Hearts in Service

Sneering, jeering, mocking and scorning.  Many words that are used today for women who choose to not work.  I've heard them before.  I've felt the sting and rising insecurity and doubt that have arisen because of choices we've made for our family.  A stay-at-home woman just isn't revered like it used to be and often, I think people view us as lazy.  I can assure you I am not lazy. I am capable.  I have been part of the leadership of organizations and I have been in the upper management of corporations. But, I made the choice many years ago to stay at home and work alongside my husband in ministry.  I felt the same calling he did and we actually met at seminary.  But because we've been in smaller churches, I'm not paid for the things I do and that's okay.  I'm fulfilling my calling. Not working outside the home requires me to be frugal.  Some of the role models I had growing up were women who also made that choice to stay home and in order to do

If you watch the news it's easy to let a feeling of discouragement and depression to set in. Yet, no matter how bleak things seem in this world, acts of righteousness that bring praise to God always shine through.   As I listened to the news last night about the bombing in Manchester, it brought tears to my eyes as I saw all the people reaching out to the victims. From the woman who gathered the children in a hotel next-door and called their parents to others who opened up their homes to total strangers. God's righteousness always shines through. And when these things happen, it brings praise to God. Just as shoots poke up through the ground every spring, so those righteous things will poke through even in the midst of tragedy. Isaiah 61:10-11 (HCSB) ~ I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns her

Twenty-six years ago I gave birth to a bouncing, chubby baby boy.  I held him right after the delivery and he looked beautiful to me.  Yet, the doctors and nurses that crowded the room whisked him away within a minute or two of giving him to me and began to work over him.  That should have been my clue that his would be a life of challenge. Often, I feel a bit embarrassed when I post a picture of Nathan on Facebook and talk about how proud I am of him.  I don't want people to think I'm bragging or be "one of those parents."  But there is a reason I do it. When he was 3 1/2 he was diagnosed with apraxia, an articulation disorder.  He could not speak clearly and his vocabulary was only a few unrecognizable words.  The outcome for his speech was not good and I was told he'd probably never do well in a school-setting. He was frightened of everything.  He didn't interact with others.  He was extremely clingy.  He had chronic asthma and bronchitis and was h

2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NIV) ~   For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.   To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?   Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. I have a lilac bush near my house and as I sit on the deck in the morning the sweet fragrance of its flowers wafts through the air.  Lilacs are my favorite flower and I love the scent.  Unfortunately, I cannot cut the stems and bring the fragrant flowers into my house, because my family and I will be hacking and wheezing and congested within minutes. Our allergies begin to act up.  So I have to be content to sniffing them in the wide open outdoors where their fragrance doesn't overpower my nose.  Sometimes I feel like I overpower those around me who are not

Small and insignificant.  That's how I often feel.  Yet, God often uses the small, insignificant and seemingly meaningless things in life to fulfill his purposes.  Look at how many tiny things there are in life that do huge tasks. A single bee can pollinate hundreds of flowers in a day.  Tiny buds bring a scent that permeates the air.  Small leaves help us breathe.  One person can make a difference to one other person and who knows how many people will be touched beyond that one other person.  Zechariah 4:10 ~ For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand. Zerubbabel was just one man and yet, God used him in a mighty way.  And He can use you too.  I want to encourage you today to rejoice in your insignificance.  Because the reality is you truly are not insignificant.  God loved you enough to send His son to die for you.  He uses

Bargaining chips.  We all have them and we all use them.  We even go so far as to try and use them with God.  "Lord, you know that I've committed my life to serve you, so could you just....."  "God, I go to church every week so if you could just do...."  "Lord, if only you would do answer my prayer, then I will...." You can fill in the blank with what ever chip you think you have.  But the reality is that God knows our hearts and he knows our motives. Zechariah 7:1-7 (HCSB) ~ In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.  Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to plead for the Lord ’s favor   by asking the priests who were at the house of the Lord of Hosts as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years?” Then the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me:    “Ask all the p

  Yesterday was such a beautiful day which involved a number of activities.  I worked on an upcoming leadership retreat as I soaked up some vitamin D.   I cleaned my bathrooms.  I did laundry.  I made chunky black bean chili.  I walked a mile and a half through the woods.  All such different activities, but ones which brought me contentment.  I'm content because I truly have seen God's hand on my life the past three months.  I've seen rapid healing in my leg.  I've gotten clarity over what I should be doing.  I'm content that all three children are home at the moment and I'm enjoying each moment with them.  I'm trying my best to live simply and within our means and that brings satisfaction.  Life is full of ebb and flow, but I'm assured that no matter which part of it I'm in, God is walking beside me.  That is such wonderful knowledge.  His breath in my lungs makes it all worthwhile. Great are You, Lord!

