for only the 4th or 5th time without my watchful eye. as i read with my #4 while littlest was napping, my husband called. "she's okay, but anna's been hit by a car. your friend faith is with her."

trust in the Lord. with all your heart.

i screeched down the street, after cupping e's face and demanding he "be brave and wait here - brian will be right home."
i closed the door on my poor scared boy, leaving him to wait for his big brother to come. i floored my vehicle over speed bumps and ignored stop signs.

i wrapped my tiny little angel-girl in my arms and held her tight. listened to the strange woman say, "i was looking down the road for other cars coming. praise Jesus, she's okay." took the stranger's card in my hands in case we needed to contact her.

lean not on your own understanding.

today i hastily stated,
"well, that proves it. i can't let them out of my sight."
remembered "bad" things can, and will, happen to them again. asked my Papa to give me clarity. and wisdom.
heard my husband give council.

watched as e. wrapped his arms around her and, tears running down his cheeks, told her, "when i heard what happened to you anna, i started crying."

remembered that my Papa allows strange things to happen sometimes to remind us He is, and He loves. more perfectly than I can.

tonight i kissed Little Girl on the neck and told her it's okay to go to sleep. told her to ask Jesus to help her learn what she needs to (look more carefully) and thank Him that He protected her. that her brothers were there to comfort her. that a dear lady we know was driving by just as it happened. thanked God in my heart she was wearing a helmet. that He chose to let us keep her longer.

in all your ways acknowledge Him. acknowledge me, little one.

today i thank my God that it is He who is in control. now matter what our nation's status, no matter what the economic state, no matter who is in office, no matter what others think, no matter how dangerous the world seems.

You are God, my Papa.