Perfect Peace

It's been over a month since we last posted anything. God continues to be so good and faithful.  He has brought another new supporter our way and He constantly reassures us we are on His right path.  In my last email to our ministry team and partners I shared a verse from Isaiah. Isaiah 26:3 "He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts are fixed in Him."  This has been a running theme these past couple of months. What confirmed this is that Gino's Dad actually had shared the verse with him in a conversation that I was not a part and when I posted the verse I hadn't known about Gino’s conversation with his Dad.  God confirmed to us our need to trust in Him and to keep our thoughts on Him. I find that lately I've been quoting this verse a lot to myself. Whether due to the stresses of raising our support for the mission field, whether the kids or us are sick, which we've been a lot lately, whether it's just been a hard day, etc.  God has given me this verse to remember, and when I remember to repeat it over and over again on days like that, the Holy Spirit really does fill me with His perfect peace. It doesn't remove the hardship but it's like a fog lifts and I see clearer. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things don't look so gloomy or tough. Sometimes He even uses my little ones to say just the right thing to make me smile. Like last Saturday when I was getting Sean ready for bed and he asks for another story (if you know Sean, you know we've told him like 50 stories already during the day), but I decide to tell him a story and to tell him a good one. He cuts in half way through and hugs me and says, "Mom, you're my best friend," Well, not only peace, but also joy washed over me and I realized that all the time outs we did and all the reprimanding didn't ruin the day. It was indeed a very good day.  I love how God will use little ones to bring light and joy and peace into hard days and make them seem not so hard at all.

Last weekend we went to see Gino's family and Papa John and I were talking about Isaiah 26:3 again and also Psalms 23.  We were reflecting on a few specific words in those chapters. How important it is that we focus on every word; like how God promises His perfect peace to those who TRUST in Him.  We have to TRUST to get that peace.  How often I fall so short. Yet even when all I do is repeat that verse and pray it out loud, He is so merciful and gives me the peace that He promises. Well Papa John's talk inspired me.  I had to write in Gino's phone real quick so I wouldn't forget the words but I hope you enjoy it. It's a song inspired by Isaiah 26 and Psalm 23. I call it "Papa John's Song." It's a prayer of mine and I pray that we all can experience God's perfect peace all our days and that we all will work hard to TRUST in Him.

Papa John's song - dated 3/11/12

Your goodness and mercy follow behind me, They follow behind me, all of my days

As I walk through the valleys and into the shadows, Fear will not seize me, No fear will not seize me

For I will fix my thoughts on you

Remembering you have saved me

For any darkness, death, or fear is already beaten by you

So let me not fear Lord, let me not fear

Cast it all out, Yes cast it all out

Replace it with your perfect peace, Replace it with your perfect peace

Lord, you promise Salvation surrounds me, Salvation surrounds me

Making me strong

Lord help me trust you, Help me obey you

And bring only glory and honor to you

For I will fix my thoughts on you

Remembering you have saved me

For any darkness, death, or fear is already beaten by you

So let me not fear Lord, Let me not fear

Cast it all out, Yes cast it all out

Replace it with your perfect peace, Replace it with your perfect peace

Replace it with your perfect peace, that this world can't give to me

Replace it with your perfect peace, Lord your peace is all I need

Blessings - The Quinns