We recently returned from a vacation in Europe with our thirteen year old granddaughter. It was the trip of a lifetime for us, and I hope for her as well. It was wonderful to get to know her more, and to see the young woman God is making in her.<\/p>\n
We anticipated a smooth trip, with everything going as we had planned, since Denise spent many hours planning what we wanted to see and do in our limited time for sight-seeing on our own. For the most part, it worked out very well, but we did have one small run-in with an unseen adversary, a pickpocket in the Rome Metro station. The Roman version of Oliver Twist got away with my wallet and smartphone (which turned out to be not too smart after all, since I couldn’t locate it to wipe it after it was stolen).<\/p>\n
We were able to get everything resolved within about three hours by making some phone calls to our credit card companies and bank, and canceling the phone account before anybody used it on my dime, but it still took time away from our plans, and threatened to put a stain on the trip. It was only by the grace of God that we were able to continue our journey, and the peace of God as Jehovah Shalom<\/a>, as we had been studying in Sunday School, kept our minds focused on Him and not our circumstances. It also brought to mind this song, “As Long As You Are Glorified<\/a>“, written by Mark Altrogge, included on the album “Come Weary Saints” by Sovereign Grace Music.<\/p>\n Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings, Oh, let Your will be done in me, Are You good only when I prosper, Oh, let Your will be done in me, So quiet my restless heart, Oh, let Your will be done in me, \u00a0\u00a9 2008 Integrity\u2019s Praise! Music\/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)<\/em><\/p>\n Sometimes it is hard to see reasons for the things that happen. The good thing is, we don’t need to. We just need to know Who is in control and have faith in Him. As I’ve often said, you either believe God’s in control or you don’t. There is no “sometimes”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We recently returned from a vacation in Europe with our thirteen year old granddaughter. It was the trip of a lifetime for us, and I hope for her as well. It was wonderful to get to know her more, and to see the young woman God is making in her. We anticipated a smooth trip,… <\/p>\n
\nYet not welcome any pain?
\nShall I thank You for days of sunshine
\nYet grumble in days of rain?
\nShall I love You in times of plenty,
\nThen leave You in days of drought?
\nShall I trust when I reap a harvest
\nBut when winter winds blow, then doubt?<\/p>\n
\nIn Your love I will abide.
\nOh, I long for nothing else as long
\nAs You are glorified.<\/p>\n
\nAnd true only when I\u2019m filled?
\nAre You King only when I\u2019m carefree,
\nAnd God only when I\u2019m well?
\nYou are good when I\u2019m poor and needy,
\nYou are true when I\u2019m parched and dry.
\nYou still reign in the deepest valley,
\nYou\u2019re still God in the darkest night.<\/p>\n
\nIn Your love I will abide.
\nOh, I long for nothing else as long
\nAs You are glorified.<\/p>\n
\nQuiet my restless heart,
\nQuiet my restless heart in You.<\/p>\n
\nIn Your love I will abide.
\nOh, I long for nothing else as long
\nAs You are glorified.<\/p>\n