October 14, 2015
September was a very busy month emotionally and physically.
This was the first September 5th that Hannah was away from home and
she was dealing with being homesick as well as the emotions of the anniversary date
of our accident. I touched base with all our children as we all dealt with the
anniversary. I had Kathie home for a visit and a haircut on September 5 and we
lived the 10th Anniversary together in our home. Strange, exhausting
and yet enjoyable to have her home.
Hannah is doing well at school while dealing with the
transitions and new beginning in her college life; we stay in contact during
the week. The first weekend in October, Madison, Andy and I met in Phoenix,
then drove to Northern Arizona University for Family Weekend and enjoyed a
family reunion with Hannah. Katie and granddaughter Audrey went for a visit
last weekend so Hannah has had many visitors.
I look back on 10 years and ask God, “What are you doing in
these years and in the lives of those around us.” I know God is at work, but it
is hard to see. From Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, October
12:
The true test of a
person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary
moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is
nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his
attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight
(see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God
and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In
learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His
stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself
is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a
personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.
It is difficult to get
into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that
His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has
different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His
ways. It was said of Jesus— “He will not fail nor be discouraged…” (Isaiah
42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always
worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same.
Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not
through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere
of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which
before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than
oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give
up because the pain is intense right now— get on with it, and before long you
will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose.
Blessings as you have stood with us for 10+ years,
Dave & Kathie Jones
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