Our first flat tire, spitting cobra, malaria and a dead guy.

As you can imagine the dead guy was the most surprising and upsetting. We awoke one morning and found a few hundred people in front of our house. Apparently there had been a 'domestic' problem and when the guy got home from out of town he found is wife with another guy and well, she was a better fighter...until the police stuck her keester in the slammer. It just took about 6 hours for them to remove the corpse from the rain spillway in front of our house! As i went to greet some visitors at the back door there was this snake thing also wanting to visit and sitting on our veranda. We proceeded to send him on to a better place but it was a little upsetting to find so close to the house. The flat tire, well, that wasn't a big deal except for the fact it took 3 hours to get it repaired.For those of you who have not heard, our oldest son, Toby, had been sick with a virus for a week and when we took him in for the blood test he came back with 4 out of 5 on the malaria test. He was really sick. He was a trooper and enjoyed the attention. He was so sick in fact he didn't even get in trouble for two days...he received the most current treatment and has recovered really well. We are now awaiting the next 'first'...like packages arriving before we expect them or car repairs going smoothly!

There are a lot of firsts to be had here and i am sure we will have more as time goes by but it is nice to know we are not alone. Through some strange (dead guy)and horrible (friend's kid so sick needed to be airlifted out) circumstances we have been reminded that those these events may be surprises to us, they are not to God. .

Rest assured, HE knows what is going on and although some things are difficult or downright heartbreaking, there will also be the wonderful and unexpected joys.
Like the free use of a truck (while we wait for parts for our truck--now 7+weeks) or the unsolicited kind words from another, or invitations for ministry. Or just a moment of bliss watching the sun come up.

Life goes on friends. Things happen and God IS good. Keep the faith and look for the firsts, God only knows what is coming up!

What is of value is protected.

Seems to be a true statement wherever you are. In the USA we protect our stuff (homes, cars, boats) with fancy locks, high tech electronic devices and monitoring systems. Here in Moz we build big walls, put glass on top and hire guards to watch the place when we aren't around. We put immobilizers on our cars and locks on our steering wheels.

But more than anything I hate my walls. I hate having to protect my stuff. I would rather not have walls but i can't afford to replace the stuff either. So i protect what is most valuable to me. My family and then the stuff that makes our house a home and what makes our lives more comfortable. But this weekend i was challenged to guard something immeasurably more valuable. My heart.

If you know me at all or have read my blog...my heart seems to be...well bruised and just possibly it is because i have not guarded it, have not tended it as i should have.

The book of proverbs in the Bible tells us 'above all things, guard your heart' and yet i carry on like i don't have to. Is someone else going to take care of it? Are the depths of my soul going to be fed through osmosis...if i have a bible will i be actually profit from it? These questions come to mind and i have to ask myself not only have i been guarding my heart but how am i supposed to do that anyway?

The last few months have been traumatic, not in a bad way, but have had so much happen, so many new things to learn and digest my heart, my soul have been neglected. My body has been tired and my mind races every day. I have found myself short on compassion and patience for my kinds and not putting my wife's needs in front of mine. I have not spent time meditating on what is good. I have not prayed nearly enough and i have not loved as i should. But this weekend i did. I got back. I took the time, i listened to my wife and i spent time alone with God. I read his word because it is for me and i reveled in the fact that God loves me. These things are good for the guard. I found almost instantly i was not plagued by fear or disappointment. I found i had strength to go on and love to share. I found i want to serve others....my heart was alright after all.

This is a daily thing and not an easy thing. But brothers, sisters, guard your heart, you only have one. If it has been broken, take extra care not to listen to lies. Not to feed on the negative and please don't forget,

You are loved.