Thy Way Not Mine My God

Well, I wanted to post an Christmas blog first showing all of the fun we had in Los Angeles with the Abellada family, but I'm having trouble uploading my photos.  So until my husband comes home to show me what I'm doing wrong, that will have to wait. :-)  However, there is another more important update with some prayer requests that I need to write, so this seems like the perfect time.

For the past year or so God has continually brought 2 verses to my life to help me fix my eyes on Him and trust in His plans, not my own...

Proverbs 16:9
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."

Psalm 25:10
"All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."


Time and again God has been using these verses to remind me that although we make our plans, God's will is ultimately the one that will come to pass, and I can rejoice in this because all of the paths He takes us down will be marked by steadfast love and faithfulness.

We are about to go down another path...

On December 15th we found out that Alain will not be continuing on in the Surgical Residency program here at William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso.  This decision was actually the answer to a lot of prayers that Alain and I have been lifting up for direction. So even though Alain is disappointed He can't continue in the program, and  we are sad to be leaving El Paso, the place where we had hoped to build over the next 6 years, we already see signs of God's grace in redirecting our path, and that is building our faith for the future.

Some prayer requests as we venture down this new path:

1. In January, the Army will release a list of available residency slots. Please pray that God would give Alain wisdom on which ones to pursue.

2. Our biggest prayer is that, wherever we go, that God would provide a strong local church that loves the Gospel.  We have seen God's faithfulness in that area here in El Paso, and we are trusting Him to provide again for the next location!

Thank you all for your care and prayers on our behalf!  I'll close with the lyrics of a worship song that has become our theme these past few weeks.  I'll often hear Alain singing it at different random times, and it is a good reminder to me to put all of my plans in the Lord's hands!

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
however dark it be;
lead me by thine own hand,
choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
it will be still the best;
winding or straight, it leads
right onward to thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
choose thou for me, my God,
so I shall walk aright.

Not mine, not mine the choice
in things or great or small;
be thou my Guide, my Strength
my wisdom and my all.

(23 week baby bump pic.  Alain jokingly said to me the other day, "Maybe we should try in vitro next time and get some triplets!" My response, "Look at me, where do you think they would go?")