One Friend.

Yesterday was a perfect compilation of so many of the ups and downs of life...sometimes made more extreme by a third world culture, sometimes not.

Lily had a fantastic day at school...came bounding out oozing with wonderful information about her butterfly classroom, her new teacher, new and old friends, and only disappointed that they won't start serving lunch until next week :)  It was a blessing for me to spend 20 minutes in front of the school with the other mothers, waiting for her, catching up from the summer, talking about our children, reflecting on how things are.  I've missed that extra community time! 

When we got home Sofie was downright blissful...lots of extra attention, sitting in a bathtub of water outside while Gertha hung up laundry, chattering away and happy as can be...both before and after we got home.

I'd had a great class, and as we all caught up with more from Lily's day, I've got to tell you, I couldn't help but feel that all was just right in the world.  Just good.  

Not but a few minutes later, I'm on the phone with Matt, who after getting Lily going at school had to go to town for a few errands, and just as drastically as everything had felt good, they suddenly felt bad. 

A good friend we try so very hard to trust proving to be very untrustworthy, a "friendly warning" that both sounded like and was intended as a threat, a misunderstanding at the airport that had both parties frustrated, a 1 hour job that took 5, members of the community upset over a work contract.... all surfaced in a matter of a few hours--the same few hours that had been so good for the girls and I.

My too high-high was quickly replaced with a too low-low, and when you're down there, it's easy to think of all the other things that aren't going well, that "shouldn't be happening", that aren't fair, or that are quite hurtful, now that you think about it!

I've been spending a lot of time in the Word lately, and I've been so INSPIRED.  Luke has been blessing my socks off with story after story of people, MY people, who stepped out on simple faith, radiated truth and belief, and were in turn crucial parts of His story.  People filled with the Holy Spirit, people waiting and praying and believing for insane amounts of time.  Young and old people--self-declared bondservants of the Lord--believing and stepping out in faith that crazy stuff would happen.  

So that it could.

But I can't just be inspired.  His Word can't just be my pretty dress.  I've got to EAT it, and it's got to AFFECT me, in every way.

As I think upon their long-suffering, their perseverant prayers, their mostly mountain top moments recorded and daily heartbreak/monotony mostly unknown, I am reminded of His many many calls in Scripture to be steady.

To be steady, in the face of fear He has overcome and joys He has miraculously cared for.  To be solid, as He is, in the face of battles and kings...chores and scraped knees.  To be focused on Him and Him alone--the only possibility for steadiness--and not our woes, our rights, our days or our opinions.

To listen to One Voice.

To pursue One Love.

To stand on One Rock.

To pattern our lives after One Friend.

To call upon One Help.

Thankful for His Word, and our Never Changing Father, sustaining through the ever changing days!