Eating out, more looking, getting stronger

That weekend certainly flew by. Saturday started off with us losing electricity as Victoria was leaving for work – about 7:40 a.m. It was off for the next several hours because of a downed power line somewhere up Paddack road from us. It provided a good excuse for Mama and me to go out to breakfast. So we went to the Longhorn Cafe in Bowie for the breakfast bar. It was really good.

By the time we made it back home the power had been restored. Mama and I fed her menagerie as we usually do and I made a couple quick repairs to a few small items but we really did not get into too much because that afternoon we were scheduled to go with the seniors from our church to a restaurant in Jacksboro for dinner. Between both of those meals and the nap required since neither of us had slept well the night before the day was pretty well used up.

We did go to look at a couple of properties after we left the restaurant in Jacksboro. (We had met the group at the restaurant vs. meeting them in Deactur.)None of the properties were worth a second look but that’s why we take the time to do the initial investigation – to save us and our realtor the time and aggravation of meeting at a property that will obviously not meet our needs.

We appear to be no closer today than when we first began our search for a replacement home but I think we are closer than we are able to see. Mama and I both believe God is leading us and in His time we will stumble into the answer. I wish we would be less concerned about our needs and focus more on what exactly God is doing through us in our quest to honor Him in this move, but our human nature often overexerts its influence into the struggle – causing doubt, frustration and confusion. This too shall pass.

A missionary spoke in our Sunday School hour and told the story of a young Christian Army recruit who was placed in a platoon with a sergeant that was vociferously anti-God. The sergeant piled the extra duties, extra weight in the pack and extra push-ups and miles of running on the young Christian in an effort to demoralize and break his spirit and faith.

On one bivouac, in a remote, wooded area the sergeant was bitten by a poisonous snake. Immediately succumbing to the venom he passed out. When he woke in the Army hospital he learned that that young Christian had carried him – almost running – the entire way to the hospital.

Anxious to make amends for his behavior toward the young man, he called him to the hospital room and began to apologize but the young Christian interrupted, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. If you had not forced me to do all the extra work I would not have had the strength to carry you to the hospital.” The moral of the story: Our trials should serve to make us stronger.

At least, that’s His intent