Sometimes God is silent...

Sometimes God is silent.  That doesn't mean he isn't there.  I may not always see or hear God working, but I can always trust that he is there.  He has promised to never leave me!  In the Ladies Sunday School class we are continuing our study on the book of Esther.  The last two weeks we have looked at the Sovereignty of God. As I was preparing for the lesson last week, I was thinking about Job.  We read the book of Job, and see the whole story from God's perspective.  But if you stop and think about it.  Job didn't know any of the things that we know.  He went from one day being on top of the world, to having his whole world come crashing in on top of him.  While he was dealing with the grief and pain of his losses, and then the physical pain of his illness, he couldn't see the end.  He didn't know about the conversation God and Satan were having.  He didn't know that God was going to bless him more than he could ever imagine in the not too distant future.   

It is so easy for me to get stuck in the present.  About 10 days ago, Tony and Teddy took our daughter, Lexi, and her family to Guayaquil to catch their plane back to the US.  We had talked about all of us going, but there is no way that we could all fit in our car, and we decided that the expense of all going in a rented van, and then the hotel and meals out, were just going to be more than we felt we could spend.  So Carla, Matthew and I stayed home.  I have to admit that I was a little resentful...wondering why God would do this to me!  (I know I sound like one of my kids! ;-)  Well, Tuesday morning, we got up and I fixed breakfast for the kids and me. After breakfast, I read a passage from the Bible, and was talking to Carla and Matthew about it.  In the course of the conversation, I asked each of them if they had asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins and be their Savior.  We've asked this many times, and the answer was always the same.  Carla always told us, "no", and when we ask if she would like to, she always responded, "no".  So imagine my surprise when on this morning, I asked her, and she said, "Yes, Mommy, I want to ask Jesus to be my Savior!"  What joy filled my heart, as I was able to tenderly lead her to Christ!  Later, while I was washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, God spoke to my heart.  "If you had gone to Guayaquil, Carla would not have accepted me as her Savior, this morning!"   For me this was the Lord, gently showing me that although, I may not always understand what is happening, or not always enjoy what I'm going though, He has a plan!  He is my loving Heavenly Father, and he is always working things for my good.  I may not enjoy the process, (I never did enjoy getting a shot when I was a kid, but my parents always took me to the doctor anyway! :-) but he is at work, making me into the image of his son. 

This morning we had 119 in the Worship service.  2 precious adults accepted Christ as their Savior.  Then on the way home in the car, Matthew pops up and says, Mommy today in my class, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins.  We aren't sure if he understands, but we are so thankful for his tender heart, and are trusting God to continue to draw him to himself.

Thank you for your prayers for our family and for the ministry here in Manta.  God continues to work in the lives and hearts of people.  Please continue to pray for my friend, Marti.  I had the opportunity of leading her to Christ about 3 weeks ago.  She made it to church once, but the last couple weeks Satan has been working overtime to keep her out of God's house! Please pray that she would be able to grow and learn to trust God. Please pray for Lexi's friend, Gaby.  She was able to see her a couple times while they were here, and even got Gaby to visit the church.  Pray that she would come to know Christ as her Savior.   Continue to pray for young families in our church.  Many are facing family problems.  

I pray that you have a week full of blessings from the Lord as you serve him, where he has placed you!

Joy