Isaiah 46 verse 4

I'm going to break from my Thailand ruminations for a bit to comment on the events of the past few weeks, both for me personally and for Highview as a whole.

It's been quite a ride. Both my Mom and my Dad, having been on a waiting list for quite some time, were able to move from Scarborough to Kitchener within three days of each other. This is a good thing. The drive back and forth had become next to impossible since June of this year and the other family matters requiring time and energy. Mom and Dad are becoming more frail and require more attention, mostly emotional, so being closer seemed imperative.

If you've ever done this with loved ones, however, you'll know that it's been a mixed blessing. There's not a whole lot of notice given and you have to act on it or you lose the space. Doing the moves was and still is extremely taxing, physically, mentally, emotionally. Lots of grunt work (my husband is the BEST!), tons of paper work, and even more required to explain and calm and reassure two extremely important people in my life, that the world is not coming to an end, and yes, you will get your stewed prunes for breakfast. The settling in process takes time and there are a whole slew of new people looking after my parents that I have to get to know, and whom have to get to know us.

Overlapping all of this, a dear friend and an Elder at Highview, suffered at heart attack that led to a diagnosis that put him on a schedule for open heart surgery. Brian's role at Highview is crucial to the smooth operations of the financial and business aspects of what it takes to be a church. So as well as engaging the church community in helping to make sure his family is supported and cared for, there has been the added dimension for us as an Elders' Team of working through all the "tasks" and doing the appropriate downloads.

Needless to say, it's been a crazy way to round off a crazy year. And it's not over yet. All throughout, I have pressed hard, hard into God, seeking from Him everything I need, because, well frankly, all of this is WAY beyond my own abilities and resources.

Tuesday morning, the day after hearing that Brian was facing surgery, and having had time to start making (yet another) list of all that needed to be taken care of in light of these events, I woke up early. As my mind snapped into "problem solving mode", I realized that I very badly needed to turn my worrying into praying (Philippians 4:4-9, so that's what I did. Even as I stayed under the covers, curled around my pillow, I began to engage with God about all that was going on, asking Him to give me and give all of us clear heads and calm attitudes, great ideas and strong hearts.

As the "divine download" continued, I caught a picture in my mind that was similar to some Anne Geddes photos I've seen. You know - great big strong hands, and a tiny vulnerable baby cradled in them. I had a sense of being cupped in God's great big hand as I lay in my bed. And, as clearly as I ever hear these things, I heard in my mind, "I will sustain you."

It was a very real, very wonderful God-moment for me in the midst of incredibly demanding days (with more to come). Afterwards, as I was thinking more about what I had "heard", I said to myself, "I think that's probably in the Bible somewhere" :). So I looked it up. Here's what I found.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and and I will rescue you.

I am taking all of this very personally :). The God I know is an intimate God, eager to engage with me in the deepest places of who I am. His care and presence is as real to me and more than any I have ever known from my dearest friends.

I am also taking this as being for Highview as well. God has sustained us and carried us already through so much. He's not about to drop us now.

As I write, new developments on an entirely different front are also happening. The ride could get rougher. God is still bigger. And He is sustaining, carrying it all.

Resting,

Ruth Anne