A Trodden Way

As usual, this time of year when I begin to think back, in order to recall all the wonderful provisions God has made for me, and my family, my “writing muscles” begin to flex. In the old brain of course, not my hands.

This morning I read from The Handel’s Messiah Family Advent Reader. In this beautiful book, I read how the song Silent Night came to be. One of the loveliest phrases in this song is

“sleep in heavenly peace”

The book did mention that Jesus Christ was also known as the Prince of Peace and that even so, Jesus himself said, “I did not come to bring peace…”. What, did I read that correctly? “Ah Hah!” some might say, “There is a contradiction in the Bible.” As I contemplated what I would say to those skeptical of my Lord and Savior, a great peace swelled from within my heart.

Jesus Christ IS peace! He did not come to bring peace He IS peace. With great regard and sensitivity, I must remember that Peace is something that most people seek after all their lives. Some devote their entire lives at working toward “world peace”. This is honorable. However, we know that world peace will never be achieved until the second coming of our Lord and Savior.

Those who belong to Christ, those that are His redeemed and yes those that are IN Him, have the greatest peace of all, that which passes ALL understanding. This is what I would call heavenly peace!

So, when the world continues on in its Un-peaceful state, when it runs amuck, or spins out of control, when everything in it seems upside down and out of order those that remain IN Him will have rest, they will know peace. Peace within our hearts does not exist unless we are In Him who is the Prince of Peace.

My prayer, for all of you, my loved ones, this Christmas of the year 2006 and into 2007, is that you will know the Lord Jesus, that you will abide in Him and Him in you so that you, too, will know heavenly peace!

I know, I know…. it’s been a loonnnggg time! School is going great although this is THE busiest semester thus far. My classes are not just challenging with regard to the amount of knowledge needed to know and retrieve but it’s been exciting to take the confidence of Christ into the classroom with me. Speaking up when the class seems sucked into the vortex of relativism and humanistic perspectives on life is a very growing experience for me. I am blessed to have solid teaching in God’s word every week through my Pastors, as well as grateful for the “iron sharpening” that goes on between Charles and I regarding certain issues relating to counseling. God is so good!

There will be future updates on Olivia very soon, but for now please pray that as she begins a new medication for her insulin levels that the meds will do their thing and her weight as well as her endocrine system will come back into balance.

Brenton turned 21 today! Wow, he’s changing too. His gal, Erin, is very lovely and I am thankful that she is in his life. His best friend from high school will be his new room mate come next semester and they are thrilled to be roomies again. Brenton is beginning to look into expanding his options with work and so it is an exciting time for him. He is a blessing to me and I am so thankful for the way that both boys have wanted to care for Olivia on days when I need help.

Isaac is pursuing the Army…the Army is pursuing Isaac! He has completed his goals at Regional Airline Academy and so now would like to apply to the Warrant Officer Training Program. He is in the midst of paper work and physical training, but we do not expect him to leave until January. Ike has accomplished his private pilot’s license, his IFR rating, Multi-Engine rating and commericial pilot’s license in the course of a year! Yeah Ike, I’m very proud of him.

Charles is moving to Florida in a few weeks! Woo Hoo! We are both looking forward to taking concrete steps toward a covenant in the Spring hopefully. God is so amazing how He can create pure joy from ashes. These past eight months have been wonderful to say the least. Getting to know this man from the inside out has been one of life’s greatest joys for me. Just one of the things that I love about Charles is that he loves the Lord and is passionate about His word and how it applys to today.

Although he will still be travelling for his job an awful lot I can’t really express how happy I am that when he goes “home” it will be here to Deland and not 979 miles away in Akron, Ohio. There are many people here in Florida that are anxious to meet him and get to know him.

Well, that’s about it for now I hope to have an update on Livvy soon, so keep checking in.

Over the past several months I have had the joy of seeing the expression on the faces of people who know Olivia respond with excitement and great delight to her new found forthrightness. Her eagerness to share whatever is on her mind or whatever has just recently happened in her life such as, “I’m sweet sixteen now!”, is so new to not only her family but to many former acquaintances and teachers that it takes us by surprise.

It has been nothing short of sheer fun retelling little conversations and stories to others that I have experienced with Olivia along the way, many of which I have been told need to be written down. So every once in a while as these Little Ditties pop up I plan on writing about them so that you too can share in the giggles and delight of what the Lord has done and is doing in Olivia’s life!

One of these little ditties happened several months ago while my dear friend Miss Kelly was visiting one afternoon. It had been a few weeks since Kelly and I had conversed and she had lots going on in her life. With the need to shed some weight from her heart and mind she began to share her news. Olivia arrived home from school during the conversation and sat down to listen herself. After several minutes of talking frantically and with great speed Kelly herself became frustrated with the fact that she had to stop and reissue a statement due to being tongue tied.

You need to know that this is not the norm for Miss Kelly who is an avid story teller of sorts like her late father Pat Seago. Olivia and I had hunkered down to wait patiently as Miss Kelly struggled to tell all the details in order and with succinct ion. After several “mishaps” with the facts or pronunciations etc Miss Kelly looked over to Olivia and said “Liv, I think I need the phone number for that brain surgeon of yours.” To which Miss Olivia replied in a calm, matter of fact tone of voice and the demeanor of an expert at such things: “Ohhh, Miss Kelly, you don’t need surgery. You just need to USE your brain!”

Of course much laughter was had and there have been many occasions since when Miss Kelly and I can truthfully say to one another “You just need to USE your brain girl!”