Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Unexpected Blessings

When we pray, it’s easy to imagine how God will answer. Our imagined answers always come in ways that we can work it out to make it happen. But we are finding that God enjoys surprising and amazing us in how He will answer those prayers.

We have been surprised and amazed by God over and over again in this journey to build Elijah’s Retreat. It happened again over the weekend when a group of seven folks from a church in Rusk showed up at the ranch to help.

They are part of a larger ministry called the Chainsaw Ministry, and before you get the wrong idea, let me explain. They are a group of people who go out with their chainsaws to where there is need and offer their help. For instance, they spent a lot of time after Katrina and subsequent hurricanes helping to clear away fallen trees from people’s homes. They are a wonderful group of people, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work, with a lot of sweat and sometimes blood involved.

So they came out and cut down a huge dead pine tree in our pasture right next to the playground where the kids will all be playing. The tree was hit by lightening a few months ago and the whole top third of it had already fallen off and broken the fence. So they took it down and chopped it up so Jeff and I could haul it away.

Next they headed down to our Beaver Pond where the beavers in the past two months have cut down three big trees which fell very purposely across our dock. The beavers had also cut down a tree that blocked the trail that the 911 Air Charter group just cleared for us over Memorial Day weekend. Do you think the beavers are trying to tell us something, like maybe, “stay away from our pond!”? Whatever the case may be, the kind folks from Rusk pulled the trees off the dock and the trail and cut them up for us. They did all of that in only two hours time! It was unbelievable how quickly they worked!

So, once again God sent a group of strangers to help us here at Elijah’s Retreat. They are no longer strangers, but dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and dearly loved. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for moving in strange, unexpected, surprising, and always wonderful ways! It is so exciting to walk with YOU through this journey!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

A Grandma's Prayer

Our grandson, Elijah, loves to come to our house, or as he still calls it (a year later) “Nana’s new house”. He loves it here at Divine Acres Ranch. He visits us for a weekend every month to give his sweet momma a little break.

Elijah is not nearly as interested in the horses as we expected him to be. He likes them. He knows all the horses by name and says hello and goodbye to them. He likes Soldier (our big Arabian horse) the best, and likes to rub his sides, but he doesn’t care a bit about riding him, and that’s quite okay. There are plenty of other things to do at the ranch.

He loves to run like the wind through the pastures or down the little road between our house and the barn. He gets a kick out of riding his bike through the barn, out the back door and down the little slope. He likes playing in the sand anywhere that he finds it. He loves to run with our little poodles. He enjoys the new playground that we built here at the ranch – sliding, swinging, climbing the rock wall, playing in the sandbox, or just relaxing in the hammock. When it’s hot we blow up the wading pool for him and he runs and jumps into it over and over and over again. Two of his favorite things are throwing rocks into the creek and climbing trees.

In so many ways, Elijah is a typical eight year old little boy. He likes to run, climb, play with dogs, and ride his bike just like every other eight year old little boy. The majority of the time he is here over the weekends, he is pure joy to be around. He is funny, charming, handsome, sweet, extremely lovable, and he minds very well.

Then there is the other 10% - 15% of the time when he is a bit of a challenge. Those are the times when his sensory issues get the best of him, or he gets frustrated with himself because he can’t understand something or he messes up a page that he’s coloring or he wakes up in the middle of the night screaming and banging his head against the wall. Those are the times my heart aches for him. I want so badly to help him, but often there’s nothing to do but back off and let him vent. It is painful to watch him. It is frustrating to feel such helplessness as a grandparent who loves him so very much.

These are the times I pray and give him again into the Lord’s hands. Only the Lord can help him when he retreats into his own world so full of anger, pain, and frustration. I ask the Lord to fill him with peace, to calm him, to love on him, to hold him when he doesn’t want anyone to touch him, to comfort him, and to heal him. I pray for wisdom and discernment as to what to say or do at that particular moment. I pray for patience and understanding and a peace within myself, so that I don’t lose it or fall apart myself.

Ever since Elijah was born, before we ever knew he had autism, I have prayed that the Lord would one day use him to bring many to Christ – that he would be an awesome man of God with a powerful testimony of God’s love and grace. I still pray that, and I believe with all my heart that the Lord will answer that prayer – the quiet prayer of a loving grandma.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Perseverance, Patience, Trust

Perseverance, Patience, and total Trust in the Lord - these are the qualities God is trying to hammer into us lately.

Elijah's Retreat, which was going at a fast and furious pace for a couple of months there, has slowed down to a trickle as Jeff and I continue to nail up paneling and finish out the interior of the cabin with the few building materials that remain. During this time, we have been on our knees seeking the Lord's help and guidance. What He has told us is this:

Keep going - you are right where I want you. Don't fear or lose heart. Persevere and do not worry. Trust me, seek me, cling to me and I will see you through.

Perseverance, Patience, and Trust in the Lord - good attributes all. God is in control. We wouldn't want it any other way.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)