Will You Pick Me Up?

I ask that question a lot, usually framed something like this - If I were to stumble and fall would you pick me up and say, “we can make it to the finish line, we can do this together”? I have never had an individual say no, they usually say of course, or at least ponder the moment. But my experience in life has left me thinking the answer for most people is no.

I saw this commercial this morning and cried and rewound it and watched it again and then looked it up on youtube. My boys think I have lost it or at the very least I am a sentimental sap. The reality is I see myself in that little boy, only I see the racers running over me and trampling me. Those months were so painful, I know we’ve all been there, laid flat out on the ground, wondering if the trampling will end, so that we can pull ourselves up. About a month ago, I was still flat on the ground, I’m fairly sure my face had worn an imprint into the race track, and my Father ran a rescue mission for my heart, he reached down and picked me up and set me steady again through his love for me. And not only is he faithful to stand me up but to give me a passion to continue to run the race.

This brings me back to the commercial, are we supposed to pick each other up, are we supposed to “do life together’. I think we are, God is my ultimate rescuer and when the people around me fail, he is so faithful to fill in the gap. BUT I believe his plan is for us to pick each other up, to encourage each other. In the Old Testament, we do not see alot of God asking individuals encouraging others, but rather God being the source of encouragement. In the New Testament, we see a switch, we are to “encourage each other daily” and we are to “encourage and build each other up”. Through this new thing God created, the church, we are asked to encourage each other, love each other, build each other up, walk along side each other, meet the needs of each other, and we are even encouraged to share everything we have with others. Living with my Father, I see that I can’t be out to beat his other children in the race, but rather, I need to be running the race with them. I need to be encouraging them, sharing with them, and loving them. I need to throw American individualism out the door! Watch this commercial, I know you can relate with kid who has stumbled, but can you relate to the kids that run the race together?

We’re all in this together!!!!

Hair Progress

People have been requesting a look at Toni’s growing hair. So here is her curly top!

While Toni is Away

Toni went to a quilting retreat at Maranatha this weekend. I was left to my lonesome and thought I could handle it until I missed an elder meeting by one hour. I woke my usual time and got up and started doing some things and totally spaced the meeting. Only when I got a text message did I realize I was in for a humilty lesson! My daughter's response was, “Aren’t you glad you have grace filled elders!” This afternoon I went with my son and his three sons to watch Wyoming lose to Bowling Green.

Car Fun

On the way back from Fort Collins, after visiting a friend from CBC who had surgery today, we found out what it feels like to be driving the interstate with only three tires and three wheels attached to the car! There was a shimmy, I thought a weigh had come off and the right front tire was out of balance, and then next thing we know we see a black object roll past us … a few sparks, a little braking and little steering and we are waiting for a tow truck.

"Cow Town"

This morning I was walking to a meeting and met this curious cow. I was reminded that Cheyenne was once what they called a "cow town" and still is in some ways, and that is one of the reasons Toni and I like it so much here in Wyoming!
This is directly across from Cheyenne Berean Church.

Another Year for Toni

Toni is another year older today! Here she is at 18 months...several years ago. Being discreet I will not inform on her age. But her birth did coincide with the premier of the TV program “The Guiding Light;” gas was 20 cents a gallon; the matchbox car was introduced; and in science, “The Big Bang Theory” of the creation of the universe was first advocated.

On a personal note, many times I have been deeply thankful to the Lord for His care this past year! A year of great grace and abundant mercy! God knew the path; He hedged in the path and He protected His children along the path! Thanks for each of you and for your prayers this past year.

God Knows the Way!

I am looking forward to being home on Friday. During the trip I have been listening to poems by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) who served in India for fifty-five years. (Toni got them for our sabbatical.)

"Thou dost Know the Way" is one of the poems that has caught my spiritual imagination: "My Father, to my heart I take, Thy simple word of truth today; I shall not lose me in the break, for Thou dost know the way... Around me various voices call, but thou wilt never let me stray; for Thou, my Father, knowest all the windings of the way." The poem concludes … "I am contented not to know, since Thou dost know the way."

Her poem "By Thy Cross and Passion" goes to the heart of ministy. "O God of burning altar fire, O God of love´s consuming flame, make pure the flame of our desire, to win the lost, to seek Thy name... Now by Thy cross and passion, Lord, Grant us this plea, this sovereign plea, save us from choosing peace for sword, and give us souls to give to Thee!"