The Keith family is my sister, Melinda and her husband. Without going through all the details, pray for them. They have had some rough months with their kids lately. Today, one of their kids moved out, because of being confronted about some things that needed to be confronted with. Pray for God's peace to come over them and reassurance that they are making the right, godly choices as parents. They are godly parents and seek Him for counsel. I know one day we will rejoice with them in who their kids turn out to be.
JOY - Jesus Only You!
The Key to Knowing Yourself
I am so not creative, but I love when I come across something that says exactly what I need or what I am thinking. I picked up one of my many devotionals and began to read it. I don't know if you are like me but I am kind of a devotional jumper. I go through devotionals that I love and have returned to them years later. Then, I have some I constantly look over and over. Then I have the one that our pastor suggests, which is always on target. That's always in additon to mine. The one I am going to quote below from today's devotional is Keeping God in the Small Stuff, by Bruce and Stan. I picked this one back up and read it today and it spoke to me so perfectly.
We have had a few, or for better words, a stream of people leaving our church as employees to go elsewhere or to stay home. When this happens I think I want to jump on the same boat. Church work is so hard! Don't get me wrong, I think God is calling people to other places. I'm not saying they shouldn't be leaving. For those of you who do church work, understand. For those of you who don't may never know what it's like to work for a church/ministry. One time my husband told me what a boss of his, at the time, told him about church work. I don't think I will ever forget it. He said, "we (church employees) do nothing all day except sit around and listen to christian radio all day." WOW! This was said as if we did nothing! What an understatment! Ministry work is so hard, yet such a reward and joy. There are times/phases when I am at my end - total burnout. Feeling so underappreciated, so overworked, and so underpaid. When you are called to ministry work, it's not for money! It has to be a definate calling. One thing I think is I'll quit and have so much time for me and my family. Then I think, why? I love what I do. I love ministering to moms and preschoolers. Then I think I have served so long, that it is time for me. Yet, God convicts me about quitting. Then I think is it me being comfortable, not necessarily God. God wants us to be uncomfortable! Get out of our comfort zone. I'll have time to myself. What would I do? Get to know myself. We all have our own journey and this one is mine!
Here is today's devotional:
The Key to Knowing Yourself
If you want to know yourself better, get to know your Creator better.
It seems like everybody is trying to get to know themselves better, and there are plenty of people ready to tell you how to "tap the power within" or get acquainted with "your inner child."
While there is value to knowing what you can do to improve your life, we would suggest that you spend more time focused on God than on yourself. Studying and learning about you shouldn't be that big a deal. After all, you're with yourself twenty-four hours a day. But God is differnt (and aren't we glad). Studying and learning about Him takes a lifetime, and even then you barely scratch the surface.
Besides, getting to know God better inevitably leads to knowing yourself better. God created you in His own image. His imprint is on your life. As you get closer to God, you will get closer to the real you.
We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Colossians 1:9
Greer Happenings
Well, it has been a long time since I have written anything!
Since we went to Guatemala, we have had so many different things happening! Good and bad! We dealt with such spiritual warefare after returning. Wow! We must be doing what God wants that Satan wants to destroy it.
What perfect timing at church that we would be reading Streams in the Desert as our devotional, Red Sea Rules, and our pastor's sermons. All of it is in sync with what our and other families have and are going through. As I type this, I think and know that our problems are nothing compared to what others may be going through. We can get so down on what we are going through and then we see or hear about what others are dealing with and our problems seem so small.
As I read our devotional this morning, I was moved! I loved this paragraph:
"Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom." F. B. Meyer
I said aloud, "March On!"
Obstacles seem to get in our way. We can either see it as God closing the door or our timing isn't His timing.
Now for some good! My husband turned 40 on the 14th and we celebrated his 40th birthday this past Saturday! It was so much fun! Some of his closest friends came and his sister and 2 kids and his dad came! We enjoyed hours of conversation and fun! Then, on Sunday, James was ordained as a deacon of our church. It was such an honor and privilege to be nominated and then approved. The service was so sweet and meaningful. So many people came up and congratulated us. People we knew and didn't know. Wow!
Since we went to Guatemala, we have had so many different things happening! Good and bad! We dealt with such spiritual warefare after returning. Wow! We must be doing what God wants that Satan wants to destroy it.
What perfect timing at church that we would be reading Streams in the Desert as our devotional, Red Sea Rules, and our pastor's sermons. All of it is in sync with what our and other families have and are going through. As I type this, I think and know that our problems are nothing compared to what others may be going through. We can get so down on what we are going through and then we see or hear about what others are dealing with and our problems seem so small.
As I read our devotional this morning, I was moved! I loved this paragraph:
"Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom." F. B. Meyer
I said aloud, "March On!"
Obstacles seem to get in our way. We can either see it as God closing the door or our timing isn't His timing.
Now for some good! My husband turned 40 on the 14th and we celebrated his 40th birthday this past Saturday! It was so much fun! Some of his closest friends came and his sister and 2 kids and his dad came! We enjoyed hours of conversation and fun! Then, on Sunday, James was ordained as a deacon of our church. It was such an honor and privilege to be nominated and then approved. The service was so sweet and meaningful. So many people came up and congratulated us. People we knew and didn't know. Wow!
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