One Step at a Time

I've been missing in action here for more than a week. In that time, we've celebrated a birthday (my eldest's), went to a conference for a few days, ministry activities, and just been overall busy. Plus, to be honest, I just haven't had much to say.

Yesterday afternoon, I spent getting ready for today's farmer's market. I'm torn with doing it because it takes such a large chunk out of my Saturdays. However, as a people person who is alone most of my days it affords me the opportunity to get out in the community and be around people. I've met new acquaintences. I've gotten some business opportunities, including being interviewed for a local television channel next Saturday about my cookbook and plant-based eating. Being at the market meets a need I have for connection.

We moved here seven years ago and there are days when it's a challenge. It has been difficult to establish deep connections with some. I'm not sure why some people hold us at arm's length and don't seem to want a deeper relationship with us. It's not anything I've experienced anywhere else in my life. I think some of it is the culture here, but it's a very lonely and isolated space to live in. Being at our district conference for 3 days was wonderful because I was with friends and people actually enjoyed being with us. 

I view these hard things as an opportunity for the Lord to teach me something. Perhaps the lesson I'm supposed to learn here is that the Lord is the only one on whom I am to depend upon. I'm learning to keep persevering and to keep looking to God for my acceptance. Because I didn't have a safe and secure environment growing up, I still have a tendency to seek that from those around me. I'm learning to soley depend on the Lord for my worth.

Ministry can be hard. As I listened to different pastors and their spouses share with us at conference, I realized that we are not alone in this. Many are struggling with similar or very painful situations. I am thankful for the opportunities to gather with others that are walking a similar pathway. And I was thankful to hear how God is at work around our district and to recognize the need to keep pressing on step by step, one day at a time and keep following where He leads us.