The Venable Family: It's A New Day

Sunday, February 25, 2007

It's A New Day

Good morning! First, let me apologize for not posting another update later yesterday. By the time I got Michelle to bed I was pretty tired and just couldn't bring myself to picking up my laptop. I trust you will each forgive me...

Michelle slept well last night, having taken a Darvocet around 7:30pm last night and then again around 11:30pm. She seems to be doing pretty well this morning; the swelling is slightly down and her temperature is down around 99 so, once again, the Lord is answering prayer! She had some yogurt and granola for breakfast while I went out to shovel snow!!! Oh joy... two inches of really wet snow; no need for a workout today!! So no, Larry, Steven and I have not got out for a round of golf yet, thanks for rubbing that one in!! (see "comment" on yesterdays post from Larry Jr.) While you're at it, why don't you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it!!! (Mad Max from Princess Bride) Or, as Steven said, "Luckyyyyyyy!" (Napoleon from Napoleon Dynamite) By the way, Sarah, Steven, Trip and Lauren's math team, Cornerstone Home School Math Team, won their regional contest beating the second place team by almost 400 points! Praise the Lord for that! They now will go on to the state competition in April where they finished second last year by a scant 16 points; they have vowed to win this year...

Okay, I promise to post again soon; I think Michelle just may get ambitious and try to take a shower. Hope she doesn't ask me to blow-dry her hair, I still haven't figured that one out even though I have three girls; four counting Michelle!

It's a new day and we're thankful for God's mercies, which are new every morning!!! Things are looking really good; exalt the Lord for His incredible love, His enduring faithfulness and overwhelming goodness! We will sing His praises in the morning and all day long... join with us. We love you... - Steve and Michelle -

1 comment:

Laura said...: Good afternoon all. First off I'd like to thank you Steve for keeping us all up to date on Michelle's recovery. You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work. I am glad to hear that everyone's prayers are being answered. It is great news that Michelle's swelling and fever are going down. Next, a big WHOOAH (just the military in me) to Sarah, Steven, Trip, and Lauren for winning the Regional Math Team Competition. I wish them all well in the April State Competition. And finally, sorry about the snow shoveling. It's beautiful in NC right now, and my daffodils are coming up. Just reminds me Easter is right around the corner. I keep you in my prayers always. Love Ya.; February 25, 2007 at 11:08 AM

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Trust, Lean, Acknowledge

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Prov 3:5-6)

An alternate rendering of "He shall direct your paths" is that the Lord will make your way smooth and/or straight. This can seem so contrary to life experiences, which at times appear to be anything but smooth or straight. Yet, as we trust in the Lord and not in our interpretation or thoughts on what is "happening around or to us", acknowledging that He is in control and nothing escapes His knowledge including the trials of life, relying on Him for even our very next breath, He truly provides "shock absorbtion" for the bumps and potholes of life; and what seemed to be a dramtic turn in the road is nothing more than Him redirecting us down a path for our edification and growth. It is not always easy and many times doesn't seem to make sense, but in the Lord it is ALWAYS for our good.

Trust in, lean on and acknowledge HIM... He will guide you through even the most difficult of times of life. Today, even if you are in the midst of the fiery trial, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, in Jesus you will come through it not singed, without even the "smell" of fire on you (Daniel 3:27), purified for greater service unto Him and bringing glory to His name alone.

Pause and Ponder (Selah):

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say,'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" (James 4:13-16, NKJV)

At times like the one Michelle and I find ourselves in at the moment, it amazes me how simple life really becomes. Yes, things can seem on the surface complicated when you think of tests, surgery, radiation therapy, possibly chemotherapy; but in actuality, as life becomes more focused on the immediate and more critical, it slows and everything just seems a little more uncomplicated. You can't really make plans for tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next year to some extent; you literally have to live life moment to moment, day to day. This brings about a re-evaluation of ones life, causing that which is truly important to come to the forefront.

It makes me wonder how many times we, even as Christians, fashion our plans, establish where we are heading, and detail out where our life is going and then, once we have come up with it all, ask God to bless OUR endeavors having never sought Him in the process. How much struggle do we bring into our own lives because we didn't first seek Him as we were coming up with our "plans"? I am reminded again that is is okay to make plans in the Lord for our future, but in the end it is the Lord's will that matters most. To paraphrase Henry Blackaby from Experiencing God, we are really here to simply participate in what God is already doing around us!!! As the Word says, don't get caught up looking to tomorrow because you have no control over what it holds and sufficient for the day (today) is it's own trouble (or "stuff" to deal with!). Oh yeah, and don't get hung up looking back at yesterday either because you can't change it!

Keep an eye on where you are heading in the future, yes, trusting in Jesus each step of the way as you make your plans. But be sure, in the midst of the "road trip", to give your ALL today in serving the Lord, giving Him the "steering wheel" as HE guides and directs you into the future HE has planned for you. It is better than anything you could have come up with anyway!!!

The Venable Family

Sunday, February 25, 2007

It's A New Day

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