My anchor holds

In Times Like These
(Ruth Caye Jones - Mother Jones)

In times like these, we need a Savior
In times like these, we need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
This Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

In times like these, oh be not idle
In times like these we need the Bible
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

That Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
That Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

In times like these, I have a Savior
In times like these, I have an anchor
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

That Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
That Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.

Sometimes, it seems God has left us adrift. It can seem as though He is allowing us to be cast aside, perhaps through illness. While our 'Christian brains' know better, our childish hearts ache for the comfort of normal routines. [Funny, isn't it, how "normal" life leaves us pseudo-complaining about the rush of our lives, but as soon as we are side-lined, we find ourselves clawing our way back to that "Normal" we miss so much. :-) ]

Sometimes, God adjusts our plans, and we aren't able to determine the reason. When I heard this hymn on a live stream recently, I was reminded of one reason God might allow us to be sidelined, sometimes temporarily, and sometimes permanently.

Throughout history, we have sought the reason for problems in a Christian's life. Job's friends wondered what he had done to deserve his trials, and in the first-century, even Jesus was asked whether the parents' sin had caused the child's problems. Not much has changed. In the twenty-first century, I find myself constantly asking the Lord whether there is something I could learn, accomplish, or repent of in order to change my present circumstances. But then, I am reminded, in such a loving and sweet refrain, that My Rock is Jesus.

These words were originally written as a slave song. Can you imagine the trials they faced? So much worse than my little-bitty problems! If they could sing of their dependence on the Savior and the Bible, then I, too, can rest on His strength.

The truth is as obvious now as when the phrases were first penned: All I need is the Savior, and He is the one my anchor holds to.

More thoughts from "Amma: the Life and Words of Amy Carmichael"

Last week, I introduced a book about Amy Carmichael. As I neared the end of the book, I found another segment I'd like to share with you. Usually, the parts of a book that stand out to me are things I can relate to immediately. While I've been in this position before, I'm not currently in the position of feeling criticized by others around me. So I can only assume that God is prompting me to share this for the sake of one of my readers. Please pass it on, if you feel it can bless someone else.

"There was a day" writes Carmichael, "when Walker (a leader in their ministry) sat alone in his study reading the copy of a document addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was a petition against him and one or two other true men who had stood by him in his efforts to cut certain cankers out of this South Indian Church. It was an amazing composition, cruel and false because [it was] so ignorant. He came out from his study that day looking very white, and his eyes were like dark fires. But he went straight on like a man walking through cobwebs stretched across his path. And what does it matter now? He has seen his Lord's face. All that troubles is only for a moment. Nothing is important but that which is eternal."

The phrase Carmichael uses here, "What does it matter now? He has seen his Lord's face" struck me when I read it. As I said, for those suffering unfair accusations, perhaps this will be an encouragement. Even in my own current situation, I can readily accept the wisdom of this phrase. What does it matter that she was incapacitated for xx years? What does it matter that she couldn't attend such or such an event because of illness? She has seen her Lord's face.

My prayer is first of all that, in this world, those around me will be able to see this truth in my life. I pray that my children, my loved ones, and even my sisters and brothers in Christ, will be able to say, "What does that illness matter? It is drawing her closer to Christ, so blessing has come from her illness."

More importantly, though, I long to leave a legacy beyond my own fragile years on this earth. A hundred years from now, anyone who reads my journal should be able to say, "What does it matter that God took her through this trial or that hardship? She has seen her Lord's face." The most important thing I can show as a result of whatever I face on a given day, whether illness or health, whether poverty or riches, whether discouragement or pleasure, is that God's glory trumps all else. Those trials were but a drop in the larger bucket of His care for me.

Grandkid Visits - part Two

I think I owe you a few more pictures from our recent visits with the grandkids (and their precious parents, of course). Here ya go!

