My friend, Gil Ahrens sent the following thoughts from the great thinker Oswald Chambers that are very appropriate to our journey:

Dave –

From Oswald Chambers’ Daily Devotional.  I thought of you when I read this yesterday.

Gil

The Vision and The Reality

“. . . to those who are . . . called to be saints . . .” —1 Corinthians 1:2

“Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.

There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is made. We have to learn to live in reliance upon what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realized in us. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making His demands known.

Our little “I am” always sulks and pouts when God says do. Let your little “I am” be shriveled up in God’s wrath and indignation—“I AM WHO I AM . . . has sent me to you” ( Exodus 3:14 ). He must dominate. Isn’t it piercing to realize that God not only knows where we live, but also knows the gutters into which we crawl! He will hunt us down as fast as a flash of lightning. No human being knows human beings as God does.”

Irene rested most of this day but we ventured to Carpo’s Restaurant for dinner with our good friend Dave Ball.  We ran into some other friends…a dynamic young family, Eric and Lynn Ingram, and their two adorable kids!!  They just moved back to Santa Cruz after living in Atlanta and it was wonderful to see them “home again!!!”

Unfortunately, as we were leaving Carpo’s Irene abruptly banged the top of her head on the GMC pickup truck frame as she was entering the backseat.  Ouch!!!!  She’s now sporting a “knot” with an ice bag on her head…. Bless her heart…!!!!!

As we contemplate the words Oswald Chambers we are endeavoring to “live the vision” and recognize that we are “in training’ as we trust in the sovereign God who understands our path.

Due to extenuating circumstances there will be no UPDATE for the next several days.  The next update will be posted on Thursday.

Thank you for your continued care and concern for Irene!!

Caminando con Fé
Dave