Update: Good news and Bad News

Good news: I found a way to buy a fishing license.
Bad news: It seems like every time there is nice enough weather for me to get out there, my wife becomes otherwise occupied and I have to stay here to look after her mother.

Good news: I am developing more of a web presence and more readership for my writings.
Bad news: None of the new readers are subscribing, either, and my computer no longer recognizes my digital camera so I can't add any pictures of my exploits anyway.

Good news: I found out that all that was wrong with the camera I inherited from my Dad was that it needed a new battery for the shutter mechanism.
Bad news: The camera my wife bought on ebay turned out to be a hunk of junk so now she is using mine for her next photography class so she can have one camera loaded with color and one with black and white film.

Good news: I was invited to send in a resume` and application for a job with Northrup Grumman.
Bad news: I didn't get it.

I feel like David when he was on the run from King Saul. Every time he thought he was making some headway, the king went nuts and tried to kill him again. I know that the Lord is my rock and my deliverer and that His timing is perfect. Still it is difficult to wait when His timing seems to be taking longer than I may have left. I know I am effectively saying, "Lord, give me patience now!" I guess what I should be saying is, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!

It is difficult to remember at such times as these that the major portion of The Holy Bible was written about such circumstances as these and worse. Were it not for such trials, how would the miraculous power of God manifest itself?

It reminds me of a story Jerry Clower used to tell about a man on a trip through the mountains on a mule. The trail became steep and narrow and the mule stumbled causing the man to fall off. He caught hold of a bush growing from the side of the cliff and started to call for help. He did not know that there was another trail only a few feet below him that could not be seen from the upper trail and there was a man traveling on it. The other man positioned himself to catch the man hanging from the bush as the hanging man said, "Oh, God! If you're up there, please help me." The man on the lower trail called out in a voice that echoed around, "Brother, have faith and turn a'loose!" The voice had echoed so much that the hanging man couldn't tell from which direction it had come. He thought a minute and asked, "Is there anybody else up there?"

Lord, help me to find the things I need to turn loose of so that I can find the help that I need. I know that you can see the problem far more clearly than I could ever possibly see it. I'm trusting you and I know you are there to catch me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.