For the third week in a row we have lost another baby tooth! But this time it was not Bryan Paul, but

GWYN!

She lost her very first baby tooth tonight before bed and can't wait to see what the Tooth Fairy will bring her. Here is a conversation I had with her the other day-

Mom: Are you excited for Daddy to pull out your tooth?

Gwyn: I'm excited about losing the tooth, but not the pulling it out part.

Mom: Oh. Well, maybe the Tooth Fairy will bring you $2 like she brought your brother.

Gwyn: Yeah. Or maybe she'll bring me $10!

I think it's safe to say the Tooth Fairy hasn't raised the value on teeth in the past week. Not in this economy...but

Congratulations, Gwyn! You are getting so big!

I had let some of you know last week that we had an offer on our house in Cass City, MI. It wasn't a great offer, half of what we were asking, but it was an offer. So we asked people to pray and after praying and seeking counsel made a counter offer. Today I received a voice mail from our real estate agent and my heart moved from excitement to disappointment. The offer was rejected.

Immediately though, by the grace of God, I thanked Him for His clear answer to prayer and His goodness to us as I began to sing.

God moves in a mysterious way

His Wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm

Deep in His dark and hidden mines

With never failing skill

He fashions all His bright designs

And works His sovereign will

As I sung this song on my drive to class this morning my thoughts went to the book of Job since there is more at stake here than just the sale of a house: Is God incapable? Was His plan thwarted? Is His hand short? My heart rejoiced in affirming, “By no means.”

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’" (Job 9:10-12)

“But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases." (Job 23:13)

 “Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.’” (Job 42:1-2)

So God we trust in You

O God we trust in You

Oh fearful saints new courage take

The clouds that you now dread

Are big with mercy and will break

In blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense

But trust Him for His grace

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face

Is God acting unloving? Does He do His chosen people evil? Has He made a mistake? The tears came as my heart cried out, “Never. I cannot doubt His love.”

“Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?” (Job 36:23)

"God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love." (Job 37:5-13)

So God we trust in You

O God we trust in You

God's purposes will ripen fast

Unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste

But sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan His work in vain

God is His own Interpreter

And He will make it plain

So how am I to respond today?

So God we trust in You

O God we trust in You

"The Lord said to Job: ‘Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!’ Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.’" (Job 40:1-5)

"Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ‘You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.’" (Job 42:1-6)

• Let me trust and not doubt. Pray for me and my family that we would not give into the desire to doubt God’s will and work. Pray that we would reflect a confidence in His greatness and goodness.

• Let my words be praise, not complaining. Pray that when we feel like complaining that I would put my hands over my mouth and confess my foolishness. Pray that we would see God’s plan as more wonderful that our own. 

• Let me be humble and teachable through this. Pray that God would reveal Himself more clearly to us through this and we would be drawn nearer to Him.

When tears are great and comforts few

We hope in mercies ever new

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young." (Lamentations 3:21-27)

• Let me rest is having attained the trust and greatest treasure as opposed to not attaining a temporal desire. Pray that we would not forget that God has given Himself to us and a house is a small thing compared to Him.

We trust in You

"Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’" (Matthew 8:19-20, NIV)

• Let me follow where Jesus leads. Pray that we will be submissive knowing that God’s way is best. Pray that we remember that a servant is not greater than his master and the home we seek is a future eternal one.

Thank you all for your continued prayer for us.

May God Gain All the Glory, Now as in the Future

PB