From Pensacola, we spent our 13th anniversary, January 2, driving west toward Groves, Texas. We drove through some very impoverished areas, and were reminded of the many material things we have to be grateful for. We also found a shack-type restaurant that served crawdads by the pound. We were the only non-locals in there, from what we could tell! We courageously made our way through shrimp etouffee, boudin balls, red beans and rice, and numerous other Louisiana specialties. Then Dan rewarded the girls with ice cream later after we arrived at the hotel. :-)

The next morning, Sunday, Dan and the girls went to church with our son David & his wife Dawna. They also got to meet Hayden, our newest grand-baby, for the first time. A migraine kept me at the hotel for a few extra hours, but I was able to join them for the afternoon and evening church. This guy and his older brother, Drew, are absolutely precious, happy babies. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them, even though we got less than 48 hours together. We're looking forward to a longer visit in May when they come for Malachi's graduation.

We opened Christmas presents together. Is there anything cuter than a toddler ripping off gift wrap?

When Drew was born, Dan and I made him a recordable book of our voices reading a story to him. He "read" it with me during one of his rare quieter moments. :-)

Aunt Essie and Aunt Esther love their nephews! They are so sweet and careful with the babies, 

and so creative and playful with the older ones. God planned our family perfectly!

After not nearly enough time with these four, we headed further west to San Antonio to see our other Texas kids. On the way, we stopped at another authentic eatery, a Mexican place in downtown Houston. Again, we were the only non-Spanish speakers in the place, and felt like we had a very authentic experience! We enjoyed the next two days with our daughter, Amanda, her husband, Marc, and their boys, Gabriel (age 3) and Michael (age 16 months). We hadn't seen Michael since he was a newborn, so we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know his little toddler self! 

The girls did a lot of wrestling, and jumping, and running... what else do you do with two boys?

We got to babysit the boys one morning while their mom was out! We had a blast!

Three of our daughters, and Amanda's two boys, at the San Antonio Aquarium

This poor turtle was a very good sport around lots of little, inquisitive people.

Nona Rachel had fun building towers for Gabe and Michael to knock down. :-)

Would you trust these doctors?

We had to leave Amanda's house all too soon, since Dan had to be back at work over the weekend. :-( They, too, will be in KC in May, Lord willing, so we'll look forward to more time then! We made a quick visit to the Alamo, then headed north with full hearts and lots of memories!

The highlight of our drive north was stopping in to see the Booths and McAnarneys, 

friends who used to attend our church here in KC, and are now based out of Fort Hood, 

just south of Dallas. And yes, I got to hold another little baby boy during our visit! 

I'm a sucker for baby boys, when my grandboys are so far away!

That was the end of our eleven day, nineteen hundred mile journey. I'm so grateful for: 1) a hubby who is willing to make the financial commitment to visit our kiddos, 2) kiddos who are willing to make us a part of their lives, 3) a job that allows Dan the time off for long trips like this, 4) kids who travel well, even when bouncing around for nearly two weeks, doing homeschool in the car!, and so many other things!

Thanks for traveling with us via these pics. I promise, I won't bore you with any more grandbabies for a bit. :-)

Thoughts on "Amma: the Life and Words of Amy Carmichael

Today I want to share with you a book I've been reading. Amma: The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Skoglund is a compilation of excerpts from Carmichael's writings accompanied by Skoglund's commentary. This book has been an encouragement to me over the last few months as I've worked my way through it at the recommendation of a friend.

The first thing that struck me about this book is a point from Amy Carmichael's life. Her work as a missionary was extensive, but the truth is that we probably never would have heard of her if she had been able to live out her life in India in the way she had planned. It was her injury, as the result of an unexpected fall, at the age of 64, in 1931 that brought her ministry to the masses. Carmichael spent the final 20 years of her life as an invalid, but those years of enforced rest were used by God to expand her ministry, when she might have expected it to be limited. It was during those years that she wrote extensively, and it is these thoughts, born of physical disappointment and intense pain, that have been such an encouragement to me.

