Planning a New Hope

  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean into your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 (New American Standard Bible)   When Change Disrupts Our Lives I have always been afraid of the dark. Some people talk about the joy of getting out of the city and looking at the stars. When the sun goes down and the sunlit day disappears, I want to see street lights and plenty of them. One way I combatted my fear of something possibly happening during the night was to live in multiple-family dwellings where walls were connected and people would hear me if I screamed.             In 2017 God led me to a different place to live—a freestanding patio home built for privacy. No longer was there the security that should there be a problem, I could trust others to come...

  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.” (Jesus explaining His healing of the blind man) John 9:40,   New American Standard Bible   Now Is the Time   The old hymn, Work for the night is coming and the day is done , often plays out in my mind. Several days ago, these words brought back memories of past experiences.             Many years ago, while driving back to Houston after being in Goodman for Christmas, my car began slowing down and finally stopped just outside of Layfette, Louisiana about half way into the trip. Realizing that I had for weeks neglected the warning signs there was a problem with the car, dread played out in my head as I turned off the motor and sought help. After the vehicle was fixed, and I finally got back to Houston, this experience, in my mind, became another delightful adventure of my youth.   ...