Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Saturday! A month ago yesterday our lives were changed as Bruce suffered a large stroke on the left side of his brain stem. And today Bruce and I spent the morning running errands. God is so very, very good!  We had to make a brief Home Depot stop. Most of the workers know him there and he was able to say “Hello” and” “How are you?” to several of the workers without having to engage in conversation. He remembered where everything was and went right over to what we needed. I was not sure how he would react to going into a place that with so many familiar people, but he did really well. We did a bit of a splurge and went out to breakfast at La Madeleine’s. I handed him a menu and he showed the order taker what he wanted, by pointing to the words on the menu. He did not engage in conversation, but was able to communicate his order. If Chrysties cannot do anything else we can usually figure out a way. This tells me that even though his spoken language is still a big problem, his receptive language is getting better and his recognition of familiar words and places is improving even if he cannot say them. For a man who was not supposed to survive the night I am amazed daily at God’s healing grace and Bruce’s fearless attitude. Baby steps, but baby steps that are moving forward.  God is good and love wins!

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

2 Corinthians 4: 17

“Trust in God at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to God, for God is our refuge.”

Psalm 62: 8

I have been doing some pastoral counseling with a friend for a part of the day. My friend is going through a time of very hurtful, difficult, personal trial. Tonight the title of my devotion is Trial. The opening sentence is “COME TO ME WITH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE WEIGHING YOU DOWN.” Even though there does not seem to be an end in sight and the troubles are so deep and hurtful, they are real troubles and the hurt is very real. What we have to do to battle and overcome whatever the difficulty is, is to not give the problem, adversity, difficulty etc…the power. The key is to give God the power over the situation. God is our refuge and the place to unburden ourselves, by laying our burden down at the feet of God. When we carry our burdens we walk in darkness. When we give our burdens over to God our vision gets clearer and we can see God more clearly. It is in times of trouble that we need a clear vision of God because God’s yoke is easy and burden is light.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, casting our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway to there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene