Saturday, 16 October 2010

WHERE TO GO IN A DROUBT?


ON WEDNESDAY OUR STREAM OF REFRESHMENT DRIED UP! And no RAVENS were apparently flying, and there was no sign of a woman gathering sticks! This had not happened to us for some years - there has always been a trickle in the pipeline. This seemed like a major supply failure. (1. Kings 17v2-16)
Unfortunately life goes on for us all in such times, and the consumption of utilities such as water and electricity continue on, and the whole machine continues to run along........piling up debt by the hour. It's not so bad as long as a 'little' is available to offset expenses, but when nothing is there, and deadlines for payment begin to arise... THEN it becomes a desperate situation, and puts 'faith' to the ultimate test - which usually leaves me a little wanting. I still ' believe ' but am crying out for Father to help my unbelief in sudden doubt. We had just sold our car which had recently been repaired and refurbished. we made about five hundred pounds on the deal, and put it immediately into general funds...........we continued to sink!!

At such a time our friends Ian and Diana Hogley took us away! Before they had arrived they had booked Esther and me into Lake Elementaita Lodge near Nakuru for two nights and a day - just to give us a 'carefree rest'. We did not really feel it was the right time to just walk away, but it could not be avoided. I left Daryl holding all the babies and with instructions to hold everything and just pray! And we left...........with very mixed feelings ....... and truly found peace and REST as we went. We had a thoroughly refreshing time in beautiful surroundings. The last time we visited this particular Lodge was in 2004 when we had gone to celebrate our 33rd Wedding Anniversary. The main House had been built by Lord Galbraith Lowry Egerton Cole, 2nd son of the then Earl of Enniskellen, circa 1905. He owned 30,000 acres down to the shores of Lake Elementaita. On this land he attempted to farm sheep but they all died of a mysterious disease. Galbraith himself also became progressively ill with rheumatoid arthritis. By 1929, blind in one eye and riddled with pain, he shot himself. He is buried somewhere on his estate not far from a Monument erected by his wife Lady Eleanor Cole, overlooking the lake and visible from the house; a house little changed over the years although now functioning as the Restaurant and lounge facility for the Lodge. The setting is just perfect, and the peace of the place has to be experienced to be believed - even with the numbers visiting. THUS we found ourselves momentarily removed from anxiety and even apprehension, and placed in serene quietness and beauty to be taught once again, that our help comes from the LORD - just look and see! And we did look and we did see. How very kind Father is. We both needed that, and when we returned here to Eldoret on Friday afternoon we were ready to take up where we had left off - and we did, for nothing had changed, and we all continued to WAIT upon the Lord but without so much stress and worry.

AS A LAST and special gift Diana had organised herself to prepare the four of us with a wonderful meal of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding!! Something I had not had for a good number of years - and Oh my, it did taste good. We all revelled in it and once again Thanked our God for all His kind thoughtfulness along the way, even as He teaches hard lessons not easily learned. Ian and Diana left us this morning - until God Willing, they visit again. The last of the Yorkshire Pud will be eaten for our supper with the left over beef in just a few minutes. - the photo is not of the actual food eaten, but ours looked even better, and could not have tasted less enjoyable. Indeed that Yorkshire pudding looks EXACTLY like one of those Diana put on our plates last night! Mmmm
This morning we had word that Her Majesty's Inland Revenue had decided to pay out on Gifts sent to us over the previous period - PROVIDING (together with other Gifts sent to AENON Trust) just enough to keep us going on going on! It IS wonderful - I continue to know it - to live by Faith in His ability to save us from ALL our anxieties - but I have to admit I am often found wanting and forced to discover still how vulnerable I am, and easily shaken even after all these years.
God be with you all, and never fail to encourage, and build you up in your faith. He will never fail you.
John and Esther




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