Redeeming the time

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:16

I have been re-prioritizing my time on my bloggy break. For some reason, we got all out of whack when we took our scheduled week off of school. I had such big plans, but sadly, many of my projects did not get done. Oh well, maybe next time.

I do have to say that I have drawn closer to the Lord in the last week. Amen to that :o) God is just so good all the time. He is so faithful, even when I am not. Every single day, we have a new chance to make things right. His mercies are new each day.

I am going to make a new schedule this week, hoping to revitalize myself and the children. I need to use my time more wisely. I need to redeem the time. The days are definitely evil. I want my time to count for something.

The Lord has recently convicted me of not being ready to speak to someone about the Lord and salvation. Don't get me wrong, I do try to be one who encourages and exhorts. I have gotten lax in carrying tracts with me, although I do have a small Bible that I carry in my purse. I have been praying that the Lord will use me and to give me an opportunity to speak to someone about their eternal life.

That opportunity came today. I went to CVS to get some deals ;o) and when I came out, there was a lady there who approached me. She needed money, said her husband lost his job. I live in an area of town where this is not uncommon. I almost never have cash, I use my debit card for everything, and even if I do, I usually say no. Most of the time (around here anyways) people ask for money to get alcohol or cigarettes.

I just "happened" to have $4 in my pocket and I gave it to her. As I was walking away, the Lord was saying "Hello?? Didn't you ask for an opportunity to witness to someone? Here it is!" Anyway, she called out to me. She noticed one of the Scripture signs on our Station Wagon and said she liked it. So I walked back over and started talking to her. I asked her if she died tonight, did she know for sure if she would go to heaven. And this began a conversation about the Lord. I explained to her that the Bible says that she can know for sure. I am NOT a bold person by any means, but we did have a good talk. I am eager now to talk to someone else :o)

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Let's pray for opportunities like we never have before! We don't know how much time we have left before the Lord comes back. Let's redeem the time.

Summertime Fun?

I am one of those people who hates summer. I mean, I enjoy watching beautiful sunsets, relaxing fun with the family, gardening & preserving foods, and just taking in the beauty of the multitude of colorful flowers. Our Lord is just so creative, isn't He?

Here is why I don't like summer:

• We eat a lot of casserole, soups, lentils, etc... and it just seems too hot to eat those things in the summer. I have to get creative to get some summer time meal ideas. (any input is much appreciated!)
• Lack of schedule! Generally we have finished school and it seems that I can't get a workable schedule together. It's really kind of funny, I feel like I don't have enough time when we do school but I have way too much time on my hands when we are through with school. This includes the children and myself.
• Hot weather.
• Although I enjoy gardening & preserving, it can be a very hot and tiring process. It seems like when the harvest is here, you just can't pick it fast enough.

However, this year I am going to change my attitude! I do not want to spend the next three months being grumpy because it is not my favorite season (fall).

I am going to stay on my schedule and tweak it to fill in the gaps and have some fun! I think I may even use some of my time to (gasp) find some new summer/budget friendly recipes.

As for the weather, I really should not complain. We had some hot days there for a while but this last week or two have been absolutely beautiful! When it does get hot, I will thank the Lord for a working A/C.

Instead of complaining about the hot process of canning, I am going to praise the Lord that I am able to grow food and preserve it for my family without have to worry about E.Coli and Salmonella poisoning.

It is all about attitude. Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Ouch. I think it means ALL things.

In my next post, I am going to list my ideas of what our family will be doing this summer for fun. I also have some ideas at the bottom of my blog.

Happy Summer bloggy friends!

It Is Well

The ordination service was tremendous. We give God the glory! We were truly blessed by our church family in all that took place behind the scenes. Jason had to be there to meet with the Ordination Council at 5:45. This is where ordained men of God ask questions to make sure that the one being ordained stands firm on sound doctrine; what his beliefs are on God, the Bible, Jesus, and many more. It was truly a humbling experience for him. There were 4 men on the council. One was the Pastor that he has been preaching for the last 6 weeks. He was not able to stay for the actual service because his wife was not feeling well.

At the beginning of the service, Jason gave his testimony of salvation and his testimony of how/when he was called to the ministry; there was singing, and all of the pastors on the council participating in some way. My daughters and I surprised him by singing a special for him also. He was very surprised! We sang one of his favorite hymns, It is Well with my Soul.

