My week

Thanks for all your prayers...we have needed them. The past week has been hard and pretty busy. I wasn't home much at all. Unfortunately, b/c of family strife my grandfather's estate had to be settled right away. My mom was the legal executor of that. Thus, my brother, myself and Paul were pretty tied up in that this week.

Due to the fact that most of my family are not saved and that they do crack cocaine there was alot of conflict. At one point my uncles got into it and I had to call the police--it was a pretty ugly fight. I thought they would kill each other. Guns were within reach...kind of scary. So sad that earthly possessions are that important and that there is so much bitterness and hositilty that lives within their hearts. The police did come and calm the situation. There were some unfortunate things that led up to this conflict and since then there have been more. Threats have been made on our lives and my grandfather's house. Anyway, the saga continues there...

So, of course, many cards have come in the mail. So sweet. It is encouraging when people let you know that you are thought of and prayed for. They all have meant a great deal to me. But there is one that has stood out to me the most. A lady in our church sent me a "Give Thanks" list with her card. Giving thanks is so key to handling grief in a way that will give glory to God. Hey, giving thanks is key to everything really! And yet, it is something we forget to do the most often. It's probably the most obvious thing we know we should do...but alas, we forget!

So, I want to share what I am thankful for from this trial:
I have so many many things to be thankful for. The Lord has granted such peace and grace this week. I don't know what I would do without him.
It struck me just how complicated my family's lives are...they are so afraid of the police. I am thankful for a different and better life. I was reminded of the verses in Romans 13 about how if you live a life of good you have no reason to fear the authority. That is definitely a blessing I have never realized I had. I have had that blessing and didn't even realize it. I wonder how many things I have and don't realize it.
I think that I have alot more peace than I even realize. Do you know what I mean?
I guess I haven't realized how much grace and peace is right there at my disposal. But it is always there...grace upon grace...it will never run out.
It is always flowing.
So many things have gone through my mind this week. I am so grateful for God's truth from scripture. Usually we think of truth as being for the purpose of teaching, learning, and correction...but it is also for the purpose of comfort. God's truth is reassuring. It is sweeter than honey in the comb. My love for God's truth has grown alot just in this past week.
The other thing that I am thankful for has been God's forgiveness and love. If it hadn't been for his love given to me I could have never forgiven what needed to be forgiven and I too, like my uncles would live in perputual bitterness and unforgiveness.
I thought this morning in church about how if I am a child of God I am without excuse for unforgiveness or bitterness in my heart. Since I have experienced that love, forgiveness, and kindness then I am able to forgive. I am able to love unconditionally and I am able to extend kindness even when someone has heaped evil on me. Yet, even God's children waste alot of their lives away with unforgiveness and bitterness. Perhaps it is b/c we either don't truly appreciate and understand God's love for us...or we don't care about it. But I am learning more and more just how powerful and deep the Father's love really is.

The Lord gives the Lord takes away, blessed be His name!

Di