A Trodden Way

Steadfastness comes from within and it too, is not from ourselves.  Faith is the root by which steadfastness grows and that root comes from God not of ourselves.   So when I pray….

“My heart is steadfast, O God; My heart is steadfast….”  (Psalm 57:7)

I am not declaring or asking for the strength that comes from my humanity nor from any logical positive thinking.  This steadfastness comes from the gracious gift of faith.  This will always take me back to the giver of this gift!  Therefore the psalmist goes on to say…

“I will sing and give praise…Be exalted O God, above the heavens.  Let your glory be above all the earth.”

Lord, I praise Thee and thank thee for this gift of faith.  You are more beautiful and Holy than I can imagine~ and yet you have visited this lowly image bearer and placed within my heart a heart of faith.  Wow!!

Summer time is here and you can tell by the steamy afternoons that darken and rumble into the evening hours. Tomorrow is the last day of school for Olivia!!! She is so excited about turning off her alarm and keeping it off for a while. A few months ago I was intensely concerned about what to do with Olivia for the summer while I was putting in my internship hours. As usual God has taken care of all of those worries and has shown me through a number of events that as I keep my eyes on Him I am to take one day at a time.

Nothing speaks of this principle more than having to wrap your mind and your heart around the fact that your elderly parent is physically ailing. We received the news that my mom has cancer a few weeks ago. Since then everything seems to be sliding into perspective. God’s grace is truly amazing. Soon my mom will be staying here for recovery after surgery to remove the cancerous tissue and organs in her body. My sister’s and I as well as our wonderful husbands are chomping at the bit to minister to Honey Grams. We are all looking forward to spending some alone-time with Norma, who is to us just an amazing woman. She is rich with stories from around the globe and little ditties to make you laugh and even sometimes cry.

Mom’s doggie Cubby is aging as well and moves at a doggedly slow pace…no pun intended. Mom is certain that Cubby knows something is just not right. The two of them have been inseparable for five years now.

Charles created a blog so that we could keep those in prayer updated on mom’s progress through this season in her life, and how God is faithfully caring for His children. You can check it out at: www.norma.susansbennett.com .

Well, it really is rather embarrassing that I haven’t blogged since January. So many new things to share!! The most recent exciting news is that I have finished my classes!!! No more evening or weekend classes. No more texts, no more papers, no more group projects…..

I officially completed all the required classes and my semester of practicum. I now have two semesters of Internship, an article for publication in a peer reviewed journal, a portfolio to put together of the last three years in this program, a presentation to the faculty of that portfolio and then GRADUATION (December 12)!!!!!

My season as committee chair of West Volusia Young Life is now over. Although it is sad, I am forever grateful to God for the blessing of working beside Aaron and Jamie to the glory of God, and to have been a part of their lives during the season of crisis, grief and mourning with little Parker. Charles and I love to watch Payton and Paige and hope to continue for years to come.

Hospice was put on hold starting in March and I am not sure when the next time will be for me to work with that organization again. I learned so much while I was there and it gave me the confidence I have needed to now be working with my own clients.

Miss Olivia is doing very well. We would ask that you keep her in your prayers since she has had a few small episodes in the past month. They were not seizures; however they were headaches that were debilitating. She is looking forward to her summer and turning off that alarm! So am I J!!! I am praying with regards to next year being Olivia’s last year at Deland High School.

Charles and I are in prayer for our future beyond this time of school for me and where we might settle to enter into a new phase of our lives. We had the blessing of counseling together recently and do look forward to many more opportunities to minister to God’s people. While Charles is growing True North Strategies he is still hoping to have the opportunity to work in hands- on fashion with a company that can give him the experience he needs with Cisco equipment.

We are a grateful people and hope that this finds you all very well.