A weekday reprieve

I am taking my first vacation EVER where I am not going on a mission trip or going somewhere active. It came at a much needed time and it has been really good so far. I spent some great time in the woods on Monday and Tuesday morning deer hunting, but it was much more than deer hunting. I didn't even kill a deer, but the time was well spent doing some praying, thinking, reflecting, reading the Bible, and just being a part of God's creation. How often does a person sit quietly in the woods for hours on end, taking time to "be still, and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10).
I think we would all benefit from doing this way more often than we should. I feel as if I have come back from a spiritual retreat, although I did not have anything major revealed to me. It was just simply being present with the Father for hours on end. I am going to have to make a point of taking some time to be alone like that more often. Don't get me wrong, I missed my beautiful bride dearly, but I needed that time.

I did get some "business" accomplished. I shook hands with the owner of the office I will be working at and talked with the bank about getting the loan we would need to buy an old house in DeQueen. I found out there is a community church in town called His Way Fellowship that looks to be really good from the website. Cindy and I feel that this is an answer to prayer, even though we haven't visited yet. I think this will be our church home from the looks of it, though.

I believe I am seeing the works of God laying the foundation for our move. Finding a community of believers who has a world vision like we do was a concern, but not a worry. I have trusted that God would either provide a church for us before we move or would either use us to build one. The former seems to have happened. From a business standpoint, I don't think things could have been laid out any better if I had planned them. Things seem to be "falling in my lap", but I know where to give praise and glory for these. The house is not bought and the practice is not built, but I see God's hand in this which gives me much excitement and great comfort in this move. It will not be easy to leave our friends and family in NWA, but I know there is greater things to come so long as the Lord is leading us.

Below are some pics from the weekend, all taken in my parents yard. I wish I had my camera with me Tuesday morning, as the fog that rolled in would have made some great pics. The color is better in LA (lower Arkansas) than in NWA, but after these few days of being in LA I can tell NWA is catching up quickly. Another hike to the Buffalo may be in store for Sunday, being that it will be Cindy's last until she recovers from her ACL surgery that she is having on Monday.
 
Fall color seen with a slighly fog covered pond in the background
 
Sunbeams shining through on Ronnie's vinyard
 
Sweetgum tree in displaying it's fall color for our pleasure and God's glory.