Why do i feel so much anxiety? I have walked down this path before and seen God answer prayers that were not even uttered. I want so badly to be "Home".Where is that "Home" going to be? I so want to be with our new church family and begin to sow seeds in the community and in the church with believers and unbelievers alike. I long for a little more permanence than I have had in the the last few years. I want to plant gardens and flowers and berry bushes.I know it sounds so silly to write and then read it back to myself but it is a joy that God has given to plant and see the fruits of our labors. I want my kids to experience time in a garden planted and cared for by our own hands and learn the many lessons that come from spending time in creation. I have not bothered doing that in the last few years much because of the temporary state we have been in during seminary. I know that the nature of ministry is temporary.We have been blessed with 20 years of ministry and only 2 churches. I hope that the next church is our last and can spend 30+ years serving a particular congregation. How blessed that would be. I thought I had learned the lessons of patience but I am reminded daily how impatient I really am. I check the mail and email with anticipation that someone will contact us about a church position.I am getting so impatient. I want to go and go now not 2 years from now.I have been in this place of limbo for so long I just crave a church to settle down in.We have been blessed with a church to call home when we are here but it is also temporary. I pray that God hears my plea's for help! We are at His mercy to find us the right place to go.I pray for patience knowing that he may teach me patience by not answering for a while. I pray for help knowing He may make me lean on Him more to build my faith. I pray for the next congregation and hope they are praying for their future pastor and family as well.God please work quickly on our behalf and prepare us for the next congregation and please prepare them for us.
Monday, July 27, 2009
I NEEDED TO HEAR THIS!
This is such a difficult message on a very difficult passage to hear but I needed it today.To contemplate a perfect God and my horrid sin.Grace is a wonderful thing indeed.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Please pray for strength of heart
I guess I am feeling unsettled since I never make 3 entries in one day especially at 2am. I saw this song on you tube and it happens to be the dance finale for Graces recital this year and it made me start to grieve for her when we leave this town. She has grown so much spiritually since finding a way to glorify God through dance. It was unbelievably beautiful to watch the 3 hour recital bring Gory to God and I hate that she may have to leave this studio but at the same time I am trusting God and encouraging her to do the same. She may be able to find another Christian dance studio in the next city that God has prepared for us. Please pray with me for Grace to have strength and courage and that her faith will be built up during this time.
I pray that God grows the passion to help hurting needy people
I so want to live this song of not just going through the motions and I want my children to see that there are bigger things to live for. I pray that I will be able to help show them that there are so many hurting people that need the Gospel and need for us to help meet their physical needs. I want the passion to grow in their hearts as well, i cant give them this only the Spirit can but I pray he uses me to help fan the flames.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Well the unthinkable has happened
ok all those from jacksonville don't faint...I always get homesick for Florida when i hear this song.It reminds me of that wonderful farm we had over the years on snellgrove rd. Hosting hayrides and chicken cookouts.40,000 chickens in the barns,my horse Bonnie goat Bambie and my favorite of all my window friend Chickpea the hen.I miss the smell in the summer...the taste of honeysuckle...the frogs croaking at the pond in the warm summer evenings.The gravel road that used to be there 28 years ago when Robert and I first moved to the house with the tin roof (a.k.a. mobile home) situated next to the pond. We had the most beautiful sunrises on that pond.I miss picking wild blackberries with the kids...the great times of fishing in the pond. I miss yard chickens and geese. Baby pigs,baby ducks, baby goats and baby chickens in the spring. I miss the sound of cows mooing for their breakfast and the roosters reminding us it was morning. I miss the sound of that midnight train in the distance.So for all those that did not think I would ever miss Florida...it has happened. I dont miss the high humidity and high temps and I miss and always have missed the people of Florida who are dear to our hearts but part of my heart is still sitting somewhere on 8730 snellgrove rd...probably up in the tree house.
praying hard
Here we go into a very difficult time in life again. Seems like we just got to Louisville for Robert to finish his masters degree and he is done in dec.We got the confirmation today that he will graduate in DEcember. He can finish online if God see's fit to send us to a church before then. He has been sending resumes recently being cautious not to just send them out without caution. We want it to be a good fit for us from the beginning. We are at a point that we would love to go some where and stay till we die lol. I can't see Robert ever retiring from ministry since it is a piece of the fabric of our lives. We are so ready to get back to full time ministry!
Please pray with us that God would give us great wisdom and patience as we travel this new road. We so want to get this right. There is no perfect church because we are imperfect people but we sure would love to go somewhere where the people want a hands on pastor like Robert loves to be. We are open to anywhere and he has submitted resumes from coast to coast. We are praying for our new congregation and hope theya re praying for us as well.
