I have been experiencing a strange lull in the drama of life lately. In my previous job, I fought hard to be content and to find peace. I know God had me there for a time and reason and I do not regret it. Although the field of work I am in now is almost completely foreign to me, I do know that I am totally in God's will. That knowledge has brought peace and true contentment. I am baffled by the turn of events that led me here. I never pictured myself working in an office, but thought that surely helping missionaries was every Christian's dream job. How could God want me to leave that sort of work? Going into a secular work place was extremely intimidating, but my Heavenly Father has shown me that I am now truly in the mission field. Whether it is counselling a troubled co-worker, encouraging and sharing spiritual truths with my Christian boss, or sharing Christ with the customers, now is the trying of my faith. What a joy it is to walk into work and see my boss just finishing her devotions, or being able to discuss what God is doing in my life with those around me!
A myriad of thoughts meander through my head lately, I had not expected to be on earth in 2013. What lesson will God give me to learn? Lately, it seems to just be a reminder of sticking to the basics, staying in God's Word, finding quiet moments to worship, meditate, and reflect on God's truths, taking the opportunities to witness, being a godly wife and mother, and earnestly care for the spiritual lives of my Super Teens- the ministry God called me to do.
Today, I spent some time putting away the Christmas decorations, it's never been so late in the year to do that for me. I am also filing away the missionary letters from last year in our church's missionary scrapbook. Alternating between music that makes me yearn for Heaven, and peace and solitude that makes my soul swell with contentment, it's truly a blissful day.
God had me read Galatians chapters 5-6 for my morning devotions just now, wow so much in there of just the basics.... I am starting to see a theme here..... what is God showing you?
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Finally
Ted has for the past year been supervising 2 stores about 5 hours away. We have discussed having me go with him on a regular basis so that we aren't apart so often. This has never actually happened until this last weekend. In December, the manager of the farthest and busiest store in the company decided to resign after decades of management. This was sudden and caused a huge mad scramble within the company, with Ted having to bear the brunt of it. Through December and into January he has had to help run that store and has barely been able to be home more then 1 day a week. Due to this strenuous work schedule, we decided that I would go with him this past weekend. It was a weekend of hard work, and suffering some sort of bug. Ted has been fighting a sinus infection and now we aren't sure what he has, probably a touch of the flu. He leaves again this evening regardless how he feels. I was so glad to not only be with him, but also to help him as he worked hard to clean up the store and help the new manager from Texas get settled in to work. By the end of January he hopes to be back to his "normal" schedule which of course isn't much different.
I am hoping to get rid of whatever bug we brought back with us and regain strength to hold down the fort here while he is away.
Birthday greetings to my son-James,my brother in laws- Ken and Tim, my nephew- DJ, and my mother.
I am hoping to get rid of whatever bug we brought back with us and regain strength to hold down the fort here while he is away.
Birthday greetings to my son-James,my brother in laws- Ken and Tim, my nephew- DJ, and my mother.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Sundry Times
2013 who knew it? Well, God did. He numbers every one of our days and He knows His divine calendar. I never expected to see this day dawn on the temporal side of eternity. So, what does this mean? Well, it means to keep watching, be ready, and work for the night is coming!
This blog was founded with the purpose of helping others through their valleys as we have been through ours. Ted and I have not shared the depth of our recent valleys because we do not wish to cause gossip or harm to befall those who were involved. Ted and I were discussing it last night, and again came to the realization that it was a very dark time for us.
Every year God gives me a personal spiritual lesson for me to work on and learn and achieve. Last year(2012), He was very persistent that I learn to trust Him. I am so glad I chose to work on that lesson because I sorely needed to trust Him when I did not know which way to turn. At the end of this lesson, God sweetly whispered that with trust comes obedience. When I chose to obey Him instead of those who wanted me to follow their ideas and ways, I was released from a burden I did not realize I was carrying so heavily. With that choice of obedience, I changed jobs, then overcame some personal fears, worked on some challenging lessons, un-invited myself to a personal pity party, and decide to continue to obey God.
It's 2013, God has put me in a place where He wants to use me, and I am so thankful and humbled that He chose me to be an answer to someone's prayer. I have no doubts that I am doing God's will for my life. That is an amazing feeling!
