Good Morning!

I've been out picking raspberries with only a few scratches to show for when I had to reach deeply into the bush to make sure I got all those red, scrumptious berries. It took more time than I'd planned because when I first looked there didn't seem to be that much of a harvest. Instead of stopping after my first round of picking I decided to get down on my knees and see if there were more there, and, sure enough, there were. But I still didn't quit because as I picked I, of course, sampled and decided the effort was definitely worth it. Finally, as a final thought, I spotted a long , stout stick laying nearby (no doubt a left over from our recent grandkids visit) and picking it up, I started parting the bush using the stick to protect from the thorns and voila!...more berries.My perservering yielded me approximately 4 times the amount of berries that I had found on my first foray.

How like our adventures into God's Word. A quick glance through will surely give us something, however, some continued looking, re-reading, thinking through and looking again will give much deeper insights into what the Holy Spirit wants to teach our hearts. It does TAKE TIME, a commodity that seems in such short supply but the pay-off is so worth it.

Now an update on Sue. After a wonderful month's visit they're home again in CA. It was so good to have them here; Sue has wonderful connections with friends and family here and it encourages her greatly through the suffering she is walking through right now. And because she is walking though it God's way (no poor me or why me) she is a delight to be with, full of joy. She commented that one of the things God has taught her this year is you can live with great joy and great suffering at the same time. She's such a people person and her voice has taken a hit now too which makes communication difficult, yet she hangs in there because, as I told her, "relationship" not "Joan" is her middle name...and she does it so well.

She'll have a consultation with another Lymes doc July 19 in Redwood City so please pray for that and also, she would like to go with Dana and the kids to lead a Missions Team to Mexico. That will be difficult but she (and the entire family) have not let difficult change their lives.

Have a great week.

Maxine

TOPSAIL N.C.
Good Morning...as they say, it's a tough life but somebody's gotta' do it and so God is blessing our wonderful family, all 16 of us, with a wonderful week at the beach. The weather is great, a few showers here and there and even those accompanied by some gorgeous rainbows.

Yesterday's highlight was a Nertz Tournament organized by 8 year old Logan plus the annual Cousins's Birthday Party.

Also yesterday, Sue had an unusually hard day; it's good to have them here so everyone can be more tuned in than ever to her needs as we pray.

This morning I was reading in Ezra about the unity of the believers when they were ready to rebuild the temple and I was reminded of the unity of believers who have been praying for Sue and Dana and what a tremendous blessing that is.

Have a great week!

Maxine