Walking Around the House

For the last few weeks, every possible moment has been spent at the new casa. We have had quite the work crew there, especially on Saturdays. Pictures maybe seen here. God has geatly blessed by allowing family members to have the talents and skills to assist in the renovation project. Almost feels like an Extreme Home Makeover. In the last two weeks we have turned a great corner:

• Painting is mostly done -- touch-up is left
• HVAC unit has been installed
• Carpet was installed
• Hardwood floors are being finished

It seems as if the place is getting close to move-in ready. That is probably good, as we plan to move next weekend. I intend to post pictures and perhaps even a video tour this next week. Life has been fairly busy lately, so I have not kept up with that part of life. I think I have two weeks worth of pics to upload yet; maybe tomorrow afternoon I can get to that, providing I finish a HUGE project I am working on. Oh well,we shall see.

Walking Around The Walls

https://plus.google.com/photos/109656897877397331311/albums/5697983902965179809?authkey=CKycyv37qvyr_gE

Well, guess what we have been up to lately! We are currently practicing Extreme Home Makeover, Walker Edition. We are also learning magic -- we made wall unit air conditioners disappear. It amazing how much has been done so far, and yet to think how much work is left. I think the best part is sitting back and watching Becky work. JUST KIDDING! God has given us great weather for the work so far, but winter is actually arriving, at least in regards to temperature. Mucho worko to do-o. Painting starts soon. Can't wait!

Walking with a Purpose

As I was reading in the early chapters of Genesis this week, one thought that struck me was that Abraham wandered aimlessly and yet with a purpose. He did not know where he was going, only that God was directing. He did not have a GPS, not even a roadmap. He could not Google his location and his itinerary was TBA. Yet, he was right where God wanted him. There are times in life that I all of the information and any possible explanation, yet those may very well be the times that God says, "Just trust me." Even if I do not know where I am headed, I can still go forward with the understanding that He knows where I am, where I am going, and and what I am to do as I travel and when I arrive. It is said that "Hindsight is 20-20"; God's foresight is even better than 20-20. When I look back and see the brilliance of His plan, God is able to look forward and see the plan. Abraham lived in a different age, so we cannot view everything through 21st century eyes and understand it, but we can see his ability to enter any situation and try to take control. Sound quite a bit like us today.

Then today I read of God's gift of a son, Lot and Sodom, and Abraham and Isaac's visit to Moriah for a sacrifice. In each case, Abraham HAD to trust God. Abraham had to completely relinquish control and trust God that He would do right. Genesis 18:25 provides a great statement: "Shall not the Judge of the all the earth do right?" I need to trust that God is in control and knows exactly what He is doing.

Another guiding thought for the year, along with the need to be involved in intercessory prayer is this: allow God to be God. He is in control; let Him have control.

Walking on Air

Yesterday was absolutely incredible. Here are the pictures that show some of the work done -- https://picasaweb.google.com/109656897877397331311/HouseOnCambridge02?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCM_04tizk4DcxwE&feat=directlink . We got so much done around the new house. Many thanks to those who gave of their time and energy to aid us in the renovation. God has been so wonderful to us and has given us such wonderful friends and family. I must sit in amazement at His wonderful grace and blessing to me and to my family.


Today is New Year's Eve. As I think of the new year that is now upon us, I think of goals for the coming year. One that keeps coming to mind is from Philippians 3 where Paul declares, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death...." That first clause, "That I may know him," reaches off the page and grabs me every time I read or think of the passage. One of my great desires for the coming year is to really get to know my God. That knowledge comes from reading about Him and through fellowship with Him. Too often I try to fit God into my mold or box, seeking to make Him fit my notions and ideas. As I read in the scriptures, I need to be willing to get beyond the black words on a white page and dig into the meaning and application of the truths found within the pages of the Bible. As I enter 2012, my great desire is to get to know my God and to properly reflect Him to those around me.


And now I get ready to head back over to the new home site and continue the renovation work. It shall be another busy, exhausting, yet very profitable day. Adios.

Walking through the Door

Well, this is a big day; today we closed on a house. We were looking, yet taking our time and God dropped a nice house right in front of us. Now we have a lot of work to do to get ready to move in. Over the next couple of weeks we will be removing carpet, fixing the hardwood floors, painting, and whatever else comes along. Yippee! It is amazing how good God has been through the process. The house is only about 3 miles from the school, so it does not take long to get to work. It is only about 4, maybe 5 miles from Bec's workplace.

I must give all thanks to God for His continuing goodness, care, and provision. His plan is perfect and the means that He uses to accomplish that means is always for our good and His glory. May we now glorify Him as we transition to a new home. Even now we sense that central PA is becoming more like home. The task is to make home feel like home.

Merry Christmas

Buenos días, aloha, good morning, and howdy to all. Merry Christmas on this fine and beautiful day. It is absolutely remarkable how good God has been to me and to my family. Have a blessed day; I trust that God will richly display His love and care to you throughout this Christmas day. Take time today to reflect on the God of heaven and on His Son that loved us and gave His life for us.

Walking as Forgiven

In baseball, a batter can get a hit three out of ten times and be considered successful. A football quarterback can complete six of ten passes and be considered accomplished. It was cause for rejoicing when Shaq made five of ten free throws. Yet at times, we beat ourselves up because we failed when we fall short of perfection. One of the verses that I love to meditate upon is I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I often think of the beginning of the verse, “If we confess our sins….” God did not say that “if we sin…” The implication is that we will sin; the conditional thought is whether or not we will confess it. That does not give us excuse to sin (see Paul’s comments in Romans 6). God knows us well and He knows that we will not be perfect; what He wants is a heart that realizes sin and its effect and is willing to acknowledge the result of sin and ask Him for forgiveness. We should strive for perfect obedience; sin should cause us to humbly go to God and ask forgiveness.

Another thought that comes to mind when thinking of I John 1:9 is this: How do I think of others when they sin? If I want God to accept me even in my imperfection, then I should be willing to accept others even with their shortcomings. Ephesians 4:32 says that I be forgiving, even as God is forgiving to me. As God has been kind, gracious, and forgiving to me, so should I be toward others. If I am to rightly reflect my God to those around me, I must do so at all times, in all places, toward all people. God’s love is given without discrimination, showing a pattern for my life. I should be indiscriminate in my love to those around me, even when they fail my expectations. If Christ could offer forgiveness to others even as He was hanging on the cross, there should be no reason that I cannot forgive someone else.

As I go through the coming days, months, and years, may I rightly reflect Jesus Christ by accepting others even with their faults and offering unconditional forgiveness. After all, what good is love without forgiveness; on one would be worthy of the love. Nothing anyone would do to me will measure up to what I have done to God through my sin. If I am to be involved in intercessory prayer, I must love and forgive others as my God has loved and forgiven me.

Enjoy, and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!