A New Years/A New Day

What a year this has been! Grieving the loss of my beloved John. Ambushed by the loving Grace of Jesus who announced "From now on you will call Me, 'My Husband.'" The discovery of my new and extended family--His family--my amazing and caring friends who surrounded me, prayed for me, supported me, and even redesigned and redecorated my house! The explosion of my walk with Jesus after I secretly whispered the words, "Help Yourself to my life and to my checkbook"; never in my wildest imagination would I have known He would literally take me up on it. He sent me on a wild ride, first to OM Ship Logos Hope, docked in Cork, Ireland where I experienced the expansion of my new family--400 believers representing over 40 nations. Then the call from Joshua Fund inviting me to join their ministry as coordinator for volunteers which would take me to Israel four times a year! Really Lord? On to Honduras to conduct a women's seminar on my favorite subject--Abiding in Christ--"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). Three weeks later flying off to Washington, DC to meet with Joel Rosenberg and the Joshua Fund staff to begin this new life. And the losses--my brother-in-law, Bob, received home to Jesus in November. My dear friend Carole's mother, received home the week before Christmas and now even as I write, my other dear friend Judy's mother, awaiting her call home. What will 2010 hold? I have no way of knowing. I don't even ask anymore for this new road I am traveling is called the "ministry of availability." He is helping Himself to my life and to my checkbook and I am showing up. Amen.