Abraham's Frame of Mind

Since from God's view, Abraham is our father of those whose confidence is in the finished work of Christ, I started thinking about what Abraham did. Romans 4 gives this list:

--Abraham knew that his righteousness had been called into existence by God only because He believed Him.
--He knew he was dead in his sins and trespasses and that God had given him life.
--When there was no natural reason for hope, Abraham trusted that what God had said, would happen.
--In this face of his age (100 years old) and Sarah's old and barren womb, he did not weaken in his faith.
--He did not waver in unbelief.
--He was strengthened in his faith as he gave glory to God.
--He was fully convinced that what God had promised He was able to perform.

This gives me thought fodder for how to face my own life in faith.

After a long time--again

Hmmm--Those 205 boxes are still packed and Bert and I are in Texas living in a one-BR apartment furnished out of our son's storage building and the Goodwill store. I actually like living in a small place.

For any who don't know, Rachel is going to have a baby. We are all very happy.

I am attending a Bible study at First Baptist Dallas. The subject is the sovereignty of God. God figure. I have a house that hasn't sold in 7 months and I am studying that God is in totaly control.

I have to go. My sister comes tomorrow and we are going to the Kimball Museum in Ft. Worth to see the Impressionists. The next day we are going to the Wycliffe Center in Grand Prarie to see a quilt show with quilts made by, I guess Bible translators. I will update on this later.

Where Is Our Hope?

In my last post, a long time ago, I mentioned I had 55 boxes packed. I now have 205 boxes packed and have been to Texas twice. God's last instruction to me has been, "Keep putting one foot in front of the other." That involves not putting any hope in anything other than Him. For years now, I have been telling women at my church in Oregon, "You don't know the future. You just think you do." Now I walk this talk. The house in Oregon hasn't sold. Bert and I have been in a 12 x 13 hotel room (with Jessica and Rachel each spending a little time). The good news is, we aren't getting on each other's nerves.

I read this today:

Psalm 33:17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; [ESV says salvation] despite all its great strength it cannot save.

I can substitute words in the place of deliverance, such as insurance policies, houses and land, paychecks, (anyone notie these are all monetary)? I don't care that much about being skinny or what people think about me (God has done a good work). At any rate, does anyone else want to fill in a blank?

Packing & Pachelbelo

Today I taped up and catalogued my 55th box in preparation to move to Texas. I have until February 18th to get as much done as I can. Then I go to Texas for a day and then to Brazil for a crusade preparation meeting, then back to Texas for a day and back to Oregon on February 29th. In the meantime, someone sent me this link that has added a little levity to lighten the boxes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Moving to Texas

Bert and I after prayer and journaling and Bible reading have decided to move back to Texas after 14 years for him and 12 1/2 years for me in Oregon. There are many good resons to move back, the greatest of which is we believe it is God's direction. But there are things I will miss about Oregon. They include:

The people at my church
Friends around town
Friends in Washington
Short cool summers
Oregon strawberries in June
Huckleberry picking in August (complete with bear tracks)
My house
Seeing snow-covered mountains on clear days
Waterfalls
Dozens and dozens of quilt shops
Not having to pump my own gas

Things I will like about Texas

Shorter winters
Fresh tomatoes in May
A longer growing season for vegetables
And surely God has a church for us . . . and some quilt shops. (I see 3 in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area)
A barbeque place on every corner
Gas that is a little cheaper
Closer to family
Closer to old friends
Easier access to Jason & Rachel
. . . and most of all MY GRANDCHILDREN!!!