Christmas Musings

Just some thoughts as Christmas comes to an end:

This was one of the best ever.  All our children and grandchildren were here - spent the night too!  Alex said, "I bet it's been 25 years since everyone was here overnight."  He's right.

The Lord gave us a bigger house - and everyone has been so excited to be able to come to Granny and Papa's for the first time in 4 years.  Thanksgiving was wonderful - and Christmas was even better. We had every couch full, all the little kids' cots, the daybed and trundle, 3 blow-up beds, and even some of the recliners - then the 4 biggest grandsons slept on the living room rug after having an xbox marathon until 3 a.m.

Jill noticed that Chris was trying to win an IPad and asked if we would like to all go together and surprise him with one.  Of course, we did and we could all hardly wait until we could watch him open it.  Priceless.  He was "blown away". 

Homemade waffles for breakfast (except Jackson and Millie who ate Fruity Pebbles). Warmed up left-overs for lunch. Then everyone stayed as long as they could and one by one left during the day.  Made the usual "let-down" after Christmas so much less!

Our friend and in-law...Gerry's dad, Gerald, went home to be with Jesus Christmas morning.  How our hearts ache for Gerry, Sheila, Chad and Wendy - and all the family.  Our grandsons were somber when they first arrived and red-eyed.  We know they are all heartbroken... but Gerald?  He is whole, happy and rejoicing with all those in heaven.  Again, someone will be meeting our little April before we do.  I get teary every time I think on it all.

There are many things we cannot understand, but this I know - God is good.  He is faithful.  His Word stands forever.  We are counting on it!

And two months later...

Here I am again.  I don't know where the past two months have gone.  That's one thing about time...it passes...and then it's forever gone.  Our life is kind of on hiatus right now. Everything has come to a little bit of a standstill.  Jay had 5 bypasses in his heart 2 weeks ago today.  He is doing so well, and I have become his nurse.  It's a privilege to do so.  I can tell how he is by what he focuses on.  At first, he was in so much pain - he didn't focus on anything else, naturally.  Now, his leg has begun to get some of his attention.  I know his boredom will be next!

God is so good.  We are trying to listen and see what He wants to show us about Himself during this "down" time.

One blessing in all this is that we've gotten to see our children and grandchildren a whole lot MORE!  I have laughed more in the past two weeks than in a long time.  Our youngest grandchildren are 2, 2 and almost 4 and what a hoot! So funny...a delight.  Our children are awesome.  I've always known it, and they just prove it over and over again.  They are showing their parents how much they love us...and "requiting" us above and beyond their raising, believe me.

The outpouring of prayer on Jay's behalf has also been amazing.  This is why he is doing so well. Our church family has been so faithful to pray, bring food and send cards...some 3 and 4 times! They are taking care of us.

We praise God for His love...His mercy that is new every morning...His grace that enables us.  How can we keep from praising His Name?  We are SO blessed.

Pour Out

Do you ever feel guilty for talking so much when you are in your prayer time?  I often struggle to listen, I'm so busy talking!  My K-Love verse this morning...

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. 
                                                                                                                            ~ Psalm 62:8, NLT

There it is...straight from the Word.  Pouring out my heart to Him is not a bad thing...in fact, He tells me to do it!  It shows where my trust is...Who I am depending upon...where my refuge is. 

So, just pour out your heart.  He loves to hear us.  He loves to answer us.  He is our refuge.

Thank You, Father!

NO PRAYER

As I drove to work this morning, I listened to K-Love as always - singing
along and praising the Lord.  At the appointed time, the news came on. I
admit I was "hearing", not necessarily "listening", until the newscaster began
sharing about the upcoming 9-11 memorial service to be held in NYC.
She shared that this year, there will be no prayer at the service. Let me
repeat that...NO PRAYER.  Suddenly, my ears perked up and I was
listening.  They do not want to offend any of the participating clergy...so
NO PRAYER this year.  There will be spiritual readings (whatever that
means) but NO PRAYER.

I remember well 9-11.  Have you seen the newspaper ads that ask,
"Where were you on 9-11?"  I'm sure you, like me, can recite exactly
where you were and every detail of that day.  9-11 is what we call a
"life-changing" event.  Everything in our world changed that day.

The Sunday following 9-11, there were strangers in our service at church.
There were scared folks...people wanting us to baptize their babies (we don't
do this by the way)...people seeking comfort, peace, and security.  It is not
strange that they turned to the church...that as a nation we cried out to GOD! 
For a few weeks, maybe months people looked to God.

Another familiar statement you hear and read is, "NEVER FORGET".  This
morning I realized that as a nation, we have forgotten.  We have forgotten
Who our Source is...we have forgotten only God can give us true peace and
security.  We have forgotten how we cried out to Him in our national distress.
We have forgotten the lesson of 9-11.

We are more concerned with offending men, than with offending the God of
the Universe - our Creator - the "one with whom we have to do."  My heart
hurts and is so heavy with this realization.  God may have allowed 9-11 as our
wake-up call...to bring our nation back to Him...our last chance.

We have forgotten.  NO PRAYER.  Sad...sad.

