Birthday Surprise

Saturday I woke up to my husband telling me he had a great idea. I nervously said...."Really, what is it?" He said, "Why don't we drive down to Oxford, MI and spend the day there? Lola (my dog) can stay with my parents. I already have hotel reservations....so pack enough for a day." I was so excited! I had a hunch that he had been planning a surprise for my birthday, but I was trying to not get any ideas baked in my head. Because....as you married ladies know, sometimes your man's version of a romantic surprise doesn't quite line up with yours. :) But after being a couple for 5 1/2 years, he got it! He totally nailed it!

We had a such an amazing time. It was wonderful. The town reminded me of my very favorite city...Savannah (where Austin and I fell in love). It was like a tiny miniature version of it. We walked around the square, went to a great book store, had some coffee and read outside (also in his plan...he knows me so well!), had dinner at a great restaurant with an amazing view of the square, watched HBO in bed (we don't have movie channels at home:), and had a great breakfast in the morning. All my favorite things in one trip! :)

God came along (of course) and really brought me encouragement and comfort. I was reading a great book called They Found the Secret. It is about the testimonies of twenty amazing pioneers of The Faith. I began to read about Andrew Murray. I kept saying..."Why does his name sound so familiar?" Then I realized I just ordered a couple copies of his book "Humility", which I heard is an absolute must read. Well his story touched my heart deeply. The author titled his life theme "The Abiding Life"...how wonderful to be known for being in a state of continual abiding in Christ.

Believe it or not, at one point in 1895 he and Amy Carmichael were guests in the same house. She wrote this about him after she noticed that he was in some sort of emotional pain....

"He was quiet for a while with his Lord, when he wrote these words himself:

"First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

Then, He will make the trail a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last, in His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows.

Let me say I am here,
1- By God's appointment,
2- In His keeping,
3- Under His training,
4- For His time."

Rest for a weary soul! Friends, let us take in these words. God is in control of whatever situation you are in. Wherever you are, He has put you there. Whatever you are doing He has you doing. Whoever you are around at the moment, He has you around. He has a reason and purpose for all things, and He will move you out and on when it is best. Let us not try and breeze through the seasons of our lives without enjoying what God is doing in the here and NOW. We are always looking to what is next but let us look at what is NOW. Let us abide in Him at all times taking in His lessons and His love in every season. There is so much joy to be had NOW. So much growing to be had NOW. So much life to be had NOW! What a refreshment this weekend was!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a cool breeze of weekend in the middle of the arid heat I have created for myself. I am refreshed and filled. Fill me more so that I could spill out to be a refreshment to others. Hold my hand and direct my heart this week and this year. Let it be an amazing 27th year! Let it be a time of growing and loving You deeper than I had ever imagined, and a year of fruit for others to enjoy. Thank You, and blessed be Your Holy and Precious Name! Amen.

My LORD, My JOY, My SONG, I will love YOU now and forever more......your child, honeybee :)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! -Psalm 103:1-5