His mercies are new every morning...

Packing. Throwing. Sorting. Moving. CHANGE! New places, new people, new neighborhood, new weather, new culture, new language. Unpacking and trying to settle in. Meeting new people all the time. The loss of loved ones. Traveling. Readjusting. All this, plus two little ones can be exhausting. I have never been very good at adapting to change. Initially, I tend to get very excited about anything new; but when it actually comes, I find myself wishing for the past. Or looking ahead to whatever comes next.

So many changes at once have also put extra tension on me and Kevin during the past two and half months. (And I share this story with his permission). This past weekend Kevin and I seemed to disagree about everything. We couldn't communicate anything we were thinking without getting mad or hurting one another. The day was miserable and I shed lots of tears. But those tears drove me to my knees in prayer. I laid everything before the Lord, asking him to show me MY sin and to help me forgive Kevin. As Kevin joined me, we prayed together and were able to calmly discuss everything that had gone wrong. When I commented how much I hate fighting, Kevin reminded me of a TRUTH that we were taught in a small group on Peacemaking. Conflict is an opportunity. Rather than running from it, we can use is as a chance to love and forgive one another as Christ loves us!

God continues to teach me that DEPENDING on Him is the only way to live this life.

Not my plan. Not my schedule.

Since I got back from Minnesota, I have been constantly working to get back into a schedule with the kids and caught up on rest. I can't believe how long it has taken to get back into the swing of things.

This morning Kevin and I had the opportunity to share with Rio Life Community Church (Kevin's home church) our passion for reaching Hispanics with the Gospel. One of the most valuable lessons I have been learning is that God does not work on my schedule or according to my plan. This continues to be evident every day as the Lord places "inconveniences" before me. I am slowly realizing that what I might consider an inconvenience is exactly the thing God wants me to focus on. A wonderful example of this occurred just yesterday when I went to the library for some time alone with the Lord. After a very tiring week with the kids (due to lots of running around and missed naps) I was desperately in need of some rest. Kevin and I had planned that I would take a Sabbath on Saturday morning for a few hours. When I arrived at the library it was not yet open so I decided to sit outside and read under a tree. Only a few minutes after sitting down, a car drove up and a young girl got out. Sitting down next to me, she began sharing her life's problems with me. The first thing that went through my head was, "WHY LORD? WHY NOW. I just need to be alone with you. " But he gently prompted me to talk to this girl, showing me that she needed him as much as I do! I quietly closed the computer and prayed that the Lord would change my attitude. Then I began to share the gospel with her. We talked for some time before I had to go. Even though I can't change anyone's heart, God only asks that I be faithful to share the Gospel. He is the one who changes lives in his perfect timing!