Beloved,
​
As I write this, it is Wednesday afternoon.  We have received the time of arrival for Jason at the hospital.  The surgery should be 2 hours later. 

My prayer for us is the one I often pray in choir.  Lord, we have done our part, now we trust you step in and show us how it is to be done. It will be glorious. 

We do our part and know that God will show up and it will be so much more than we ask or imagine.  We stand on the promises of God and claim the victory over this surgery, recovery, and new way of being. 

Jason has prayed, consulted, and he trusts that this is the way that will allow him to be able to move forward, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

We thank you for the love, prayers, and support.

Will you covenant with us and claim this victory?   

Much Love,
Temple

Beloved,

​When Jason came in and told me that his surgery had been scheduled, I was speechless.  Only for a minute!  We had been talking, he told me he was getting a call, he came in, said it was scheduled, and I was speechless.  It seemed in that moment that nothing had changed, and everything had changed. 

Suddenly, our plans were thrown out and new ones made.  Suddenly, we had the conversations that were anticipated but not so soon!  Everything and nothing had changed. 

Isn’t this the way it is with God?  You have a new insight, a new understanding, a moment, and everything and nothing changed.  Your life is still exactly the same and completely different. 

It is the moment of the positive pregnancy test.  It is the moment the phone rings and someone says, “Hello”.  It is the moment you cannot go back to who you were just one minute before. 

I have a handful of moments that have left me speechless.  When I got my words back, they were not always prayerful, or even to God.  Many time it is only after many words that I find myself talking to God. My hope and prayer is that as I continue to grow in my faith, that my first words are to God. 
 
Praise. Lament. Wonder. Worry. Joy. Grief. Celebration. Loss. Love.  
 
In all of those big moments, we are closer to God than we might even know.  Let us grow so that we are ever more aware. 

And, I might need to remember that sometimes words are not necessary.  Silence is filled with more than words.  It is true communion.
 
Much Love,
Temple

Beloved,

The storms continue to show up.  We have measured over 5.5 inches of rain at our house since Sunday night.  I love the occasional storm.  It is kind of like a snow day.  Everything slows down.  Plans get moved or cancelled.  A good cup of hot tea and a book are just what was needed. 

4 Days of storms-now I am a little annoyed.  The dogs don't know what to do with themselves.  Have you seen my hair?  This much humidity is not good for anyone.  Doing anything requires extra thought.  Plus, the windshield wiper situation is frustrating.  Either it is not raining enough to keep them on at a steady pace or it is raining so hard they can't go fast enough.

Be careful what you ask for.  You just might get it. 

When I first started praying, I had a printed-out prayer that I prayed, on my knees beside my bed, once a day.  I so worried about doing it wrong that I thought this prayer would cover it all.  As my prayer life has evolved, I have found that I spend less time asking God for anything.  I spend more time listening and simply being present with Jesus. 

Now, I receive what God has for me.  It seems to be working out better for everyone.  Now, I pray with a good cup of hot tea, a book, a journal, a song, or silence.  Wherever and whenever.  I discovered that I can pray anywhere any time and I will never cover it all.  Thank God!  It is a living breathing relationship.  

The storms of life show up.  Annoyingly so.  So does Jesus.

Much Love,
Temple