Sharpening Another

His small white truck pulled up in front of our house at 7:20 a.m. I was watching from the playroom. My husband had already gone outside to meet this friend who was giving him a ride to a men's breakfast at church. In the past several months I have given thanks for this man who loves my best friend. One night last week, he spent several hours working with him on a project. The end result was my husband securing a landscaping job with potential for more. But, that's not what really fills my heart with gratitude. It's the prayers they pray together, the time they spend studying God's Word, the phone calls for accountability. It's the love. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

Up Down

I've decided to divorce; I just don't love him anymore. Down. My marriage is difficult, but I'm committed to it; I want the world to see the way Christ loves the church. Up. I just got a big pay raise, and I'm going to celebrate by buying that new car I saw. Down. I inherited a large sum of money this year, and I'm using it to support missionaries who are going to the unreached people groups. Up. I have this weekend free, and I'm going to sit back and watch the big games on television. Down. I got some time off from work so that I can go on that medical mission trip to Honduras. Up. Lord, help us as Your children to encourage one another and build each other up; protect us from bringing each other down, away from You and Your ways.

Adopting Again

The call came just before Thanksgiving. Jesse's birthmother had another baby. "Would we consider adopting her, too?" The agency tries to keep sibling groups together. After all these years of waiting, hoping, wanting a child, suddenly there could be two. I could hear Sarah's laughter in my own heart. "Lord, I am 46 years old. Will I really have another child now that I am old?" Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He plans; He orchestrates. He adopts us, so we adopted her. Welcome with us Jada Abigail, and pray with us that we will raise her in the discipline and instruction of the Lord that she might someday bring glory to our Great God and Savior!