Happy Valentine's Day...a little late.

I just got back from Trenton. While there, we attended a Valentine's Banquet with my parents at their church. We arrived promptly at 7pm when my mom said it started. When we arrived, we were greeted by the deacons of the church who asked what we wanted to drink and then they escorted us to a table. We said hello to those around us as we sat down. Our food was immediately placed in front of us. We politely waited because those around us hadn't received their food yet. And then it happened....someone told us we should go ahead and start eating because the banquet had actually started at 6 so everyone else had already eaten and the entertainment was beginning! We had actually sat there for about five minutes feeling very "on time" and right at home only to feel totally like doofuses when we realized what had happened.

Has that ever happened to you? You think you have your act so together only to find out you don't have a clue? I couldn't help but think that we must do that to God all the time. We think we have ourselves so together and planned out, and God must surely say sometimes, "You don't get it." However, he still remains patient and gentle just like those deacons did so that when the time is right he can reveal to us the truth of the situation we are in. God is good like that.

God spoke volumes to us this morning during the sermon at the church we attended. There were many messages but one of the things the pastor said is that our maturity is directly measured by how much we give to others. He wasn't speaking of money. He was speaking of how we care for others, how we treat them, how we serve them. Think about that. What does your "giving to others" say about your maturity?

The news of the week is that lots of people are moving if all goes according to plan! Melissa and I move out on Thursday for sure. Please pray for healing for Melissa as she has been very sick and needs every bit of strength she can muster for this move. She is (we are) going from a 4000+ sq ft house to 2000+ sq ft. and lots of emotions go with it as she leaves the house that she and her husband lived in for lots of years. She has amazing inner strength and needs the physical strength to match right now. If all goes well, my parents will be moving into their house next weekend. Tuesday will be 10 months since their house burned and it looks like we might be getting them back in next weekend. There are still lots of details to be finished up but there is hope for this move to be soon. I hope to post a couple of pictures before too long.