What is God's lesson for me this new year? I am working on the obedience part, being an active witness to a lost world, being a living testimony to my kids and coworkers, being a strong,supportive helpmeet to my husband..... when God chooses to tell me what specific thing He wants me to grow and develop then I will concentrate on that as well.
Did I start a diet and exercise program? I don't think I will tell you ;)
Happy New Years! To obey God is better then sacrifice.... .... we ought to obey God rather then men....-these two truths are often found and cultivated in the valleys of your journey with God.
This blog was founded with the purpose of helping others through their valleys as we have been through ours. Ted and I have not shared the depth of our recent valleys because we do not wish to cause gossip or harm to befall those who were involved. Ted and I were discussing it last night, and again came to the realization that it was a very dark time for us.
Every year God gives me a personal spiritual lesson for me to work on and learn and achieve. Last year(2012), He was very persistent that I learn to trust Him. I am so glad I chose to work on that lesson because I sorely needed to trust Him when I did not know which way to turn. At the end of this lesson, God sweetly whispered that with trust comes obedience. When I chose to obey Him instead of those who wanted me to follow their ideas and ways, I was released from a burden I did not realize I was carrying so heavily. With that choice of obedience, I changed jobs, then overcame some personal fears, worked on some challenging lessons, un-invited myself to a personal pity party, and decide to continue to obey God.
It's 2013, God has put me in a place where He wants to use me, and I am so thankful and humbled that He chose me to be an answer to someone's prayer. I have no doubts that I am doing God's will for my life. That is an amazing feeling!
What is God's lesson for me this new year? I am working on the obedience part, being an active witness to a lost world, being a living testimony to my kids and coworkers, being a strong,supportive helpmeet to my husband..... when God chooses to tell me what specific thing He wants me to grow and develop then I will concentrate on that as well.
Did I start a diet and exercise program? I don't think I will tell you ;)
Happy New Years! To obey God is better then sacrifice.... .... we ought to obey God rather then men....-these two truths are often found and cultivated in the valleys of your journey with God.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Worth It All
In my previous posts, I alluded to the busyness and chaos that this season and time in our life has brought us. Christmas was becoming a list of chores and things to do and check off from a list of the scatterbrained and overtaxed workaholics in this family. I was pretty discouraged by it all, and my heart was crying for some moment in time where I could enjoy what Christmas was really about. I just did not see how it was going to happen, and I feared it would soon be past and I would be left wishing I could have enjoyed it.
Tonight our church put on a Christmas program called The Cradle to the Crown. Words can't describe the depth of meaning and emotion that poured out of me tonight as I sat there in that hushed audience and watched the plot and storyline unfold. God heard my heart's cry and tonight I was able to capture that meaning and spirit of Christmas. It will make the actual day worth it all now that I have had this time of worship and praise to my Heavenly Father for His wondrous gift of salvation encased in the God-man, Jesus.
After coming home, James and I had our chance finally to share in our special tradition of blaring out our favorite Christmas carols and instrumentals and it just never seems complete without sharing that special quirk of ours. :)
My Christmas is already complete even before December 25th arrives.
It will be worth is all when we see Jesus...
What is it worth to you?
Tonight our church put on a Christmas program called The Cradle to the Crown. Words can't describe the depth of meaning and emotion that poured out of me tonight as I sat there in that hushed audience and watched the plot and storyline unfold. God heard my heart's cry and tonight I was able to capture that meaning and spirit of Christmas. It will make the actual day worth it all now that I have had this time of worship and praise to my Heavenly Father for His wondrous gift of salvation encased in the God-man, Jesus.
After coming home, James and I had our chance finally to share in our special tradition of blaring out our favorite Christmas carols and instrumentals and it just never seems complete without sharing that special quirk of ours. :)
My Christmas is already complete even before December 25th arrives.
It will be worth is all when we see Jesus...
What is it worth to you?
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
day by day
Gooood morning! There is an old hymn that really applies to this time of year for us.
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
The rest of the hymn is great, and I hope you will look the rest of the words up for "Day by Day".
Each day, Ted and I sync up and make a list of everything that we need to take care of for work or Christmas. He is in a situation right now with one of his stores that is keeping him away from the family except for a few days here and there until after Christmas. Today, we are trying to finish the last of the shopping as one more thing to mark off our list. With my new job and his busy one there has really been no time to even reflect, relax, or relish the season this year. It has made this Christmas more of a chore then a pleasure, but there has been no other way. God knows this situation and is working it out in His good pleasure to bring glory to Himself.
