“For all that You’ve done, I will thank You
For all that You’re going to do
For all that You’ve promised
And all that You are
is all that has carried me through
Jesus I thank You

And I thank You, thank You Lord
And I thank You, thank You Lord

Thank You for loving and setting me free
Thank You for giving Your Life just for me

How I thank You, Jesus I thank You
Gratefully thank You, thank You”
 

I’ve played this song often in my car recently. It reminds me of God’s work in my life and His promises to me for the future. I like the thought of being “carried through” by God’s grace and love. And, I pray for you, that God will carry you through with joy, whatever you are facing right now.

All God has done:  

It was good to spend time in Oregon and Washington State with Karen’s family in May, catching up—I am thankful to be part of the family and enjoyed one and all. Late May and early June I spent in England—with the churches in Aldridge, who sent me to Ghana in 1970. We celebrated the 750th birthday of the church in the village. While I was there I spoke about Bible translation in 18 meetings, and was hosted to meals time and again. Amazing to have those delightful opportunities and to collect hugs from long-term and new friends!

After all the buzz, I loved being home in Dallas again, too, and being able to develop a routine. I worked on the project of the moment, preparing communications training materials with colleagues. I’ve been trying to catch up on personal letters as well. Some evenings I enjoyed watching baseball, one of the delights of summer for me.

David Ringer and Curtis Hawthorne had a successful and safe visit to Cameroon. I mentioned them in my last bulletin. Thanks for praying for them. One of the projects David and Curtis tackled was to produce a video for the Bible translators organization in Cameroon.

More recently, Wycliffe Communications meetings were fun and helpful as we build a new team, and then the Learning that Lasts training in adult education added even more fun and challenge. I enjoyed it all, especially working with and getting to know people, though some evenings I felt absolutely drained. Too much extrovert behavior I think! But, adult education is meant to be interactive, don’t you think?

All God is going to do:

The Lord has been giving me “strength for today”, but I also have “bright hope for tomorrow”, to quote a favorite hymn.

Today Brian and Val Hodgkin arrive for a month. We are scheduled to be at the ten day Reflection and Prayer Retreat Training at Brookhaven, near Tyler Texas in October with twenty or so others. I am asking the Lord for some new depths in my relationship with Him, guidance for the future and insights to help in the training materials project.

All that God’s promised:

My, that’s huge! I’m focusing on the verse Karen made into a cross-stitch. It hangs on the wall you see when you come into my home:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29 verse 11

We have a future and a hope. Yes! And, here’s a great verse someone sent me. It links with the song that ties this email together. I qualify for the grey hairs, so I’m claiming the rest, too:
“Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  Isaiah 46 verse 4

That’s enough to be going on with, right?

All that God is:

Wow! What can I say? He is a Father who loves His child deeply. He is Jesus, the “same yesterday, today and for ever”. He is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, living in me.

Thanks be to God for loving and setting us free.
Thanks to Him for giving His life just for me.

With love and thanks for your friendship in Christ and your prayers,

June