The last post, Looking Back, was about spring and summer past. As you might have gathered from my posts. I enjoy the future tense. The past holds bitter pain and sweet memories. The future holds promise, possibilities, and adventure. While the present holds daily uncertainty, hard work and choices… and unfolding promise. Now the Lord puts my focus on the present. The question is, what is going on today? How many plates are spinning above Milly’s head? And probably above yours too…

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” [John 14:15-17]¹

Jesus promises that the Helper, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, Comforter, whatever you call the Helper, will be with us every day. God is in the past, present, and future. But God is also present, as the Helper, as we live everyday in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God in the present tense.

Taking stock today, I turn my mind from my to-do list and the dreams of a little homestead to see what is happening right now in the present. Oh Boy! Can I go back to dreaming?

“No,” the Holy Spirit chuckles. “this is about staying in the present. Listen, what do you ‘hear?’”

I wait for that still small voice. At first it is a cacophony of noise; “Clean the squash, check the garden, pray, dishes, packing, check the news, LAUNDRY!…” I switch off the news and muttered, “Well, that’s not You Lord.” Another chuckle rumbles in my soul. Then, things get quiet.

After a moment the Lord asks, “What is going on right now?”

I respond, “The hurricane has past, the garden has survived. I am blessed by your grace protecting my home and family. I need to finish this post. There are lots of little tasks, pack an overnight bag…” I pause and smile, thinking of the coming days:

We have been looking to move out of South Florida for many years. After watching and learning the Florida realty market over the last year, we have narrowed our search to an area in Central Florida. In August, a small piece of rural land came on the market. We watched it for a while. Then in early September we went to see it. It is a beautiful property with a small home on it. The land has life in it. We can see our homestead taking shape.

After a lot of prayer and some negotiation, we now have a contract and plan on closing this week. We have gone through a whirlwind of paperwork and inspections, a hurricane, and now we wait for more paperwork.

My current home needs to be cleaned out and spruced up for sale. Did I mention that 30 years of stuff? I’m sure I have. And we’ve made headway on cleaning it out and selling. The fact is since May sales have slowed down considerably. There are a few things I plan to keep and sell later. But, most of the stuff we will donate, since I don’t want to move it all!

The time for grieving is over, and my desire to write has returned. This new season lifted my mood. This year has been a struggle to finish the second draft of Disrupted. I am so close. The last few chapters are almost done, and the ending is in sight.

All of this means there is work to do! A draft to finish, blogs to write, and close on our homestead. Also this week, we plan to head to North Carolina and finish the inside of the cabin! Oh! and to see the leaves. (I hope). It’s a good time to be practicing being in the present and in the presence of God!

Since it will be a few months before we move, our days will be busy getting ready, finishing projects, on our current home and cabin, the homestead, and Disrupted. Phew! The next several months will require my total attention! I will have to keep you posted on my progress. God is moving me from dreamland into a fast-paced present tense. It looks like every day will be consume my attention. I am going to need the Holy Spirit now more than ever! For Autumn 2022, I pray everything will fall into place! (pun intended!)

Also it’s been a tough couple of weeks for Florida. The clean-up from Hurricane Ian begins. We are grateful the storm passed us by. But don’t think we won’t be helping our neighbors. Because we will. It is what we do when we are called upon. Please pray with me:

Our Father in heaven, we do not know why storms hit some of us and not all. We do not understand when bad things disrupt our lives and other’s actions hurt us. Your Word promises everything works together for good for those who love You.² Thank You, Lord for your presence today guiding us out of the past, teaching us to live each day in your presence, and trusting as You unfold our future day by day. We love you and glorify you as our Father, Savior, and Helper. In Yeshua’s name, amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit amen.

May the peace of God rest on You today,

Milly

Footnotes:

¹All scripture is from the New King James Version: Prophecy Study Bible New King James Version, Editor John C. Hagee © 1997 by Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

²Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

P.S: You can find MillyReally on GETTR at: https://gettr.com/user/millyreally or @MillyReally on GETTR. Join me on GETTR as long I don’t forget to post the posts (hee hee).