On a great note of praise, the court case against James was dropped last weekend! He was to meet with an arbitrator today, but the plaintiffs have dropped their case. Praise our Wonderful Lord, each step of the way through this whole situation has shown forth God's mysterious ways of working.
Taking each day at a time...
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
The rest of the hymn is great, and I hope you will look the rest of the words up for "Day by Day".
Each day, Ted and I sync up and make a list of everything that we need to take care of for work or Christmas. He is in a situation right now with one of his stores that is keeping him away from the family except for a few days here and there until after Christmas. Today, we are trying to finish the last of the shopping as one more thing to mark off our list. With my new job and his busy one there has really been no time to even reflect, relax, or relish the season this year. It has made this Christmas more of a chore then a pleasure, but there has been no other way. God knows this situation and is working it out in His good pleasure to bring glory to Himself.
On a great note of praise, the court case against James was dropped last weekend! He was to meet with an arbitrator today, but the plaintiffs have dropped their case. Praise our Wonderful Lord, each step of the way through this whole situation has shown forth God's mysterious ways of working.
Taking each day at a time...
Friday, December 14, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Making History
OK so this title is about the only salute to the date or at least it was the date yesterday. I just realized that it's no longer 12/12/12. Oh well....
What am I doing up at this time of the night? I don't know either, I fully expected to be drooling and snoring by now.
My job- actually enjoying it for the most part, still challenging and always learning something new each time. Being on my feet for 5 hours straight is an adjustment physically. I thank God for my job, and my boss says she thinks I am the answer to her prayer. We are both cautiously taking that at face value since I am so new to this type of work. One of the other jobs I applied for earlier sent me the nicest rejection email. I think I should frame it!
Last Saturday I had my assistant teach our teen class about Cain and Abel. I left them with the thought -if God is still talking to us about Abel after 6000 years.... what would He tell others about Us?? How are we going down in history? Are we an example of Christ shining out to others, or are we nobodys that just wasted our days like a vapor? Then, our Preacher even mentioned Cain and Abel in his Sunday message.
My job allows me to be an active example of Christ to a lost world... I try to be very mindful of it. Then tonight, I was thinking back on all the people that I used to chat with online and wondered, after all this time, what sort of memory do they have of my testimony. Our Pastor talked about justification tonight and the thought struck me again, people remember every little wrong done to them, myself included... but when God justifies us through the blood of Jesus it's not just forgiven--its like it never happened! So many times I wonder if things could have been said or done differently for different situations throughout my life,but then I remember Jesus has buried my past.... it's time to let it go.
So, yesterday is now officially history, today is here, tomorrow may dawn in Heaven.... is our life something that God will mention in "His Story"?
What am I doing up at this time of the night? I don't know either, I fully expected to be drooling and snoring by now.
My job- actually enjoying it for the most part, still challenging and always learning something new each time. Being on my feet for 5 hours straight is an adjustment physically. I thank God for my job, and my boss says she thinks I am the answer to her prayer. We are both cautiously taking that at face value since I am so new to this type of work. One of the other jobs I applied for earlier sent me the nicest rejection email. I think I should frame it!
Last Saturday I had my assistant teach our teen class about Cain and Abel. I left them with the thought -if God is still talking to us about Abel after 6000 years.... what would He tell others about Us?? How are we going down in history? Are we an example of Christ shining out to others, or are we nobodys that just wasted our days like a vapor? Then, our Preacher even mentioned Cain and Abel in his Sunday message.
My job allows me to be an active example of Christ to a lost world... I try to be very mindful of it. Then tonight, I was thinking back on all the people that I used to chat with online and wondered, after all this time, what sort of memory do they have of my testimony. Our Pastor talked about justification tonight and the thought struck me again, people remember every little wrong done to them, myself included... but when God justifies us through the blood of Jesus it's not just forgiven--its like it never happened! So many times I wonder if things could have been said or done differently for different situations throughout my life,but then I remember Jesus has buried my past.... it's time to let it go.
So, yesterday is now officially history, today is here, tomorrow may dawn in Heaven.... is our life something that God will mention in "His Story"?
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