The Best Love Letter

Watched "Letters to Juliet" tonight. Cute movie. Better than I expected. The movie is a fiction "what if" romance story with a happy ending. It was inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name. I looked up the book to see what it's about and if any of the movie is true.

The book is the true story of how people send letters to Verona, Italy seeking advice about love from "Juliet"--as in "Romeo and Juliet". Of course the letter writers know she can't answer them. But there are volunteers there who are called the Secretaries of Juliet and they answer the letters. They've been doing it for over seventy years.The book tells the story of this group and has samples of letters they have received and answered over the years.

One comment on Amazon said the book is "for romantics the world over." The book sounds sweet I guess. But a little sad too. One comment said you can hear the pleading in the letters. It doesn't say what happens to the letter writers after they get the answer from the "Secretaries". Was it good advice? Did they follow it? Did their love last?

It got me thinking about love and letters and love letters and advice about true love. Which led me to thinking about the most important book about the most important love. It is advice about love and a love letter all in one. It's the best advice. We can always trust it. It isn't always clear how best to follow it. I wish it was clearer sometimes. But like the character Clair in the movie says, "life is the messy bits." Sometimes it's easy to doubt what it says about love. It takes faith. That's the way with any love letter or advice letter about love. We have to believe in the letter writer and the lover or we won't take the advice or trust the lover.

I'm thankful:
1. I can trust in God's unfailing love (yes, in case you didn't guess who I mean, He is the Lover and the Bible is the truest and best love letter)
2. Even when I can't see or feel Him he is still there
3. He has a plan for my life
4. It's a plan to prosper me and not to harm me. (Jeremiah 29:11).
5. His love letter has already been translated into my language!

More Women's Mission Convention photos

Women's Mission Convention

I'm so thankful:
1. for the inspiring convention today here in Sydney
2. that the women enjoyed what I shared
3. how the organizers did such a good job to accommodate my dietary restrictions
4. that John made it safely to Dallas for his conference
5. for the lovely friendly ladies that I've met and re-met this weekend

It's very late (way past my bedtime) so won't write more now. Hope can write more when I get back to KG

We're here! No kidding, right? it's been how many days? Sorry I haven't written sooner.

Lots going on.

I'll try to write about more of it soon. And post a few photos.

This Monday we moved into our little unit here at the Wycliffe Centre in Kangaroo Ground, Vic. While unpacking our boxes of things we keep in our church's attic I rediscovered a study guide that I worked on during our last furlough. It doesn't have any dates marked in it so it could be even older. It's a study guide on Jerry Bridge's book "Trusting God Even When Life Hurts." It was very good. But since I thought it unlikely I would do it again I wondered if it was worth keeping. Then I started thumbing through it from the back, as I tend to do, and noticed I had not completed the last chapter. Imagine my surprise when I came to the chapter title, "Giving Thanks Always." 

I never could have guessed when I left that book here four years ago, that I would be giving a talk on that very subject this furlough! Maybe this is just the boost I've been needing to help me finish preparing for the talk.

Is this day Five or Six?

More frantic than yesterday. Nearly packed. Furniture mostly packed in back bedrooms.

John in one of the few places left to sit. Who knew an upside down table would make a handy coat rack?

Still pretty but looking a little tired now--like us (the tired part anyway)

Day Five - Frantic Mode

John wanted me all packed by end of today. So what are we doing? Suitcase shopping. Makes sense, right? Sigh. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get the blood pumping!

I stole a moment to peek at--and photo--the plumeria when I went outside to hang the shower curtain on the clothes line. Glad I did as it is really outdoing itself today.

I'm thankful:
1. that we got some new suitcases. They're the kind with four wheels. I keep thinking of them as the swirly kind--can't remember the real term. John is at another store getting another one as I write. My feet hurt too much to go. Meanwhile I'm supposed to be going through my toiletries...

2. For God's peace. I was feeling panicked earlier today. But feel much better at the moment.

Well, need to get cracking!

Day four in my countdown to furlough. 

My devotional verse is very appropriate today:

 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
                                    John 14:27 (NIV)

Current events and furlough prep certainly don't give peace. Quite the opposite in fact. Even beautiful flowers can't really give peace, though it is a blessing to have them. But only Christ Jesus can give real and lasting peace, even in the midst of chaos, strife and uncertainty.

Lord Jesus help me to trust you despite what I read in the news! And despite all the things we still have to do to get ready to leave Monday morning.

I'm thankful:
1. for God's peace.
2. for all the work we did get done yesterday.
3. for yesterday's devotional verse: Isaiah 30:15. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength"
4. for a few minutes of quietness and rest yesterday before the fur began to fly!

An all too rare morning tea on the patio.

John taking time to smell, and see, the plumeria.

He had his usual glass of water. He hates hot drinks!