JOY

It is 2 AM and I can't sleep! I am stressed about Gideon's behavior, school environment and "tired of Gideon coming home with battle wounds"...a quote from my husband's Facebook. Keith recently joined Facebook and I love reading his thoughts, banter with friends and whatever else he shares. I just read a note Keith posted and wanted to share it here, since it is The 4 Sullivans, but I am the only Sullivan to ever write and to share with those of you non-Facebook readers...that would be you, Granny!!!

Joy, by Keith...the head, wisest and best of the 4
For some of you this has no interest at all. But I just felt led to share some of what I have been going through lately. Maybe it will be an encouragement to somebody. Maybe doing this is more for me, than anybody else. Since we found out we are not going back to Russia any time soon, it has been the greatest wilderness experience I have ever had, since I have been a Christian. I got serious about my faith as I ended out high school. From that time, I never remember a time in my life when I didn’t have, at least, a somewhat clear idea of what God wanted me to be doing and what He had for me in the near future. It seemed I have always had some kind of direction. But now, I don’t. God is speaking to me and teaching me, but He is not showing me direction. Not showing me where He wants me to head. But he has been speaking to me. Just not in the way I would naturally prefer. As I look through my journal from the past few weeks, here are some things that he has taught me by His word:
1. Rely on the Lord, not on people. 2 Chron. 15-16
2. Sometimes we don’t know what do to, but our eyes must be always on Him. 2 Chron 19-20
3. God is able to restore to you more than you have lost. 2 Chron. 25-26
4. Adversity comes from God. Job 1-2
5. All old people are not wise. Job 31-32
6. What God does, He does so that we fear Him. Eccl. 3-4
7. Trust in God. Do not be afraid. Ps. 56
8. God gives me strength and power because I am His. Ps. 68
9. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart. Draw near to God. Put your trust in Him. Ps. 73
10. My God is the God who does wonders. Ps. 77
11. Listen to Him. Walk in His ways. He longs to bless us for it. Ps. 81
12. His footsteps are my pathway. Ps. 85
13. Ps. 93. With a God like this, who would have a reason to worry about anything?
14. Shout, Serve, Come, Know, Thank, and Praise. Ps. 100
15. I can expect great provisions from God. Ps. 105
16. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He will give me food. Ps. 111
17. Fear and Delight! Ps. 112
18. Fear the Lord. Trust the Lord. Ps. 115
19. The Lord is on my side. He is for me. Ps. 118
20. Seek Him with a whole heart and obey Him the same way. Then He can revive me and make me understand. Ps. 119
21. Trust in the Lord, for He surrounds me like a mountain range. Ps. 125
22. I trust Psalm 126 comes true for me.
23. Wait for the Lord. Hope in Him. Ps. 130
24. The command of Jesus is to persevere. Rev. 3
25. Do not worry about clothes or money. Seek Him first. Mt. 6
26. Jesus is at peace with my troubles. Mk. 4-5
Until looking back through these things today, I had forgotten many of these things. Remembering them brings great Joy.
Blessings to you.

What a great guy and even though we are in the wilderness and we all have battle wounds...I am glad we all get to wander through it together...I just pray it doesn't last for 40 years!!!