Phoenix update and knowing God's thoughts

From my journal yesterday......
"Well, Lord, thank You for getting my house sold and closed.  Signed the papers today....only one small glitch needs to be solved before it is final!"

I have a Husband who is faithful to take care of me!  I have no doubt He will make it possible for me to take care of the SBA loan and my other expenses here.  One of the possibilites is my ability to teach watercolor classes and I have some doors opening up here now.  Also, I plan to advertise my "Pet Portraits" in the many pet and grooming stores in the area.

I am still uncertain about the church God has for me to settle in.  One of the things He is reminding me comes from I Sam 16:7, where Samuel was trying to understand which of Jesse's sons was to become the announted king of Israel, to succeed Saul.  As Samuel was looking over the boys, the Lord said to him, "Do not consider his appeareance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart".  Of course, the Lord chose David, the youngest and least likely to be the one.  I am praying to have that kind of discernment in this major decision.

It all boils down to  knowing God's thoughts, doesn't it?  A favorite worship song of mine, "Strings" by Misty Edwards in her "Relentless" album,  has the lyrics: 
         I want to play the strings of Your heart, God; Come play the strings of mine.
         I want to sing straight to Your heart, God; Sing straight to mine.

         Lord, You have my heart, I am searching for Yours.
         Lord, You have my thoughts, I am searching for Yours.

Back to my journal......
"I want to hear Your song, know Your heart., Lord.  I can't handle Your heart for the entire world...it's needs are so overwhelming to me.  But, Lord, I want to know Your song for me and my loved ones, for those to whom I can minister...let me know Your heart for them."

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The Blooming Desert!

It has been awhile since I last wrote.....I've had a few distractions in the last three weeks:

~~packing up and loading all my furniture into a huge Budget rental truck, and cleaning up the mess before leaving my beloved little artist's cottage on the lake in Deerfield Beach.  However, the next day, as Scott(son), Mary (his wife), and Brendan (grandson) climbed into the truck, and Kimmi (granddaughter), Clifford (dog), Krissy (cat) and I squeezed into my car, I didn't look back.  I was ready to see what's next on the Lord's plan for me.

~~driving 14 hours a day for 3 days,  kitty meows at least 50% of the time, dog vomit twice, and was nearly run off the road by a huge 18 wheeler, and driving 8 hours on the last day before unloading into my new desert dwelling just before the sun went down.  We had arrived! 2400 miles! Krissy and Clifford and I were home!

Thank you for your prayers! Despite it all, we are all safe. Kimmi and Brendan were great and very helpful, walking Clifford, carrying cat carrier, cat litter bag and supplies, plus, computers and bags every night into the Embassy Suites, and pumping my gas 2 or 3 times each day.  Scott, stopping often for potty breaks, was patient as I got slower and slower loading up every morning.

 

 Mary, who had flown back  to Phoenix on Wednesday, had left the refrigerator of my new house stocked with enough to get by for a few days, cleaning products, new towels and decor in the baths, laundry soap, etc, a vacuum cleaner, garbage bags, an assortment of sweets and snacks, greeting door ma, colorful "welcome" door wreath, and a beautiful large potted brilliant purple plant on the the front porch.   I was so blessed.  The desert was already blooming.

Since then I have been making this my home....moving furniture around, unpacking 50 some boxes, hanging towels, curtains and clothes, and turning my breakfast nook into a great little mini-office adjoining my kitchen.  As I had hoped, a part of my garage has become my artist's studio as well as keeping my car sheltered from the heat, etc. Then there have been the electronic wars for TVs, Computers, telephone (including a new more complicated cell phone), remotes...not my best area of adjustment.  But we are all up and GO!

Next, my ventures out to grocery stores (I rediscovered my treasured Trader Joe's), hardware,  Goodwill and Target stocked us up with the necessaries. I found Brendan's football practice one evening as I took him there and watched in the chilly AZ evening; and Scott and I watched his first game of the season way out in Apache Junction (sounds real "western", doesn't it), then picked up Kimmi and came back here for spaghetti and meatballs and Monopoly (Denver Broncos style). Mary was flying (working).  Pure joy to have them for dinner and fun.

I visited a church which I had scoped out while in Florida on the Internet. Mountain Park Community Church is about 10 minutes or less from home, and I'm pretty sure it will be my home church. It is about the size of SRC and very active.  Womens' Bible Study is doing Beth Moore's "Daniel", and now her study is on Revelation.  Tonight I will be attending a Seder dinner.  Friday, instead of a Good Friday service, they have a "Stations of the Cross" event where we can actually journey through the scripture and historical accounts of the events, and climb the small mountain behind the church up to the cross.

I have asked the Lord each week when I attended services at 10:45 on Sunday for a confirmation.  The first week the pastor's sermon was part of a year long series about getting to know Jesus more intimately and I liked it very much. Then this last Sunday, I asked again, and was almost blown away when a drama was performed between Pete (Peter) and Andy (Andrew) from the audience and then on the stage as they hilariously maneuvered their way through the Palm Sunday crowds, and then pondered on the washing of their feet by the Lord at the upper room. I loved what I saw and heard from the pastor.  I only wish the worship was longer....you know me. 

And all around me the desert is breaking into spring bloom (along with the allergies).  It truly is spectacular.  My next goal is to take some pictures and send them out by email. The weather is mild, cool in the mornings, warmer in the afternoons and yes, very dry.  But I feel better and am not suffering the terrible fatigue that was plaguing me in the Florida heat and humidity.

Most of all, though, I really do miss you!  That is the huge void here and no amount of activity or comfort can erase that.  Sniff, sniff.....

Thanks for plowing through this....thought you might like to know the details of God's faithfulness to me.  I'll try to keep the next posts much shorter and less self-centered. 

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