Along for the Ride

"Are we there yet?" seems to be a universal phrase of childhood--the fussing at a long car ride, the longing to arrive at your destination, the cramped spaces, the inability as a young child to influence how fast you are going and where you will end up. All these emotions are recognized the world over by automobile travelers who too "were young once".

As we have been driving with our little people the past week (who, for the most part, have been very patient happy travelers) I have been thinking of how my heart is quick to slip into the mentality of a traveling child, yet in my walk with the Lord.

In our flesh, we think that it is a righteous desire to anticipate and long for each next day that God takes us on our journey. It is good to look forward to see the Lord's hand of providence and direction, but when the joyful anticipation slips into impatient unrest, that is a different story. We are called to enjoy the journey. Just like a little child asking their Daddy, "Are we there yet? How much longer? Now are we almost there?", my heart is wont to be impatient when I should wait upon God. We are called to rejoice in the midst of each day the Lord gives us.

The speed of our life is also something out of our hands. Whether God is taking us through a time of unbelievably quick change or the slow regularity of everyday life should not phase us. How often I feel like a youngster urging Daddy to "Drive faster!!" or "There are too many curves--can you drive slower?" We should rejoice in all things, being content with little or much; joyful when life comes fast or slow.

The funny thing in both traveling a physical road to somewhere and the journey of your life, is the speed of traveling and your destination do not change when you pester the driver with questions. God knows where he is taking you. He knows the perfect speed at which he has appointed things to happen. He won't make any wrong turns--my job is to rest as a young child.

I'm just along for the ride. Our God is lovingly taking us where He has decreed. And as we tell our little people, if you fall asleep, we'll get there faster.

Psalm 107:4-9

Some wandered in desert wastes

finding now way to a city to dwell in;

hungry and thirsty their soul fainted within them.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way

till they reached a city to dwell in.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of men!

For he satisfies the longing soul

and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Matthew 7:11

If you who are evil know

who to give good gifts to your children,

how much more

will your Father who is in heaven

give good things to those who ask him!

On the Road Again

Several members of the Serven clan are checking in this morning from Albuquerque, NM. Yesterday's 18 hours in the car are checked off the the itinerary and the 13ish hours today lay before us. God was gracious as we navigated rain, hail, and tons of wind. We are off for a two week visit to California, the land of ocean breezes and dear old friends. We'll attempt to check in again as we go along our trip.

For the Price of One

Yesterday was one of those days when you relish in being a big family.

We heard about a local sale at our library, so naturally, all us kids and Mom found ourselves down there promptly as it opened. With 9 kids plus mom we were able to quickly and efficiently comb through the stacks, picking out our chosen trophies. It felt like a well oiled machine as we quickly traversed the room grabbing books of all shapes, subjects and sizes.

At one point as I was sorting through a table, I noticed an older lady with a bag, putting out more books. "Wow! This one is perfect. Ooo--this one too. I can't believe we missed this one . . . " When I went to show Beth my finds, I found Peter there showing her an incredible hardbound Dickens . . . But it turns out Beth had already chosen those books--the library lady had mistaken our stacks on the floor as more donations instead of books to be bought!! She was smilingly putting back our finds as we chose them! : ) She very kindly apologized and even helped locate the missing books.

We walked out of the sale with eleven bags of books for a a mere $22.00--the price of just one new book from your local bookstore. Want to hazard a guess for how many books we picked up? Leave a comment with your guess. Yes, all the books on the floor in the picture are the new acquisitions.

Patrick: A Courageous Missionary to Pagan Ireland

What do you remember on "St. Patrick's Day"? Leprechauns and pots of gold, or a godly man who glorified God by bringing the gospel to a pagan nation? Read this article to your family this Patrick's day to recount the real story of an ordinary man who was used by God to do extraordinary things.

Patrick: A.D. c.389-c.461

Patrick, a young man raised by loving Christian parents, was thoroughly acquainted with the Bible and the evangelical faith. He was also greatly influenced towards faith in Christ by an old family friend by the name of Julias, who had been a slave in Ireland many years before.

One day when Patrick was sixteen years old, he was out working on his Father's farm and became alerted to a disturbance on the beach near his house. He could tell something was going on by the loud cries of the sea gulls. Upon further investigation he discovered that sea raiders from Ireland had invaded the English coast and were preparing to attack the nearby village of Banavem. Knowing that he should warn his Father and Mother who were in the village Patrick tried to slip away undetected, but in his haste slipped and fell from a cliff overlooking the beach . . . Click here to complete the story.

Article reprinted with thanks to Pastor Marcus Serven and the Genevan Foundation for Cultural Renewal, Copyright 2006.

Visitors

What a joy it was to have the Zwonitzer family come through for a visit. We met this amazing family at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival a few years ago. They won an award at the 2004 festival for "Through High Places", an exquisite nature film accompanied by the piano music of Calvin Jones. Mr. Zwonitzer travels the country as a film-maker working on many projects for God's glory. The most recent project, a documentary about special needs children, speaks of how each day of a persons life is truly a gift from God.

Only a few of their eleven children were able to accompany their dad on this leg of the trip . . . but that did not stop the family from singing for us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord". We also did some psalm singing and cracked out our bluegrassish type instruments.

Defend Biblical Daughterhood!

Have you been challenged and blessed by the message of So Much More written by the Botkin sisters?

A unique opportunity has arisen to defend the doctrine of biblical daughterhood. If you have read and enjoyed So Much More, consider writing a review of the book and posting it on Amazon.com.

Click here to add your review.

Caving

The Munoz family took us on our very first caving experience. What an amazing world lies under the dirt. The handiwork of God is evident all through the earth. God's providence and sovereignty was also brought to mind as we crawled along narrow passageways in the ground--how very difficult it would be to be an atheist and a caver!


Hiking to the cave.


Will this be our last picture together??!


Entering the darkness. This was the tallest part of the cave.


We made it all the way in!


We saw a few little bats--they were covered in frost/dew and were hibernating away.


That blessed light at the end of the tunnel.


Documenting the occasion.


The boys at the entrance to the cave. They found a new passageway inside the cave, but when seeing it was only 18 inches wide decided to wait for another expedition to explore it fully.


Our hats bore the evidence and proof of our trip under the earth--they were a wonderful cushion against the dirt and rock ceiling.


Some of our younger cavers. They did a great job walking, crawling, squatting and groveling through the narrow passageway. How glad we were to stand up straight in the daylight! What a fun journey.

Surprise . . . Surprise!

This past week we celebrated Peter's 18th birthday. We are so privileged to have Peter for a brother in our home. And what fun to surprise him!!

Surprise #1: A Beach Party!!


A decorated house




Getting ready for the party


Volleyball!!


Many thanks to the Zeses for the use of the net : )






The little boys asleep at the "beach"

Surprise #2: Company!


Looking at beach pictures--Sarah had put some of our 20 years worth of beach pictures scattered around the house (on tables, windows, mirrors, doors).


Dinner with the crowd: Cordz, Joyce and Nana (flew all the way in from CA!!)


Looking at a wonderful picture album put together by some of the Serven ladies.


Happy Birthday Peter!!!


A bonfire at the "beach".