What a weekend we’ve had! All last week I looked at condos and apartments near the church office. And the place we found a place we liked, so we were excited and called the landlord. She told me a higher price than what was advertized so I wasn’t sure if it would work out, but when we met with her, she saw the flyer that listed the lower price and said she wanted to honor that. It’s a great place–2 bedrooms, a washer and dryer (major bonus!), they are putting in new carpet before we move in and it’s just over five minutes from Bobby’s office. Praise the Lord!

[1] Friday we went to the nearby beach–Tyler’s first time! I think he liked it, especially how the wind blew on him. I’ve been having such a blast with him the last few weeks. Since our move and trip to Chicago and now with us living at a friends house–I think he’s not sure where is home. So, he’s gotten pretty clingy to me because of that and doesn’t really like it if too many new people hold him or if I leave for too long. I hope that’s not a permanent thing, but just as we transition into our new place. It’s actually been fun because he likes to be held and is all cuddly all the time. I don’t have too much to do since I don’t have my own home to tend to so I’m enjoying time with him. Recently he’ll even play with some of his toys. I guess I should put play in quotes because all he really does is hold it and put it in his mouth!

Saturday after we signed for the condo we had lunch with Ty. After lunch with Ty my car broke down. We got in it and it started up fine, but wouldn’t go into any forward gears. I think it might have been the Lord challenging my trust because immediately I thought the worst. I started saying that I was sure it was the transmission and was going to cost as much as the deposit we had just put in for our condo. But Bobby helped me stay focused because he just said, “The Lord planned for this to happen just at this time.” I knew that was true and it ended up being a good thing because we prayed about it together and had a good conversation about trusting God in frustrating circumstances. We had it towed to a mechanic at our new church and the funny thing is–he can’t find anything wrong with it. He drove it around, did tests on it and even had a transmission specialist look at it. Nothing is wrong, it drives fine and I’m so thankful!

Our new church–[2] Compass Bible Church–celebrated its first birthday on Sunday. We had a huge picnic at a park with BBQ catering, a raffle and a dunk tank. It was bigger than just that and I had a wonderful time meeting new people and catching up with some people I already knew. One thing I love about Compass is that it doesn’t seem at all like a congregation or assembly because it’s much more like a family. At the end of the time Pastor Mike shared some thoughts about what God is doing in this body and how we can be obedient to take the next step to follow the Lord together.

The last couple of weeks I’ve faced some frustrations, but also some real encouragement, especially from our new church. In the joyful exciting things in life it is easy to see that they are from God and be appreciative for them as such. It’s a lot harder to do that in trials. The Lord doesn’t give me just the circumstances that will showcase my strengths. Instead He is constantly giving me opportunities to put off my self-centered way of responding to things–like situations I feel I can’t control–so that I will choose the right response that will bring glory to Him. I’m learning that the Lord delights in humble obedience. He doesn’t want me to be haughty or independent, but lowly and selfless. He doesn’t want me to follow religious rules or systems; He wants my heart in tune to His commands. When I’ve been challenged I’ve been tempted to doubt that the Lord is good to me. I’m ashamed that I would question Him because I know that I deserve death and yet He has blessed my life so abundantly. Matt Redman has a song that talks about this and I’ve been singing it all week. It’s a great reminder that God’s grace is amazing and very undeserved.

A love so undeserved, a gift that’s free
You lavish me
A peace I could not earn
And mercy for the freedom of my soul

That’s what’s so amazing about Your grace
That’s what’s so amazing about Your grace
Lord, every day pour on me
Your blessings of eternity
And that’s what’s so amazing about Your grace