Squirrels, flesh-eating Slugs and the Day of Salvation

It is SUCH a gorgeous day today! Not too hot, super sunny, breezy...you should all come join me :) Grandpa is coming tomorrow, and Lily and I are very excited!

The guys are having an AMAZING time in Jackson...attending classes and lectures, school BBQ's and evenings out with new friends exploring the Americas :) There were several school trips available to attend today: the Natural Science Museum, Vicksburg Battlefield Park, the Old Capitol Museum...but finally one of our Haitian brothers spoke up and said, "I would really like to see what a zoo is, someday!" So instead, a group of pastors and seminary students from around the United States are taking Paul, Brightner and Lucner to the Jackson Zoo. Not only will they be seeing giraffes, penguins, elephants and zebras for the first time, but they will also be seeing a bear for the first time...squirrels, deer...maybe a raccoon or two...

Should be a wonderful day, and Matt is looking forward to experiencing it with them as much as they are looking forward to going! Matt is feeling incredibly better, than you for all your prayers!

Lily and I have been doing well, battling off a HUGE flesh-eating slug (at least I think it was flesh eating!), groups of people that have started insisting that now that Lily is "big", I should be feeding her Tampico, a juice drink similar to Sunny-D, and four days of chilly rain. Having Matt gone has given me some great times with the Lord, for which I am so thankful...Having Matt gone reminds me that it is the LORD that takes care of us, not Matt, the LORD that sustains us, not Matt, the LORD that provides joy and satisfaction in my life, not Matt. Don't get me wrong, I miss him desperately, but it has been a good chance to re-focus on the Lord as THE Lord of my life.

This passage, especially, has been working on me big time this week..

"Don't receive the grace of God in vain!
For He says,
'At the acceptable time, I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation, I helped you.'
Behold, NOW is the 'acceptable time',
Behold, NOW is the 'day of salvation.'
Give NO cause for offense in anything,
so that the ministry will not be discredited,
but in EVERYTHING committing ourselves as servants of God
in much endurance
in afflictions
in hardships
in distresses
in beatings
in imprisonment
in tumults
in labors
in sleeplessness (speaking to me, right here :)
in hunger
in purity
in knowledge
in patience
in kindness
in the Holy Spirit
in GENUINE love
in the Word of TRuth
in the power of God
by the weapons of righteousness
by glory and dishonor
by evil report and good report
regarded as deceivers, and yet true
as unknown yet well-known
as dying yet behold, WE LIVE
as punished, yet not put to death
as sorrowful yet ALWAYS rejoicing
as poor yet making many rich
as having nothing yet possessing all things."
2 Corinthians 6:1-10

In ALL of these things, committing myself as a servant of God...Powerful words to live by in this inspired piece of Scripture.

Behold, now is the time, now, the day of salvation...Praise God!

Have an awesome Saturday, Beloved of the Father!