It's A Small, Small World

It really is a small, small world after all -- just as the catchy Disney song in the Magic Kingdom ride of the same name suggests. After floating in your boat through the many scenes of adorable animated "children" in countries from all parts of the world and hearing that song play over and over, it has a way of sticking in your head -- never to be forgotten.

The song is not only catchy, it's also true. Over and over again, I've seen how very small is this world we live in. Just this week, I was once again reminded of that fact and found that little tune weaving its way through my thoughts again. Here's how it went:

I posted several items on Craigslist this week. A few hours later, I received an email asking about a chair I advertised for sale. I called the phone number she'd listed and had a nice chat with Gwen, who wanted to buy the chair. I told her where I lived. She told me she and her husband had just moved here and lived on the other side of town from us (about 25 miles). Keep in mind, the area we live in has over a million people. She said her husband's mother lived near us, so she knew where my area was. It was only then that I noticed the name on the email address line. I said, is your husband's mother's name so and so? She said, Yes! I then said, are his sisters, So and So? She said, Yes! I said, I knew your husband all through his childhood and know his family. His Mom goes to my church. What are the chances of such a connection occurring? Might we say "one in a million" -- as in God is in control of every atom that swirls around in this big, ole world.

I'd not actually seen her husband for several years because they'd been living in another state. I didn't even realize they'd moved back. Her husband also works with my brother and is one of his good friends. It certainly made our transaction with the chair easier since I now fully trusted giving them my information.

I'm reminded over and over again that when we live in a world this small, we need to always be on our best behavior. We need to remember whose child we are (we who are Christians) and make our Father proud when He sees how we treat strangers. Gwen and I were both nice to each other over the phone, even before we knew of a connection. When I discovered that Gwen too is a Christian, I was happy to know that both she and I had pleased our Father with our kind conversation with each other.

And on top of all that -- my chair is leaving one Christian home and going to another Christian home! I'm so thankful our Father's world is full of such wonders!

"The earth is the LORD'S...The world and those who dwell therein." Psalm 24:1

Delight Yourself in the Lord

A couple mornings ago, I was lying in bed praying that God would help me to walk with Him during that day and to be actively aware of His presence. I've been struggling with letting go of burdens, leaving them with God and abiding in peace. Too often I walk around with a figurative cloud over my head because of all the many needs I see in the people around me. Since I know how important it is to trust God in all things, I was praying for peace in the midst of all these needs.

As I prayed, a portion of a verse in Psalms came to mind, "...And He shall give you the desires of your heart." I love this verse and know it well, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember the first part of it, nor could I remember the reference.

As I ate breakfast and read in Sarah Young's devotional Jesus Calling, that very verse was the one she quoted as one of the day's verses: "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4. Well, I laughed aloud, lifted my eyes to the sky and praised God for the wonderful gift of His presence and for directing me to that verse -- and for being in control of everything. I truly felt a great delight in Him -- and still do.

If we will actively seek the Lord, He has promised that we will find Him.

"His Ways, Your Walk"

My dear friend, Lou Ann Keiser, has completed her long-awaited book, His Ways, Your Walk, which will hopefully be published soon. Here's a blurb I wrote about her book:
HIS WAYS, YOUR WALK is a practical how-to book for women who want to live for Christ in the 21st century. Lou Ann writes with the voice of experience and observation resulting from years working as a fulltime missionary wife and as mother of two children who are now happily married and serving the Lord themselves. It's not only the voice of experience, but the voice of authority that is evident throughout her writing. By the liberal use of relevant scripture throughout her book, Lou Ann lets the authority of God's own words speak truth to women's hearts. Thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter help make the message personal. Women of all ages who desire to walk in God's ways will be challenged, guided and blessed in their Christian lives by HIS WAYS, YOUR WALK.
I want to add that Lou Ann writes with humor as well. I like humor in a book, don't you? It keeps it from sounding too stuffy. Lou Ann is anything but stuffy. She's cool, as well as being a talented writer. Not only that, she speaks Spanish like a pro -- not surprising since she's lived there many years. I wish I could speak Spanish even a fraction as well. Oh, well, Lou Ann's new book will be available in English for those of you who are like me and need books written in our native language in order to understand even a fraction of what is being said. I let you know as soon as Lou Ann's book is hot off the presses. Adios!