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It doesn’t take long after meeting my wife to figure out that she ain’t from around these here parts. The twang in her voice and her knack for giving everyone she meets two to three names are two tell tale signs that the south has a hold on her like nothing else.

It shouldn’t have surprised me, then, to hear Kathi’s explanation of Psalm 139:5. I’m so thankful because her simple word picture really opened up the beauty of that verse and has begun to calm my anxious spirit. With Kathi’s help, let me offer up a southern take on Psalm 139:5:

It’s a hot, humid day deep in the sticks of Mississippi. The chickens are loose and your mamma has told you that you “betta catch them things or I’m gonna get the belt after you”. Spitting out gnats and slapping mosquitoes away from your eyes, you run through knee-high weeds trying get that one last chicken that has a mind of its own.

After chasing that chicken after what seems like forever, you finally get him cornered next to the rusted out lawn mower that your daddy never put up from last fall. Barely able to see the chicken due to the sweat pouring across your eyes, you slowly reach out your hands and grab him from behind and front, slowly bringing him close to your chest.

You know the safest place for this chicken is the coop, even though that is the last place he wants to go. Once in the coop, the chicken goes crazy. He doesn’t like where you’ve placed him and begins letting you hear all about it. He tries to find every possible way to escape: jumping, pecking, making noises, running up against the wall, and more. It is only until you gently lay your hand across his back does he begin to calm down. Hemmed in from the front and the back, and now your hand laid upon him, peace finally comes to that chicken.

Even though we may not like the coop we’ve been put in, there’s an indescribable comfort in knowing where the boundaries are and who has built them. In addition, feeling God’s pressing hand laid upon us has a strange way of easing any anxiety we feel: He’s letting us know that He’s there, He’s placed us in this spot that we don’t like, but like the little girl and the chicken, He’s done this because He loves and cares for us.

God could have just hemmed us in from behind and front, but it is Grace and Mercy that He also lays His hand upon us. Not only does He protect us, he calms us at the same time.

What southern comfort food do you know that can offer that?

Psalm 139:5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Saw this quote from John Piper today, pointing to 2 Corinthians 6:10, and it impacted me greatly:

“The banner over every saved, suffering, sympathetic saint: ‘Sorrowful yet always rejoicing’”

2 Cor 6:10: as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Zoe and I went to Glen Eyrie for tea this afternoon. We had a great time.

You can view our pictures (I had a beautiful subject to photograph) here on Facebook.

Our kids sure do grow up fast -

This first picture is of Anna Kathryn joining the church. She’s in the middle wearing a huge smile and a grey top.

This second one is of Maggie going with Matthew Hosey to an awards banquet last month – as friends

I’ve been in Mississippi all of this week to attend the funeral of my Aunt Wendy. She was an amazing person and I will miss her tremendously. She is leaving a wonderful legacy in her three sons – David, Chad, and Chris.

It has been really good catching up with family and spending time with my mom and sisters (LaBelle and Tiffany). Unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to spend much time in Meridian and see my other sister, Rachel, and other friends we have there. We are hoping to come back to Mississippi on a family trip, though. My Uncle Brents and Aunt Estelle have been absolutely amazing. I have not lacked for anything during my stay at their home. I managed to pack on a few pounds due to her wonderful cooking. They are some of the most gracious and approachable people you will ever meet. They’ve been known to leave some tasty Snickers on your pillow for a “night time snack” – they are quite cool.

I was also blessed to spend an evening with Steven Holman and his family in Ackerman. They are a wonderful family who have been faithful in praying for us over the years and it was joy being in their home. You can take a look at some pictures I took during my trip over on Flickr.

Pray for Maggie. This past week has been a difficult one for her. I didn’t realize how tough her week has been going until talking with Kathi this afternoon. The effects of being off of Tripleptal are finally being felt. After a visit with the doctor this morning and seeing her condition, they put her back on the medicine. She has not been having any seizure activity, but the medicine was helping alleviate alot of nerve problems she’s been having as a result of her surgeries, and it is now evident to us and her doctors how much it was helping. Pray that we will begin to see either some good positive or negative results from the neurofeedback therapy.

Pray for Dax. He is working on his Eagle Scout project this summer (building care bags for children in the hospital) and plans to have his Eagle Badge by the end of the summer. He’s got a lot of work to do, but is very excited about earning such a rare achievement.

Pray for Zoe. She just turned 8 years old on June 8. She is a delight, loves to laugh,  draw, and play outside 25 hours a day. There is nothing like sitting on park bench together and sharing a pack of M&M’s.

Pray for Anna Kathryn. Anna Kathryn is our independent wild girl and she absolutely loves life to the fullest. It is impossible to miss it in the smile on her face.

Pray for Kathi. Pray that she would be able to enjoy the summer and relax. Pray that God would continue to give her joy in abundance.

Pray for me. Pray that I would strive to seek Christ in all I do – loving, shepherding, and leading my family; making wise decisions; writing; working; and living joyfully amidst an uncertain road.