God is worthy of our praise, in every circumstance of our life! - My God is the God of the living! How excellent is His name!

     - My Facebook status exactly 1 year ago.

 

This morning my husband preached a sermon about God as the Prodigal’s Father. He spoke about circumstances in our life where we might be tempted to think, “Where were You when this happened?” or “If only You were with me, this wouldn’t have happened.” He talked about how God has always been where He has always been and in situations like that, instead of asking “Where were You?” we should be asking, “Where am I?”

It was kind of ironic, but only to me and to him, that he should preach on this subject on today of all days… Only because today is the One-Year Anniversary of when he was fired from our old preaching job in Georgia. Technically it happened on the 21st of August, but really it was a Saturday so I guess it was yesterday? Anyway, it’s so strange to think about being there one year ago, and now being here in Alabama today.

And it’s also strange (I guess in a good way) to see that particular status update for today last year. I remember that people were telling me that they were impressed at my attitude about it all, but what they didn’t know is that I was so bitter on the inside and I just didn’t want that to show. At the time of it all, I was so mad. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that now my family and I had to pack up our stuff and throw it all in storage for who knew how long and then drive up to live with my parents – again. To have to search for a job before we ran out of money (which wouldn’t take long at all).

God always knows what’s best for us. We went through a lot of changes while we lived with my parents. We made a lot of decisions (those who followed my old blog might remember the few blog posts I made about us not preaching anymore and then coming back to the decision to do so). We got burnt and we took it personally. I couldn’t understand why we should be the ones to be thrown out on the curb, but eventually I understood that I didn’t have to understand. God knew and always knows what we need and when we need it. He knew we didn’t need to be in Iowa. He knew we didn’t need to give up. He knew we needed this place here.

Aren’t we blessed to have a God who knows and cares? Even when I was bitter about having to leave… even when I did not understand, He taught me a lesson – that I needed to learn how to trust Him. Sometimes it takes us learning the “hard” way. My favorite verse became Matthew 6:33. Lesson learned, Lord. Thank You.

I feel like I’ve come a long way. I know that I still have an even longer way to go. I am ever a work in progress. Aren’t we all?

A lovely friend had on her facebook that a book she is studying encourages the student each night three things that they are thankful for, and I thought that would be a nice way to end the day on a thankful note. So. I’m going to start doing so!

Three things I am thankful for tonight…

1. Being able to worship God freely with my family and to hear my husband up in the pulpit. It’s a blessing that I hope I will never take for granted.

2. A much-needed nap on a Sunday afternoon, which was helped along by some allergy/sinus medication… not so thankful for the allergy fit I’m going through but I am thankful for the beautiful earth that has caused it (ha!) and the medications out there to help alleviate some of it.

3. Being able to hug and hold the hand of a man whose wife is nearing Abraham’s bosom very soon now. What a special family his family is, and I have learned so much about the importance of family in just these last few days as I watch them all gather around their wife/mother/daughter/daughter-in-law/mother-in-law/friend/grandmother to surround her with love during these last precious moments. Life is short, make it sweet, make it pleasing to God, make your impression on those around you and make sure it’s a good one.

 

If I could add a 4th, I’d say I’m thankful for the pillow that’s about to receive my head!

There are some things that happen in your life that you would have never guessed, years ago, would have happened to you. There are things in your life that you never would have thought you would end up doing or being. I was reflecting on this yesterday. There are just so many things in my life that have taken me by surprise.

I never thought that when I was eighteen years old I would be getting engaged, and then graduating, and then a couple months later getting married. I had always said I wouldn’t even think of marriage until I was in my twenties, but things happened. I am so glad that my life turned out this way, though. There were a lot of people when we decided we would get married that told us (or told other people, and we overheard) that we were too young for marriage. There were those who said they wished we’d wait. Some told me I looked like I was still a baby and shouldn’t be getting married. But, we have been married for nearly four years (next month!) and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. Yeah, marriage can sometimes be difficult. But it’s a beautiful thing to spend the rest of your life with the person you love.

I never thought that when I was nineteen I would be announcing that I was expecting our first child. If there was ever a time I got the “you’re too young” look or speech, it was then. Babies shouldn’t be having babies, that sort of thing. It was frustrating. I never wanted to have kids this early, really, but it happened and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

I never thought that when I was twenty I would give birth to my firstborn. I never thought that I would have the responsibility of another human being’s soul so early in my own life. I never thought I would be spending sleepless nights and not because of concerts or lockins or going out with my husband. I never thought I’d be waking up two or three times every night for almost a year to take care of my child. Never though we’d be so soon recognized and remembered at a pediatrician’s office or that our repertoire of shows would include the Wiggles or Blues Clues so very soon in life.

I never thought I’d ever enjoy staying home all day and keeping my own house, but I do, believe it or not.

There are more important things in life to me than spending time doing things you think you should be doing as opposed to things you want to do when it comes to the direction your life is going. I never wanted to go to college, because everything I wanted to be – a wife, a mother, a preacher’s wife – couldn’t be taught to me through professors at a college. Everything I wanted to be could be found in God’s word. There are some days when I feel less than adequate because I never went to further my education like most of the people I know. I was told by someone recently that people who do go get a degree earn like a million more dollars in their lifetime than those who don’t, but that doesn’t really matter to me. So what? Unlike so many people in this world believe, money is not everything. Education is not everything.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

Of course, I don’t want anyone to think that going to college is pointless and shouldn’t be pursued. But if you’re like me and you didn’t go, don’t feel bad about it. It’s not the most important thing you can do in your life.

A lot of things have happened in my life that I never expected… but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I am content where I am in life.

Basically this blog has been for me, but I appreciate as usual your comments and anyone who reads.

It has been a while since I have felt comfortable with our surroundings, happy about where we are. We have been here in Alabama for six months now and I cannot say just how much of a difference it has made in my life. I love it. I feel so content and happy in every which way. We are surrounded by people whom we love and who love us. We are growing spiritually and B is learning so much... I don't have any complaints!

It is so new... to actually not have worries about whether or not this will be our home at the end of the year. To actually feel secure for once, even when we always know that anything can happen at any time. It feels good to feel so secure. It feels nice to feel happy with where we are. To be able to relax, to enjoy life, to enjoy friendship.

I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to be here... for being able to grow here. There have been so many changes in my life since we moved here. I know there are those who knew that in Georgia, C was the one who did the cooking pretty much every night. Now, it's the other way around. I'm finally in the kitchen, finally broadening my horizons, finally enjoying it all. I finally enjoy cleaning a house that I love, that we are so blessed to have.

God has been so good to us. I'm feeling so very blessed.