Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. (Psalm 77:19)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
I had the blessing of taking a stroll through Cherokee Park the other day with a friend named Emily. We are still getting to know each other and therefore spent the nearly four mile walk recounting stories, intermittently stopping to catch our breath. What a joy it was to narrate to her Kellen's and my story thus far--an amazing reminder of where the Lord has brought us and what he has already faithfully lead us through. Just like the Hebrews recounting their story of Yahweh's rescue over and over in order to remind the people to glory in his salvation, so retelling my story was like a draught of cold water on a parched tongue. Even when it seems we are floundering through life, in reality he is leading and bringing his redemptive story into completion in mysterious ways.
It's like a shot of espresso.
The perfect extraction pulls in the window of 20-25 seconds. If the water extracts too quickly the espresso tastes sour and diluted and if it pulls too slow the crema will not produce therefore creating an unwanted bitterness. The perfect shot of espresso provides the palate with a sweet yet intense flavor only a skilled barista can create!
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My attempts at latte art; obviously I am not that skilled
of a barista...yet! |
The LORD also has a "fullness of time". I fight Him to give this to me earlier or I beg Him to hold off on that till later. Yet, if I would just be patient and trust that He is the ultimate Barista, extracting the most pristine shots, perfectly caffeinated and cremafied (ok, this analogy has completely broken down...). Or as Jill Phillips says:
You have the wisdom and the patience. We need your grace to see it clear. Too soon and we take it all for granted; too late is more than we can bear. So you're always right on time with and open hand. You have exactly what we need...daily bread.
What he is guiding us
through is where we need to be. And he is faithful to provide what we need when we need it.
So, tell your story! Even to people who already know it. Tell it to your dog if you must (they are great listeners). Let it serve as a reminder to the hearers and the narrator of God's faithfulness and provision! He is so good and daily providing for us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Thank you all for your prayers!
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In between work, classes and studying, we go on adventures. Making time for adventures is a MUST in the Owens' household. Louisville is absolutely gorgeous! There is not enough time in this fall season to enjoy all it has to offer.
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One of the many goals of mine is to own a monkey...
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...when my husband climb this 50 ft hardwood...
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...I realized that I kind of already do!
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Somehow, not quite tall enough...
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| Bailey's solo shot. |
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| "Tree Place" as Lara called it. Renamed "Bare Timber Hall" promptly after. |
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| "fleur de tree" |
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Morning picnic before class at Windy Willow!
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Afternoon picnics in between classes at Cherokee Park!
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KALE....yum!
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Our newest adventure: joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) group! Every other week we receive a box of locally grown produce. I love surprises and trying new recipes, so it should be a good fit. Since our current living situation hinders us from having our own farm with chickens and gardens, the CSA will have to suffice for now! It's really a beautiful idea--eating what is in season, supporting small farmers, and sacrificing as a community if certain crops suffer.
I hope you are enjoying this lovely, enchanting weather. Remember God is Creator and Jesus is Lord. Now....go on a walk!
