Tag Archives: Rest

Carrying On and Washing our Hands

Self Isolation. Social Distancing. Exponential. Self-Quarantine. Flattening the Curve. Pandemic. Sanitize. 20 Second Hand Washing.

Words that were rarely spoken just two weeks ago are now part of our everyday vocabulary.  Today we are all trying to figure out how all this will work in each of our lives.  Thankfully, in our life it’s been a fairly simple transition. Currently we are parked at a rural Christian camp in central Florida. The most guests they have had since we’ve been here has been a group of 15-20 quilters and scrapbookers. Even then, our interaction with them was minimal. All other activities on campus have been cancelled for the next foreseeable future. Our group of 8 SOWER couples (along with the host and a couple of staff members) are all in good health and each night we retire to our own little cocoons.  In a sense I feel like we are in an ideal situation – enough community not to feel totally isolated and work to keep our hands busy, but enough real-time distance between us to feel totally safe.

Even the men at work are practicing Social Distancing !

Yes, we venture out occasionally to the grocery store (what for these days, I’m not sure) and maybe to get a bite to eat (if we can find someplace open), but we are vigilant with our hand washing (Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday…..) and sanitizing.  Next week we will be moving just about 3 hours to the north (near Jacksonville) where we will continue with our Self-Isolation (we’re the only couple there in April) and social distancing. As for trips to the grocery store, I figure if I don’t care how balanced our meals are, in a pinch we could feed ourselves out of the cupboards and freezer for at least month.  Oh, and I feel pretty good about this too –

(All in our possession long before the Great Toilet Paper Caper. Just sayin’.)

These are uncertain times for sure. But there is one thing we CAN be certain about. Our God is still on His Throne, and none of this has caught Him by surprise. In the days ahead, let us rest fully in His Faithfulness!

“Be Still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

My Introvert Gene is calling

Oh, My! I honestly didn’t believe that I had an introvert bone in my body!! But after a super busy and fun 6 weeks in Waco and then a wonderful two weeks with the rest of the family in Columbus (I promise I’ll share more about that soon!), my recessive introvert gene has risen to the surface and it’s saying things to me like
Alone
Quiet
Still
Breathe
Rest

We’re settling in for our first night’s rest at our January location (see Where Are We Now for more details!) and for the first time in a while we’ll be working alone. Oh, we’ve already met some sweet folks that will be working with us so we’re not ALONE alone, but by and large I’m really looking forward to a lovely, quiet, restful, month.

And since I haven’t even had the time to look through the pictures of our Columbus Christmas to share any of those, I’ll just leave you with a funky photo I took from the plane.

Love those city lights peeking up through the clouds!

Wishing you all the best in the coming year – good health, kind words, deep thoughts, and a fresh experience of God’s Grace!

Sabbath Rest – May the Mind of Christ My Savior

This hymn/prayer was written over 100 years ago. And yet I can only say – May this be my constant prayer this year – and in the years ahead!

May the Mind of Christ My Savior

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

Words – Kate Wilkinson, 1913
Music – Arthur C. Barham-Gould, 1925
Performed by – The NCrew EliEli
Video by – The NCrew EliEli