Neat/Untidy

From Amie's Desk

Right now, I have a good friend who is enduring a season of trial within her life and marriage. I'm doing my best to be there for her whenever and however I can. I surely don't have a lot of answers, but I do offer a lot of prayers. I sigh a lot! 

I am sad for my friend and the struggles she encounters, but I am happy for the opportunity I have to present Christ in bits and pieces. I listen, grieve, ponder, wonder. I stop short of wise words and acting like I know when the best I can offer is: "I can only imagine...."

I am sad for my friend and the struggles she encounters, but I am happy for the opportunity I have to present hope in bits and pieces. I have never lived her story nor walked in her shoes. I applaud her courage for seeking some semblance of normal life while her circumstances suck; she doesn't see an easy out to any of her current daily difficulties. Together, we are learning about beauty and brokenness...we are broken people living in a broken world and we are attempting to press on in a strength which can only be found in God Himself. 

My friend doesn't know Jesus the way I know Jesus...yet.

She is open to hearing from me and I am being honest with her. I don't understand. 

A telephone call
A short visit
A quick hug
A warm smile
A cold Sprite
A little burst of laughter when our thoughts connect or collide.

It's all bits and pieces of hope...of peace...of joy....in the middle of sorrow, loneliness, and uncertainty. 

I trust in the sharing...the bits and pieces...she's seeing glimpses of the One who is the Answer when all human answers fall short of sufficiently satisfying our questions.

It's funny how things can be so neat or special while all the while being so untidy.

From Amie's Desk

Some time ago, I wrote about young Sadie Mae. I think it's time I blog about her again She needs our prayers. She is a warrior princess, but she's also a reminder that none of us can survive without the hand of God to sustain our lives.

Did you get that?
None of us can survive without the hand of God to sustain our lives.

Don't rush this. Pause and think. Let this sink in. Let it touch us way down deep.

None of us can survive without the hand of God to sustain our lives.

We may think ourselves strong....
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we are nothing
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we manifest weakness if we manifest anything at all. 

We may think ourselves able...
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we are nothing
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we manifest disability if we manifest anything at all. 

We may think ourselves independent...
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we are nothing
Apart from God at work in our lives and spirits, we manifest dependence if we manifest anything at all. 

Sadie needs God every day, but so do we.

We need to pause...and think...and pray...and thank...

Herein is the beginning and the end:
"Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person."

He formed us...
He breathed into us...
He sustains us...
We are His.

We have no life without Him...so while we have life....
We Praise Him for and with all He gives...