Well now, it has been a while but I greet you and trust you are abiding in “Shalom, Shalom.” I learned that if you say it twice it means “deep peace.” Certainly, our world needs that deep peace but it still only comes one heart at a time. I love the verse in Psalm 33 (NKJV) that reads: “He fashions their hearts individually….” How precious to know that He interacts with us so intimately and personally.
Since I last wrote I have dealt with another knee surgery, early-stage breast cancer, and the on-going issues of getting older and still being a caregiver. But God has been faithful in His Fatherly love, care, and provision. We have also had wonderful times in His creation. I have included a few pictures from our recent trip to Crested Butte. We missed the peak of the wild flowers but it was still so very lovely.
With all that is going on in our world, especially the political arena, I have had people ask me how I am praying these days. For our world in general I continue to pray that the Kingdom of God would be more and more manifest, as Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer. I remind myself daily that I am only a sojourner here and that His Kingdom will have the last word.
As I pray for the leadership of our country—including all political parties—a tender section of Scripture found in Ecclesiastes chapter nine continues to be on my heart and guides my prayers.
13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
16 Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But one sinner destroys much good.”
So, dear ones, I pray that the quietly spoken words of wise men and women would be heard and heeded. James tells us: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (3:17).
There is nothing I can add to these beautiful words. Shalom, Shalom.
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