Esotropiart

Praise the Lord! I finally got to meet with Al and Margaret. We have been going back and forth, playing phone tag and email tag. Margaret let me know that Saturday was open, and I jumped at the chance. It has been WAY too long since I've seen these precious folk. Saturday night I spent a wonderful evening with this couple, these my elders in the Lord. Margaret served up yet another ridiculously delicious meal, and the three of us had wonderful fellowship, catching up after a couple years of silence. My eyes well up with tears as I look at this here picture. Because these two are so special to me. They are indeed my family. Thank you Lord, for this opportunity to see Al and Margaret again! I am blessed beyond words. You have done a great and mighty work in them, and You have much remaining to do. Please bless them a hundredfold to how they have blessed me and so many others. Meet all their needs according to the riches of your monetary wealth as well as Your spiritually soft wings of infinite love and care. You are so good to us, You our heavenly Father.

As soon as I finish writing this I will be forced to return to my knees, my eyes flooded with tears: where I have longed to be for the last few days. I've failed to be there too long. Someone must have prayed, or God answered a prayer unprayed that my heart not be so dull any longer. It is open again, and Lord flood in!

Some time later ...don't know what just happened exactly, but I was just slain. As I said, I felt the need to drop to my knees again - partially inspired by memories of this picture, partially by hearing of Yoshi's tears, partially out of continued grief, partially realizing how much the flesh has hold of me and what I am capable of without God, then in awe of the awesome God who delivers me.

Then what do I see when I turn around in preparation to kneel? I see the perfect place to put my knees. You see, I borrowed some things from church tonight for the purpose of taking some photos of them. I might use some of the textures of these objects as inspiration as I'm trying to be of assistance with the future web site redesign. Among the artifacts, I brought a couple of the kneeling pillows. I made use of them this night. Now I will sleep, feeling covered with the powerful, protecting, purifying blood of Christ and filled with the Spirit of God. Whom shall I fear!? Thanks, whatever and whomever helped all that craziness to happen just now. Praise be to God, Grand Orchestrator of all things good!

From my recent devotional ESV reading - no surprise it applies and comes to mind, because God is good:

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Be gracious to me, O Lord!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.

Psalm 9:9-14 ESV

I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 ESV

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 ESV