Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 36:5 (NKJV)
Our pop-up camper holds a notebook entitled “Pop-up Camper Journal.” We started the journal when we first bought the used camper in 2021 during covid so we could visit our granddaughter with cancer. The journal is inspired by my dad who always kept a detailed journal of our family vacations and also by my scrapbooking hobby. It contains photos from places we’ve visited, notes about our activities, pictures of family, nature sketches, camp ground maps, etc. Nothing fancy, just a school notebook and handwriting that often looks like we were driving over a bumpy road when I journaled. But it’s a record of God’s faithfulness.
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14 (NKJV)
As I read through the journal the other day, I saw how Jesus brought us through covid and Kennedy’s cancer, letting us take the camper to Wisconsin in 2022 to watch her ring the cancer-free bell. I see how Jesus has helped us celebrate anniversaries even when plagues, cancer, and homelessness have touched our lives. I read how He took us to Iowa to plant a tree in memory of my Daddy whose journals I long to emulate. And how we took a special birthday cake all the way from Montana to Iowa to celebrate my father-in-law’s 90th birthday. And how we moved my husband’s parents to Montana. The journal shows me how God knew our needs in advance and provided this travel trailer for when we would be homeless. Little did we know we would have to learn to live in it full time!
All this has come upon us;
But we have not forgotten You,
Nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant.
Our heart has not turned back,
Nor have our steps departed from Your way; Psalm 44:17–18 (NKJV)
Many of you know that in the fall of 2022 our home was condemned, full of mold. We had to toss most of our belongings and seek a new home. Ever since, we’ve been bouncing around between guest houses in winter and campers in summer. The first summer we were in a borrowed camper with a restroom. That was a blessing! The second summer we stayed in our pop-up camper and moved from place to place as friends needed house-sitters. 2025 is our third summer and we are again in the pop-up camper, but trying not to move too often. We received a discount to stay at the KOA for a month where there are fun activities for our son, restrooms, showers, laundry, and a campfire ring! We have campfires and s’mores often and are making the most of what we hope will be our last camping summer.
For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs. Psalm 66:10–11 INKJV)
The first summer in the borrowed camper, we felt sure God would answer our prayers for a home by the end of summer. The second summer in our own pop-up was much more difficult, with anger and despair visiting often. But this summer we are laughing with God at the enemy as we continue to trust Him to provide a home. We’ve looked at many houses and have a few possibilities. Thank you for joining us in prayer that one will work out for us, the one the Lord has prepared.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He has mercy on us. Psalm 123:2 (NKJV)
Some of you may remember a devotion in My TEA CUPP Prayers entitled, “Jesus is My House Hunter.” I hadn’t thought about it until I was flipping through a copy of the book before giving it to a new friend from the KOA. The Lord has been testing me to see if I really believe what I wrote! Yes, Lord Jesus, You are Yehovah Jireh, my provider! Our God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus! Thanks be to God!
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2–3 (NKJV)
Throughout our mold and camper journey, the Lord has helped me persevere on my next book, More TEA CUPP Prayers. I’m happy to say it is back at the publisher after several rounds of corrections and I hope it will be out to you very soon! May it bring more ladies to morning TEA, more glory to Jesus, and more fruit for His kingdom!
Today’s TEA CUPP: The other day we went to church with our son Kevin and his new wife Noël. Their church shared this worship song. It blessed me and I pray it will bless you, too! (If it doesn’t come through on your feed, go to Youtube and search for CityAlight – He Will Be)
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 1 Peter 1:6–8 (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.