The Plans I Have For You

I thought I would catch you up on the Kulwicki's.   Billy started a new job in September using the skills that he gained as the general manager of Lamar Electric.  We believe it was a gift to us.  Looking back on the last seven years we see God's hand from his job loss and our move to Paris to meeting Walter Cooper at FBC, Paris who hired him at the co-op to this new position as a regional vice president for Cooperative Financial Corporation.  Because of this new position we are moving to Rockwall where we will be on the interstate, closer to the airport and within 20 minutes of Brandon, our oldest son and his wife, Kylie.  

We began looking for houses in Rockwall and found an area we loved and eventually found 'the' house.  Since our house had not sold we began to pray about what to do and believed that it was the time to buy all the while knowing it was a risky time to sell.  We believe God opened and shut doors of opportunity and we walked through them fulling trusting that He would take care of us - as He has always done.  

So we are preparing to begin a new adventure in our lives and I am feeling the flutterings of a new hope.  It would be an understatement to say that the last 7 years have been horribly hard.  It is not the fault of Paris or the people of Paris.  I have the greatest friends here and will always come back for them and for the precious one we buried here.  But all the same - I am so ready to start fresh.  To have no memories.  To make new ones.  

Many years ago I sat by the bedside of my middle son, Matthew as his little middle-school heart was broken by some little girl and I quoted to him the words of God that are so meaningful to those of us who are called by His name.  "For I know the plans I have for you," thus saith the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope."  I have wondered for 3 1/2 years if there was any hope for people like us - people who have buried a child - on this earth.  It seemed for far too long our only hope was in the world to come.   But today I am standing on His word - believing.   Thank you for loving me in my pain.  Thank you for helping me to believe when I couldn't believe for myself.   I am looking forward to what God has for MY future.  

Taking Care of Business

Just a few short months after losing my dad, my mom (who has been chronically ill with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Addison's disease) fell during physical therapy and shattered her right shoulder and hip.  They were able to do a hip replacement but the shoulder will just have to heal on its own.  I spent 10 days in Temple helping her and my stepdad while she was in the hospital and dealing with finding a good rehab center for her.  Folks, I'm here to tell you - it is more than difficult to be old in our society.  I sat in the rehab center during lunch with my mom and looked around at the elderly people as they ate lunch and thought "my mother doesn't belong here."  Then I looked at her and she looked just like them!  It was sobering and sad.  I am so grateful that we have lots of family in Temple to help them when my siblings and I can't be there.

Notwithstanding the circumstances in my family, there is the political and economic climate swirling all around us with messages of doom and gloom.  As believers we have the hope that is within us - Jesus Christ our hope of glory.  He is still God.  Nothing is impossible for Him and nothing is too hard for Him.  

To fret and worry, to allow circumstances to threaten our peace is lack of belief.  I read a quote this week that said 'the greatest gift humans can give God is to believe Him.'  That would be to believe that the hearts of the kings are in His hands, that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, that within Him we have a sabbath rest.  

When God rested on the seventh day of creation it was not because He was tired - it was because the work of providing mankind's every need was finished in six days.  That is why the Christian is to have a continual rest in his soul - because we believe Him that it is indeed "finished."  Everything we need has been provided.  Everything we most deeply desire is prepared for us.  

While it's hard to not dwell on the negative and plan for the worst - the deepest desire of God's heart is that we would trust Him and believe Him that He can and will take care of us.  I have chosen to rest.  My personal mantra these days is "I believe You."   The byproduct?  I have peace and He has my trust.