Linda's Journal - Monday, May 9, 2011

As usual, I have lots of updates.  Regarding God’s provision, He is truly amazing!! We got called to house/pet sit for Tina again last month, which we hadn't done in a LONG time!  God set that up to happen at the same time that Gerry went to Atlanta so that we had provision from a different source while she was gone.  I also house/pet sat for Marteen this last week too.  This has certainly helped with meeting our needs but we had an additional HUGE surprise last Wed night when one of the guys that goes to Tom’s men's Bible Study asked if we took donations for our ministry.  Tom told him that our ministry isn’t an “official” non profit but if God was directing him to give to us, then yes, we do accept those donations.  Then he gave Tom a check for $800.00!!!  Wow!!  When Tom showed it to me the next morning I said to him, “Do you see CALIFORNIA written in this check!!?”  He was at his computer and showed me that he had ALREADY been looking for flights to go to CA!!  So, praise God!!! Tom booked his flight to CA, leaving on the 19^th for his mom’s birthday, May 20^th.  We are so excited!  He is going to surprise her but has let the rest of the family know.  They are all as excited as we are to have him come to visit. 


Tom had gotten to the point where he was so frustrated and disappointed that God had not provided for "a" trip (any trip) to see his family, he just threw up his hands and said "FINE! I'm not going to pray about it anymore. I'm not going to wish for it, hope for it, or expect it any more..."And then God hands it to him from a source we would NEVER have been looking to for it.  Tom said that it wasn't until he let go that God handed it back to him!  That is SO true!  We need to let go of our hopes and dreams and embrace HIS hopes and dreams for us.  As Oswald always says, are we looking only for God’s blessings, or are we looking for God who has the blessings??  Are we satisfied with the “good” that the world is offering or will we trade that in for the “BEST” that God has for us?

Yesterday was Mothers Day and we got some more great news!! Elena is pregnant!!  We are so excited for her! I had a feeling she was going to get pregnant once they got the puppy :) Unfortunately, she is sicker than a dog right now with morning sickness as this is the hardest time for her pregnancies.  We are praying that this phase is short and mild.  The funny thing is that the due date is January 2^nd right along with Mako’s birthday on the 3rd and Wesson’s birthday on the 8^th.  They are thinking it will be a boy because of this but I will hang with Angel and hoping for another girl :)

This is the busy time for the Inn so I have been kept busy with guests and we have 3 weddings in a row in June…  Life will get even more interesting really soon.

Lord, I pray that you would give me the energy and the strength to keep up with YOUR plans for my life.  Help me Lord to set aside the things that are not of you and only do what You have for me.  Thank you Lord for taking care of Elena.  I pray that you would give her all that she needs to get through this difficult time in her pregnancy and please keep the baby safe at this early stage.  Lord, I praise you and give you all the glory and honor for taking such good care of us financially, physically and spiritually!  You continue to blow our minds with your generosity and faithfulness!  In Jesus name, amen.