A New Day on Lydia

the view from my recliner

I've been writing and praying for about an hour out in the 3-season sunroom of the home we're moving into. Here are some reflections and prayers for this first day in this new place.

I started out with a line that I read yesterday and then posted on facebook:

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"Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil."

That line is from yesterday's My Utmost for His Highest (click the link to read it) and it fits what's going on in our lives right now. God has moved us to 1490 Lydia Ave. W. in Roseville. The Lord provided many family members and friends of family to get everything from a semi-trailer into the house. Now we have the big task of putting things away.

It's a pleasant house but also smaller than the homes we've been used to during the last 30 years. Our income is less too, though we have some assets to draw on as we decide to do so.

I'm writing this using my cell phone as a "hotspot." We don't have an internet connection here. We don't have television yet either. In fact, we haven't yet switched over any of the utilities to our name.

Here are some things we could use prayer and even advice or help about as we settle here:

> Please pray for us and encourage us as we make decisions about spending, including on things like an internet connection and necessities. (Our fridge is almost empty right now and a key part of the coffee maker is missing and there are lots of other things we'll "need" to spend money on.) There are so many things that we think we need these days. Many scripture passages are running through my head as I pray over these things. Even your advice would be welcome.

> Pray that this would be a blessed time for Toni and me together as we learn to live together in this new place. From early June until just before the closing on our Cokato house (Sep. 9) I was staying with my parents most of the time in their Minneapolis condo. During that time Toni and I were together on weekends but that was about it. Last night we slept in our own bed and it felt good! Still, as we make all the decisions (above) we'll need extra grace for each other as we work through what is essential and optional. Pray that I'll honor Toni's wisdom in all of this.

> Pray for our landlord, Paul Anderson, and the others who will be living in this house. A young man named Jesse already moved his bed into a basement bedroom and Paul will be making a space for a second young man soon. God will be drawing us into some sort of ministry partnership with Paul too, especially as the Lord continues to bring young adults into our lives. Pray that we'll be good mentors and generous elders. (To learn something about Paul's ministries go to harvestcommunities.org. No guarantees that what you find there is all up to date!)

I think I need to stop writing now and either go back to bed or get some things done. Later this morning we'll go up to the church where our son Daniel is working as a youth ministry director. That's up in Ramsey, about 25 miles northwest of the Twin Cities. (Click here for the Northgate Church staff webpage. Scroll down quite a way for Dan's pic!) Then tomorrow it will be back to work!

May you know God's presence with you wherever you go, and may you also seek God's way during these days.

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