We sat at dinner one night a couple of weeks ago and as I lamented about some way our family was lacking (yes, I know terrible dinner conversation), Stephen looked straight at me and said, "What about our family are you thankful for?"  OUCH!!! Yes, I repented and asked forgiveness as I realized how often I complain and criticize instead of being thankful for the good qualities that my husband and children have.  And much of the time, the only reason I feel they are lacking is that I am comparing them to someone else. I look at my husband's lack of polish and think, "Wow!"  "I wish he was more like this person." "He would get so much further if he was different." I read on Facebook about someone's child doing something fabulous or graduating at the head of their class and think, "Why aren't my kid's superstars?"  "Why do they seem to be so passive?" I see someone's perfect looking home and think, &qu

I was thinking about my life the other day and the examples I had growing up which have led to some of my ideas about living frugally.  For a time after my parent separated, we lived with our pastor and his family.  They took us in to help us out financially. I do remember homemade meals, gardening, cutting wood and learning what it looks like to use it up, wear it out, make it do and do without from this dear family.  They were industrious and had learned to trust God for many of their needs as a family in ministry.  Throughout the years, we have had different examples of families who were content with simple living.  When I think back on these different families, the words that come to mind are content, joyful, generous and peaceful.  As I puttered around the kitchen the other day, trying to use up some ingredients in a dish, I too felt content.  As I've learned to enjoy living simply and taking pleasure in the small things, I feel peaceful. This week I've

Time is racing by and my to-do list includes things like send in student orientation payment, mail graduation party invites and make sure college paperwork is together. Emily graduates on June 23rd and Stephen will be finished up in December.  Nathan just turned 26 years old and Emily will be 18 at the end of the month.  There are days when I feel as if things are moving all too fast.  I'm afraid that I'm missing precious moments because I get distracted with other things. So as I remember to do so, I've been snapping pictures.  Dan, Stephen and Emily were playing baseball the other night and it made my eyes well with tears because of the special bond my kids have with their dad.  He is a good father who has always spent time with his children.  They are so blessed to have Dan has a dad. I'm fairly certain I will have a hard time when Emily goes off to school, but I have a feeling it's going to be rough on Dan.  She is his baby girl and

John 10:10 (HCSB) ~ A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. I love fresh flowers and one of my favorites are lilacs.  They are vibrant, colorful, fragrant, fresh, alive, sweet, uplifting, inspirational, and beautiful.  These adjectives describe most flowers and they are words that should describe us as believers in Christ if we are rooted in him.  So often though we seem to reflect a wilted bunch of flowers instead.  We have the life of Christ in us but have forgotten that He wants us to have abundant life.  We are drooping! This can happen because of various obstacles and distractions in our lives.  And when that happens, our enemy, the devil is thrilled.  Because that is exactly what he wants.  He wants us to live ineffectual, "going through the motions" life. As we dig into God's word and spend time in prayer, listening and then, obeying what He wants us to do,

This afternoon, Dan and I headed to the lake so I could take a few pictures.  When I got there, the temptation was great so I ended up taking the brace off my leg so I didn't have to keep adjusting it as it tends to slide down my leg when I move around. I had planned on just hobbling over to the bank of the lake so I could take some pictures.  Lake Ontario is cresting high and there has been some flooding and concerns over the rising water.  However, as I gingerly walked I realized that I wasn't limping at all.  I walked over to the lake and got my pictures, but then said to Dan let's walk into the woods a bit.  The closer to the lake you get, the colder it is and today it's been especially chilly.  I figured if we went into the woods it would at least be warmer.  As we walked and talked, I snapped pictures.  As most of you know here my very favorite place of all is the woods, and another favorite is photography.  I cannot express how my sp

I haven't done a Frugal Friday in quite a while and thought I was due for one.  I'm going to need to tighten up my belt since Dan's tutoring is coming to an end for the summer.  Summer is always such a difficult time for us because of that, and also it seems there is always something due then.  This fall we will have two children in college.  Emily heads off to a state university and Stephen, due to an issue with his credits, has one more semester to go.  So, I need to pull out my creativity and step up my game.  My refrigerator is bare-ish and while I'm going to get some groceries tomorrow, I've been able to pull together some good meals given what was in there as well from my canning and freezer stash. I also find cooking almost everything from scratch saves a lot of money.  I can pull together breads, cookies, cakes, pies, and almost everything for just a couple of dollars compared with buying store bought.  This way I'm also not getting all the prese