It is a privilege for me to write to you again this month to thank you for
holding us up before the Lord through this difficult time. We continue to watch
for the healing the Lord has promised. Yet as we wait, we are seeing God work
in our lives in many ways. We are in process and it is painful, but we know God
has a plan for us that is for good and not for evil, to give us a future and a
hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Recently, I have found myself thinking a lot about trees and programming - a
strange combination! Each day after lunch I try to take a few minutes to pray
before going back to work. I usually spend this time looking out our back
window and meditating on God's creation while asking for His help. This time is
always a struggle to keep my mind on the Lord and off work since I do enjoy
writing programs and discovering solutions to technical problems.

One day as my mind drifted to a work issue, I began to realize how incredibly
simplistic my most complex programs are compared to God's creation. I was
looking at a tree and the thought struck me that God "programmed" into each seed
every branch and leaf the tree would grow - WOW! The following verses from
Isaiah 55:8,9 began to take on new meaning. "'My thoughts are completely
different from yours,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you
could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"

After that day, I began looking at trees during morning walks and noon prayer
times. The trees have such a beautiful shape when all of the leaves are
present, but without leaves the branches appear to go in random directions. Yet
I know that every tree was designed by God even though I'm unable to understand
why the branches grow as they do. And that is how our life has seemed the last
few years. It has taken turns that just don't seem to make sense, but we know
we must continue to trust that soon the leaves will appear. Then we will see,
as the song says, that "He makes all things beautiful in His time".

As I thought about the mysterious way tree limbs grow, Exodus 20:25 came to
mind. "If you build altars from stone, use only uncut stones. Do not chip or
shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for holy use."
Through this, I hear the Lord telling me to take what He sends my way to build
my life of service to Him. Although many situations seem rough and misshapen, I
must trust the Lord to give me what I need to build an altar for worshipping
Him. My interference, as necessary as it sometimes seems, will only mess things
up. O Lord, teach to me to truly trust You with all my heart and not to lean on
my own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

One of the things that has helped us through some hard times is the Gaither
Homecoming videos. Today we watched one named Landmark. It contained a tribute
to the great songwriter Stuart Hamblen, whose best known songs are "It Is No
Secret What God Can Do" and "This Old House". The lyrics to one of his lesser
known songs were really encouraging to us and I wanted to share them with you.

These things shall pass some great morning
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we've known
So don't forget when shadows gather
The Lord our God is still the King upon His throne.

The rose looks gray at midnight, but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat.

These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure.

Recently the Lord sent an injured turtle dove to our front door which we have
cared for and is now very healthy. Now many times each day we are hearing the
sound of the turtle dove in our home. This has greatly encouraged us since the
Lord gave Cora the following verses a few years ago. "My lover said to me,
'Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come away. For the winter is past, and
the rain is over and gone. The flowers are springing up, and the time of
singing birds has come, even the cooing of turtledoves. The fig trees are
budding, and the grapevines are in blossom. How delicious they smell! Yes,
spring is here! Arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away.'" (Song of
Songs 2:10-13) We are watching and waiting for the leaves to begin appearing on
our tree.

Thank you once again for your much needed prayers and friendship. We pray you
will become increasing aware of the Lord's working in your lives in the days
ahead.