Now What?

I/we have been going through a mix of emotions lately.  In this place of unknown in ministry/job and just life my husband put it simply in an email he sent to his sister.  It was beautifully said but very "real."

But in the end it was the voice of God that we followed, with His timing.  Now we are in that challenging time of "what exactly next?"  It is uncomfortable, but I am sure God has his shaping purposes at work in us.  That is the nice translation.  The other translation is "some days if feels like a train wreck."  Yet somehow in the middle of it all we cling to the fact that we followed His lead, so we will cling to His promises, even when we do not yet see them.

Sometimes I wish that I was more encouraging to him.  Sometimes I feel the same as he does and the frustrations make it hard to encourage.  You know those times in marriage when your both down so you can't lift each other up.  I highly dislike those times.  This morning he woke up looking like that "train wreck."  He usually goes to a men's prayer group on Friday's with some other pastors in the area but was thinking about not going today.  It was my chance to encourage him to go.  I don't think the enemy wanted him there.  Lord bless him this morning!!!!!  I should interject here that we have been dealing with a serious water issue in our basement which is causing more stress.  It is an added challenge that I wish we didn't have.

So we cling to the promises of Jesus.
2 Cor. 4:8-9 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

JOY--------------:)

This past week has been challenging for me as I have been doubting way too much.  Doubting the next step and even doubting God.  Ever been there?

Until.....I read these words from a young missionary.  "Satan can only take from you what your willing to give him.  Don't give him your joy."  Those words hit me as I realized that's what I had given him.  In the midst of uncertainties it's easy to get down and lose the joy.  But it is true that it is the thief who wants to steal that from me.  Jesus said "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly."  That sounds pretty joyful to me!  Isaiah 55:12 says "you will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song for you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

This morning my heart was joyful as I attended our youngest daughters Senior high school send off.  It is a time when the students all share something, a story, a thank you, whatever they want to share at the end of the year.  I was so proud of Angela as she got up and shared her testimony, with tears, about how thankful she was for Toledo Christian and the genuine friendships that she has made here.  After moving in the middle of her junior year she is able to see how God took care of her.  And she thanked her parents for listening to God and moving, even though she didn't want to.  I love that girl!!!!!!

So even though there are uncertain days ahead, I love that God is in control of all of them and  already knows what each of our next steps will be.  Some of you have had the same job most of your life, lived in the same house and in the same town.   That is awesome how God has settled you.  That is not my story though.  I have had many a day where I wish it had been like that but things in my life would not be as they are if they had.  Guess God's plans are always best - and when I wonder if God knows what he is doing - well, I just need to get out of the way and remember the amazing things that God has done and come back to the truth.

Thank you Jesus for all you have done and all you will do.  
You are always good.

It's been a while...

Yes, it has been a while since I blogged last. 

God is always changing up my life, all the time.  Ministry for my husband is going to look different - so different that I don't even know what it will be.  That's funny!  God is funny!  He tells us what step to take and makes us wait for the next one.  Seriously, come on God.  You always want me to "wait."  Why is that?  But the truth is always the same - God is God and his plans are always better than mine.  So I will wait - again!!!  I say that with a smile. :)

I was at my moms bible study at my daughters school this morning, which is always a blessing to me.  The ladies there are awesome, we just love each other, not judge, and it's so great  to be in this kind of envioronment.  But today they just blessed me, they blessed me so big.  They didn't just share encouragement and love they showed it. 

Then I was thinking about our prayer time together.  As everyone had different prayer requests and different people we were praying for, I started getting this picture in my mind.  Try to hang with me for a minute.  Picture you, praying for someone specific, or for a situation in their life.  Now picture you and 10 more people in different places also praying for the same person or situation.  I started imagining these multiple prayers rising.  Then I started imagining this over and over from many different people.  But the number of people praying can grow so huge too.  Now imagine yourself needing prayer - maybe you have cancer, or your husband lost his job, or your child is sick, or your marriage is crumbling - the power of so many prayers being said on your behalf is so cool.  Then I wondered what it must be like to be God and hearing all these prayers.  That just must be so cool.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11
"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Keep praying people, keep praying.  And if you are being prayed for - those prayers are going straight to your Heavenly Father who hears them.  Can't get any better than that.