Ambassadors of Christ

What Really Matters?

8/20/2009

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WHAT REALY MATTERS? I was going through an old calendar and I found a date marked Friday, October 17, 2008. Josef was 5 years old and in kindergarten. The date marked was the first day he read a book. It was a happy day for me; my baby has been reading ever since and reads fluently. When I think of being there for such a pivotal moment, and being able to witness this milestone it will forever be etched into my mind. September 7, 2008 Sarah and Josef were baptized; they both accepted Christ as their savior and wanted to be obedient through baptism. September 7 is also my wedding anniversary, wow what a gift from God! Now a day like today, as my anniversary approaches I think about the fact that I will spend eternity with my babies. 

I often get asked the question, “Why aren’t you teaching? You have your Master Degree in Teaching, you should be working!” The thing that usually floors me is the question comes from older Christian women. Why do women no longer see caring for your children or your family as work? Where are the Titus 2 women?  Titus 2:3-5 says “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanders, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” Working at home is the most fulfilling job I have ever had! No dollar amount can supplement for the rewards that I reap now, or will reap later. I did choose to further my education, but I also decided to follow my heart to do what really matters to me!

I take what I do seriously, knowing that ultimately I am accountable to God! Sure, times get rough for us, but God is always faithful in His timing! He keeps His promises! God tells me in His word, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) And, He has not!  As God through His grace is transforming my life, He is teaching me how to not set my heart or mind on the temporal things of this world. I can not take a car, house, job or education HOME with me, but I can take my children. Instead He is teaching me, guiding me to “lay up for myself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). 

 
Am I saying that jobs, education, cars and homes are not important? No, I am not! But what I am saying is, if our heart and minds are always on the temporal, we have lost sight! God created us for a greater purpose! When we draw our identities from our jobs, knowledge, education, homes, cars, etc. (cause the list goes on) then we become prideful and distracted! We lose sight of God and who He is, and we distance ourselves from Him.

 

What I am saying is that God created us to live purpose filled lives and to live our lives for Him! When it is all said and done, it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, where we worked, what we drove, or how our homes were decorated. What will matter is if we lived our lives touching the lives of others. Did we serve others? Did we love others as Jesus loves us? Did we forgive others? Did we share the gospel? Were we lights to this world? I don’t want to leave stuff; I want to leave a Godly Heritage. It is my prayer that if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, that you would invite Him into your heart today. He will give you rest. Would you like to know God personally? Click the link below and begin an intimate relationship with Your Heavenly Father…..

 
Would You Like To Know God Personally?
 

 
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One Day Until HomeSchool Begins

8/16/2009

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We have one day left before we begin our new homeschool year!  Where has the time gone?  We have had lots of  fun and relaxation, visitation with family and friends, that I do remember but it all happened so fast. 

As I reflect upon special moments from the summer: I turned 35 on July 3rd and my good friend Jan came over to celebrate with me.  I also received many calls with birthday blessings from family members (many unexpected). The most memorable time this summer was sharing the gospel and having my brother's girlfriend come to know Christ as her Savior. That was a great birthday  gift, to be able to be used by God to tell of  His free gift. It has been awesome sharing with her God's truth and preparing tools to help her on her new journey.  I pray that at some point my brother would come to know Christ.

I remember Sarah and Josef reading lots of  books  for summer reading. I remember us spending lots of time at the library. I remember fun times for them in Science labs. I remember missing Rosa a lot as she spent time with her friends back in South Carolina. I remember laughing and playing alot, giving lots of hugs and kisses, and many explanations to lots of  Why? and How? questions. I remember doing lots of reading and planning for this upcomig school year. I remember Mirick's accident and I remember doing a great deal of praying! I remember bootcamp and going through lots of pain!

I remember messing up alot and  and asking for forgiveness and receiving God's grace and forgiveness. Above all I remember learning how crucial it is to put God first above all that I have to do working here at home! I have learned that the intimacy with my Father in Heaven is the most important thing in my life and my family's life. Yes, I fall on my face and YES! He picks me up but I love it that when things begin to fall apart He is there, when others are not! I love it that He accepts  me for who I am! I love it that His Spirit  helps in my time of weakness. For in my weakest days,  when I don't know what I should pray for, or what to say, what reaction to have to troubles, Thank God!  the Spirit Himself makes intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered according to Romans 8:26. How marvelous..........

I am so thankful that God is teaching and pressing upon my heart the things that really matter!  The material things can not enter into Heaven with me, but my children and husband can! Praise the Lord! that all three of my children have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior! Praise the Lord that we have our needs met and most times our wants.  After all What do we really need?  1 Timothy 6:6-8 says "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." and Hebrews 13:5 says "Let your conduct be without covetousness:be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, "I will not leave you nor forsake you".  How true. Every step of the way He is there, at times I place my eyes on my circumstance but through His love He brings me back into focus my eyes on Him.

And, I will always remember how God this summer through my life and its circumstances has been teaching me contentment and how to be more like Him. How He has been breaking up fallow ground  (Hosea 10:12) in my life and preparing me in areas of my life that He desires to be fruitful and productive, so that He may be glorified and I transformed to His likeness. Praise the Lord! God Bless.....
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

8/15/2009

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On July 9, 2009 my husband (Mirick) cut two of his tendons to his pinky at work. He had to be taken the emergency room, where he realized he could not move his pinky. He received two stitches and was referred to a surgeon for the next day….We got to the surgeon’s office where he confirmed that Mirick did cut the 2 tendons in his pinky but (Praise God), he missed the nerves and blood vessels. I was so thankful that God through His sovereignty orchestrated the event, the doctor said it was a miracle, because he cut the tendon on the top of the pinky which runs over the nerves and blood vessels; and then he cut the tendon that ran under the nerves and blood vessels. Yes, it was a miracle by the hands of my Abba Father! The surgeon set the surgery date for following week on July 17, 2009. 

Leaving the doctor’s office many thoughts began to cross my mind, so I asked God, “What would you have me to learn from this situation?”, because Mirick is the bread winner for our family. He was going to be missing work and workman’s comp would only cover 60% of his income. I have lived and seen how God has been faithful in providing for our needs and most times for our wants. So I needed & wanted to be prepared for the negative thoughts that would creep in from the enemy, I wanted to walk through this with my Abba Father. Wow! God honored my desire and He led me through this time of trials in our lives, things have been financial strained or better yet drained. Mirick has been out of work 2 weeks and no workman’s comp check yet! But we have not gone without, we have not been living in tension or worry. We have spent these two weeks in times of prayer and Mirick allowing me to take care of him. Here we are in the final days before Mirick returns to work. The stitches have come out and therapy is going well, and  my wonderful husband has been the perfect patient. Praise the Lord!  

I must tell you that if this happened a year ago I would have been a crazy mess! Worrying about how long he would be out of work, what we would have to do to make up the other 40% of his income. How will Mirick and I make it in the same house all day together? How the bills would be paid and so on………….However, I thank God that He has brought me from worrying, to trusting! I thank God that He has given me His peace in the toughest of times! I thank God that He has surrounded me with individuals who pray for me and my family daily! I thank God He has taught me how to seek Him instead of someone  on the other end of the phone line for support! I thank God that He has taught me how to focus on Him instead of the situations and circumsatances that will continue to arise in my life until He calls me home! I thank God that I am His child and He loves me! He is my strength!
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