Gospel truth: I rarely read the daily devotion delivered to my email address. I chose to go to Ancestry after receiving an email with an obituary.  This morning (about 7:15), I had the strong impulse to read the message. Those words are such an encouragement to me. God is so good to me. I went to breakfast, and a resident motioned for me to join the folks at their table. I always sit alone and often think, “I am either ‘invisible’ or I am ‘ignored.'” Picking up on the words of Elizabeth Elliot, “We don’t even know what the next hour will bring.”

Wednesday, November 26

Around in Circles

 And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat.

Joshua 6:20

Like crossword puzzles? If the clue is “uncertain outcome,” there are several possible answers to scribble into the blocks: Cliffhanger. Tossup. Doubt. Venture. Dicey. Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it? We don’t know what tomorrow holds. We don’t even know what the next hour will bring. That kind of uncertainty produces virtually all our anxieties and fears.

Everything is different for the followers of Christ. We may not know the immediate outcome, but we know the One who works all things for our good. We also have a God who leads us, even if the path seems to be going around in circles.

The Israelites obeyed God by faith as they made thirteen circles around the city of Jericho, marching quietly until the moment when they gave the shout of victory. Even then, they didn’t know exactly what would happen, but how thrilling it was when the sturdy walls of the city began crumbling!

Don’t worry about uncertain outcomes. Trust in the certainty of God and His Word amid the uncertainties of life.

If it were not for uncertainties, we would have no need to walk by faith.

Elisabeth Elliot

 

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Details regarding Elisabeth Elliot from Wikipedia.

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Lorraine says, God is so good to me!!

Confession: Not much to be “thankful” for. This old lady blogger admits that she is “lower than a snake’s belly.”  She can’t even “make lemonade.”  However, truth be told, I want to express heartfelt, sincere best wishes to you and yours, for a blessed Thanksgiving!

An inquiry about the “bad apples”  in my tree. I did a reasonably thorough search in my Ancestry database, and I cannot find the family member who did nefarious deeds regarding Native Americans.  Lorraine asked GROK-3 for information about an agent with the surname SMITH. Click that link for the disappointing answer (because not my family member). Here is a link to Stephen Paddock in my Ancestry tree with information regarding the massacre of individuals in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2017.

Those are my rotten apples!! In this earlier blog message, read about family members that I am proud to name.

Gratefully, I have friends who check on me. Friends who live in Florida, California, and other parts of Texas. I receive messages asking “Are you OK?”  This picture was received today and had me laughing out loud. (So little to laugh about at this location.) I’m “checking in” before I “check out.”

SERIOUSLY, a cousin provides obituaries regarding our extended family members (because he has a subscription to funeral homes and newspapers). INDEED, I begin my day with my gourmet coffee and Ancestry. “Yes,”  I found that “black and white” message with clipart on the Internet.

I am hopeful that “we” will see some improvement in our living arrangements and our meal selections. For the first time in months, I am encouraged because our concerns are not falling on deaf ears. Sincere thanks to the dear folks who have been praying for us.