March 8 Update

I was woken up this morning by a faint sound, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was or where it was coming from.  It was a familiar sound that I have heard at other times in my life.  As I listened more carefully to it, I remembered that it was a sound that was often around me as a child.  After a few minutes, I realized that what I was hearing was the ocean waves pounding against the beach.  I grew up in the country of Panama, where we were never far from the sound of the surf.  In fact, for several years we actually lived within walking distance from the ocean.  So this morning I got up and cracked open the window so the sound of waves could be heard more loudly.  The persistent and powerful sound of the waves crashing onto the beach is a very peaceful sound for me.  As I sit here awake at 5 AM (due to insomnia) at the beach in Florida with my family, I am reminded of the way God reveals himself to each one of us as well.  He has created us, and through his creation he reveals himself to each one of us.  Often we do not recognize His voice or know where it is coming from, but God is always seeking us and revealing Himself to us.  As I reflect on this I am reminded of the peace that comes from knowing that God is persistently and powerfully at work in this world and in my life.  He can be trusted to accomplish His good purpose for my life and He will accomplish His ultimate purpose in the world.

This week we are away at the beach spending some quality time together as a family, but I would like to invite you to be praying for some dear friends of ours back in Birmingham.   Since moving back to Birmingham two years ago, we have had the privilege of walking more closely with two families (Davis and Souders) that God first placed in our lives all the way back in the mid-nineties when we were all stepping into adult life and marriage.  We began to intentionally gather together as a small group through The Church at Brook Hills to share, show, and teach the Word together and also serve the World together.

About a year and a half ago, Sterling Davis, the oldest (now 6) of the Davis’ four children was diagnosed with a brain tumor.   Our family has been challenged and strengthened as our small group has walked alongside the Davis family on their journey and watched them both declare and demonstrate biblical faith as they have stepped forward through the ongoing realities of seizures, side effects of medication, insurance complications, complex medical decisions, and three brain surgeries.  This week, Sterling is back in the hospital undergoing a series of tests to pinpoint as accurately as possible where in the brain seizures are originating in preparation for a fourth surgery.  I would like to encourage you to go to http://sterlingdavis.wordpress.com and pray for the Davis family this week.