In Fort Worth!

Hey everyone!

Kristen and I are at my cousin Lisa's home in Fort Worth, TX enjoying tacos a family. We headed out of Searcy in such a hurry that this was the first chance that we have had to update our blog in about a week. Friends from the Exchange (there is a link to the left) sent us off with prayer and encouragement A worship leader from Bethel Church in Redding California named Keith Luker came and spoke about praying for a double portion of the faith of our spiritual fathers and mothers and lead us in a refreshing time of praise. We left the exchange and spent the night with our friends the Ritchies who sent us of with wise words and encourafemtn the next morning. We made our way down towards Rusk, TX, to spend time with my Memaw Box and to catch up on some much needed rest. being around her is always heartwarming and her wisdom and love just seems to rub off on you if you take the time to talk. Being around reminds me of how blessed I am to have the natural family I have (of which most members are spiritual siblings as well). We caught up on stories from my dad's youth until my uncle Mick and Aunt Ramona showed up. After having good laughs and serious sighs we found ourselves sitting around reading the scriptures to each other just for the fun of it. That is just how my dad's family has always been. As Kristen and I expressed our dreams for the future and divulged about our road trip, my three relatives relayed the collective wisdom they had retrieved over the years. What I gathered to be the most emphasized piece of advice was that, as Memaw put it so well, that "We must learn to turn the suffering and other bad things in life into hay" or as I would put it "Turn your desert into an Oasis". Too often as followers of Christ we allow our suffering to pull us away from the "God of all comfort" who desires that we turn to him like chicks to a mother hen. The world (and even religion) teaches us that suffering inevitably leads to depression because in the midst of suffering there is no eternal hope. Christ confounded the hopeless of his day that "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world". Christ pointed his followers to the Father who can turn mourning into dancing and sorrow into joy. Even in the midst of suffering we can be filled with an unnatural joy and a peace that passes understanding. God desires that we turn to him because he desires to heal us. suffering can either push us deeper into depression or farther into faith. If your God is not big enough to comfort and even heal you maybe suffering is something that will bring a major paradigm shift into your life. His promises are eternally true and he desires that you ask of Him as a child asks for good things. My uncle Mick reminded me that Jesus no longer calls us servants, but friends. Actually, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places and the storehouses of that realm are open to us, and Jesus bids us to simply ask the Father in His name. On another note we are hanging out with our friends Ryan and Jen Locke tomorrow and afterwards on our way to Big Bend.

In Christ,

Taylor