“28Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

29He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

30They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

31Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”

Psalm 107:28-31

Summer is a special time for family gatherings, fellowship outings, and various celebrations. Last weekend, around 45 of our relatives came together in the Yakima Valley for a family reunion. Nearly all my immediate family came together to renew family ties, break the bread of fellowship, and celebrate, among other things, my mother's 95th birthday. So grateful to God for His faithfulness through all the years of her life, and our lives.

Our time together also included a visit to the "homestead" area where Mom grew up on the farm. We also visited the memorial cemetery where my grandparents, several aunts and uncles, as well as my own father are buried. Like many of you, most of my grandparents (3 out of 4) were immigrants to America. They came to what they believed would be "a land of promise."

I am very grateful for the godly influence of my forebears who trusted God and longed for "the heavenly country." I can still hear my father singing, "This World is not my home, I'm just a-passing through..."

As I reflect on the journeys ahead for our own children, the "next generation," and now, our grandchildren, may we all, like Abraham, “live by faith” and trust in God, finding courage for the journey ahead while frequently "call(ing) on the name of the Lord." (Genesis 12:1,7-8; Hebrews 11:8-16)

No matter the detours of life or the storms we face, my prayer is that we find joy in the One who Saves and "[stills] the storm to a whisper,” (and by whom) "the waves of the sea [are] hushed." May our hearts be grateful “to the Lord for His unfailing love.”