There is so much good stuff in this book. I would encourage you to read it next time God gives you a time of enforced rest, whether physical or otherwise. Years after her injury, Amy Carmichael wrote the following, about the event that ended her physically active ministry.

"You had hoped to burn out, not rust out. You had expected (if the Lord tarried) the natural end of the fighting man. ...This, and this, and this you will never do again. And the road will grow duller and darker with every mile you go -- is that your thought?" 

A Voice speaks within you: "Things will never be as they were before? That is true: for they will be better. You will never do this and this again? That also is true; for I have other things for you to do. They are not what you would choose? But they are indeed the best that Love can choose for you to do..."

"And Yet -- O Lord, forgive; the things I cannot do are looking in through my window now, and beckoning to me, and calling me."

"But I am here in the room with you: I am nearer than these beckoning, calling things. I come between them and you. You have nothing to do now, but to please Me." 

Oh, how I understand the beckoning of things that I wish I could do. And they are good things! I want to be able to take my girls out of the house for ministries to the neighbors, or to engage with nature and worship the Creator, or to minister to other hurting members of our church body, or even simply to attend church with my family! For much of the last year, I heard the Father saying, "No. That is not your calling right now. Your calling is to make much of the time you have within your home, and many times, in your own bed. What can you do for My kingdom from your new place?" He has always been faithful to remind me of ways I could minister, sometimes in prayer, in letter writing, in challenging my children spiritually, and in so many other ways. Truly, as long as we have breath, we have His calling on our lives, and it is to please Him who gives us that breath.

What books have been an encouragement to you recently? Do you have a recommendation for me?

Memories and Gratitude from Christmas and New Years

Thankful in 2016

We had a wonderful visit with Sam over Christmas. For now, he is our only college kid who still lives at home for his breaks. Theron, also in college, works full-time for FedEx in Pensacola, so he can't make it home for Christmas anymore :-( Sam gave his dad and me each "PCC parent" shirts. For those who have followed my journey as a step-mom, you'll know what an answer to prayer it is that my son can give a gift to his "mom" as if it is no big deal. Praise the Lord for healing that relationship!

We also had the incredible privilege of hosting our niece and nephew, whose family are missionaries in Bolivia, over the Christmas holiday. Trevor, a senior at USC in California, had fun teaching Esther some new skills on her ukelele. Tasha, a sophomore at Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids, received a puzzle from one of the kids, and had fun putting it together with her cousins. We made lots of memories, and enjoyed many hours of sitting around, talking, reading, playing board games, and ridding the Robart house of every last chocolate chip! Great times... we look forward to hosting them, and maybe their brother, too, in the future! :-)

The day after Christmas, we were surprised by the arrival of Daniel (our oldest) and his wife, Justine, visiting from Ohio! It was so great to see them and get some hugs. They're in the process of adopting through the fostering system, so we didn't expect to get a visit from them until May, if then! The kids enjoyed playing board games with their brother and sister-in-law, and making lots of memories together.

When we finally hit the road for our long-awaited trip, we were already filled with happy memories and all the yummy Christmas treats we had enjoyed together. Our first stop was Pensacola, where we enjoyed some fellowship with the Grays, former members of EH and good friends from KC.

We also spent a few days with Theron, who hadn't made it home for Christmas due to his work with FedEx in Pensacola. He is so great with his sisters, and they enjoyed the time with him immensely. He even taught us a new board game! (Don't ask!) :-) Being the horrible mother that I am, I convinced Dan to find us a beach where we could put our toes in the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, it was 38 degrees, and the winds were incredible! But that's how you make memories, right?! Of course right! :-)

We left Pensacola on our 13th wedding anniversary, headed west toward Texas to meet a new grandson and visit a couple more kids. That will have to wait for another post, though, because you'd better believe there will be LOTS of pics of these sweet grandboys! :-) What are you thankful for as you look back over the last couple weeks?

Rachel