New Things

I didn't look up the reference, but in scripture God says He will do a "new" thing.  Lately, it seems every day or so, I've been struck with the thought or idea of God doing a new thing.  I know God loves variety, He planned individuality.  He has made every person unique and I believe every animal and plant - every living thing has it's own individuality. Even the stars are unique and He calls them by name!  So, I know He likes "different".

We, on the other hand, like "same" - to some degree.  Same means we know what to expect.  Same means no surprises.  Same means comfort and security.  We seem to carry this desire for "same" into everything God does as well.

God is always working - do you believe that?  I do.  Yet, I don't always see or know where He is working.  Maybe one reason I can't see Him, is because He is doing something "NEW"!  What a concept that is. 
When someone believes they are following the Lord's direction and they try to do something "new" - too often the response of those around them is negative.  Why?  I'm not positive, but I fear it is simply because we like "same".

I am beginning to understand that God does new things all the time.  A church is planted and if they experience any measure of success...they write a book and everyone rushes out to do exactly what they did.  What if God is wanting to something "new" in every single church?  Oh my.  That would mean we would have to communicate with Him and listen for His leading.  We might look different...do something different than anyone else in the whole world.  We might have to exercise faith, believe God for something we've never seen before.

We have a new thing happening in our family right now.  Jill and Alex went through infertility and in-vitro to have Amelia 2+ years ago.  Well, this time - God decided to do something "new" - He blessed them with a pregnancy all on their own - quickly - no outside help this time!

I am praying that God will open my eyes...open my ears...help me to hear His leading - I want Him to do something "new" in my life and in my church...I invite Him to use me!

Blessings!  
Belinda

Let Faith Arise

I come to this page fairly often, look at the date and think, "Man, I need to post something!"  I think a minute, and then say to myself, "Nah, I don't have anything worthwhile to say." 

 

I write for another blog now as well, a commitment that takes priority over writing for this.  Today, I am going to share my other post...

 

Let Faith Arise

 

I receive a daily scripture in email from K-Love radio every day. I saved this one and have read it several times this week:

                           For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.

                         Yet they produce for us a   glory that vastly outweighs them
                     and will last forever!                  (2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT)

 

I am so thankful for the promises God makes to us in His word! These are the thoughts that thrill me to my core…that I cling to when trouble comes:  

· No matter how big my trouble seems…God says it is small. 
· My present trouble…is temporary! 
· This is the big one…this trouble will bring glory for me…Glory! 
· This glory is eternal.

 

 Chris Tomlin recently penned these lyrics:  

 

“Be still, there is a Healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms a fortress for the weak

 

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

 

I lift my hands to believe again 

You are my Refuge, You are my Strength
As I pour out my heart
These things I remember
You are faithful God, forever
Let faith arise...”

 

When any trouble comes, we will flounder if our faith does not rise up within us. Faith arises as we remember and choose to believe the promises God has made. Hide His Word within Your heart so when trouble comes and you pour out your heart to Him - you will not spend one moment in doubt, or fear, or distress. The Holy Spirit will bring His Word to mind and you can choose to let your faith arise!

 

Blessings!  

 

Belinda

 

 

 

Married to the Ministry

I saw a title just now, Married to the Ministry.  I am praying for those words of wisdom that describe my blog right now.

I am married to this guy...

and this one...

and this one...

 Ah, yeah ... this is that preacher fellow, the minister.  He wears many "hats", as do I.  He works hard, plays hard, preaches hard...strives to be there for his church members. 

 When one is "married" to the ministry, what does that mean?

• Ministry comes before me...therefore, I am not important?
• Ministry belongs to my spouse...not to me?
• Ministry takes all our time...I'd rather be doing something else?
• Ministry causes disappointments...it hurts?
• Ministry puts me in a proverbial fishbowl...I have no privacy?

I'm not sure exactly what the problem is, but "Married to the Ministry" has a negative feeling to me.

When God called Jay into ministry...He called me as well.  No, we are not co-pastors - this makes me
smile...almost laugh out loud.  Sometimes I feel like a co-pastor.  Ministry can be very lonely, especially
for the minister.  I belong to Jesus, just like Jay does.  I have a calling, just like Jay does.  God knew
what He was doing when He called US to ministry.  We are in it - together.

Finding one's place in ministry is not always easy.  Sometimes there are preconceived notions of what
the minister's wife is and what she does or does not do.  Years ago, our pastor's wife told me, "My
job is to take care of the preacher."  That's a good starting point for the minister's wife.

We must set boundaries...limits.  We must set aside family time.  Ultimately it's like everything in life -
we have to have balance.  I believe if I do what Jesus asks me to do, there is enough time to do it.
When I am out of balance...the things I'm passionate about can take over...and other things suffer.
When I take on things Jesus hasn't asked me to do...my time gets out of whack.  When I surrender
to the opinions of others, I can be doing lots of things I am not supposed to be doing.   That is not
the fault of "ministry" - that is my fault.

Conversely, ministers must also set boundaries and limits.  Ministers need time off, family time...even
sabbaticals.  Carrying the load of others' lives and problems is particularly exhausting.  There is
tremendous responsibility in leading and teaching others the Word of God.  Some ministers are simply
work-a-holics and they would be if they were CEO's or engineers or mechanics.  That again is not
the fault of ministry.

So, just for the record, this preacher's wife is Married to the Minister.

Blessings!
Belinda