Our pastor preached a sermon directly to him, to exhort and to encourage him in the ministry. It was very powerful. Some of the things preached are things that we should all be doing as Christians. He challenged him to put his family first; there are many pastors that have lost their families due to them always putting the ministry first and in the end, they lose their children to the world. Towards the end of the service, these ordained men of God laid their hands upon Jason to pray for him and to show that they are in agreement with him about his calling.

At the end, our pastor presented him with a KJV Minister's Bible and gave me a dozen roses. We are all laughing at something Pastor Slabaugh said. :o)

Afterwards, there was a reception for us in the fellowship hall. One of the church members made this beautiful cake and they served fruit and cake and ice cream.

We are so blessed and encouraged. We know that this is right. God is so faithful! The difference between his first ordination and this one is night and day. The first time was just not done right. The church said he needs to be ordained and they just did it, no council, no proving time, etc... We have learned much since then and we are glad that we have gone back and made it right by him being ordained again. Thank you for the prayers sent our way :o)

Transitions

How do you deal with transitions? Is it with bitterness? Is it excitement? Maybe a little of both?

Our family is now undergoing some transitions. My husband has been praying for several months about his ministry and the direction that our church is going. He has been pastoring there for 2 1/2 years. The church as a whole is going in a different direction than he is and it became apparent this past week; he stood for conviction and truth, they did not. Many churches like doing things the way that they have always been done. Many times, a new direction can be a fresh start for a ministry. God's ways are best. After much prayer and fasting, my husband resigned the pastorate of our church.

Transitions.

How do I deal with this? I think to myself, 2 1/2 years of work, hard work. 2 1/2 years of begging God to show us how to do things according to His will. Church is more than pew sitting. There are souls to be saved! 2 1/2 years of learning, falling on our face at times, growing, forming friendships.

I have heard stories of people becoming bitter at past experiences, and using those bad experiences as an excuse to not do the Lord's work. Life hurts sometimes. The Lord never said that once we become born-again, that life will be a bed of roses. As people, we still have the sinful nature. Yes, we will still have hurts but, we cannot allow hurtful things to harm our relationship with the Lord and make us bitter. Instead, we should seek the Lord and ask Him for guidance and grace.

Transitions.

I was reading in Ephesians earlier this week and it truly ministered to me. I am on a different plan than I started with earlier this year. Anyway, the Lord knew that I needed these particular verses. When I finished Ephesians, next on my plan as 1 Peter. Again, the Lord ministered to me through His Word. Do you realize that He would have ministered to me regardless of what I was reading?! It is kind of funny I suppose. Something between me and the Lord.

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 1 Peter 2:19-20

Jesus Christ gave us an example. Christ suffered for our sins and He took it patiently and with grace. This grace is what we are to show when we are buffeted or when we do well and yet suffer.

I'll just make it clear now. I am no theologian. This is just what the Lord spoke to me under my current circumstances. Isn't it wonderful that we can read God's Word over and over and He can use those same verses to minister to us in different and unique ways?!

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs' sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Transitions.

What will I choose to do with this transition? Right now, it hurts. It will be hard for a little while. Yesterday was the first day not being at our church. We visited a local IFB church and it "just so happened" that Bro. Dennis Corle from Revival Fires was the guest speaker! I said that with quote because I do not believe in happenstance. The Lord orchestrated that. Many of you may know of him. I have 2 of his wife's books, the MRS Ministry and Mission: Motherhood. His message was tremendous! There is an emergency folks. Souls need saved NOW.

We walked in and saw a dear friend. When she hugged me, I teared up a little. Even during the singing, I cried. Some were tears of sorrow, but some were also of joy. We sang "Because He Lives", and in the chorus it says "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow". Such powerful words! When we got to "It Is Well With My Soul", I lost it and began to weep. Those poor people there must have thought I was a basketcase!

I still love the people at my church and I will still pray for their needs. Some have unsaved husbands, some have issues with sin. I love them and I will not allow bitterness to seep into my soul. The devil would like nothing better than to see me become a bitter, discouraged, gossipping Christian. No, I will allow the Lord to do His work in me and allow Him to grow me in a better way.

This transition will be, well, a transition. I know that my husband is called to pastor. I believe that he will pastor again. He has already been contacted about pulpit supply. I am excited about what the Lord has in store for us. Yes, it will be different, but God is still God, He is still on His throne, and His grace is sufficient for me.