‘Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which you have done; And your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered’ Psalm 40: 5.
Time is measured by hours, each twenty four hour day consists of 86,400 seconds 1,440 minutes – as each day dawns we are assured our confidence is found in His heart of faithfulness. Seasons of life can change suddenly and without warning yet we have the assurance our hurt, our pain touches the heart of our Heavenly Father. The Psalmist David brings our mind into focus: ‘For You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; Your right hand upholds me’. Psalm 63:7,8.
Richard Foster writes, ‘Without silence, there is no solitude’. Solitude is an uninhabited place, a place where children can openly talk to their Heavenly Father; walk a peaceful path sharing our innermost thoughts on a spiritual level. Since arriving back, I have come to value the little things in life, acts of kindness displayed through God’s family defining their humility of heart for others. I have been overwhelmed month by month as I personally experience that ‘He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it’. Our service, no matter how humble, food for the hungry, a word of hope to the dying, cradling an unwanted baby, the terminally ill children, all acts of service answering humanity’s cry. ‘I am the Bread of Life’; all nourishment for strength required each day is available, freshly prepared and when He says ‘Come Unto Me’, we are invited to sit at His table. ‘We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still’.
It is taking time to adjust to ‘life at home’. ‘Home’? My heart is at home in Romania. I feel far removed as I survey the circumstances of those I have left behind, those whose smile will not greet me on my next Mission Trip. Emails, Skype calls are frequent, but a constant reminder of the intimate emotions of those I love. Theirs if not a healthy lifestyle, they know not the meaning of serenity. In the quietness of my heart I whisper their names asking the Lord for a ‘special visitation’ in my absence to go to the areas of poverty, helplessness, bringing hope to their barren and empty lives.
Sister Dorina’s condition is becoming progressively worse: she is in great pain and very distressed. The Hospice Team have commenced ‘Legacy Building’ (A Legacy of Memories) with Dorina and her children. Sister Dorina needs our prayers during these traumatic days. Bobby’s illness is progressive, she is now confused, her husband is heartbroken as he cares for his beloved wife alone, they have no family – in fact, no real home. The image is still clear in my mind the day I visited Florika. She was very sick, yet trying so bravely to manage the extreme level of pain and discomfort. She was admitted to hospital shortly after I left, her status has deteriorated and she is hallucinating, she is unable to return home as she is in need of constant care. Daria and I have shared the gospel faithfully with Bobby and Florika, pray they will come to know the Lord as their Saviour in their final days. I will go to those brought low, I am willing to go to those locked in a prison of despair and hopelessness but I go sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that when in the midst of life’s obstacles and uncertainty they will know ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ Psalm 46: 1.
God has been so faithful to me throughout this journey, I have proved whatever circumstance or situation may arise in our lives, He is the provider of peace. He gives all that is needed for each day; waiting is never easy yet when we seek Him, we will find Him. I think of my friends who are submerged in darkness; may they know that in the shadows of their darkness there is One whose gentle voice is whispering ‘It is I, be not afraid’.
‘And He took the children in His arms …’ How I long to see my little ones, my Adam, Aaron, Cristi, Kevin, Da Da …. I miss my times with them because they have become special to me, they have entered my heart. Estera is faithful in her contact, she knows they are loved and very precious to me.
Cristi is stable and will have further tests to monitor his condition. Remember little Cristia and his grandmother Florika who need to find furnished accommodation quickly. Kevin is scheduled for surgery in Timisoara at the end of June, in his short six years this is the third tumour to attack his little body. Andrada is back home for several days and will return to hospital (Timisoara) to commence the process for her bone marrow transplant – she is looking forward to her fourth birthday. Ishmael (6) is waiting for surgery number 20 which will take place in Cluj. Please show your love by praying for ‘These My Little Ones’.
Bobby was heavy on my heart all week end, I received word moments ago, Bobby has left this scene of time. How important is our witness to the Gospel. Pray for Lajos, for my contact with him that he may hear that soft gentle whisper ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you … ‘ (John 14: 27)
We can walk a ‘Peaceful Pathway’ In Him.
Shirley, 19th June, 2017
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be.
image © Lurgan Park by David McFarland